Irish Customs has fairly traditional EU rules. Keep them in mind and you will have no problems during your trip.
What you can carry into Ireland on an airplane
- Goods up to 175 EUR. For persons under 15 years of age, the amount of imported goods is 90 EUR regardless of the mode of transportation.
- The import of foreign currency is not limited.
What is not allowed to be imported into Ireland
- Narcotics and narcotic drugs
- Weapons and ammunition without special authorization
- Poisonous substances
- Plants in the soil
- Milk and meat products, except for 2 kilograms of baby food or food needed by a person for medical purposes
What is forbidden to take out of Ireland
- An antiquities, including stones from archaeological excavations and items found at the bottom of the sea.
How much alcohol can be brought into Ireland
- 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars
- 1 liter of spirits with an alcohol content of more than 22%
- 2 liters of beverages not exceeding 22% alcohol
- 4 liters of non-sparkling wines
- 16 liters of beer
How much alcohol can be taken out of Ireland
- 1 liter of spirits
- 2 liters of wine
- 2 liters of olive oil
In order to export or import larger quantities of alcohol, Irish Customs may require you to pay a duty.
Tax Free is a refund of a portion of the VAT (Value Added Tax) on goods you purchase in Schengen countries. Non-European Community residents can benefit from the Tax Free system, which provides a tax refund on items they purchase and take out of the country in their luggage.
To qualify for a VAT refund, you'll need to:
- Look for the Tax Free sign in the store or inquire with the retailer.
- When making a purchase, present your passport and ask the seller to provide a Tax Free receipt that describes the purchase and specifies the refundable amount (VAT tax).
- During your trip, keep the receipt along with the store's financial receipt issued at the cash register.
- To apply for Tax Free, you must make purchases totaling at least 42 EUR in a single store.
- When leaving EU countries, present the Tax Free receipt at the special border checkpoint for Tax Free along with the purchased items (which must remain in their original store packaging and not be used) and the store's cash register receipt. Look for the Tax Free Cash Refund point, often located in Duty Free stores or nearby, in many airports.
