Questions and answers about buying goods when travelling
Answers to the most frequently asked questions about what rules apply when you bring goods into Sweden from abroad. Different rules apply depending on what goods you have bought and which country you are travelling from.
I’m going to a country outside the EU on holiday and thinking of bringing back goods I buy there. Do I have to pay customs duty and VAT on my goods?
Yes, you may have to pay customs duty and tax when you buy goods that you take home from your trip in a country outside the EU.
The limits on how much you can take with you to Sweden without paying customs duties and taxes are different depending on how you travel. However, you must always transport the goods personally and not resell them.
What happens when I make purchases while travelling in the UK?
After Brexit, the UK has become a non-EU country. In principle, the same customs rules apply to the UK as to other non-EU countries. But there are some exceptions.
If I’m uncertain which lane to choose through customs, what must I do?
If you are uncertain about what you may or may not bring in, you must always choose the red lane (“Goods to declare”).
If you choose the green or blue lane and are carrying goods that you cannot bring in free of charge, you may be suspected of smuggling. The goods may then be confiscated and you risk fines or imprisonment.
If you choose the red lane, you do not risk being suspected of smuggling. Instead, you have the opportunity to pay charges, take the goods back out of the country or hand them over to Swedish Customs.
What must I do if there are no customs officers present when I come back into Sweden with goods or animals that I wish to declare?
If there is no customs officer on site, there are different ways to report. You can register certain goods online in advance.
May I bring in a pair of elephant ivory candlesticks that I bought at a market in Africa?
No, this is a product from an animal that is protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Bringing such goods into Sweden without authorisation is prohibited.