#1 What about the 300 francs?

Hold the card up to the reader once, a soft 'beep' sounds and the purchase is complete. The shops are tempting, especially abroad, where goods are sometimes cheaper than in Switzerland. But what costs can travellers expect when they return across the Swiss border? First the good news: if you come back from a weekend in London with new clothes worth CHF 220, you pass through customs green and pay no duty. The magic limit for duty-free imports is CHF 300.

But the bad news follows: in October 2024, the Federal Council decided that from 2025, only goods worth CHF 150 can be imported tax-free for private use.

In addition to the Federal Council's decision, there are other exceptions, which we will discuss in the second point. By the way: If you're not sure whether you have to pay duty on something, use the red lane. Customs staff will be happy to explain whether customs clearance is required.

 

#2 Why two kilograms of smoked sausage can suddenly become more expensive

Who doesn't love culinary specialities that taste best when they're freshly made on the spot? But if you want to bring back two kilos of smoked sausage from Poland, for example, and think you can import it as an allowance, you are wrong. The allowances for animal products are limited. 

The limit for meat is one kilogram, as is the limit for butter. If you prefer vegetable margarine, you can bring in up to five kilograms duty-free. But the duty-free limit does not stop at food. It also applies to alcohol, tobacco and substitute products such as liquids. And there is another difference to food. While the allowances for meat and butter apply to a 5-year-old child and therefore have no age limit, you have to be at least 17 years old to get allowances for tobacco and alcohol.

 

#3 Are there any products that I am not allowed to import? 

At Zurich airport, Swiss customs have an entire room dedicated to items that are not allowed into the country under any circumstances. Obvious candidates include counterfeit handbags and fake watches that look expensive but are actually made from cheap, ill-fitting parts.

But even seemingly harmless products are sometimes banned from entering Switzerland. Examples include coral, certain types of shellfish and invasive plants. If you come to Switzerland from a third country, you are not allowed to bring any parts of plants, including fruit and vegetables. So as delicious as fresh mangoes from Southeast Asia may look, they should be eaten locally and not packed in your suitcase. But there are exceptions. While mangoes are banned, pineapples, bananas, dates, durian and coconuts can be imported for personal use - but only these.  

 

#4 I think I have something to declare. How do I go about it? 

Back from holiday, suitcases full of souvenirs - and now border control. If you have something to declare, you have several options. The QuickZoll app allows you to do your own customs clearance for personal goods. It is relatively simple to use. The traveller specifies how many people are travelling and what goods they are carrying. The app automatically calculates the duties applicable to the purchases. There is no need to worry about allowances and value limits as these are deducted directly. Once you have cleared your goods through customs using the app, you can take the green lane and show the receipt in the app to customs staff if requested.

If you don't want to use the app, don't worry. You can still clear your goods directly at customs using the red lane.

 

#5 Are there any tricks to avoid the fees?

There are, and they're not going away. The rumours about how to avoid customs and VAT. If you do a bit of googling, you'll find a whole list. Suggestions include destroying receipts, hiding new clothes in the dirty laundry or wearing them straight away. Or people hope that ignorance will protect them.

The most important thing to remember is that customs officials are aware of all these tricks, but they are of little use. One of the reasons for this is that the burden of proof lies with the person paying the duty, not with the customs officials.

Here is an example: Mr and Mrs T. are travelling from New York to Switzerland. They are both wearing new coats by well-known designers. At this point, the customs expert may ask for a receipt or credit card statement showing when the items were purchased. Mr and Mrs T. will have to prove that the coats were not bought new in New York. This also applies to clothes from a high-end second-hand shop.

 

#6 I'm travelling with an animal, what should I do?

Holidays in Greece are wonderful. The only thing more beautiful is the young stray dog waiting to be petted outside the hotel every day. An idea quickly comes to mind: "What if we took her with us and gave her a home in Switzerland?  As wonderful as the idea is, the task is complex, especially if you are travelling from a country with an increased risk of rabies.

There are two important points to consider. The requirements of the country of departure and those of Switzerland. A Swiss customs checklist, which can be accessed via the following link, will help you when entering Switzerland. It gives a point-by-point description of what is required for importation. This list is also used by customs officials during inspections.

Important to know: Even if you are just going on holiday with your pet, you must go through the red lane when crossing the border. You must also carry your pet's passport with up-to-date vaccinations.