The customs procedure in Estonia is generally in line with Schengen customs legislation, which may not come as a surprise to experienced travelers. However, there are specific nuances to be aware of when dealing with Estonian customs, which can be somewhat challenging for those who are not well-informed. To help travelers navigate customs control at the borders of the Republic of Estonia, our tripmydream website is offering a master class on the subject.
When do I need to declare luggage?
The Estonian Customs Service recognizes the right of tourists entering the country by rail and road to import duty-free personal items up to 300 EUR. When crossing the border by air or sea, the total tax-free value of hand luggage increases to 430 EUR.
A distinctive feature of Estonian customs legislation is the introduction of different formats for declaring large and small consignments of goods, resulting in different taxation. When importing non-commercial goods with a value higher than the duty-free entitlement and when importing commercial goods with a value of less than 21.98 EUR, a passenger declaration must be filled in.
For vehicles and commercial goods valued at 1000 EUR or more, a customs declaration with payment of duties at higher rates is required.
Rules for duty-free importation of goods
An excisable product is not something that can be brought into Estonia by plane, train, ferry, or bus without restrictions, so tobacco products, alcohol, and fuel are subject to quotas that are not linked to the excess value of the goods purchased. However, the import and export of money are not limited, provided that amounts exceeding EUR 10,000 are declared.
Smoking tourists over 17 years old arriving from countries may carry excisable goods in non-taxable hand luggage in non-commercial quantities:
- Tobacco products: not more than 40 cigarettes, 50 cigars, 100 cigarillos, or 50 grams of tobacco.
- Alcohol: beer - up to 16 liters; red and white wines - up to 4 liters; liqueurs and sparkling wines - up to 2 liters; vodka, cognac, and other drinks stronger than 22% vol. - up to 1 liter.
- Perfume - up to 50 ml; toilet water - up to 250 ml;
- Motor fuel: one standard tank for a personal automobile or watercraft.
Many tourists have a question about how to calculate how much alcohol can be brought into Estonia when transporting hot drinks of different strengths. You will have to remember your math lessons and find the specific weight of certain types of alcoholic beverages in the total batch of alcohol. The volume of each drink must be converted to a percentage of the maximum allowable value, and then the results are summed up so that the total amount of alcohol is 100%.
Preempting a counter question about how much alcohol you can take out of Estonia, the answer is that quotas are determined by the customs laws of the country of departure.
Alcohol can be imported duty-free only once a year; tobacco products can be imported excise-free twice a year.
Souvenirs and gifts made with biomaterial from protected animal species can also attract serious complaints from the Estonian customs service. In order to transport such items, you must be authorized by the local CITES office. An exception is made only for such sought-after goods as umbrellas made from cactus plants, sturgeon caviar, and haberdashery products made of crocodile skin.
In order to maintain one's health, a passenger has the right to carry up to 10 packages of medicines of different names. To take care of a four-legged friend, a passenger may carry up to five veterinary medicines in retail packaging. At the same time, each nomenclature unit must be no more than three factory packs. Drugs, especially narcotic and psychotropic drugs, must be accompanied by a prescription from a doctor or veterinarian.
There are also restrictions on the importation of plant products into the country:
- Fruits, vegetables, and live plants with a total weight of up to 5 kilograms;
- Citrus fruits - up to 3 kilograms;
- Room plants - up to 5 pieces;
- Cut flowers and branches - up to 20 pieces;
- Seeds - up to five standard packs;
- Flower bulbs and tubers - up to 2 kg.
Animal products of animal origin, not containing milk and meat, may be imported into Estonia in quantities of up to 2 kg. For fish, crayfish, shrimps, edible mollusks, and fish products (except caviar), the import quota has been increased to 20 kilograms.
Transportation of pets is allowed only in the presence of a veterinary passport with vaccinations and preventive treatments, an identification chip or tattoo, and a rabies vaccination certificate issued not earlier than 10 days before departure.
What is prohibited to bring into Estonia:
- Firearms, cold and electroshock weapons prohibited in civilian circulation, as well as ammunition and explosives.
- Narcotics, psychotropic drugs, and their precursors.
- Counterfeit consumer goods.
- Illegal copies of media files and software.
- Milk and meat products, except infant formula and dietary food in hermetically sealed packaging weighing up to 2 kg.
- Non-endemic species of wild animals and wild plants threatening the balance of national ecosystems.
- Pornographic materials about minors.
What is forbidden to take out of Estonia
Cultural property must not leave the territory of the republic without the permission of the controlling authorities. However, precious metals and jewelry stones can be taken out of Estonia, but only in the form of jewelry and souvenirs.
How to reclaim VAT in Estonia
Refunding VAT through the Tax Free system partly compensates third-country nationals for customs restrictions and red tape for Schengen visas. This offer applies to all types of goods with a VAT rate above 20%, and the value of a single purchase must be at least 38 EUR.
Shops that support the Tax Free system are easily recognizable by the Global Blue stickers in their windows. When paying for your purchase, remember to ask for a sales receipt and a Tax Free form, which must be filled out in Latin letters. Make sure that the date and seller's VAT number (KMKR) on the form and on the receipt match exactly; otherwise, it will be difficult to convince the customs official to refund the VAT. The completed form is valid for three months after issuance.
When you get back to your hotel, put the bag you brought from the store in the darkest corner and forget about it for the rest of your vacation. Any violation of the integrity of the original packaging before you leave Estonia may result in your VAT refund being refused.
On the day of departure from Estonia, purchases in undamaged packaging, accompanied by a receipt and a completed form, must be presented at the customs control point, and ask the customs officer to stamp the Tax Free form. Then, it is necessary to look for the Tax Free/Global Blue counter in the terminal and cash in the refunded funds.
If you're short on time or just don't feel like waiting in line, you can get a VAT refund on your credit card by sending a written notice to Global Blue's processing center. Mailing notices in prepaid, stamped envelopes is free of charge.
