Customs

This section explains the restrictions on what you can bring into the UK, and how to go through customs controls.

If you are planning to travel into or out of the UK, there are rules about what goods you can bring with you without paying duty or value added tax (VAT) here. Some items are also banned or restricted by law. These restrictions apply even if you are a UK citizen who is returning from abroad.

There are heavy penalties for smuggling, so:

• never carry anything into the UK for someone else;
• never bring banned goods into the UK;
• if you are driving, make sure that everyone travelling with you knows which goods are banned or restricted - if you smuggle goods into the UK in a car, our officers may seize the car;
• if you are in doubt, speak to an officer in the red channel or use the red point phone; and
• do not smuggle an animal into the UK - it could be carrying rabies. A pet may be tame, but rabies is a killer.