Travelling from outside the EU
Customs controls on arrival at the airport or port
Customs controls on arrival at the port
If you are arriving directly from a non-European Union (EU) country, you must declare the following to a customs officer at the port:
- goods in excess of your personal allowances
- prohibited or restricted goods.
You must declare your goods before you pass the Customs Warning Notice. All passengers required to declare their goods must proceed to the designated customs location.
Note
Once you pass beyond the Customs warning notice, you are effectively making a customs declaration. Failure to present dutiable goods to Customs is an offence.
Please consider the following when making your customs declaration:
| Nothing to declare | Call to Customs |
|---|
| Are you within your duty-free allowances? |
Have you more than your duty-free allowances of goods? |
| Are you satisfied your goods are not prohibited or restricted? |
Do you have prohibited or restricted goods? |
| |
Are you in any doubt about the status of your goods? |
Customs controls on arrival at the airport
Red and green channels
You should select either the green or the red channel if you are arriving:
- directly from a non-European Union (EU) country
- or
- from the Canary Islands.
Use the green channel if you have goods that:
- are within your duty-free allowances
- and
- are not prohibited or restricted.
Use the red channel if:
- you have more than your duty-free allowance of goods
- you have prohibited or restricted goods
- or
- you are in doubt.
Blue channel
The blue channel is a facility for intra-EU travellers exiting the baggage collection area. However, customs officers can carry out selective checks on travellers using the blue channel. The purpose of those checks is to combat the smuggling of prohibited and restricted goods or excise offences.
You should use the blue channel (EU arrivals) only:
- if you are arriving from a non-EU country through an EU country (for example, New York – Frankfurt – Dublin)
- and
- all your baggage (hand luggage and hold luggage) was cleared by customs at your first airport or port of arrival in the EU.
Otherwise, please use the red or green channel.
By choosing the green or red channel, you are effectively making a customs declaration.
Note
You must declare the following to a customs officer at the airport or port:
- goods in excess of your allowances
- prohibited or restricted goods.
Further information
If you require further information, please contact Customs.