Le lien vers cette page a été envoyé avec succès aux destinataires.
Bring tobacco from the foreigner
Verified 25 October 2023 - Legal and Administrative Information Directorate (Prime Minister)
Additional cases ?
Thresholds for quantities of tobacco brought back from another Member State of the European Union
Published on 18 October 2023
A decree should soon change the thresholds for the quantities of tobacco allowed to be brought back to France from another EU country.
In the meantime, the information presented in our factsheet is that currently in force.
What applies to you ?
The quantities of tobacco allowed are different if you are returning from the European Union or from another geographical area.
European Union
If you travel to a country within the European Union, you can bring tobacco back to France.
These are the subsequent countries : Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden.
Warning
the overseas departments and regions and overseas communities and territories shall not be affected, nor shall the Channel Islands, the Canary Islands, Andorra, Monaco and Switzerland. For these countries, you should consult the content dedicated to other territorial areas.
You must meet the following conditions:
- Being of age (having 18 years minimum)
- Respect the authorized quantities per person
Reported quantities must match your own personal consumption.
The transport of tobacco is carried out by your own means and in your presence (no delegation to another person or by a means of transport carried out without your physical presence).
The maximum quantities are cumulable by category of tobacco.
The maximum quantities of tobacco that can be brought back from an EU country are as follows:
- 200 cigarettes (equivalent to 1 carton),
- 100 cigarillos (weighing not more than 3 grams each),
- 50 cigars,
- and 250 grams of smoking tobacco.
FYI
these are quantities per person and not per vehicle. They apply equally if you are traveling by personal transport (on foot, by bicycle, by car, by boat, etc.) or collective transport (plane, train, boat).
Warning
You have to keep the receipt of your tobacco purchases to present it at customs.
The maximum quantities of cigarettes, cigarillos, cigars and other tobacco are as follows:
Categories of tobacco | Quantities |
|---|---|
Cigarettes | 200 units, or 1 cartridge |
Smoking tobacco (roll-your-own tobacco, shisha tobacco and other tobacco) | 250 g |
Cigars | 50 units |
Cigarillos (cigars weighing up to 3 grams/piece) | 100 units |
FYI
these quantities are cumulable. For example, you can bring back 1 carton of cigarettes + 50 cigars + 250 g of rolling tobacco.
If you go beyond the quantities authorized, sanctions are:
- Consumption rights at pay for. For example: €210 if you bring back 5 cartons of cigarettes
- Fine up to €750
- Confiscation of all your tobacco products
- Seizure and confiscation of your vehicle transport personnel
- One-year prison sentence
Warning
thepurchase of tobacco on a website is prohibited. The goods will be confiscated by customs before delivery.
Other Area
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
General case
Countries concerned
The countries concerned are:
- Country located outside of the European Union (United Kingdom and Switzerland included)
- Overseas communities and territories (Com and Tom)
- Overseas departments and regions
- Channel Islands
- Canary Islands
Conditions to be met
You must meet the following conditions:
- Have Minimum age 17
- Respect the authorized quantities per person
Reported quantities must match your own personal consumption.
Maximum authorized quantities
The maximum quantities of cigarettes, cigarillos, cigars and other tobacco are as follows:
Categories of tobacco | Quantities |
|---|---|
Cigarettes | 200 units, or 1 cartridge |
Smoking tobacco (roll-your-own tobacco, shisha tobacco and other tobacco) | 250 g |
Cigars | 50 units |
Cigarillos (cigars weighing up to 3 grams/piece) | 100 units |
FYI
these are quantities per person and not per vehicle. They apply equally if you are traveling by personal transport (on foot, by bicycle, by car, by boat, etc.) or collective transport (plane, train, boat).
Warning
You have to keep the receipt of your tobacco purchases to present it at customs.
These quantities are not cumulative steps, 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 the quantities
If you go beyond the quantities authorized, sanctions are:
- Consumption rights at pay for. For example: €210 if you bring back 5 cartons of cigarettes
- Fine up to €750
- Confiscation of all your tobacco products
- Seizure and confiscation of your vehicle transport personnel
- One-year prison sentence
Warning
thepurchase of tobacco on a website is prohibited. The goods will be confiscated by customs before delivery.
