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Bringing tobacco back from the foreigner

Verified 18 May 2022 - Legal and Administrative Information Directorate (Prime Minister)

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.

Maximum quantities of tobacco allowed (return from a European country - EU)

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Maximum quantities of tobacco allowed (return from a European country - EU) - plus de détails dans le texte suivant l’infographie
Crédits: Service Public (DILA)Infographie - Maximum quantities of tobacco allowed (return from a European country - EU)

The maximum quantities of tobacco that can be brought back from an EU country are:

  • 200 cigarettes (equivalent to 1 carton),
  • 100 cigarillos (maximum weight of 3 grammes each),
  • 50 cigars,
  • and 250 grammes of smoking tobacco.

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:

Tableau - Maximum quantity of tobacco to bring back

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:

Tableau - Maximum quantity of tobacco to bring back

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:

Tableau - Maximum quantity of tobacco to bring back

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:

Tableau - Maximum quantity of tobacco to bring back

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.

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