Before traveling to Italy for vacation, it is worth familiarizing yourself with the customs regulations. Here are some main restrictions and advice for travelers:
Import regulations in Italy
If you are bringing in an amount exceeding 10,329 EUR into the territory of Italy, it needs to be declared. Amounts below this threshold can be freely imported and exported from Italy.
Individuals over 17 years old from non-European Union countries are allowed to import the following into Italy:
- 1 liter of strong alcohol (by the way, how much alcohol can be carried into Italy is one of the most popular questions among our tourists, although local spirits are very tasty and inexpensive)
- 2 liters of fortified wine (up to 22%)
- 200 cigarettes, 100 cigarillos, 50 cigars, or 250g of tobacco
- 500g of coffee
- 100g of tea
- 50ml of perfume and 250ml of eau de toilette
Prohibited items to carry into Italy
- Any historical valuables and documents without accompanying papers, permits, invoices, and special authorization from the Ministry of Culture of Italy
- Narcotics
- Firearms and ammunition
- Meat and dairy products
Items allowed for export from Italy
You are allowed to export any goods from Italy, except for expensive antiques and artworks without special authorization from the Ministry of Culture of Italy.
Tax Free in Italy
Another important question is the refund of Value Added Tax (VAT) at customs for purchases made in Italy. Many shops and boutiques have already joined the Tax Free system, so you can save up to 15% on shopping in Italy.
To receive the tax refund, make sure that the store operates under this system. Fill out the special Tax Free form at the time of purchase and be sure to keep the receipt. Do not unpack or use the purchases until you have crossed the border.
Present the completed form and receipt at the customs desk in the airport, and you will receive the refund at a designated counter. The whole process takes about 30 minutes.
However, if the queues are long (as many people do go to Italy for shopping), you can also receive the refund on your bank card.
