What can you bring through customs in the United Kingdom?

Its own customs territory

The United Kingdom has its own customs allowances for goods you carry in from abroad. Since leaving the EU, travellers from the EU are treated like other arrivals, and rules on meat and dairy apply to them too.

Updated October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.

Rules change, and customs officers enforce them. This page describes how the rules are built, not the amounts, which change often. For the exact allowance, limit or banned list that applies to you, use the official customs authority below, and when in doubt, declare. This is general information, not legal advice.

Personal allowance for goods

Travellers have a personal allowance for goods for their own use, and gifts have a separate allowance. Goods above it are charged duty and VAT, and anything for sale must be declared as a commercial import.

Alcohol and tobacco

Adults have separate allowances for alcohol and for tobacco. They are per person and apply to goods for personal use. Limits for travellers arriving from the EU are the same as those from elsewhere.

Food, plants and animals

Meat, dairy and many other animal products are generally banned for personal import, with exceptions for small amounts from a few places and for specific products. Plants and plant products need a certificate in many cases, and pets must meet the UK's health and microchip rules.

Cash and valuables

You must declare cash above a set amount when you enter or leave the UK, including from the EU. The rule covers cash, cheques and some other valuables.

Medicines and banned items

You can normally bring medicines for personal use, in original packaging and with a prescription where needed, and controlled drugs can need a licence. Illegal drugs, certain weapons, counterfeit goods, and many products from endangered species are banned.

What to watch for

The rules for Northern Ireland differ in some respects because of its special trading arrangements.
Duty-free shopping applies on journeys that leave the UK; check allowances on the GOV.UK pages.

Understand the legal system first

The United Kingdom belongs to the Common law family. Customs law is made by the state, so it is useful to know how the legal system works.

Read the United Kingdom legal-system profile in the Legal Families Atlas →

Official sources

GOV.UK: duty-free goods and customs allowances

TheLawToKnow Tools’s customs guide is an educational overview of general rules. It is not legal advice, and it does not replace the customs authority’s own information. Report a mistake.