France customs rules & duty-free allowances

Last reviewed October 1, 2026·Official source

France's biggest customs trap is cash: undeclared amounts at or above the EU threshold are seized on the spot and can trigger a fine. The second trap is food: meat, milk and most animal products from outside the EU are banned outright, even a ham sandwich from a non-EU flight. If you arrive from another EU country, there is no duty-free allowance and no cash declaration requirement.

Duty-free allowances

Alcohol
1.0 L
1 litre of spirits over 22% ABV, OR 2 litres of intermediate products (e.g. port, sherry) up to 22% ABV, OR 4 litres of still wine, OR 16 litres of beer. You can combine the wine and beer allowances, but the total must not exceed the single highest allowance. Must be 18+.
Tobacco
200 cigarettes
or 50 cigars / 250 g
Cash to declare
$10,000
€10,000 or more (about $10,800) in cash, cheques, or easily convertible assets (gold coins, etc.). Declare on form D1 at the Douane desk before leaving the baggage hall. Undeclared cash is seized and you face a fine of up to 50% of the amount.
Goods duty-free
$800
€430 (about $465) for air and sea travellers, €300 for land travellers, €200 for travellers under 15. Above that, you pay French VAT (20% standard rate) plus any customs duty (typically 2.5–12% depending on the item).

Prohibited — banned from import

  • Narcotics and drugs (including cannabis, even if legal in your home country)
  • Meat, milk, and most animal products from non-EU countries
  • Counterfeit goods and pirated items
  • Endangered species products (ivory, tortoiseshell, certain corals)
  • Offensive weapons and unlicensed firearms
  • Hate speech materials and Nazi propaganda

Restricted — allowed with a permit or declaration

  • Firearms and ammunition (require a permit from the French prefecture)
  • Plants and seeds (need a phytosanitary certificate)
  • Pets (need an EU pet passport or health certificate and rabies vaccination)
  • Drones (must be registered and may require authorisation)
  • Satellite phones (may require a licence)

Arriving: red vs green channel

After baggage reclaim, walk through the Green Channel if you have nothing to declare and are within all allowances. If you exceed any allowance, carry restricted goods, or have €10,000+ in cash, use the Red Channel and speak to a Douane officer. There is no arrival card for French or EU citizens, but non-EU visitors may be asked to fill out a customs declaration form if selected for inspection.

Tax-free shopping & VAT refunds

Non-EU residents can claim a VAT refund on purchases of €100.01 or more in a single store on the same day. Look for the 'Tax Free' sign, get the refund form (bordereau) from the retailer, and validate it at the PABLO kiosk at the airport before check-in. You must show the goods, passport, and form; refunds are paid to your card or in cash (minus a fee).

Bringing medication

Bring personal medication in original packaging with a prescription or doctor's letter. For narcotics or psychotropic drugs, you need a special permit from the French health authority (ANSM) if the quantity exceeds a 30-day supply or contains controlled substances. Some common US medications (e.g. certain amphetamines, high-dose codeine) are restricted or illegal in France — check the ANSM website before you fly.

Food, plants & animal products

Meat, milk, and most animal products from non-EU countries are banned — even a ham sandwich or a yogurt. Plants, seeds, and soil require a phytosanitary certificate. You can bring up to 2 kg of fruit and vegetables, and up to 20 kg of fish or 10 kg of certain seafood, but all food must be declared. Failure to declare can result in fines and confiscation.

Rules worth knowing

Cash declaration is mandatory

If you carry €10,000 or more in cash, cheques, or easily convertible assets (gold, etc.), you must declare it on form D1 at the Douane desk before leaving the baggage hall. Undeclared cash is seized and you face a fine of up to 50% of the amount.

Food from non-EU countries is banned

Meat, milk, and most animal products from outside the EU are prohibited, even in small quantities. This includes sandwiches, cheese, and yogurt. You can bring up to 2 kg of fruit and vegetables, but all food must be declared.

Duty-free allowance is for the whole EU

If you're flying into France from outside the EU, your duty-free allowance applies to the entire EU. If you then travel to another EU country, you don't get another allowance. If you arrive from another EU country, you have no duty-free allowance at all.

VAT refund requires validation at the airport

To claim a VAT refund on purchases of €100.01 or more, you must get the refund form stamped by customs at the PABLO kiosk before check-in. You must show the goods, passport, and form. Refunds are paid to your card or in cash (minus a fee).

Frequently asked questions

Yes, for personal use. Bring it in original packaging with a prescription or doctor's letter. If it contains narcotics or psychotropic substances, you need a special permit from the French health authority (ANSM) if the quantity exceeds a 30-day supply. Some common US medications (e.g. Adderall) are illegal in France — check the ANSM website before you fly.
Yes, if you are entering the EU and carrying €10,000 or more, you must declare it at your first point of entry into the EU, even if you are just transiting. If you are transiting through France without leaving the international zone, you may not need to declare, but check with the Douane.
Yes, but your pet needs an EU pet passport or a health certificate, a microchip, and a valid rabies vaccination. The vaccination must be at least 21 days old before travel. You must also declare the pet at customs.
You must go through the Red Channel and declare the excess. You will pay French VAT (20% standard rate) plus any customs duty (typically 2.5–12% depending on the item). If you don't declare, you risk fines and confiscation.
Yes, if you are a non-EU resident and the purchase was €100.01 or more in a single store on the same day. Get the refund form from the retailer, validate it at the PABLO kiosk at the airport before check-in, and show the goods, passport, and form. The refund is paid to your card or in cash (minus a fee).
Yes. Meat, milk, and most animal products from non-EU countries are banned. You can bring up to 2 kg of fruit and vegetables, and up to 20 kg of fish or 10 kg of certain seafood, but all food must be declared. Failure to declare can result in fines and confiscation.
Yes, because the UK is outside the EU. You get the standard EU duty-free allowance: 1L spirits, 200 cigarettes, etc. If you were flying from another EU country, you would not get a duty-free allowance.

Official source

Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects (French Customs)

For guidance only. Customs allowances and prohibited-item lists change without notice — always confirm with Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects (French Customs) before travelling.