First Day Abroad

Customs and duty-free allowances in United States

Part of the United States arrival guide.

This information may change. Always check the official source.Last verified: August 2026 by

Bringing things into United States

Leave at home

  • Fresh fruit, vegetables and meat
  • Cuban cigars
Duty-free allowance
  • 200 cigarettes
  • 1 L of spirits
  • USD 800 of other goods
Cash to declare
USD 10,000 or more

The threshold covers cash and equivalents carried by one traveller. Not declaring it is what causes the money to be seized, not the amount itself.

The traveller declaration covers food, cash and goods. Fresh produce and meat are seized, and undeclared items carry a penalty even when they would have been allowed.

The US declaration covers food, cash and goods, and an undeclared apple carries a penalty even though the apple itself was allowed.

  • Fresh fruit, vegetables, meat and plants are seized. The agriculture question on the declaration is the one that generates fines, and the penalty is for not declaring rather than for carrying.
  • The duty-free exemption is USD 800 for most travellers, plus 200 cigarettes and 1 litre of alcohol per adult over 21.
  • Cuban cigars and Cuban rum may not be imported, including bought in a third country. The personal exemption for them was withdrawn in 2020.
  • USD 10,000 or more must be reported on FinCEN Form 105, counting the total carried by a family travelling together, not per person.
  • Everything goes through CBP at the first US airport, even in transit to another country - you collect your bags, clear customs and check them again.
  • Preclearance changes where this happens. From Dublin, Abu Dhabi and most Canadian hubs you clear US customs before boarding.
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Sources (1)

What this guide was checked against. Rules and prices change — follow the official link before you rely on a detail.