Login/Create Account
Duty-free limits for tobacco and alcohol for travelers entering Germany from non-EU countries
When you enter Germany from a non-European country (Nicht-EU-Land, a country outside the EU), you are allowed to bring in certain limited quantities of tobacco products and alcoholic beverages for personal use without paying customs duties or taxes, as long as you do not exceed the limits below.
Tobacco products (Tabakwaren)
Allowed only for persons who are 17 years or older.
| Type | Maximum permitted quantity |
|---|---|
| Cigarettes (Zigaretten) | 200 cigarettes |
| or small cigars (Zigarillos) | 100 cigarillos (≤ 3 g per piece) |
| or cigars (Zigarren) | 50 cigars |
| or smoking tobacco (Rauchtabak) | 250 grams |
| or a proportional mixture of all | Provided that the total equivalent does not exceed the overall allowance |
Exceeding these quantities is not allowed under any circumstances, even if the goods are for personal use only. Otherwise, taxes and fines will be imposed.
Alcoholic beverages (Alkohol)
Allowed only for travelers over 17 years of age.
| Type | Maximum permitted quantity |
|---|---|
| Strong alcoholic drinks (>22%), such as whisky or vodka | 1 liter |
| or alcoholic drinks with lower strength (≤22%), such as fortified wine or sparkling wine | 2 liters |
| Still wine (Wein) | 4 liters |
| Beer (Bier) | 16 liters |
Important notes:
-
These quantities are treated as a full customs exemption only if the goods are intended solely for personal use.
-
If you exceed the limits, excise duty + value-added tax (VAT) + customs duties will be charged.
-
You may not split the quantities across several people to avoid declaring them; customs may regard this as evasion or manipulation.
-
If you are carrying more than the limit or are unsure, you should go through the red channel (Rot) at customs.
Practical examples:
-
A traveler from Turkey carries:
-
300 cigarettes? → over the limit (only 200 are allowed) → must be declared + duties paid.
-
1 liter of whisky and 2 liters of wine? → allowed (each category is within its limit).
-
4 liters of beer and 6 liters of wine? → limit exceeded for wine → must be declared.
-
Quick summary
| Product | Duty-free limit |
|---|---|
| Cigarettes | 200 pieces |
| Cigarillos | 100 pieces |
| Cigars | 50 pieces |
| Tobacco | 250 grams |
| Whisky/Vodka | 1 liter |
| Fortified wine | 2 liters |
| Regular (still) wine | 4 liters |
| Beer | 16 liters |
The team of authors and editors of the website makes every effort to provide accurate information based on extensive research and consultation of multiple sources. However, errors may occur or some information may not be fully confirmed. Therefore, please treat the information in the articles as an initial reference only and always contact the competent authorities for definitive and officially confirmed information.
