Bring back tobacco from the foreigner
Verified 12 August 2026 - Public Service / (Prime Minister)
Additional cases ?
The applicable rules differ depending on whether you bring tobacco from a country in the EU or another geographical area. We present you the information to know.
Warning
The overseas departments and regions, the overseas communities and territories, the Channel Islands, the Canary Islands, Andorra, Monaco, Switzerland are concerned by the « Other zone » situation.
You can bring back to France tobacco purchased in a country of the personal.
In determining whether the tobacco is for personal or commercial use, customs shall take into account a set of elements. It does not exist no quantity threshold, no single criterion allowing on their own determine the destination of the products.
Customs officers may in particular consider the following:
- Your situation (private or professional)
- The reasons why you are transporting these products
- The place where the products are stored
- The means of transport used
- Documents in your possession (invoice, proof of purchase...))
- The nature of the products
- The quantity transported
- The way the products are packaged
- The presence of a name or address indicating that the products are intended for another person
- Any element that may suggest that the products are intended to be sold or sold (announcement, order, exchange of messages...))
- Your destination, when different from your place of habitual residence.
The quantities to be respected are as follows:
- 800 cigarettes (i.e. 4 cartridges)
- or 400 cigarillos (cigars up to 3 grams per piece)
- or 200 cigars
- or 1 kg of smoking tobacco.
These quantities do not allowto establish that the tobacco is intended for your personal consumption. Customs also takes into account other elements of your situation.
You must also complete the 3 conditions following:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Carrying tobacco yourself
- Bring back tobacco intended for your personal consumption.
If, after examining all the elements, customs considers that the tobacco is intended for commercial use, you must pay the applicable taxes during the inspection. You can also be fined and the tobacco can be confiscated.
Other area
You can bring back tobacco in France bought in a foreigners country.
The rules differ depending on whether you are returning from a country outside the EU or Andorra:
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General scenario
You can bring tobacco back to France if you respect the maximum authorized quantities.
Maximum authorized quantities
You can report to the maximum:
Categories of tobacco | Quantities |
|---|---|
Cigarettes | 200 units, or 1 cartridge |
Smoking tobacco (rolling tobacco, shisha tobacco and other tobacco) | 250 g |
Cigars | 50 units |
Cigarillos (cigars up to 3 grams/piece) | 100 units |
FYI
These quantities shall:
- apply per person and not per vehicle,
- are identical regardless of your means of transport (car, plane, train, boat,...),)
- are not cumulative, but you can report a proportional assortment.
You must keep the proof of purchase of your tobacco in order to present it in case of customs control.
Example :
You can report:
- 1 cartridge of cigarettes
- Or 100 cigarettes + 25 cigars
- Or 50 cigarettes + 12 cigars + 25 cigarillos.
Conditions to be respected
You must complete the 3 the following conditions to be able to bring back tobacco:
- Credit Memo 18 years minimum
- Transport the tobacco yourself
- Respect the authorized quantities per person.
The quantities reported must be intended for your personal consumption.
Penalties for exceeding quantities
If you go beyond the authorized quantities, the sanctions are as follows:
- Consumer rights to pay. For example: €210 if you bring back 5 cartons of cigarettes.
- Fine until €750
- Confiscation of all your tobacco products
- Seizure and confiscation of your vehicle personnel used in transport
- Prison term of one year.
Warning
Buying tobacco on a website is prohibited. The goods will be confiscated by customs before delivery.
You are returning from Andorra
You can bring back to France tobacco bought in Andorra.
You must respect the maximum authorized quantities.
Maximum authorized quantities
You can report to the maximum:
Categories of tobacco | Quantities |
|---|---|
Cigarettes | 300 units, or 1 cartridge and a half (1 cartridge + 5 packs) |
Smoking tobacco (rolling tobacco and other tobacco) | 400 g |
Cigars | 75 units |
Cigarillos (cigars up to 3 grams/piece) | 150 units |
FYI
These quantities shall:
- apply per person and not per vehicle,
- are identical regardless of your means of transport (car, plane, train,...),)
- are not cumulative, but you can report a proportional assortment.
You must keep the proof of purchase of your tobacco in order to present it in case of customs control.
Example :
You can report:
- 1 cartridge of cigarettes (200 units) + 25 cigars
- Or 150 cigarettes + 35 cigars
- Or 200 g rolling tobacco + 150 cigarettes.
Conditions to be respected
You must complete the 3 the following conditions for returning tobacco:
- Credit Memo 18 years minimum
- Ensure the transport of tobacco yourself
- Respect the authorized quantities per person.
The quantities reported must correspond to your own personal consumption.
Penalties for exceeding quantities
If you go beyond the authorized quantities, the sanctions are as follows:
- Consumer rights to pay. For example: €210 if you bring back 5 cartons of cigarettes.
- Fine until €750
- Confiscation of all your tobacco products
- Seizure and confiscation of your vehicle personnel used in transport
- Prison term of one year.
Warning
Buying tobacco on a website is prohibited. The goods will be confiscated by customs before delivery.
Warning
There are specific rules if you are frontier, frontier worker or international transport employee.
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
Customs Service Info
To obtain customs information concerning export, import, customs forms, transport and border crossing, exemptions...
By phone
0,800 94 40 40
Open Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 6 pm
Toll-free number, price of a local call
Outside metropolitan France or from the foreigner, call +33 1 72 40 78 50
By courier
Access to contact form
Qualitative criteria defining the personal use character of reported tobacco
Movement within the UE: maximum quantities permitted to enter France (alcohol, tobacco, cash, etc.)
Movement, possession and trade of tobacco (Article 575I)
Movement of tobacco for commercial purposes
Tax exemptions on imports
Definition of manufactured tobacco
Prohibition of distance selling of tobacco (Article 568b)
Tax penalties for the illicit manufacture, possession, sale or transport of tobacco
Criminal penalties for fraudulent manufacture or possession for the sale of tobacco
Directorate General of Customs and Indirect Duties
European Commission
Ministry of Economy
Ministry of Finance
