What can you bring through customs in the United States?
US customs lets arriving travellers bring in goods for personal use up to a personal exemption, but every traveller must declare what they carry, and food, plants and animal products are tightly controlled.
Updated October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
Personal allowance for goods
Visitors and returning residents have personal exemptions that differ with who the traveller is, how long they were abroad and where they went. Goods above the exemption are charged duty at set rates, and gifts have their own allowance.
Alcohol and tobacco
Adults may bring alcohol and tobacco within limits set by US customs, and the state where you arrive can have its own rules. The minimum age to import alcohol is 21.
Food, plants and animals
Everything you carry in the way of food, plants, seeds, soil, animals and animal products must be declared. Many fresh fruits, vegetables, meats and plant materials are banned or need a permit, because the rules protect American agriculture. Declare an item even if you are not sure.
Cash and valuables
Anyone carrying cash or monetary instruments above a set amount into or out of the country must report it on a customs form. Carrying more is not illegal, but failing to report it can lead to seizure.
Medicines and banned items
Prescription medicines should stay in their original container, with a prescription, and controlled substances need extra care. Dogs entering the country have to meet health and age rules, and other animals have their own. Counterfeit goods, ivory and many wildlife products are banned. Cannabis remains illegal to carry across the federal border even where a state has legalised it.
What to watch for
- Answer the customs declaration truthfully: penalties for not declaring food or plant material can be large.
- Rules for travellers differ by whether you are a visitor, a returning resident or a returning resident from certain regions; check the category that fits you.
Understand the legal system first
The United States 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 States legal-system profile in the Legal Families Atlas →
Official sources
Take it further
Five sentences to show the police: embassy, lawyer, interpreter. Print it and keep it with your passport.
Permission for a child to travel with one parent or another adult.
Let someone you trust act for you when you cannot.
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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.
