Customs

Importing goods: limited amounts

Want to take a holiday souvenir home in your suitcase? Good idea. However, you cannot simply bring everything from abroad into Belgium. The customs and excise officers will see to this. They control the import and export of certain goods to and from Belgium. 

For travellers, this means that you can only import a limited amount of certain goods from abroad, e.g. alcoholic beverages, tobacco or perfume. Furthermore, you may only import a limited total amount.

There are various rules depending on which country you are entering Belgium from. 

Read all information pertaining to the import of foreign goods

Exporting goods

Customs rules also apply when travelling abroad from Belgium. Drugs, weapons and protected animals and plants are prohibited. You must also declare to customs if you are taking €10,000 or more with you to a destination outside the EU.

In addition to Belgium's export regulations, the country of destination also has its own customs rules.These often include additional rules relating to animal products, food or plants, flowers, vegetables and fruit.

Read more about exporting goods

Parcels

For goods that are shipped to Belgium from outside the European Union, you may have to pay customs duties and VAT. Extensive information is available on the website of the Belgian Customs and Excise Administration.

Couldn’t find the answer to your question? Preferably contact Customs by mail using the button below or call +32 (0)2 572 57 57.

Mail your question

Nothing to declare: green exit

Importing less than the exempted quantities? You may use the green customs exit.

Something to declare: red exit

Importing more than the exempted quantities? Then use the red customs exit.

You must also use the red exit if you are importing the following goods from outside the European Union.

• Cash (cash, gold) with a (converted) value of 10,000 euros or more
• Goods with a total value of more than €430 (including clothing, handbags, electronics, ...)
• It is advisable to inform customs if you are travelling with an animal, including your own pet
• Commercial goods for trade purposes
• Goods whose import is prohibited or only permitted with an import license, such as weapons, ammunition, textiles 
• Goods that are subject to health controls upon import, such as protected animals and plants, foodstuffs 

Passenger's questions for customs: +32 (0)2 572 46 40