Subtitle: Ministry of Finance informs about important rules
Souvenirs, species protection and import of goods =
Vienna (OTS) – Summer time is vacation time. Who in the holiday resort
If you want to pack souvenirs in your luggage, you should make sure
Take these products or finds with you from your holiday destination
and also to be allowed to import them into Austria. The
The Ministry of Finance and the Austrian Customs Office therefore provide information
some important customs regulations.
Finance Minister Magnus Brunner gives a personal tip: “The
The most beautiful and safest holiday memory is always the photo. If it
If you want it to be a souvenir, then please note our tips for it
a worry-free return journey. Because problems at customs can be very easy
should be avoided and a souvenir from vacation shouldn’t be used either
contribute to the extinction of species, nor lead to penalties. In case of doubt
Please inform yourself in advance and be on the safe side.”
Traveling within the European Union
There is free movement of goods within the EU, which means that
Goods for personal use are generally sold without additional taxes
the borders can be taken with you. But be careful: there is
Upper limits for the purchase of tobacco products and alcohol
are to be taken into account. Provided that the goods are exclusively for
For your own private use, the following guide quantities apply:
800 cigarettes, 400 cigarillos, 200 cigars, 1 kilogram of smoking tobacco,
800 tobacco sticks (“Heets”) or, if presented differently, 250 grams
tobacco contained as well as 10 liters of spirits, 20 liters of alcoholic beverages
22% vol., 90 liters of wine (of which a maximum of 60 liters of sparkling wine) and 110
liters of beer.
However, the customs authorities must continue to carry out certain controls
carry out, for example, compliance with import bans
or restrictions. These controls help, among other things,
To ensure your safety, prevent illegal trade in prohibited items
goods and the health of people, animals,
Protect plants or the environment.
Entry from non-EU countries
The situation is different when entering from a non-EU country. Here
Specific allowances apply to tobacco and alcohol. Tax-free for
For your private use you can pack 200 cigarettes, 100 pieces
Cigarillos (cigars weighing a maximum of three grams), 50
Introduce pieces of cigars or 250 grams of smoking tobacco.
For alcohol, there are restrictions on the quantity of one liter with more than 22%
vol. or undenatured 80% ethyl alcohol or 2 liters of alcohol
and alcoholic beverages with an alcohol content of less than 22% vol.
In addition, 4 liters of non-sparkling wines and 16 liters are permitted
Bier.
Free limit for goods value
Other goods are up to a total value of 300 euros per traveler
or 430 euros for air travelers tax-free, provided it is a
non-commercial import. For travelers under 15 years old
These two exemption limits are generally reduced to 150 euros
(regardless of the means of transport used).
Within these exemption limits, the product group “Tobacco for
Heat” maximum 800 tobacco sticks or in case of other presentation
250 grams of tobacco contained are eliminated. If this is exceeded
Guide quantities must be stated that the goods are for personal use
are determined.
If the allowances and allowances have already been exhausted,
The customs rates are based on the goods in excess of this
must be used in your luggage, generally in accordance with
EU customs tariff. Each product or product group has its own customs rate
intended.
Goods with a total value of up to 700 euros will be sent with one
Flat rate of 2.5% duty paid. In addition, the
Import sales tax collected. This does not apply to tobacco products and for
Goods for which the duty rate is marked “free” in the table of customs rates
is specified.
Cash regulations
For travelers with 10,000 euros or more in cash
Obligation to register when crossing the border into the EU or from the
EU is carried out. This includes not only cash, but also
Checks, gold coins and gold bars. Registration information
can be found at:
https://www.bmf.gv.at/themen/zoll/Kontrolle-von-Barmitteln.html
Be careful with souvenirs
For all the treasures you want to bring back from your vacation,
consider the international species protection regulations. Articles like
Ivory, tropical wood or products from protected animal species are allowed
possibly not or only with the appropriate ones
Species protection documents are introduced.
Exceptions are up to 125 grams of caviar from sturgeon species individually
marked containers, up to three so-called rain sticks
(rainsticks, musical instruments made from cactus wood), up to
four processed products made from crocodile skins or other parts of
less strictly protected crocodile species (excluding meat and
Hunting trophies), up to three shells of fencer snails, up to four
dead specimens of seahorses, up to three specimens of
Giant clams, or up to one kg of wood chips, 24 ml of oil and two
Sets of beads (or prayer beads or two necklaces or
Bracelets) made of agarwood per person.
Traveling with animals
When traveling within the EU, up to five pets (dogs,
Domestic cats and ferrets) can be carried per person, provided for
Each animal has a pet passport (Pet Passport) or in the case of animals
An animal health certificate is carried in third countries. The
However, it may not be taken for trading purposes.
For invertebrates (except bees, bumblebees, molluscs and…
Crustaceans), tropical ornamental fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds
(except poultry) as well as rodents, hares and rabbits that do not
are intended for food production and not for
transported within the EU for commercial purposes
currently no restrictions.
Depending on the origin of the animals, the necessary requirements may apply
be different. If these are not met, the animals are
to be sent back to the country of origin or quarantined
take. The costs for this are borne by the traveler or the person
Travelers have to bear and can spend several thousand euros per animal
be.
Were of animal origin
In order to avoid the introduction of animal diseases, the
Import or transfer of goods of animal origin
Austria certain restrictions.
In principle, goods can be transported within the European Union
of animal origin (meat and meat products, milk and
dairy products, fishery and aquaculture products as well
Products containing meat and meat products, milk and
dairy products or fishery and aquaculture products)
in small quantities intended for personal consumption, in
personal luggage must be brought with you. But there are limitations
in the protective measures against avian influenza and measures to combat it
African swine fever.
The importation of goods of animal origin in personal luggage
Third countries for private consumption is only for the following products
possible: honey and beeswax, royal jelly, propolis, max. 2
Kilograms of pollen, max. 2 kilograms of eggs, baby milk powder,
Infant formula, max. 2 kilograms of medical food
and a maximum of 2 kilograms needed for health reasons
Pet food. Fishery products can be in the amount of one
Fish or max. 20 kilograms can be imported. The import of
Meat and meat products as well as milk and milk products
not allowed.
If animal products are imported in unacceptable quantities,
These must be confiscated and destroyed by the customs authorities. The
The costs for the destruction must be borne by the travelers themselves.
Vegetable products
The movement of plants and plant products within the
European Union is not subject to any restrictions.
The importation of plants (including those intended for planting
Plants), plant parts, fruit, vegetables, flowers or seeds
Third countries are generally subject to a control obligation, provided that:
there is no import ban. Excluded from this are fruits of
Bananas, dates, pineapple and durian as well as coconuts.
If plants or plant products are used without complying with the
control obligation or introduced in violation of an import ban
these must be confiscated and destroyed by the customs authorities. The costs
The travelers are also responsible for the destruction.
Find out more before you start your trip
Before you pack your bags, take a moment
Check current terms and conditions on our website or directly
to inquire with the relevant customs authorities. Here’s how you can
ensure that your vacation experience is not affected by the unexpected
Customs duties are clouded.
For further information and details on the individual regulations
visit our website at
https://www.bmf.gv.at/themen/zoll/reise.html. We want one
pleasant and worry-free trip!
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