Italy customs rules & duty-free allowances

Last reviewed October 1, 2026·Official source

Italy enforces EU customs rules with particular zeal at Rome Fiumicino and Milan Malpensa, where the Guardia di Finanza runs frequent spot checks on cash and undeclared goods. The single biggest trap for visitors is the cash declaration threshold — it applies to the total you are carrying, not per person, and penalties for failing to declare start at 15% of the excess. If you are arriving from outside the EU, you must also clear customs through the red or green channel; there is no arrival card, but the declaration is verbal unless you are over a threshold. These rules apply to non-EU residents and EU residents alike for cash, but the duty-free allowances below are for non-EU residents only.

Duty-free allowances

Alcohol
1.0 L
1 litre of spirits over 22% ABV, OR 2 litres of fortified wine or sparkling wine up to 22% ABV, OR 4 litres of still wine, OR 16 litres of beer. You may combine these only if you stay within one of the categories — you cannot take 1L spirits plus 4L wine. Must be 18 or over.
Tobacco
200 cigarettes
or 50 cigars / 250 g
Cash to declare
$10,000
€10,000 or more (about USD 10,800) in cash, cheques, or easily convertible assets must be declared. Use the EU cash declaration form at the customs office before leaving the baggage hall. If you are transiting through another EU country first, declare at your final destination in Italy.
Goods duty-free
$800
Non-EU residents may import goods up to €430 (about USD 465) for personal use or gifts duty-free. For travellers under 15, the limit is €150. Above €430, you pay Italian VAT (22% standard rate) plus customs duty (typically 2.5–12% depending on the item) on the full value, not just the excess.

Prohibited — banned from import

  • Narcotics and psychotropic substances (including cannabis, even if legal in your home country)
  • Meat, milk, and dairy products from non-EU countries (personal imports banned)
  • Counterfeit goods (branded fakes are seized and destroyed, with fines up to €10,000)
  • Weapons and ammunition without prior authorisation from Italian police
  • Cultural goods and artworks exported illegally from their country of origin
  • Endangered species products (ivory, coral, tortoiseshell) without CITES permits

Restricted — allowed with a permit or declaration

  • Firearms and ammunition — require a permit from the Italian Questura before arrival
  • Medicines containing narcotics or psychotropics — need a Ministry of Health certificate
  • Plants, seeds, and soil — require a phytosanitary certificate
  • Drones — must be registered and may require authorisation from ENAC (Italian civil aviation)
  • Satellite phones — require a licence from the Ministry of Economic Development

Arriving: red vs green channel

After passport control, follow signs to the customs hall. If you have nothing to declare and are within the duty-free limits, walk through the green channel. If you are over any limit, carrying €10,000 or more in cash, or carrying restricted goods, use the red channel and speak to a customs officer. There is no arrival card to fill out — declarations are made verbally or with a specific form for cash. Random checks are common, and officers can ask you to open luggage.

Tax-free shopping & VAT refunds

Non-EU residents can claim a VAT refund on purchases of €70.01 or more from a single retailer in one day. Look for the 'Tax Free' or 'Global Blue' sticker, get the form stamped by customs at the airport before checking in your bags, then claim the refund at a refund desk or by mail. The refund is typically 10–15% of the purchase price after fees.

Bringing medication

Bring personal medication in its original packaging with a copy of your prescription or doctor's letter. For narcotic or psychotropic drugs, you need a special certificate from the Italian Ministry of Health before travel — this includes common painkillers containing codeine, ADHD medications like Adderall, and some sleeping pills. Without it, you risk arrest. Over-the-counter medications are generally fine for personal use.

Food, plants & animal products

Meat, dairy, and fish products from outside the EU are banned — even a ham sandwich from a non-EU flight must be declared and will be confiscated. Plant products, seeds, and soil require a phytosanitary certificate. You may bring small amounts of certain processed foods like chocolate, biscuits, or honey for personal use, but declare anything you are unsure about. Fines for undeclared food start at €300.

Rules worth knowing

Cash declaration is per person, not per family

The €10,000 threshold applies to each traveller individually. If you are travelling with family and collectively carry €15,000, each person must declare if their personal share exceeds €10,000. Splitting cash among bags does not avoid the rule — customs counts the total you are carrying.

Green channel is a legal declaration

Walking through the green channel means you are legally declaring you have nothing to declare. If customs finds undeclared goods, you face immediate fines starting at 15% of the duty and VAT owed, plus possible seizure. Always use the red channel if you are unsure.

VAT refund requires customs stamp before check-in

You must get your tax-free form stamped by Italian customs before you check in your bags. If you check in first, customs cannot see the goods and will refuse the stamp. At Fiumicino, the customs desk for VAT refunds is in Terminal 3, departures level.

Tobacco allowance cannot be pooled

The tobacco allowance is per person aged 18 or over. You cannot combine your allowance with a child's or another adult's to bring in more. If you exceed the limit, you pay duty on the entire quantity, not just the excess.

Frequently asked questions

You clear Italian customs at your final destination in Italy, not at your first EU entry point. However, if you are carrying €10,000 or more in cash, you must declare it at your first point of entry into the EU (Paris) if you are not continuing directly to Italy. For goods, you declare in Rome.
Codeine is a controlled substance in Italy. You need a certificate from the Italian Ministry of Health before you travel, even for personal use. Without it, you risk arrest. Apply at least 15 working days before departure through the Italian embassy or consulate.
You pay Italian VAT (22%) plus customs duty (typically 2.5–12% depending on the item) on the full value of the goods, not just the amount over €430. For example, a €500 handbag would incur VAT and duty on the entire €500. You must declare it in the red channel.
The duty-free allowance is 4 litres of still wine per adult. Above that, you pay excise duty and VAT. There is no upper limit on the quantity you can import for personal use, but customs may question very large amounts (e.g. more than 90 litres) as commercial.
No, personal electronics for your own use are duty-free and do not count against the €430 allowance. However, if you are carrying multiple new laptops or cameras in unopened boxes, customs may consider them commercial goods and charge duty.
No. Meat and dairy products from non-EU countries are banned, even for personal consumption. This includes hard cheese, salami, and vacuum-packed items. They will be confiscated and you may receive a fine starting at €300.
Before checking in, go to the customs office in Terminal 3 (departures level) with your tax-free forms, passport, and the goods. Get the forms stamped, then check in. After security, go to a refund desk (Global Blue, Planet, etc.) to collect your refund in cash or to your credit card. Minimum purchase is €70.01 per store per day.

Official source

Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (Italian Customs and Monopolies Agency)

For guidance only. Customs allowances and prohibited-item lists change without notice — always confirm with Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (Italian Customs and Monopolies Agency) before travelling.