Swiss customs regulations for alcohol, meat and tobacco
Depending on the product and quantity, customs duties and VAT are due when goods are imported into Switzerland; keep this in mind next time you go shopping across the border. When are imports into Switzerland duty-free? And what about VAT? Comparis explains.
16.01.2025
iStock / mhGrafix
1. Can I calculate and pay my customs charges online?
Private individuals can declare goods via the official customs clearance app Quickzoll. The app calculates the applicable customs duties and VAT based on your information. You can pay directly in the app by credit card.
Customs clearance is possible at the earliest 48 hours before you cross the border. Once you have cleared customs using Quickzoll, you may use any border checkpoint for entry. Certain goods are subject to restrictions, authorization or prohibition. You cannot declare these goods via the app.
Quickzoll always applies the higher VAT rate of 8.1%. This also applies to goods that would usually be subject to the reduced tax rate of 2.6%. If you only want to pay the reduced rate, you need to look for a border control point with staff present and register the goods there.
2. Swiss customs regulations: when do I have to pay VAT?
VAT rates of 8.1% or 2.6% are applied to the total value of imports worth over 150 francs. You pay VAT irrespective of customs duties.
However, you may be able to reclaim VAT you have paid abroad. Different conditions apply depending on the country of purchase. You can find out more in our article on VAT refunds.
VAT at foreign online shops
Have you ordered goods from a foreign online retailer? Deliveries from abroad are typically subject to customs duty and VAT. Get the full story here: Ordering from abroad – what customs fees apply?
3. What foods may I bring into Switzerland?
Certain foods may be imported into Switzerland without paying customs duty. These include:
Dairy products (except for butter and cream, see table)
Eggs
Vegetables
Fruits
Cereal products
Potato products
Other foods are limited by duty-free allowances. Meat imports, for instance, are subject to an allowance. As soon as you take more meat with you than allowed, a customs duty will be levied.
This is also true for the import of some dairy products into Switzerland. The table below provides an overview.
Duty-free allowances and duty payable on food
| Goods | Duty-free allowance (per person per day) | Customs duties |
|---|---|---|
| Meat (fresh and processed) Exceptions: game meat, fish, crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates. |
Total 1 kg | Up to 10 kg: CHF 17/kg More than 10 kg: CHF 23/kg |
| Butter and cream (fat content at least 15%) | Total 1 kg/1 litre | CHF 16 per kg/litre |
| Oils, fats, margarine (for human consumption) | Total 5 kg/5 litres | CHF 2 per kg/litre |
Source: Federal Customs Administration, as of August 2022
Note: the import of animal products from non-EU countries is usually prohibited. The only exception is Norway. Importing animal products from Norway is allowed.
4. What do I need to be aware of when importing alcohol or tobacco into Switzerland?
The import of alcohol into Switzerland is generally permitted. The same goes for tobacco. If you exceed your duty-free allowance, you will, however, also have to pay customs duties.
| Goods | Duty-free allowance (per person per day) | Customs duties |
|---|---|---|
| Alcoholic beverages with less than 18% AVB Info: beverages containing 0.5% or less alcohol are not considered alcoholic beverages. |
Total 5 litres | CHF 2/litre |
| Alcoholic beverages over 18% ABV | Total 1 litre | CHF 15/litre |
| Cigarettes/cigars | No more than 250 units | CHF 0.25/unit |
| Other tobacco products | Total of 250g (or a proportional selection of these products) | CHF 0.10/gram |
Source: Federal Customs Administration, as of August 2022
NB: you must be at least 17 years old to import alcohol and tobacco into Switzerland.
5. Are there any other customs rules I need to be aware of?
You are prohibited from importing certain goods into Switzerland. Other products and objects may only be transported across the border if you have a permit.
The import and export of counterfeits is fundamentally prohibited in Switzerland. If customs officers discover counterfeits crossing the border, they must confiscate and destroy them. It does not matter whether the counterfeit item is new or used.
