What happens if I do not declare portable electronic devices with installed battery in France?

If you declare the excess yourself, the normal duty becomes payable on the excess. Under Code des douanes, article L. 513-3, if it is treated as smuggling: it is prosecuted as a criminal offence. Under Code des douanes, article R. 515-5, 1°, if the goods are found without being declared: an administrative fine is imposed; the goods are confiscated.

Can I post or ship portable electronic devices with installed battery to France instead of carrying it?

Not under this allowance. It covers goods a traveller carries; a parcel is an import and is assessed under the postal rules instead. Baggage sent before or after you travels under the same allowance.

Can I carry portable electronic devices with installed battery in the cabin or in checked baggage?

In the cabin: Allowed with conditions. In checked baggage: Allowed with conditions. The carriage limit is 0.3000 g lithium / 2.7000 Wh. This comes from International baseline, and an individual airline may be stricter. Customs and aviation are separate rulebooks: what an airline lets you carry is not what a border lets you bring in.

Where does this rule come from?

Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects (DGDDI) states it in Franchises douanières et fiscales en quantités et en valeurs. CarryRules last confirmed that sentence at the source on 2026-09-19.

How does France compare with other countries on portable electronic devices with installed battery?

Of the 20 countries covered here, 0 prohibit portable electronic devices with installed battery, 3 limit it and 17 let it through. France is among the more permissive.

How much Portable electronic devices with installed battery can I bring into France?

Allowed

You can bring Portable electronic devices with installed battery into France without a special limit.

Extra conditions apply

Carried Allowed

Declaration Not required

Limit 430 EUR

What you need to know

No stated quantity
Value cap: 430 EUR
Channels: Carried with the traveler
Extra conditions apply

On the plane

International baseline

On person Not stated

Cabin baggage Allowed with conditions

Checked baggage Allowed with conditions

Only if the device is completely switched off (not sleep or hibernation mode) when its battery exceeds the checked-baggage micro-threshold.

Airline differences

Airline	Difference from the baseline
Air France	Stricter than the standard rule
British Airways	Stricter than the standard rule
easyJet	Stricter than the standard rule
Emirates	Stricter than the standard rule
Lufthansa	Stricter than the standard rule
Qatar Airways	Stricter than the standard rule
Turkish Airlines	Stricter than the standard rule

Important

This allowance applies per person, not per family or group.

Official sources

Last verified 2026-09-19

Franchises douanières et fiscales en quantités et en valeurs Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects (DGDDI)

Questions about Portable electronic devices with installed battery in France

How much portable electronic devices with installed battery can I bring into France?: France publishes no quantity limit for portable electronic devices with installed battery carried by a traveller. The allowance is per traveller and cannot be pooled between people.
Do I have to declare portable electronic devices with installed battery at France customs?: No — within the allowance it passes without a declaration.
What happens if I do not declare portable electronic devices with installed battery in France?: If you declare the excess yourself, the normal duty becomes payable on the excess. Under Code des douanes, article L. 513-3, if it is treated as smuggling: it is prosecuted as a criminal offence. Under Code des douanes, article R. 515-5, 1°, if the goods are found without being declared: an administrative fine is imposed; the goods are confiscated.
Can I post or ship portable electronic devices with installed battery to France instead of carrying it?: Not under this allowance. It covers goods a traveller carries; a parcel is an import and is assessed under the postal rules instead. Baggage sent before or after you travels under the same allowance.
Can I take portable electronic devices with installed battery out of France?: France publishes no separate rule for taking portable electronic devices with installed battery out; the destination's rules are what will apply.
Can I carry portable electronic devices with installed battery in the cabin or in checked baggage?: In the cabin: Allowed with conditions. In checked baggage: Allowed with conditions. The carriage limit is 0.3000 g lithium / 2.7000 Wh. This comes from International baseline, and an individual airline may be stricter. Customs and aviation are separate rulebooks: what an airline lets you carry is not what a border lets you bring in.
Does the France limit for portable electronic devices with installed battery apply per person or per family?: Per person. Each traveller carries their own allowance and it cannot be pooled with anyone else's.
Where does this rule come from?: Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects (DGDDI) states it in Franchises douanières et fiscales en quantités et en valeurs. CarryRules last confirmed that sentence at the source on 2026-09-19.
How does France compare with other countries on portable electronic devices with installed battery?: Of the 20 countries covered here, 0 prohibit portable electronic devices with installed battery, 3 limit it and 17 let it through. France is among the more permissive.

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