Us customs what do i have to declare

Post offices in some countries have limits on how big or heavy your packages can be. In Germany and Great Britain, any surface-mail package for overseas delivery is limited to 2 kilograms, or about 4. For heavier packages, you must use their postal services' affiliated package services. From France, you can ship surface packages up to 30 kilograms about 66 pounds. The fastest way to get a package home from Italy is to use the Vatican post office — or take it home in your suitcase.

Every box I've ever mailed from Europe has arrived — bruised and battered but all there — within six weeks. To send precious things home fast, I use DHL; they have offices in any big city. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Share. By Rick Steves Customs regulations vary depending on whether you are bringing items home on the plane with you, or mailing them to a US address. Shipping Things Home While it's fun to shop in Europe, it's not fun to have more things to carry.

Prev NEXT. How the U. Otherwise, anything that you did not have when you left the country must be declared, including: Advertisement. Anything you bought including from duty-free shops or on a ship or airplane Anything you inherited or received as a gift you'll have to estimate the fair market price of the gift Anything you brought home for a friend Anything you plan to use or sell in your business Alterations or repairs to anything you took abroad and brought back for example, tailoring of a suit in Hong Kong Anything you bought or received as a gift in an insular possession country America Samoa, Guam, the U.

Virgin Islands or any Caribbean Basin Initiative country see the sidebar and that is being shipped directly to your home this is different from the usual procedure for mailed items. Caribbean Basin Countries. Cite This! Print Citation. Try Our Sudoku Puzzles! Volunteers Abroad. Travelers with Pets. Travelers With Firearms. Travel Agents. Crisis Abroad: Be Ready. Natural Disasters. Hurricanes, Typhoons, and Cyclones. Manmade Disasters. Your Health Abroad. Insurance Providers for Overseas Coverage.

Ebola Information for Travelers. Zika Virus Information for Travelers. Driving and Road Safety Abroad. Customs and Import Restrictions.

For more information, please contact the CDC or U. Customs and Border Protection. Customs Restrictions of Foreign Destinations — What You Cannot Take to Other Countries Many countries have restrictions on what you can bring into that country, including food, pets , and medications.

Even over-the-counter medications may be prohibited in some countries. Check with the foreign embassies and consulates in the U. Foreign embassy and consulate contact information can also be found in the Country Specific Information for each country. A number of countries have restrictions on what items you can export or take with you when departing that country including, but not limited to:. Countries may require export permits, which may take some time to process. Travelers who violate foreign customs rules can be detained at the airport, fined, have the items confiscated, and, in some cases, be sentenced to prison.

To be safe, check with foreign embassies and consulates in the United States for your destination country before you travel.