Monday 6 July 2026

How much tobacco can you carry in your suitcase?

When you go on holiday abroad, it can be tempting to buy and bring back tobacco, especially if the rates are lower than in France.

However, be careful to return to the national territory and your place of origin. Certain conditions must be met at the risk of being subject to the payment of duties and taxes and to sanctions (fines, penalties, confiscation of products). To avoid this, find out about the conditions that must be met to bring tobacco back to France.

Under what conditions is it possible to bring tobacco back to France?

You can buy manufactured tobacco (cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, smoking tobacco) and then bring it back to France under the following conditions:

  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Ensure either even the transport of tobacco
  • Respect the quantities according to the type of product
Overseas departments and regions, local authorities and overseas territories are not concerned, nor are the Channel Islands, the Canary Islands, Andorra, Monaco or Switzerland. Similarly, cross-border commuters, cross-border workers and international transport workers are not affected.

Quantity of tobacco that can be brought into France from a European Union country (excluding DROM-COM)

You can bring tobacco back to France from a European Union country. However, you should be aware that quantity limits are set, beyond which you will have to declare your products and pay the corresponding duties and taxes.

These quantities are not cumulative and are considered individually. We are talking about quantities per person and within the same vehicle. It must be possible to present an invoice or a receipt at the customs check.

Quantities of tobacco/cigarettes that you can bring to France without having to declare it to customs in the EU

Undeclared quantities for tobacco purchased in a Member State of the European Union
QuantitiesProducts
800 unitscigarettes
OR 400 unitscigarillos
OR 200 unitscigars
OR 1 kgtobacco
OR 1proportional range

Quantity of tobacco that can be brought into France from a country outside the European Union

You can bring tobacco back to France from countries outside the European Union. However, you should know that there are also quantity limits, beyond which you will have to declare your products and pay the corresponding duties and taxes.

These quantities are not cumulative and are considered individually. We are talking about quantities per person and within the same vehicle. It must be possible to present an invoice or a receipt at the customs check.

Quantities of tobacco/cigarettes you can bring to France without having to declare it to customs outside the EU

Undeclared quantities for tobacco purchased in a country outside the European Union
QuantitiesProducts
200 unitscigarettes
OR 150 unitscigarillos
OR 50 unitscigars
OR 200 gramssmoking tobacco
OR 1 unitproportional range