How much Lighters and matches can I bring into France?
Allowed
You can bring Lighters and matches into France without a special limit.
Extra conditions apply
What you need to know
- No stated quantity
- Value cap: 430 EUR
- Channels: Carried with the traveler
- Extra conditions apply
On the plane
Airline differences
| Airline | Difference from the baseline |
|---|---|
| AJet | Stricter than the standard rule |
Important
This allowance applies per person, not per family or group.
Official sources
- Franchises douanières et fiscales en quantités et en valeurs Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects (DGDDI)
Questions about Lighters and matches in France
- How much lighters and matches can I bring into France?
- France publishes no quantity limit for lighters and matches carried by a traveller. The allowance is per traveller and cannot be pooled between people.
- Do I have to declare lighters and matches at France customs?
- No — within the allowance it passes without a declaration.
- What happens if I do not declare lighters and matches in France?
- Under Code des douanes, article L. 513-1, if it is treated as smuggling: it is prosecuted as a criminal offence; the goods are confiscated.
- Can I post or ship lighters and matches 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.
- Is there a minimum age for the lighters and matches allowance in France?
- Yes — 17 years. A traveller under that age gets no allowance for lighters and matches at all, not a smaller one.
- Can I take lighters and matches out of France?
- France publishes no separate rule for taking lighters and matches out; the destination's rules are what will apply.
- Does the France limit for lighters and matches 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 lighters and matches?
- Of the 20 countries covered here, 1 prohibit lighters and matches, 5 limit it and 14 let it through. France is among the more permissive.
Source: Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects (DGDDI) — Franchises douanières et fiscales en quantités et en valeurs · verified 2026-09-19
Source: Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects (DGDDI) — Franchises douanières et fiscales en quantités et en valeurs · verified 2026-09-19
Source: Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects (DGDDI) — Code des douanes, Livre V, Titre Ier, Chapitre III, Section 1 · verified 2026-09-20
Source: Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects (DGDDI) — france postOrCourier · verified 2026-09-20
Source: Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects (DGDDI) — Vous rapportez du tabac, de l'alcool ou d'autres marchandises achetées hors de l'Union européenne · verified 2026-09-20
Source: Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects (DGDDI) — Franchises douanières et fiscales en quantités et en valeurs · verified 2026-09-19
Source: Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects (DGDDI) — Franchises douanières et fiscales en quantités et en valeurs · verified 2026-09-19