Customs and controls at airports
Controls may be carried out at the airport to supervise the entry and circulation of certain goods in the territory. Customs officers thus control your luggage and ensure that all regulations are properly respected.
Which products are controlled by customs?
Customs mainly controls products subject to specific regulations in France. This is the case, for example, for:
- Titles, securities, cash from €10,000 (or equivalent in another currency),
- Alcohol and tobacco,
- Medicines,
- Certain cultural products such as works of art,
- Food and products derived from animals or plants,
- Live animals,
- Plants,
- Weapons,
- All products prohibited by French law.
It is important to inform yourself before packing your bags to know which products are prohibited for import or export, and what are the conditions for the circulation of regulated products.
For medicines, for example, you must present a doctor's prescription, or only transport a quantity necessary for personal use for a maximum treatment of 3 months. Moreover, for plant products coming from a country outside the European Union, a phytosanitary certificate is required.
Depending on the nature of the products, their quantity and their value, it may therefore be necessary to obtain specific authorizations and make a declaration to customs.
Where is customs located at the airport?
In airports, customs officers are generally located in the border crossing area. They can be identified by their uniform or armband. When disembarking from the plane, you will see signs indicating the customs counters, often installed just before the exit.
Customs/tax refund offices and PABLO terminals are also present in the halls of Paris airports to allow you to carry out your export tax refund formalities before your flight departure.
How does a customs control work?
Steps before departure: First, to pass customs controls without any problems, inform yourself about French customs regulations for each product. These restrictions may vary depending on their quantity and country of origin. Therefore, remember to declare the products, goods, and capital concerned, and carry out the specific formalities before traveling.
At the airport:
You will find the customs counters at the arrivals level at the airport. When disembarking from the plane, you can therefore present yourself to the customs officers to make any necessary declarations. The officers may also come to you to carry out a control. They will ask you all the necessary questions and may check your identity, perform a body search, and examine your luggage.
The officers may also ask you for proof of payment of taxes or customs duties on your personal effects (cameras, computers, jewelry, etc.). For this, do not forget to travel with the invoices and/or customs receipts for all your valuable products.
At the end of the control and depending on the nature and value of the transported products, you may be asked to pay customs duties and taxes.
How to contact customs services?
The customs assistance service is available from Monday to Friday at 0 800 94 40 40, from 08:30 to 18:00, except on public holidays. If you are calling from overseas or from abroad, dial +33 1 72 40 78 50.
You can also request a callback or fill out their online form.
