CUSTOMS

IMPORT REGULATIONS

Free to Import

When travelling within EU

There are no limits on the amount of alcohol and tobacco a traveller can bring in within the EU. The goods must be for personal use or as a gift and they must have had duty and tax paid in the EU country where they were acquired. Customs officials may require proof of intent if more than all the following is imported.

Tobacco (restricted to travellers 17 years and over)

• 800 cigarettes;
• 400 cigarillos (max 3g each);
• 200 cigars;
• 1kg smoking tobacco.

Alcohol (restricted to travellers 17 years and over)

• 10 litres of spirits over 22%;
• 20 litres of alcoholic beverages, other than either wine or beer, less than 22% volume;
• 90 litres of wine (with a maximum 60 litres of sparkling wine);
• 110 litres of beer.

When travelling from outside the EU

If entering the EU from outside, passengers may bring with them duty-free goods for personal use within the limits set out below. The same applies if coming from the Canary Islands, the Channel Islands, Gibraltar or other territories where EU rules on VAT do not apply.

Tobacco (restricted to travellers 17 years and over)

One of the following:

• 200 cigarettes;
• 100 cigarillos;
• 50 cigars;
• 250g of smoking tobacco; or
• A proportional combination of these goods (such as 100 cigarettes and 50 cigarillos).

Alcohol (restricted to travellers 17 years and over)

One of the following:

• 1 litre exceeding 22% alcohol volume; or
• 2 litres up to 22% alcohol volume.

In addition, both of the following:

• 4 litres of still wine; and
• 16 litres of beer.

Currency

• There are no restrictions on the importation of currency into the EU.
• Funds of more than �10,000 must be declared to the customs authorities.

Other Goods free from duty

• Medicines for personal use.
• Personal items of non-commercial nature worth up to �430.
• Personal items of non-commercial nature worth up to �215 for travellers under 15 years of age.

It is important to be aware that the above monetary allowances do not apply to any individual item of value exceeding the relevant limits. If an item is worth more than the relevant limit of �430 or �215, import charges must be paid on the full value.

Prohibited

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

• Certain plants and plant products from outside the EU.
• Offensive weapons, such as knuckledusters, flick knives, and machetes.
• Goods which may be used for torture.
• Indecent articles, publications, videos, and other media.
• Indecent or obscene prints, paintings, and other media.
• Child pornography.
• Counterfeit currency and goods.
• Dangerous drugs.
• Live or dead animals from outside the EU.
• Poultry, birds or eggs from outside the EU.
• Most 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.

• Plants and plant products are subject to certain restrictions, particularly if they are arriving from outside the EU. For further information, please visit Controls on the Importation of Plants and Plant Produce into Ireland from Third Countries, and Guide to EC Plant Passport System.
• Narcotic and psychotropic substances may only be brought to Ireland with a licence from the Minister for Health.
• 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 National Parks and Wildlife Service.
• Radioactive substances require a licence from the Environmental Protection Agency.
• Firearms require a licence issued by the Department of Justice and Equality.
• Explosives and pyrotechnics are strictly controlled, and require a licence issued by the Department of Justice and Equality.
• Books and periodical publications which have been prohibited under the Censorship of Publication Acts require a permit issued by the Minister for Justice and Equality.
• Rough diamonds require a Kimberley Process Certificate.
• Archaeological objects require a licence from the National Museum of Ireland.
• Meat, milk and other dairy products for personal consumption are allowed from EU countries and Andorra, Canary Islands, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Liechtenstein, Norway, San Marino and Switzerland.
• Meat and dairy products are not allowed from non EU countries except Croatia, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Iceland. For more information see Irish Import Restrictions.

Pets

• All animals and animal products are subject to a mandatory health inspection at the first point of entry on EU territory. Pets such as cats and dogs must also have a microchip or tattoo, and have been properly vaccinated against rabies. A Common Veterinary Entry Document certifying the healthy inspection must be provided with the customs declaration.
• Passengers travelling with pets from outside the EU, including from the United Kingdom, must complete the Advance Notice form at Pet Imports Portal at least 24 hours before their arrival. 
• Passengers departing from outside the EU are only allowed to travel with their pets to Dublin. Cork airport only accepts pets whose journey originated from EU stations. The Advance Notice form must be completed also for Emotional Support Animals and Service Animals (SVAN/ESAN).  
• Pets travelling from within the EU must have a valid pet passport, and the Advance Notice form is not required. Please note this does not apply to customers transiting via Amsterdam Schiphol Airport/Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport if their journey started outside the EU. 
  
  

At Check-in

• Pets (PETC/AVIH) must be accompanied by their owner and must have a EU passport or an official veterinary certificate with a microchip identification. Please check evidence that the Advance Notice form was submitted by the passenger, and received by the Irish Department of Agriculture. In case of arrival in Dublin after 21:00, passengers must have booked a private health examination of their pets with Lissenhall Veterinary Services or Vet Direct. Please check evidence of this booking, otherwise passengers must be rebooked to travel to Ireland before 21:00.
  
  

Health requirements

• In addition to the local vaccination required, the EU pet passport or vet health certificate must contain:
• Vaccination against Rabies completed at least 21 days before arrival (A rabies vaccination with a 3 year validity period is also accepted and are exempted from the 21 day rule).
• Pets must be at least 12 weeks old.
• Vaccination against Tapeworm, unless arriving from the United Kingdom.
• For countries other than Antigua, Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Australia, Bahrain, Barbados, Belarus, Bermuda, Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba, Bosnia Herzegovina, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, Chinese Taipei, Curacao , Falkland Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mexico, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, USA, Singapore, Jamaica, Japan, Malaysia, St. Helena, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, St. Pierre and Miquelon, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Switzerland, Virgin Islands, United Arab Emirates, a blood test is required as follows: Blood test to be performed at least 30 days after rabies vaccination to confirm a neutralizing antibody titration at least equal to 0.5 IU/ML. A pet can enter Ireland only when at least 3 months have passed after a successful blood test.
• Pets without the required health documentation are subject to quarantine at a designated facility at the expense of the owner. If the owner is unable to sustain the cost, it will be charged to the airline which accepted the pet into Ireland.
• A dog that has had all, or part, of its ears removed, may only be imported into Ireland if the dog is accompanied by an import licence issued by Animal Welfare Division of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Each dog with cropped ears imported into Ireland must be accompanied by an original veterinary certificate stating the veterinary reason for the ear cropping procedure, signed by veterinary practitioner and with official veterinary practice stamp.

For further information, please visit Pet Travel.

EXPORT REGULATIONS

Prohibited

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

• All items on the prohibited import list.

Restricted

The following are goods which are strictly regulated, and in most cases require a permit to be obtained prior to departure

• Cultural goods require a licence from the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.
• Animal-based exports require clearance. For further information, please visit the Irish Food Safety Authority.
• Firearms require a permit. For further information, please visit the Department of Justice and Equality.
• Protected species and products protected under CITES. A permit is required for export.
• Explosives, pyrotechnics and fireworks.
• There are no restrictions on the export of currency if leaving for another EU country. Funds of more than �10,000 must be declared when leaving the EU.

For further information, please visit Irish Tax and Customs, and the European Commission Taxation and Customs Union.