Austria customs rules & duty-free allowances
Austria sits inside the EU customs union, so its border checks are really about what you carry in from outside it — and the two things that catch travellers most often are undeclared cash and a forgotten ham sandwich. Austrian customs officers can stop anyone in the green channel, and they treat both the €10,000 cash threshold and the EU ban on meat and dairy as strict liability: 'I didn't know' does not work.
Duty-free allowances
Prohibited — banned from import
- Narcotics and drugs (including cannabis, even if legal in your home country)
- Meat and dairy products from non-EU countries (including sandwiches, sausages, cheese)
- Counterfeit goods (fake branded items)
- Pirated media (illegal copies of films, music, software)
- Weapons and ammunition without a valid permit
- Endangered species and products made from them (ivory, coral, etc.)
Restricted — allowed with a permit or declaration
- Firearms and ammunition (require a permit and must be declared)
- Plants and plant products (phytosanitary certificate required)
- Live animals (pet passport and health certificate needed)
- Cultural goods (export licence required for certain items)
- Drones (must be registered and may require permission)
Arriving: red vs green channel
At Vienna Airport and other international arrival points, you'll see two channels: green for nothing to declare, red for goods to declare or if you're unsure. There is no arrival card to fill out for customs, but you must walk through the correct channel. If you have nothing to declare, just walk through the green channel — but be aware that customs officers can and do stop people randomly for checks.
Tax-free shopping & VAT refunds
Non-EU residents can claim a VAT refund on purchases of €75.01 or more from a single shop. Look for the 'Tax Free' or 'Global Blue' sign, ask for a tax-free form, and at the airport get the form stamped by customs before checking in your luggage (you may need to show the goods). Then claim the refund at the refund counter or by mail. The refund is the VAT (typically 20%) minus a service fee.
Bringing medication
Bring personal medication in its original packaging with a prescription or doctor's letter. For narcotic or psychotropic drugs, you need a special permit from the Austrian health authority (Bundesamt für Sicherheit im Gesundheitswesen) before you travel. Some common medications (e.g. certain painkillers containing codeine, or ADHD drugs) are controlled and require a permit. Always check with the Austrian embassy if you're unsure.
Food, plants & animal products
Meat, dairy, and products of animal origin from non-EU countries are banned, even in small quantities. Plant products, seeds, and soil are also restricted. You can bring small amounts of certain foods like bread, cakes, chocolate, and fish (up to 20 kg) for personal consumption. Anything else must be declared and may be confiscated.
Rules worth knowing
Cash declaration is strictly enforced
If you carry €10,000 or more in cash or equivalent, you must declare it. Austrian customs regularly checks and fines travellers who fail to declare. The fine can be up to 50% of the amount. Declare at the red channel before leaving the customs area.
No meat or dairy from non-EU countries
Even a ham sandwich or a yogurt from your flight will be confiscated if you're arriving from outside the EU. This is an EU-wide rule, but Austrian customs enforces it strictly. Don't risk a fine — declare or discard before customs.
VAT refund requires customs stamp before check-in
If you want a VAT refund on purchases, you must get the tax-free form stamped by customs before you check in your luggage. The goods must be shown to the customs officer. After stamping, you can check in and then claim the refund at the refund desk or by mail.
Tobacco allowance can be split
You can mix cigarettes, cigars, and tobacco as long as the total doesn't exceed the equivalent of 200 cigarettes. For example, 100 cigarettes plus 25 cigars is allowed. This is useful if you want to bring a variety.