General information
Are you arriving in Spain from a non-EU country and unsure whether you need to declare the goods in your luggage? Find out here about the procedures you need to follow.
Yes, but it depends on what goods you're transporting:
- If you are carrying goods not subject to control, it will be enough for you to make a presumed declaration, circulating through the green channel – nothing to declare.
- If you are carrying goods subject to control, you must go to the customs counter to carry out the corresponding procedures.
When you arrive at a Spanish port, airport or land border crossing from a third country, you will find two channels:
- Green channel (nothing to declare): You should go through this channel when you have nothing to declare. However, you should be aware that Customs carries out selective checks and you may be required to provide them with the necessary information.
perform a check. - Red channel (assets to be declared): You must go through this channel when you have any goods to declare, for example because you are carrying more than 10,000 euros in cash, the value or quantity of the goods you are carrying exceeds the traveler's allowance, or the goods are subject to restrictions or prohibitions.
Customs controls are carried out when there is a movement at the border, regardless of the traveler's residence or nationality. Even if you are a resident in Spain, you still have to complete the corresponding procedure, going through one of the indicated channels.
- Passing through the green channel is, for all intents and purposes, a presumed customs declaration through which it is being indicated that no goods are being carried that must be declared. This statement may have consequences if they are discovered
subsequently goods subject to control, insofar as it may constitute the factual basis of an administrative offense and even constitute the crime of smuggling. - Going through the red channel will mean you will be asked what you have to declare and the corresponding procedures for legal importation will be carried out. The declaration is made verbally, but it will be recorded on paper through a document called the Verbal Declaration of Travelers.
You can go through the green channel when your luggage contains only personal effects of a non-commercial nature, provided that they do not exceed the established allowance.
Personal effects are considered to be all items, new or used, that you may reasonably need for your personal use during the course of the trip, taking into account all the circumstances of the trip, excluding any goods imported or exported for commercial purposes.
Yes, even if you go through the green channel, the authorities may require a check of your luggage, which may involve passing through a scanner, opening the vehicle you are traveling in, or even opening the bags you are carrying.
You must go through the red channel in any of the following cases:
- Goods of a non-commercial nature that exceed the franchise limit.
- Goods of a commercial nature.
- Pets: To learn more about entry requirements
For more information about these animals, please visit the following link:
https://sede.agenciatributaria.gob.es/Sede/en_gb/viajeros-trabajadores-desplazados-fronterizos/viajeros/mascotas-animales-compania.html
- Threatened species (CITES): When you bring in your luggage species affected by the Washington Convention (Regulation (EC) 338/97) on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora, you must declare them in accordance with the information provided at the following link:
https://sede.agenciatributaria.gob.es/Sede/en_gb/viajeros-trabajadores-desplazados-fronterizos/viajeros/especies-amenazadas-flora-fauna-cites.html?faqId=61d03b381b1b5710VgnVCM100000dc381e0aRCRD
- Foods of animal origin: You must bear in mind that the introduction of meat and meat products, milk and dairy products is prohibited, except for products of animal origin, composite products, derivatives of animal by-products, vegetables, plant products and other items that are part of your personal luggage and that you intend to use for your personal consumption or use. For more information, please see the following link:
https://sede.agenciatributaria.gob.es/Sede/en_gb/viajeros-trabajadores-desplazados-fronterizos/viajeros/alimentos-origen-animal.html?faqId=b34c949921eba710VgnVCM100000dc381e0aRCRD
- Seeds, plants and vegetables: You should know that the plants and plant products listed in Annex VI of Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 are prohibited from entering the Community territory. The rest must be accompanied by the corresponding Phytosanitary Certificate issued by the competent authorities of the country of origin, except in certain cases. For more information on the procedures to follow to access the EU territory with these types of products, please consult here:
https://sede.agenciatributaria.gob.es/Sede/en_gb/viajeros-trabajadores-desplazados-fronterizos/viajeros/semillas-plantas-vegetales.html?faqId=b4e61415881b5710VgnVCM100000dc381e0aRCRD
- Medicines, medical devices and cosmetics: You can carry medications with you as long as you prove that they are for your own administration or treatment, which you can demonstrate with a prescription or medical report. For more information:
https://sede.agenciatributaria.gob.es/Sede/en_gb/viajeros-trabajadores-desplazados-fronterizos/viajeros/medicamentos-productos-sanitarios-cosmeticos.html
- Payment methods: To enter the territory with any amount of money, you must first present a Declaration of Movements of Means of Payment. For more information, please see the following link:
https://sede.agenciatributaria.gob.es/Sede/en_gb/viajeros-trabajadores-desplazados-fronterizos/viajeros/medios-pago.html?faqId=0f943fc7b70d9710VgnVCM100000dc381e0aRCRD
You will have to declare goods that are not of a commercial nature when they exceed the duty-free allowance or when prohibitions or restrictions apply.
Goods carried in your personal luggage will be tax-free as long as they do not exceed the following amounts:
- 430 euros, when travelers arrive by air or sea.
- 300 euros, when these arrive by land.
- 150 euros, in the case of travelers under 15 years of age.
In addition, there are certain goods that apply special limits. Therefore, you will not have to declare the following goods (limits apply per person):
- Tobacco products: 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos (pure cigars with a maximum weight of 3 g/unit) or 50 cigars or 250 g of smoking tobacco.
- Alcohols and alcoholic beverages: 1 liter of ethyl alcohol equal to or greater than 80% or 1 liter of alcoholic beverages (liquors) with a degree greater than 22% or 2 liters of beverages derived from alcoholic degree less than 22%, fortified or sparkling wine. Each of these amounts represents 100% of the total authorized amount that can be combined without exceeding the total limit. And, in addition, 4 liters of still wine and 16 liters of beer.
- Fuel: the amount contained in the normal tanks of passenger cars, as well as the contents in portable tanks up to a maximum of 10 liters per vehicle, without prejudice to the application of current regulations on the possession and transport of fuels.
If you are carrying goods that exceed the duty-free allowance, customs authorities will assess whether the shipment is commercial in nature.
- If they consider the expedition to be of a commercial nature, you will not be able to declare the goods through the traveler's procedure. In your case, you will be given the option to present the goods through the commercial goods channel (via electronic declaration, H1).
- If they consider that the expedition is not of a commercial nature, you will be given the option to declare the goods orally, so that a verbal declaration of travelers will be drawn up.
If the goods exceed the duty-free allowance, you will have the option to pay the corresponding amount, abandon the goods, or, if applicable, re-export them:
- If you decide to declare the goods, the corresponding import duties will be paid. At the counter, you will be asked for information about the goods, as well as a commercial invoice or any other document that proves the value of the merchandise. Once the declaration, which will be called the Verbal Declaration of Travelers, has been completed, a payment slip will be generated, which can be paid according to the means provided in the following link
- In your case, you may request the abandonment of the goods or their re-export free of tax, without prejudice to any applicable penalties.