You just came back from Andorra
You can bring tobacco back to France, if you have just returned from a trip to Andorra.
Conditions to be met
You must meet the following conditions:
- Have Minimum age 17
- Respect the authorized quantities per person
Reported quantities must match your own personal consumption.
Maximum authorized quantities
You must respect the quantities following maximums:
Categories of tobacco | Quantities |
|---|---|
Cigarettes | 300 units, or 1 and a half cartridges (1 cartridge + 5 packs) |
Smoking tobacco (roll-your-own tobacco and other tobacco) | 400 g |
Cigars | 75 units |
Cigarillos (cigars weighing up to 3 grams/piece) | 150 units |
FYI
these are quantities per person and not per vehicle. They apply equally if you are traveling by personal transport (on foot, by bicycle, by car, etc.) or collective transport (plane, train).
Warning
You have to keep the receipt of your tobacco purchases to present it at customs.
These quantities are not cumulative steps, 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 of rolling tobacco + 150 cigarettes.
Penalties for exceeding the quantities
If you go beyond the quantities authorized, sanctions are:
- Consumption rights at pay for. For example: €210 if you bring back 5 cartons of cigarettes
- Fine up to €750
- Confiscation of all your tobacco products
- Seizure and confiscation of your vehicle transport personnel
- One-year prison sentence
Warning
thepurchase of tobacco on a website is prohibited. The goods will be confiscated by customs before delivery.
You're a frontier worker
Data subjects
You are concerned if you are
- frontier worker or frontier with Switzerland
- and live in a border area with a country outside of the European Union.
Example :
You live in French Guiana in an area less than 10 km from the border of Brazil or Suriname.
Maximum authorized quantities
You can bring the maximum quantities following:
Categories of tobacco | Quantities |
|---|---|
Cigarettes | 40 units (2 packets) |
Smoking tobacco (roll-your-own tobacco and other tobacco) | 50 g |
Cigars | 10 units |
Cigarillos (cigars weighing up to 3 grams/piece) | 20 units |
FYI
these are quantities per person and not per vehicle. They apply equally if you are traveling by personal transport (on foot, by bicycle, by car, etc.) or collective transport (plane, train).
Warning
You have to keep the receipt of your tobacco purchases to present them at customs control.
These quantities are not cumulative steps, but you can make a proportional assortment.
Example :
You live in the Jura less than 10 km from Switzerland and you can bring back from Switzerland 1 pack of cigarette and 5 cigars.
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
Customs Service Info
To obtain customs information concerning export, import, customs forms, transport and border crossing, exemptions...
By telephone
0 800 94 40 40
Open from Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 6pm
Toll-free number, local call price
Outside metropolis or from the foreigner, dial +33 1 72 40 78 50
By E-mail
Access to contact form
- Order of 18 June 2009 on the system of exemption from value added tax on certain definitive imports of goodsMovement in the EU: maximum quantities allowed to enter France (alcohol, tobacco, cash, etc.)
- Directive 2007/74/EC of 20 December 2007 on the quantities of goods imported by travelers returning from third countries
- General Tax Code: Articles 575I to 575MCirculation, possession and trade in tobacco (Article 575I)
- Goods and services tax code: article L311-19Movement of tobacco for commercial purposes
- Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Principality of Andorra of 28 June 1990Article 13
- General Tax Code, Annex 4: Articles 50f to 50g CTax exemption on imports
- General Tax Code, Annex 2: Articles 275A to 275GDefinition of manufactured tobacco
- General Tax Code: Articles 565 to 574Prohibition of 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 sanctions in the case of fraudulent manufacture or possession with a view to the sale of tobacco
- Circular of 3 September 2014 specifying the rules governing the movement and taxation of tobacco held by individuals (PDF - 107.4 KB)
- Do you pay customs duties on your purchases while traveling (EU and foreigner)?Service-Public.fr
- Customs: What products are prohibited from being brought to France?Service-Public.fr
- Bring alcohol, tobacco or cash with you to the European UnionEuropean Commission
- Tobacco purchased in the European UnionMinistry of Finance
- European Union countriesEuropean Commission
- Relief from customs duties and taxes in value and quantityMinistry of Finance
- Passing customs in Andorra: taxes and excisesMinistry of Finance