I am driving to Hungary on holiday and need a difinitive answer to my question.?
Could anyone tell me how many cigarettes I am allowed to bring back to UK. I have tried HM Customs site but am getting nowhere. No guesses please, just facts.
many thanks
July 26th, 2010 at 8:00 pm
First fact: UK HM authorizes up to 3200 cigarettes as being for personal use which may be taken into the UK from other European Union countries except from Bulgaria, Estonia, Lithuania, and Romania where it is limited to 200 pieces. This however does only apply for direct (flight) travel without travelling though other EU countries.
http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/channelsPortalWebApp.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pageTravel_ShowContent&id=HMCE_PROD_010221&propertyType=document ..
Second fact: based on EU-law the minimum amount of tax-free cigarettes is determined as being 800 pieces.
http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/common/travellers/within_eu/index_en.htm ..
Third fact: some EU countries like Germany or the Netherlands have established the customs rule that 800 pieces of cigarettes is the maximum which is allowed as being considered for personal use. Holding more you may be taxed and fined and the items may be confiscated.
http://www.zoll.de/english_version/a0_passenger_traffic/a0_holidays/index.html ..
http://www.douane.nl/particulier/reizigersbagage/en/reizigersbagage-02.html#P49_1880 ..
Fourth fact: based on the Schengen Agreement there are no regular immigration or custom controls between Hungary, Austria, Germany, Belgium, and France. Your chances to get through with 3200 fags are quite good; but you may also run into a random selection immigration/customs control. They are mostly focused on illegal immigrants but they also check customs allowances.
To be safe without any risk you should not take more than 800 pieces.
July 26th, 2010 at 10:38 pm
There is no limit, but the cigarettes must be for personal use.