CUSTOMS

IMPORT REGULATIONS

Pets

Requirements for bringing cats, dogs and ferrets to Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland):

• Check that your route is approved for pet travel. These can change or may only operate at certain times of the year (more approved routes are available for guide or assistance dogs).
• The animal must be microchipped before, or at the same time as their rabies vaccination. This should be conducted by an official veterinarian. The microchip must be compatible with ISO 11784 and ISO 11785 standards. The animal will be quarantined if its microchip cannot be read. If a pet has been tattooed with an identification number (that was given before 3 July 2011), then they do not need a microchip. You must have an official record detailing the tattoo.
• A rabies vaccination should be given before travelling.The animal needs to be 12 weeks or older to get the vaccination. You must wait at least 21 days prior to the vaccination being given before departing to Great Britain (this will be longer if they need a blood test). The vaccine should be administered by an official veterinarian from the country of origin.
•  If you are coming from a country that's not in the EU or listed then you will also need a rabies blood test. This must be taken at least 30 days after the vaccination. The sample should be sent to an EU-approved blood testing laboratory. The result should have a result of at least 0.5 IU/ml. The veterinarian must give you a copy of the test results the day a blood sample was taken. You must wait 3 months from the date the blood sample was taken before you travel.
• If you are bringing a dog, your veterinarian must treat them for tapeworms. The treatment must have been given no less than 24 hours and no more than 120 hours (five days) before entering. The treatment must be approved for use in the country it is given in and contain praziquantel or an equivalent proven to be effective. You do not to treat your dog for tapeworms if you are arriving from the following countries: Finland, Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Malta or Norway.
• Dependent on which country you are arriving from, you will need to provide specific documents (usually either a pet passport or an animal health certificate). A list of required documents for each country/region can be found here.

Requirements for bringing other pets (birds, fish etc.) to Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland):

The below relates to people coming from an EU country/state

• For pets other than dogs, cats and ferrets, you must provide a declaration to say that your pet is not for sale or transfer, is healthy and was born and bred in captivity.
• For birds, you can bring them to Great Britain as pets as long as they are not being used for breeding, meat/egg production or shooting/hunting. The birds must come from a country that is a member of the World Organisation for Animal Health.
• Birds will also require a health certificate issued by the country of origin.
• You must tell the Animal & Plant Health Agency (APHA) that you are planning to bring a pet bird to Great Britain at least one day before you travel. APHA will arrange for your bird to be checked when it arrives.
• The bird must wear a clip, leg band, microchip or tag to show where they are travelling from.
• If you want to bring a salamander, you will need a health certificate from the country of origin and the pet must be put into quarantine for at least 6 weeks.
• You must contact the Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science if you want to import a fish/fishes into Great Britain.

The below relates to people coming from a non-EU country/state

• You will need an import licence to bring any pet that is not a dog, cat or ferret.
• For birds, you can bring them to Great Britain as pets as long as they are not being used for breeding, meat/egg production or shooting/hunting. The birds must come from a country that is a member of the World Organisation for Animal Health.
• You can only bring a bet bird if you fly into Edinburgh, Gatwick, Glasgow or Heathrow Airport.
• Birds will also require a health certificate issued by the country of origin.
• You must tell the Animal & Plant Health Agency (APHA) that you are planning to bring a pet bird to Great Britain at least one day before you travel. APHA will arrange for your bird to be checked when it arrives.
• The bird must wear a clip, leg band, microchip or tag to show where they are travelling from.
• If you are bringing a rabbit or rodent, you will need a rabies import licence in addition to the normal import licence. They must also be put into quarantine for four months after arrival.
• If you want to bring a salamander, you will need a health certificate from the country of origin and the pet must be put into quarantine for at least 6 weeks.
• You must contact the Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science if you want to import a fish/fishes into Great Britain.

Requirements for bringing cats, dogs and ferrets to Northern Ireland:

• The animal must be microchipped before, or at the same time as their rabies vaccination. This should be conducted by an official veterinarian. The microchip must be compatible with ISO 11784 and ISO 11785 standards. f a pet has been tattooed with an identification number (that was given before 3 July 2011), then they do not need a microchip. You must have an official record detailing the tattoo.
• A rabies vaccination should be given before travelling. The animal needs to be 12 weeks or older to get the vaccination. You must wait at least 21 days prior to the vaccination being given before departing. The vaccine should be administered by an official veterinarian from the country of origin.
• A valid EU issued passport or an EU health certificate detailing the pet's identification and rabies vaccination status should accompany the pet.
• If you are bringing a dog, your veterinarian must treat them for tapeworms. The treatment must have been given no less than 24 hours and no more than 120 hours (five days) before entering.
• 
  

For further information on travelling with pets to Great Britain, please visit the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs. For Northern Ireland, please visit the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.

