Switzerland

Direction: travellers entering Switzerland (including residents returning from abroad). Per BAZG pages captured live on 2026-09-27 (all HTTP 200). This is a proactive goods-declaration procedure for goods that are not duty-free on entry. At the border crossing you contribute to a rapid customs assessment by keeping recognised valid travel documents ready and proactively declaring (unaufgefordert anmelden) the goods and animals you carry that are not duty-free — that is, that exceed the quantity allowances (Freimengen) or the CHF 150 VAT value-free limit, or that are prohibited or restricted; the customs declaration can be handled for most goods with the official BAZG app QuickZoll before crossing (the app also computes import charges in advance; it does not apply to internet shopping). Travellers with nothing to declare — those carrying only goods that are duty-free within the Freimengen and the value-free limit or already taxed via QuickZoll — can use the green way at airports; when crossing by car, the green visible customs declaration (grüne Sichtzollanmeldung) may be placed on the dashboard — it is a binding declaration that you and your fellow passengers carry only goods that are duty-free within the Freimengen and the value-free limit or that you have already taxed via QuickZoll, and customs staff may carry out checks without questioning; if you are unsure whether your goods must be declared, choose the red passage. VAT value-free limit (Wertfreigrenze): when returning from abroad or entering Switzerland you may import goods up to a total value of CHF 150 inclusive ('bis zu einem Gesamtwert von 150 Franken') free of VAT, provided they are for your private use or as gifts; only a total value strictly exceeding CHF 150 triggers VAT on the entire value of the imported goods; the limit may be used once per person per day and also applies to children; single items valued over CHF 150 are always VAT-taxable regardless of the number of persons; the decisive value is the price net of foreign VAT where this is shown on the receipt/invoice, and foreign-currency values are converted into Swiss francs; the VAT rate is 8.1%, with a reduced rate of 2.6% for certain goods (e.g. foodstuffs, non-alcoholic beverages, books, magazines, medicines); in principle all carried goods count towards the limit — including duty-free foodstuffs, tobacco products, alcoholic beverages, pets and repairs/maintenance carried out abroad on your own vehicle — while the value of personal effects, travel provisions (Reiseproviant) and vehicle fuel is not counted; presenting a receipt or other proof of value eases assessment. Quantity allowances (Freimengen) per person per day, calculation basis gross weight: meat and meat preparations of all animal species, excluding wild game, fish, crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates — 1 kg in total, excess CHF 17 per kg up to 10 kg and CHF 23 per kg above 10 kg (includes edible animal parts with or without bone, meat/blood sausages, other meat products, and prepared foods with more than 20% by weight of sausage, meat or blood assessed on total preparation weight; marrow bone and sauce bones and labelled retail-pack pet food are excluded); butter and cream with fat content from 15% — 1 kg/litre in total, excess CHF 16 per kg/litre; oils, fats and margarine for food purposes — 5 kg/litre in total, excess CHF 2 per kg/litre; alcoholic beverages (allowances only for persons aged at least 17): up to 18% vol. alcohol — 5 litres in total, excess CHF 2 per litre; over 18% vol. alcohol — 1 litre in total, excess CHF 15 per litre (beverages with an alcohol content up to 0.5% vol. do not count as alcoholic beverages); tobacco products (including tobacco substitute products): cigarettes/cigars/heated-tobacco products/nicotine cartridges for e-cigarettes — 250 pieces in total, excess CHF 0.25 per piece; other tobacco products — 250 g in total, excess CHF 0.10 per g; nicotine-containing liquids for e-cigarettes — 250 ml, excess CHF 0.25 per ml; electronic single-use cigarettes — 25 pieces, excess CHF 2.50 per piece; a proportional combination of these products is permitted; other foodstuffs and other goods are duty-free. Animal products may be imported exclusively from EU member states, Iceland, Northern Ireland and Norway — import from other countries is prohibited. If the total value of the carried goods (including the value of all foodstuffs) exceeds CHF 150, VAT must in any case be paid; in addition to VAT, customs duty is payable when the carried goods exceed the Freimengen for alcoholic beverages, tobacco products and certain foodstuffs. Certain goods are prohibited or subject to restrictions on import (e.g. species-protected plants, animals and goods, counterfeits, weapons, fireworks, medicines).