Switzerland customs rules & duty-free allowances

Last reviewed October 1, 2026·Official source

Switzerland sits outside the EU customs union, so every arrival from France, Germany or Italy is a fresh customs clearance — and BAZG officers patrol trains, motorway crossings and airport halls with on-the-spot fines. The classic mistake is treating a cross-border shopping run like an internal EU trip: meat, dairy, cash and tax-free shopping all have Swiss-specific thresholds that catch visitors out.

Duty-free allowances

Alcohol
1.0 L
1 litre of spirits over 22% ABV, or 2 litres of alcohol under 22% ABV (wine, beer, sparkling) — one combined allowance, not both. Minimum age 17. Above the allowance, duty is charged at Swiss rates plus 8.1% VAT.
Tobacco
200 cigarettes
or 50 cigars / 250 g
Cash to declare
$10,000
Declare CHF 10,000 or more (about USD 11,300) in cash or equivalent (traveller's cheques, gold, securities). Declare verbally at the red channel or in writing using the BAZG declaration form; there is no online pre-declaration for cash.
Goods duty-free
$800
Goods for personal use or as gifts are duty-free up to CHF 150 (about USD 170) in total value per person. Above CHF 150, Swiss VAT of 8.1% applies on the full value, and customs duty is charged on top for dutiable categories such as clothing and electronics. The CHF 300 limit applies only to goods bought in the EU for personal use.

Prohibited — banned from import

  • Narcotics and drugs, including cannabis — even small amounts for personal use
  • Counterfeit branded goods and pirated media
  • Weapons, ammunition, and pepper spray without a permit
  • Protected animals and plants, including ivory, coral and certain orchids (CITES)
  • Obscene publications and material glorifying violence

Restricted — allowed with a permit or declaration

  • Meat and dairy products from non-EU countries beyond the 1 kg combined limit (e.g. sausages, ham, cheese from outside Europe)
  • Prescription medicines containing controlled substances — need a Swissmedic import permit
  • Drones over 250g — must be registered and carry liability insurance
  • Satellite phones and encrypted radio equipment — require a licence from OFCOM
  • Plants, seeds and soil — require a phytosanitary certificate
  • Cultural goods and art over CHF 5,000 — may need an export/import licence

Arriving: red vs green channel

At Swiss airports you walk through a red/green channel system. If you have nothing to declare and are within the allowances, take the green channel — there is no arrival card to fill in for Swiss or foreign passports. If you exceed any limit, carry cash over CHF 10,000, or are unsure, use the red channel and declare; undeclared goods found in the green channel are fined on the spot, often CHF 100–500 plus the duty and VAT owed.

Tax-free shopping & VAT refunds

Switzerland runs a tourist VAT refund scheme called 'Tax Free Shopping'. You must spend at least CHF 300 (about USD 340) in a single store on the same day, get a Global Blue or Planet Tax Free form, and show the goods, receipts and form to customs at the airport before check-in. Customs stamps the form, then you claim the 7.7% VAT refund at the refund desk or by mail — refunds are typically 5–6% after fees.

Bringing medication

Bring personal medication in its original packaging with a copy of your prescription or doctor's letter. Up to one month's supply of non-controlled prescription medicine is allowed for personal use. Switzerland bans or restricts several common drugs: narcotics, strong painkillers (e.g. codeine in high doses), and some ADHD stimulants require a special import permit from Swissmedic. Cannabis, even for medical use, is illegal to bring in without a federal exemption.

Food, plants & animal products

Meat, meat products, milk and dairy are tightly restricted: you may bring a total of only 1 kg of meat and 1 kg of dairy per person from non-EU countries, and many travellers are surprised that this includes sausages, ham, pâté and cheese. Plants, seeds, cut flowers and soil generally require a phytosanitary certificate and may be banned from certain regions. Declare all food and plant items at the red channel — undeclared meat and dairy carry fines starting around CHF 200.

Rules worth knowing

Switzerland is not in the EU customs union

Even if you fly from Paris or Munich, you clear Swiss customs on arrival. The EU duty-free allowances do not apply — you get the Swiss limits instead, which are lower for meat and dairy.

Meat and dairy limit is 1 kg combined

You can bring at most 1 kg of meat and 1 kg of dairy per person from outside the EU. A single salami or a wheel of cheese can exceed this, and fines are issued on the spot.

Cash declaration is strictly enforced

Carrying CHF 10,000 or more in cash, gold or securities must be declared. Swiss customs can and does stop travellers at land borders and airports, and undeclared cash can be seized with a fine of up to CHF 5,000.

VAT refund needs customs stamp before check-in

For tax-free shopping you must get the customs stamp at the airport before checking in your bags — if you check in first, you lose the refund. The minimum spend is CHF 300 per store per day.

Frequently asked questions

Yes. Switzerland is outside the EU customs union, so you clear Swiss customs at the border. On trains, customs officers board and check; at stations there are red/green channels. The same Swiss allowances apply — no EU duty-free limits.
Yes, but pets need a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination at least 21 days old, and an EU pet passport or veterinary certificate. Dogs of certain breeds (e.g. pit bulls) are banned or require a permit.
Only 1 kg of dairy per person from outside the EU. France is outside the Swiss customs union, so the 1 kg limit applies. A typical round of cheese is 1–2 kg, so you may exceed it and owe duty and VAT.
You will be fined on the spot. The fine is typically CHF 100–500 plus the duty and VAT owed on the goods. For serious cases (e.g. undeclared cash over CHF 10,000) the fine can be higher and goods may be seized.
If they are for personal use and you are a non-resident, no — they are temporarily admitted. If you are a Swiss resident returning, you may need to declare them if they were bought abroad and exceed the CHF 150 allowance.
No specific litre limit for perfume, but it falls under the CHF 150 total goods allowance. Above that, you pay 8.1% VAT plus duty if applicable.
Yes, but drones over 250g must be registered with the Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA) and you need liability insurance of at least CHF 1 million. Flying over crowds or near airports is banned.

Official source

Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (BAZG)

For guidance only. Customs allowances and prohibited-item lists change without notice — always confirm with Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (BAZG) before travelling.