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Customs: how does the traveler's check go?

Verified 28 April 2022 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

When traveling in Europe or abroad, you are subject to customs controls. They take place mainly in the airports, the harbors, the trains, on motorways and when passing through boundary. We explain how a customs check is carried out and what is checked: identity, merchandise, vehicle.

The situation is different if you come back from a member country of the European Union (EU) or another country.

EU

You can be checked at different places in the territory:

  • Boundary and area around the called boundary "customs department"
  • Airport, train station, sea port, motorway, train, boat
  • Any place in the public space of the territory (rarer)

Role of Customs Officers

The control must be clear well-known.

Example :

If you are being controlled on a highway or train, officers should introduce themselves by starting with the following sentence: "This is a customs control".

The agents are either identifiable by the port of theuniformor, if they are in civilian clothes, by wearing a armband "customs".

They have to explain theobject control.

They have the right to make body searches.

You must answer all questions that are relevant to the proper conduct of the inspection (place of origin, goods transported, etc.).

He is prohibits denying control on penalty of fine and imprisonment.

Please note

You can ask customs officials to present their map called professional employment commission. In particular, it must contain their identity.

Controlled Documents and Objects

Customs officers shall monitor the following:

To find out everything about the customs control process, you can go to the customs website.

Prohibitions

He is forbidden carrying drugs, counterfeit goods and protected animal or plant species.

Restrictions specific to certain goods

The carriage of the following goods is authorized according to specific conditions :

Passing customs with peace of mind

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Passing customs with peace of mind - plus de détails dans le texte suivant l’infographie
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If you exceed the authorized quantities (for tobacco and thealcohol), you must pay customs duties, possibly fines and your goods may be confiscated.

Warning  

The overseas countries, some of the islands, Andorra and Monaco, have specific regulations equivalent to those of non-EU countries. In some cases, you have to pay customs duties. Find out.

As a result of the check, you can make a written claim on a dedicated register located in each customs service.

If you are not satisfied, you can also make a claim to the mediator economic and financial ministries.

Request mediation from the Ombudsman of Economic and Financial Ministries

Elsewhere

You can be checked at different places in the territory:

  • Boundary and area around the called boundary "customs department"
  • Airport, train station, sea port, motorway, train, boat
  • Any place in the public space of the territory (rarer)

Role of Customs Officers

The control must be clear well-known.

Example :

If you are being controlled on a highway or train, officers should introduce themselves by starting with the following sentence: "This is a customs control".

The agents are either identifiable by the port of theuniformor, if they are in civilian clothes, by wearing a armband "customs".

They have to explain theobject control.

They have the right to make body searches.

You must answer all questions that are relevant to the proper conduct of the inspection (place of origin, goods transported, etc.).

He is prohibits denying control on penalty of fine and imprisonment.

Please note

You can ask customs officials to present their map called professional employment commission. In particular, it must contain their identity.

Controlled Documents and Objects

Customs officers shall monitor the following:

To find out everything about the customs control process, you can go to the customs website.

You must declare your goods purchased abroad if they exceed value or quantity thresholds.

Please note

In case of absence or misrepresentation, you must pay the duties and taxes and any fines. Merchandise or money can be confiscated.

You pay customs duties on the following goods based on the quantities reported:

Pass customs with peace of mind

Download
Pass customs with peace of mind - plus de détails dans le texte suivant l’infographie
Crédits: Service Public (DILA)Infographie - Pass customs with peace of mind

He is forbidden transporting drugs, counterfeit goods, protected animal or plant species, meat and milk.

The carriage of the following goods is authorized according to specific conditions :

As a result of the check, you can make a written claim on a dedicated register located in each customs service.

If you are not satisfied, you can also make a claim to the mediator economic and financial ministries.

Request mediation from the Ombudsman of Economic and Financial Ministries

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