Free to Import

Tobacco (restricted to travellers 18 years and over)

Passengers can bring in one from the following into Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales):

• 200 cigarettes;
• 100 cigarillos;
• 50 cigars;
• 250g tobacco; or
• 200 sticks of tobacco for electronic heated tobacco devices.

Passengers can split this allowance - so passengers could bring in 100 cigarettes and 25 cigars (both half of their allowance).

Passengers arriving into Northern Ireland can bring in one from the following:

• 800 cigarettes;
• 400 cigarillos;
• 200 cigars;
• 1kg tobacco; or
• 800 sticks of tobacco for electronic heated tobacco devices.

Alcohol (restricted to travellers 18 years and over)

Passengers arriving into Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) can bring in:

• Beer - 42 litres
• Wine (still) - 18 litres

Passengers can also bring in either:

• Spirits and other liquors over 22% alcohol - 4 litres
• Sparkling wine, fortified wine (for example port, sherry) and other alcoholic drinks up to 22% alcohol (not including beer or still wine) - 9 litres

Passengers can split this last allowance, for example passengers could bring 4.5 litres of fortified wine and 2 litres of spirits (both half of their allowance).

Passengers arriving into Northern Ireland can bring in:

• Beer - 110 litres.
• Wine (still) - 90 litres.

Passengers can also bring in either:

• Spirits and other liquors over 22% alcohol - 10 litres
• Sparkling wine, fortified wine (for example port, sherry) and other alcoholic drinks up to 22% alcohol (not including beer or still wine) - 20 litres
  

Currency

• If you are carrying £10,000 or more between Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) and a country outside of the United Kingdom, you must declare it to UK customs.
• You must declare cash of €10,000 or more if you are carrying it between Northern Ireland and any non-EU country.

Other Goods

• Passengers can bring in other goods worth up to £390.
• If passengers go over their allowance they pay tax and duty on the total value of the goods, not just the value above the allowance.
• Passengers may have to pay import VAT and customs duty if they exceed their allowance.

When travelling from the EU

Passengers do not need to pay any tax or duties on personal goods they bring into Great Britain as long as they are within their personal allowances. If the goods are over their allowances they will need to declare them, pay any customs duty due, pay any excise duty due (for tobacco or alcohol) and pay any import VAT due. When passengers declare their goods they need to declare each item they bought. When they declare their items, they may not need to pay customs duty on items where all the following are true:

• they were grown or made in the EU using only EU ingredients or materials;
• they bought them in the EU; and
• they are bringing them in from an EU country.

If these are true, passengers can claim a zero rate of customs duty for each item. .

If the total value of all the items passengers declare is less than £1,000 the evidence for each item can be:

• A label or packaging showing it was grown or made in the EU; or
• Evidence it was hand-made or grown in the EU (for example, a document or written note from the person or business passengers bought it from).

If the total value of all the items passengers declare is over £1,000, they can claim a zero rate of customs duty if they can prove each item was grown or made in the EU. A Border Force officer might ask to see this evidence. If passengers are unable to show this, they will have to pay any customs duty they owe.

Prohibited

The following are goods which cannot be brought into the country.

• Controlled drugs, such as cocaine, heroin, MDMA, and cannabis.
• Weapons, such as flick knives, knuckledusters, truncheons, and blowpipes.
• Self defence sprays and electric shock devices, such as stun guns.
• Indecent and obscene materials such as books, magazines, and other media.
• Counterfeit and pirated goods.
• Meat and dairy products from outside the EU.

Restricted

These goods are strictly regulated, and in most cases require a permit to be obtained prior to arrival.

• Firearms, explosives, and ammunition may be imported with a permit. Realistic imitation firearms may only be imported for an authorised purpose or function, such as participating at an historical re-enactment.
• Samurai swords require a permit, and may only be imported for an authorised purpose, such as participation in martial arts events or religious ceremonies.
• Endangered animals, plants, and their derivative products protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) may require protected species permits. For further information, please visit the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs.
• Certain radio transmitters may be imported with a permit.
• Rough diamonds may only be imported with a valid Kimberley Process Certificate.
• Plant products from the UK, including fruit and vegetables, require a phytosanitary certificate, and are subject to certain restrictions. For further information, please visit Bringing fruit, vegetables and plants products into the UK.
• 2kg of products of animal origin such as milk powder, baby food, and food for medical purposes can be brought in personal baggage as long as they are still packaged and do not require refrigeration.
• Food products of animal origin, such as honey and eggs, may be brought in from outside the EU in small quantities. For further information, please visit Bringing food products into the UK.

EXPORT REGULATIONS

Prohibited

The following are goods which cannot be taken out of the country.

• All items on the prohibited import list.

Restricted

These goods are strictly regulated, and in most cases require a permit to be obtained prior to departure.

• Funds of more than €10,000 must be declared when leaving the EU.
• Protected species and products protected under CITES. A permit is required for export.
• Cultural goods may require a licence for export. For further information, please visit Arts Council England.

For further information, please visit the UK Government, and the European Commission Taxation and Customs Union.