Duty-Free Rules
Ever wondered how much you are allowed to buy at the airport or if there are restrictions on how much alcohol or cigarettes you can purchase? Read on for Alternative Airline’s guide to Duty Free shopping rules.
Rules for Duty Free Shopping
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Passengers & Class
What is duty-free shopping?
A duty-free shop is a shop which sells goods or products without the addition of duty, which is defined as taxes, fees or VAT. They are often found in international terminals of the airport, but also sometimes at border crossings or ship port terminals.
Prices at duty-free shops are typically lower than prices outside of the duty free area, but shoppers need to be savvy to ensure they are entitled to a reduction and get the best deal. As with any shop or mall, some airports have better duty-free shopping than others, so be sure to read our guide to the best airports for shopping to be able to plan your travels around the airport shops.
People often take advantage of cheaper duty-free goods to buy items such as cigarettes, wine, beer or liquor. Find out how to transport these items in our prohibited items blog.
Who qualifies for duty-free?
Whether you can buy duty-free depends on where you're travelling from and to, and sometimes, how long you’ve stayed.
- From the UK: Travellers leaving the UK for destinations outside the EU can shop duty-free. That means you won’t pay VAT or duty on eligible items.
- Within the UK or EU: If you’re travelling between UK airports or to destinations inside the EU, standard taxes and VAT will still apply.
- Other international travellers: Most countries allow duty-free shopping when you're departing for a foreign destination. Eligibility and limits vary, so it's worth checking the rules for both your departure and arrival countries.
When in doubt, check with the airport or retailer. They’ll confirm if you’re eligible and what limits apply.
How much duty-free am I allowed?
The following table summarises the limits to imports into popular destinations without the addition of customs duty.
Use this guide when doing your duty-free allowance to see how much you are allowed to buy. In most cases, this is the allowance without incurring customs duty.
| Country | Cigarettes/Tobacco | Alcohol | Other Goods |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 200 cigarettes OR 100 cigarillos OR 50 cigars OR 250g tobacco | 1L of spirits OR 2L of wine OR 16L of beer | Goods up to €430 |
| United States | 200 cigarettes OR 100 cigars | 1L of spirits OR 1L of wine OR 24 cans of beer | Goods up to US$800 (residents) or US$100 (non-residents) |
| Saudi Arabia | 600 cigarettes OR 100 cigars OR 500g tobacco | Prohibited | Alcohol is banned. Goods up to SAR3,000 |
| Australia | 50 cigarettes OR 50g tobacco OR cigars | 2.25L of spirits OR 2.25L of wine OR 16L of beer | Goods to A$900 |
| Canada | 200 cigarettes AND 50 cigars AND 200g tobacco | 1.14L of spirits OR 1.5L of wine OR 8.5L of beer | Goods up to C$200 (residents) |
| United Arab Emirates | 400 cigarettes AND 50 cigars AND 500g tobacco | 4L of spirits OR 2L of wine | Goods to AED3,000 |
| India | 100 cigarettes OR 25 cigars OR 125g tobacco | Prohibited | Gifts up to Rs8,000 |
| France | 200 cigarettes OR 100 cigarillos OR 50 cigars OR 250g tobacco | 1L of spirits OR 4L of wine OR 16L of beer | Goods to €430 |
| Germany | 200 cigarettes OR 100 cigarillos OR 50 cigars OR 250g tobacco | 1L of spirits (exceeding 22%) OR 4L of wine OR 16L of beer | Goods to €430 |
| Spain | 200 cigarettes OR 100 cigarillos OR 50 cigars OR 250g tobacco | 1L of spirits (exceeding 22%) OR 4L of wine OR 16L of beer | Goods to €430 |
| Italy | 200 cigarettes OR 100 cigarillos OR 50 cigars OR 250g tobacco | 1L of spirits OR 2L of wine OR 16L of beer | Goods to €430 |
| South Africa | 200 cigarettes AND 20 cigars AND 250g tobacco | 1L of spirits OR 2L of wine OR 2L of beer | 50ml perfume AND 250ml eau de toilette. Goods to R5,000 |
| Brazil | 200 cigarettes AND 25 cigars AND 250g tobacco | 12L of beer OR 4L of wine OR 2L of spirits | 20 items >$10 each (max 3 same). Value ≤ US$500 |
| Japan | 400 cigarettes OR 100 cigars OR 500g tobacco | 3L of spirits OR 9L of wine OR 12L of beer | 60ml perfume. Goods to ¥200,000 |
| China | 400 cigarettes AND 100 cigars AND 500g tobacco | 1.5L of spirits OR 1.5L of wine | Goods to ¥5,000 (residents) |
| Turkey | 600 cigarettes AND 100 cigarillos AND 50 cigars AND 250g tobacco | 1L of spirits OR 2L of wine OR 16L of beer | Gifts to €430. Perfume max 5 × 120ml. 1kg tea, coffee, sweets |
| Qatar | 400 cigarettes | Prohibited | Goods to QR3,000 |
| Ireland | 200 cigarettes OR 100 cigarillos OR 50 cigars OR 250g tobacco | 1L of spirits OR 2L of wine OR 16L of beer | Goods to €430 |
| New Zealand | 50 cigarettes OR 50g tobacco OR cigars | 3L of spirits OR 4.5L of wine OR 4.5L of beer | Goods to NZ$700 |
| Mexico | 10 packs of cigarettes OR 25 cigars OR 200g tobacco | 3L of spirits OR 6L of wine OR 12L of beer | Goods to US$500 |
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FAQs
What does duty-free mean?
Duty-Free is a term used to describe purchasing products without the inclusion of fees such as duty and tax. These discount prices are only available to passengers travelling outside the European Union, and not within the EU. Duty-free items usually include items such as spirits, cigarettes, cigars and tobacco.
Can I use duty-free on arrival back in the UK?
No, duty-free is only available when leaving the UK for non-EU destinations. When you arrive back in the UK, you’ll go through customs, where limits apply to what you can bring in without paying extra tax.
What are the limits on duty-free purchases?
Limits vary depending on what you're buying. For example, travellers from non-EU countries can typically bring up to 1 litre of spirits, 200 cigarettes and goods worth up to £390 without paying duty. Always check the latest allowance guidelines before you fly.