What are my allowances?
This page explains the rules about what goods you can bring with you into the United Kingdom without paying duty or value added tax (VAT) here.
The allowances differ depending on where you are travelling from. Full details of these are on the website of HM Revenue & Customs, which has pages for people:
- travelling to the UK from outside the European Union; and
- travelling to the UK from within the European Union.
The Channel Islands are treated as being outside the UK and European Union for VAT purposes.
If you are in any doubt, ask our officers when you arrive or contact the HM Revenue & Customs helpline. (See under 'Internet links' on the right side of this page.)
Terms explained
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European Union
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Irish Republic, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom.