What you can bring back from Switzerland without paying duty
Doing your shopping in Switzerland on the way home from work is tempting, but cross-border workers are allowed much smaller quantities than tourists. Here are the limits you need to know to avoid a fine.
- Cross-border worker: 75 € of duty-free purchases (40 € for under-15s).
- Tobacco and alcohol allowances are also lower for cross-border workers.
- Above these limits, you must declare your purchases and pay the duties.
Duty-free amounts
| Traveller | By road | By air or sea |
|---|---|---|
| Cross-border worker, 15 and over | 75 € | |
| Cross-border worker, under 15 | 40 € | |
| Other traveller, 15 and over | 300 € | 430 € |
| Other traveller, under 15 | 150 € | |
Tobacco and alcohol
| Product | Cross-border worker | Other traveller |
|---|---|---|
| Cigarettes | 40 | 200 |
| Cigarillos | 20 | 100 |
| Rolling tobacco | 50 g | 250 g |
| Cigars | 10 | 50 |
| Still wine | 0.5 L | 4 L |
| Beer | 4 L | 16 L |
| Spirits (over 22% vol.) | 0.25 L | 1 L |
For tobacco and spirits, you must choose a single product, or combine them in proportion (for example half the cigarettes and half the cigarillos). Under-17s are not entitled to any duty-free tobacco or alcohol.
Who counts as a cross-border worker?
Anyone who crosses the border to go to work, as well as residents of the Ain, Haute-Savoie, Doubs, Jura, Haut-Rhin and Territoire de Belfort who live less than 10 km from the Swiss border.
Fuel is allowed in the tank, plus one can of 10 L at most.
Frequently asked questions
How much can a cross-border worker bring back from Switzerland without paying duty?
75 € of purchases for a person aged 15 and over, and 40 € for a child under 15.
How many cigarettes can a cross-border worker bring back from Switzerland?
40 cigarettes, or 20 cigarillos, or 50 g of rolling tobacco, or 10 cigars, from the age of 17.
What happens if I go over the duty-free allowance?
You must declare your purchases at customs and pay VAT and duties on their total value. Failing to declare them can lead to a fine.
- douane.gouv.fr: goods brought back from outside the European Union
- Infos Douane Service: 0 800 94 40 40 (free from France)
Source: French customs, goods bought outside the European Union