You may bring up to 2.5 kg of fireworks (per person, per day) into Switzerland. However, the fireworks must belong to category F1, F2 or F3 (link not available in English). If you want to import more fireworks, you need a permit from the Federal Office of Police (link not available in English). Fireworks for commercial purposes are also subject to authorization.
Cultural property must be registered with the Swiss customs authorities. This applies to import, export and transit. Determine in advance whether the object is considered cultural property.
Attention: if you do not file an application, or if you provide false information, you are liable to prosecution (Art. 24 KGTG).
The import of stolen and looted cultural property is prohibited. Further information can be found on the website of the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security.
You are only allowed to import medication for your own use. The maximum allowance for import is one month's worth of medicine. You may only take narcotic drugs with you to Switzerland in the event of illness.
According to the Swiss Customs Administration, import of the following is forbidden:
doping agents
medicinal products containing genetically modified organisms
medicinal products intended for use in farm animals
immunological veterinary medicinal products
You can find out more about this in the article on ordering medicines abroad.
Species protection of animals and plants
Around 6,600 animal species and 34,000 plant species are protected worldwide. The basis for this is the Washington Convention on the Protection of Species (CITES). The import of protected animals or plants and their products is subject to authorization or in some cases is completely prohibited. These include:
Snakes and lizards (products from their skins, e.g. bags)
Parrots (e.g. feathers)
Ivory (e.g. jewellery)
Orchids
Cacti
Do you want to import a plant or animal product that is subject to authorization into Switzerland? You should proceed as follows:
Apply for an export permit from the CITES authority in the country of origin.
You then apply for the import permit at the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (BLV).
Pets
There are no customs fees for pets purchased abroad. If you paid more than 150 francs for the animal, you will have to pay VAT of 8.1%.
For dogs and cats, the import conditions differ depending on the animal's age and country of origin. For animals from the EU, a pet passport, microchip and a rabies vaccination are usually sufficient. The import of stray dogs is generally prohibited. You can obtain further information from the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office.
Animal products
Animal products from EU countries, Iceland and Norway may be imported into Switzerland for private use. The import of animal products from other countries is generally prohibited. Different rules apply with respect to certain products. You can obtain further information from the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office.
Plants and cut flowers
Depending on the origin, different conditions for importing plants into Switzerland apply:
Plants from the EU:
You can import plants, bulbs and garden soil for your own personal use. The Canary Islands, Ceuta, Melilla and France's overseas territories are considered third countries.
Plants from third countries
The importation of plants and fresh parts of plants (e.g. fruit, vegetables, cut flowers, cut foliage or seeds), goods from certain types of wood and soil is either subject to inspection or prohibited. Goods subject to inspection must have a phytosanitary certificate. You can import the following fruits without a phytosanitary certificate: pineapple, coconuts, durians, bananas and dates.
Import of weapons
Do you want to import a firearm, ammunition or other weapon components into Switzerland? If so, you must apply for an import permit from the Federal Office of Police. Depending on the weapon, further documents such as a weapon purchase certificate or an exemption permit may be necessary.
Upon entry, you must register the weapon with the customs office together with the import permit. There are no customs duties on weapons.
Some weapons are banned in Switzerland. This includes, for example:
Automatic firearms
Bludgeoning weapons, missiles and slingshot weapons
Electric shock devices
Good to know: hunters and sport shooters do not need a permit if they temporarily import weapons for hunting or sports shooting.
6. What should I do if there are no staff present at the border control point?
What if you have something to declare, but there is no border guard in sight? You’re not allowed to simply pass through. Some customs officials carry out inspections several kilometres from the border. If you are caught with uncleared goods, you are liable to prosecution.
Use the Quickzoll app for customs clearance. You will find so-called "declaration boxes" at every border control point. Fill out a form and send it to the main customs offices along with your receipt. An invoice will then be mailed to your home.
7. Contact information for Swiss border checkpoints
The largest checkpoints are open 24 hours a day. Smaller customs offices have their own opening hours. Would you like to declare goods? Check the opening hours of the customs office before you go.
This article was first published on 19.03.2019
