🇨🇭 Switzerland
EUROPE
Federal Customs Administration (Eidgenössische Zollverwaltung — EZV / Office fédéral de la douane et de la sécurité des frontières — BAZG)
8%
Duty-Free Allowances
| Category | Allowance |
|---|---|
| Alcohol | 5L |
| Cigarettes | 250 |
| Personal goods value | US$330 |
| Switzerland has generous duty-free allowances. Alcohol: up to 5L of alcoholic beverages below 18% ABV and up to 1L above 18% ABV for travelers 17+. Tobacco: up to 250 cigarettes or 250g of tobacco products (17+). General goods: CHF 300 (approximately USD $330) worth of goods per adult traveler per day for personal use. Watches: up to two watches may be imported duty-free for personal use, making Switzerland notable for watch purchases. | |
Switzerland has generous duty-free allowances. Alcohol: up to 5L of alcoholic beverages below 18% ABV and up to 1L above 18% ABV for travelers 17+. Tobacco: up to 250 cigarettes or 250g of tobacco products (17+). General goods: CHF 300 (approximately USD $330) worth of goods per adult traveler per day for personal use. Watches: up to two watches may be imported duty-free for personal use, making Switzerland notable for watch purchases.
Cash Declaration Threshold
US$11,000
Local currency equivalent: CHF
Travelers carrying cash, traveler's cheques, or negotiable instruments above this threshold must declare them at customs on arrival.
Special Notes
- 01Switzerland is not a member of the EU but has bilateral agreements with the EU covering many goods — the Bilateral Agreements I (1999) include mutual recognition of product conformity and other trade facilitation measures.
- 02Switzerland is a member of EFTA (European Free Trade Association) and has an FTA with China and numerous other countries.
- 03Swiss VAT (MWST/TVA/IVA) standard rate is 8.1% (raised from 7.7% in 2024); reduced rate 2.6% for food, books, medicines; special rate 3.8% for hotel accommodation.
- 04Switzerland is the world center of luxury watchmaking — Rolex, Patek Philippe, Omega, IWC, and hundreds of others are Swiss. Import and export rules for watches are important to understand.
- 05Geneva is a center for international organizations and diplomatic activity — certain goods may be imported duty-free by accredited diplomats.
- 06Liechtenstein forms a customs union with Switzerland — goods move freely between the two countries.
- 07Switzerland uses the e-dec system for customs declarations.