All items that may end up in the luggage of a tourist or businessperson are divided by any local legislation into three groups: those that can be imported in any reasonable quantity, those that can be imported only in a clearly defined quantity, and those that are prohibited from import. The same applies to export.
In all European countries, requirements for tourists are quite simple: no drugs; works of art, items of national heritage and weapons - only with appropriate permission; tobacco and alcohol - in certain quantities. There are also some restrictions on the import and export of certain food products, plants and animals. In general, nothing extraordinary. But the further east or south a traveler goes, the more peculiar and whimsical the legislation becomes.
For example, in Eastern countries such as Iran, the import of alcohol, gambling devices, including playing cards, and any printed matter and films that contravene the religious or public morality of that country are prohibited. Furthermore, all travelers who have been abroad more than once in the current year must use the "red" corridor here.
European Union
Allowed: import of 200 cigarettes, or 100 cigarillos, or 50 cigars, or 250 g of smoking tobacco. 2 liters of wine or 1 liter of alcoholic beverage with an alcohol content of more than 22 degrees (for persons over 17 years old). 50 ml of perfume or 250 ml of toilet water; 500 g of coffee, 10 g of tea, 1 kg of animal products, 250 g of sturgeon caviar. The necessary amount of medicines for personal use. Goods worth no more than €175.
Prohibited: drugs, items of historical value, weapons and ammunition. In some countries, obscene materials are prohibited.
United Kingdom
Allowed: Gifts and souvenirs if their total value does not exceed 145 pounds.
Prohibited: import of meat, fish, honey, eggs, milk (except powdered).
Finland
Allowed: Import of 1 liter of strong alcohol (by persons aged 20 and over) or 2 liters of aperitif and 2 liters of wine and 16 liters of beer (over 18); 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars (over 17); 500 g of coffee, 100 g of tea (over 15); 250 g of sturgeon caviar. NB: cocktails in cans are considered strong alcoholic beverages! Import of all medicines in an amount calculated for three months.
Prohibited: to import alcohol and any alcoholic beverages if the duration of stay in the country is less than 72 hours.
France
Prohibited: import of counterfeit goods under brands such as Christian Dior, Lancome, etc. Types of toys dangerous due to their chemical or physical properties (toxic paint, fragile small parts).
Australia
Allowed: Import of 2.25 liters of any alcoholic beverage; 250 cigarettes or 250 grams of cigars. It is necessary to declare all medicines and food products, regardless of their type.
Prohibited: without permission to transport goods made from certain materials, plants and animals that are endangered: hard corals, mollusk shells; orchids; alligators, monitor lizards, zebras, snakes, sturgeon caviar, whales, rhinoceroses, elephants, turtles.
Argentina
Allowed: unlimited import and export of foreign and national currency. Import of 2 liters of any alcoholic beverages, 400 cigarettes or 50 cigars (over 18 years old); 5 kg of canned food. Gold items must be declared.
Prohibited: import of meat and meat products, cheese, bread, vegetables and fruits.
Brazil
Allowed: import of foreign currency is unlimited, national currency - with restrictions. However, buy a laptop, radio, player or video camera is allowed only in one copy.
Prohibited: export of any wild animals, skins, shells, feathers and claws.
Dominican Republic
Allowed: export of no more than 50 cigars.
Prohibited: import and export of national currency, import of food products, and import of medicines is limited. A special permit is required for the export of items raised from the seabed that have artistic value, certain types of orchids, and palm tree cores.
Israel
Prohibited: import of devices and equipment for gambling, wireless telephones operating in the 900 MHz range, counterfeit banknotes, coins and documents. Passing through the "green" corridor with a video camera, VCR, personal computer, scuba diving equipment (only through the "red" corridor). A special permit is required for the import of fresh meat, medicines, animals, plants, wave transmission equipment.
India
Allowed: 2 liters of any alcoholic beverages, 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars, 250 g of tobacco. Gifts worth up to 4,000 rupees. Gold and silver in any form must be declared (exception: jewelry).
