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)
Guadeloupe - French Guiana - Martinique - Mayotte - Reunion
New Caledonia (special status) - French Polynesia - Saint Barthélemy - Saint Martin - Saint Pierre and Miquelon - French Southern and Antarctic Territories (special status) - Wallis and Futuna
Jersey (the Schews, the Minquiers), Guernsey (Alderney, Burhou, Sark, Brecchou, Lihou, Herm, Jethou)
A legal term meaning that the authorities will take away one of your assets (house, vehicle, etc.) until you have paid off your debt (fine, etc.)
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden
England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Also called Great Britain
Person who lives in France, near the border with another country and works daily in that other country
Resident of the departments of Haut-Rhin, Territoire-de-Belfort, Doubs, Jura, Ain and Haute-Savoie with residence in an area of 10 km from the Franco-Swiss border
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.
Ouvrir l’image dans une nouvelle fenêtre
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
Movement in the EU: maximum quantities allowed to enter France (alcohol, tobacco, cash, etc.)
Circulation, possession and trade in tobacco (Article 575I)
Movement of tobacco for commercial purposes
Tax exemption on imports
Definition of manufactured tobacco
Prohibition of distance selling of tobacco (Article 568b)
Tax penalties for the illicit manufacture, possession, sale or transport of tobacco
Criminal sanctions in the case of fraudulent manufacture or possession with a view to the sale of tobacco
Service-Public.fr
European Commission
Ministry of Finance
European Commission
Ministry of Finance
Ministry of Finance
News
Fin de la limitation à une cartouche de cigarettes en provenance de l’UE
Publié le 24 avril 2024
