Customs declarations
A customs declaration is a legal statement to the destination's customs authority about what you are bringing in. Wrong declaration carries penalties; no declaration when one is required is treated as concealment.
Categories that always require declaration
- Goods above the destination's duty-free allowance.
- Cash above the declaration threshold (typically USD 10,000 equivalent).
- Food of animal origin (meat, dairy) from outside an approved zone.
- Plants, seeds, soil, wood, flowers (biosecurity).
- Live animals.
- Prescription medication containing controlled substances.
- Weapons or anything resembling a weapon (replicas, antiques, deactivated firearms).
- Cultural property (antiques, art, religious objects).
- Commercial goods, samples, items for sale.
Forms + digital declarations
Most major destinations now accept digital declarations via airport app or kiosk (US CBP One, Australia ABF, NZ NZTC, UK PAX). Paper declarations are still accepted at every port of entry.
The form asks the same questions regardless of medium: purpose of travel, length of stay, address at destination, cash threshold, declarable categories, country of origin.