What can you bring through customs in the United Kingdom?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

• 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.

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 →

• GOV.UK: duty-free goods and customs allowances