Bringing tobacco back from the foreigner
Verified 18 May 2022 - Legal and Administrative Information Directorate (Prime Minister)
Additional cases ?
You come back from a European Union country
Countries concerned
If you travel within the European Union, you can bring tobacco back to France.
These are the following countries : Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden.
Warning
the overseas departments and regions and overseas communities and territories are not concerned, Channel Islands, the Canary Islands, Andorra, Monaco and Switzerland. For these countries, you should consult the content dedicated to other territorial areas.
Conditions
You must meet the following conditions:
- Major (have 18 years minimum)
- Respect permitted quantities per person
Quantities reported must match your own personal consumption.
Maximum allowed quantities
Maximum quantities cumulative by tobacco category.
In image
Maximum quantities of tobacco allowed (return from a European country - EU)
FYI
they are quantities per person and not per vehicle. They apply the same way if you are travelling by personal transport (on foot, by bicycle, by car, by boat, etc.) or by collective transport (plane, train, boat).
The maximum of cigarettes, cigarillos, cigars and other tobacco are:
Categories of tabs | Quantities |
|---|---|
Cigarettes | 200 units, or 1 Cartridge |
Smoking tobacco (rolling tobacco and other tobacco) | 250 g |
Cigars | 50 units |
Cigarillos (cigars up to 3 grammes/piece) | 100 units |
FYI
these quantities cumulative. For example, you can bring back 1 carton of cigarettes + 50 cigars + 250 g rolling tobacco.
Penalties for exceeding quantities
If exceed the quantities authorised, sanctions are:
- Consumer rights pay. For example: €210 if you bring back 5 cartridges of cigarettes
- Fine up to €750
- Confiscation of all your tobacco products
- Entry and confiscation of vehicle personnel used for transport
- One year prison sentence
Warning
purchase of tobacco on website is prohibited. The goods will be confiscated by customs before delivery.
You're coming back from another area
General case
Countries concerned
The countries concerned are:
- Country outside of European Union (United Kingdom and Switzerland included)
- Overseas Communities and Territories (Com and Tom)
- Overseas Departments and Regions
- Channel Islands
- Canary Islands
Conditions
You must meet the following conditions:
- Have 17 years minimum
- Respect permitted quantities per person
Quantities reported must match your own personal consumption.
Maximum allowed quantities
The maximum of cigarettes, cigarillos, cigars and other tobacco are:
Categories of tabs | Quantities |
|---|---|
Cigarettes | 200 units, or 1 Cartridge |
Smoking tobacco (rolling tobacco and other tobacco) | 250 g |
Cigars | 50 units |
Cigarillos (cigars up to 3 grammes/piece) | 100 units |
FYI
they are quantities per person and not per vehicle. They apply the same way if you are travelling by personal transport (on foot, by bicycle, by car, by boat, etc.) or by collective transport (plane, train, boat).
These quantities not cumulative, but you can make a proportional assortment.
Example :
You can bring back:
- 1 carton of cigarettes
- Or 100 cigarettes + 25 cigars
- Or 50 cigarettes + 12 cigars + 25 cigarillos
Penalties for exceeding quantities
If exceed the quantities authorised, sanctions are:
- Consumer rights pay. For example: €210 if you bring back 5 cartridges of cigarettes
- Fine up to €750
- Confiscation of all your tobacco products
- Entry and confiscation of vehicle personnel used for transport
- One year prison sentence
Warning
purchase of tobacco on website is prohibited. The goods will be confiscated by customs before delivery.
You're back from Andorra
You can bring tobacco back to France, if you come back from a trip to Andorra.
Conditions
You must meet the following conditions:
- Have 17 years minimum
- Respect permitted quantities per person
Quantities reported must match your own personal consumption.
Maximum allowed quantities
You respect the quantities maximum:
Categories of tabs | Quantities |
|---|---|
Cigarettes | 300 units, or 1 and a half cartridge (1 cartridge + 5 packets) |
Smoking tobacco (rolling tobacco and other tobacco) | 400 g |
Cigars | 75 units |
Cigarillos (cigars up to 3 grammes/piece) | 150 units |
FYI
they are quantities per person and not per vehicle. They apply the same way if you travel by personal transport (on foot, by bicycle, by car, etc.) or by collective transport (plane, train).
These quantities not cumulative, but you can make a proportional assortment.
Example :
You can bring back:
- 1 carton of cigarettes (200 units) + 25 cigars
- Or 150 cigarettes + 35 cigars
- Or 200 g rolling tobacco + 150 cigarettes.
Penalties for exceeding quantities
If exceed the quantities authorised, sanctions are:
- Consumer rights pay. For example: €210 if you bring back 5 cartridges of cigarettes
- Fine up to €750
- Confiscation of all your tobacco products
- Entry and confiscation of vehicle personnel used for transport
- One year prison sentence
Warning
purchase of tobacco on website is prohibited. The goods will be confiscated by customs before delivery.
You're a border worker
Persons
You're concerned if you
- frontier worker or border with Switzerland
- and live in a border area with a country outside European Union.
Example :
You live in French Guiana in an area less than 10 km from the border of Brazil or Suriname.
Maximum allowed quantities
You can bring back maximum following:
Categories of tabs | Quantities |
|---|---|
Cigarettes | 40 units2 Packets) |
Smoking tobacco (rolling tobacco and other tobacco) | 50 g |
Cigars | 10 units |
Cigarillos (cigars up to 3 grammes/piece) | 20 units |
FYI
they are quantities per person and not per vehicle. They apply the same way if you travel by personal transport (on foot, by bicycle, by car, etc.) or by collective transport (plane, train).
These quantities not cumulative, but you can make a proportional assortment.
Example :
You live in the Jura less than 10 km from Switzerland and you can bring back 1 pack of cigarettes and 5 cigars from Switzerland.
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
To obtain customs information concerning export, import, customs forms, transport and border crossing, franchises...
Phone
0 800 94 40 40
Open Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 6pm
Free number, price of a local call
Outside the city or from the foreigner, dial +33 1 72 40 78 50
By Email
Access contact form
- Decision of 18 June 2009 on the exemption from value added tax on certain definitive imports of goodsTraffic in the EU: maximum quantities allowed for entry into France (alcohol, tobacco, cash, etc.)
- Directive 2007/74/EC of 20 December 2007 on the quantities of goods imported by travellers returning from third countries
- General tax code: Articles 575I to 575MMovement, possession and trade in tobacco (Article 575I)
- Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Principality of Andorra of 28 June 1990Article 13
- General Tax Code, Annexe 4: Articles 50f to 50g CImport tax deductibles
- General Tax Code, Annexe 2: Articles 275A to 275GDefining Manufactured Tabacs
- General tax code: Articles 565 to 574Prohibition on the distance selling of tobacco (Article 568b)
- General tax code: Articles 1791 to 1804 CTax penalties for the illicit manufacture, possession, sale or transport of tobacco
- General tax code: Articles 1810 to 1821Criminal penalties for fraudulent manufacture or possession for the sale of tobacco
- Circular of September 3, 2014 specifying the rules for the circulation and taxation of tobacco held by individuals (PDF - 107.4 KB)
FAQ
- Customs duties on purchases made at the foreignerService-Public.fr
- Bring alcohol, tobacco or cash to the EUEuropean Commission
- Tobacco purchased in the European UnionMinistry of Finance
- European Union countriesEuropean Commission
- Value and quantity of customs and tax exemptionsMinistry of Finance
- Pass customs in Andorra: taxes and deductiblesMinistry of Finance