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Glossary · Documents & entry

What is a duty-free allowance?

Also called customs allowance

Your duty-free allowance is how much of certain goods — typically alcohol, tobacco, and gifts — you can bring into a country without paying import duty or tax. Go over it and you're meant to declare the excess and pay the difference at customs.

Allowances and the goods they cover vary by country and by where you're arriving from, and they change — check your destination's current customs limits before stocking up.

Related terms

  • Liquids rule (3-1-1)
  • Checked baggage

Updated July 2, 2026

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