Prohibited: import and export of Indian currency, pornographic materials, antiques, counterfeit products and goods exported in other cases of intellectual property rights violations, ivory, reptile skins, etc.
Cuba
Allowed: import and export of Cuban currency up to 100 pesos, foreign currency up to $5,000. Import of one photo and video camera (5 cassettes each), one binoculars, one laptop, one portable music center. Import of 200 cigarettes, 250 g of tobacco. Export - 23 cigars per person (in larger quantities only if the cigars are purchased in specialized stores selling export goods, in sealed packaging with a hologram). With a permit, export of jewelry and crocodile products.
Prohibited: import of cordless telephones and microphones, professional video equipment, refrigerators, air conditioners, stoves, electric kettles, irons, etc. Export of books published more than 50 years ago, precious wood, skins and feathers of exotic animals and birds, precious metals, sea shells, and certain electrical household goods (except those previously imported).
Malaysia
Permitted: import of 1 liter of alcoholic beverages, 200 cigarettes or 225 g of tobacco, perfume worth no more than 200 ringgits, souvenirs up to the same amount, plus 100 matches. Import of national and foreign currency is unlimited, export of local currency up to 5,000 ringgits. Electronic, audio and video equipment: no more than one item per person.
Prohibited: import of honey and eggs, clothing with printed texts from the Quran, radios (68-87 and 108-174 MHz), any products from Haiti and Israel, as well as fountain pens. Export of sugar, coral, seeds, skins, feathers, stuffed animals, and military uniforms. Import and export of gold exceeding 100 g. Import and export of drugs: death penalty!
Mexico
Permitted: import of one video camera, one camera, and 12 rolls of film.
Prohibited: import of meat, vegetables and fruits, plants and seeds, flowers; medicines without a prescription. Export of precious metals, rare animals and birds, as well as their skins, feathers, and stuffed animals.
New Zealand
Prohibited: export of kiwifruit, as well as wine made from it and from grapes. Export of wool.
UAE
Permitted: import of 2 liters of any alcoholic beverages, to Sharjah only one bottle. 2,000 cigarettes or 400 cigars, or 2 kg of tobacco. Import of currency without restrictions.
Prohibited: import of publications, photographs, paintings, postcards, books, and sculptures that do not correspond to religious morality or may be perceived as unfriendly towards the state. Without permission, you cannot import medicines, audio and video cassettes of erotic content.
Russia
Permitted: 2 liters of alcoholic beverages of any strength, 400 cigarettes. NB: In Russia, when importing or exporting currency, amounts from $3,000 to $10,000 must be declared, and for amounts exceeding 10,000, bank certificates are required. Moreover, this amount includes any equivalent of currency: dollars, euros, tugriks, rubles, etc., as well as traveler's checks and securities. It is this last circumstance that tourists most often overlook, taking with them, for example, $2,000 and 30,000 rubles accidentally “forgotten” in a wallet. This is quite enough to pay a fine of 10 to 25 times the minimum wage.
Thailand
Permitted: 1 liter of alcoholic beverages, 200 cigarettes or 250 g of cigars. Import and export from Thailand of any amount of Thai and foreign currency (amounts over 50,000 baht must be declared when exporting).
Sri Lanka
Permitted: 12 toiletries (both men's and women's), six pairs of socks, six ties, six hats, and six belts, two pairs of watches, four refillable pens, six photo albums, three calculators, and 12 pencils.
Jamaica
Permitted: import of up to 1.3 liters of alcoholic beverages (excluding rum). Export of tobacco and alcohol without restrictions.
Prohibited: import and export of local currency. Import of fresh flowers and plants, honey, fruit, non-canned meat and vegetables, as well as coffee (in any form). Export of antiques found on the seabed, fur and leather products not declared. Import of printed materials about magic, occultism, etc.
Japan
Permitted: import of three bottles of alcohol of any strength with a volume of 0.75 l; 400 cigarettes or 100 cigars or 500 g of tobacco. 100 kg of rice per year.
Prohibited: import of books, pictures of indecent content, counterfeit coins, banknotes, securities.