How much Gifts and personal goods can I bring into United Kingdom?
Restricted
You can bring Gifts and personal goods into United Kingdom only within the stated limits.
Extra conditions apply
What you need to know
- No stated quantity
- Value cap: 390 GBP
- Channels: Arrival duty-free, Carried with the traveler
- Extra conditions apply
- No stated quantity
- Value cap: 270 GBP
- Channels: Carried with the traveler
- Extra conditions apply
Important
This allowance applies per person, not per family or group.
If you do not declare
- Step 1: Standard duty
- Step 2: Confiscation, Administrative fine, Criminal prosecution
Official sources
- Bringing goods into the UK for personal use: Arriving in Great Britain HM Revenue & Customs / Home Office (GOV.UK)
- Bringing goods into the UK for personal use HM Revenue & Customs / Border Force (GOV.UK)
Questions about Gifts and personal goods in United Kingdom
- How much gifts and personal goods can I bring into United Kingdom?
- United Kingdom allows 390 GBP per traveller. Above that the goods are treated as an import and duty becomes payable. The allowance is per traveller and cannot be pooled between people.
- Do I have to declare gifts and personal goods at United Kingdom customs?
- Yes — it has to be declared to United Kingdom customs on arrival.
- What happens if I do not declare gifts and personal goods in United Kingdom?
- If you declare the excess yourself, the normal duty becomes payable on the excess. If it is treated as smuggling, the goods are confiscated; an administrative fine is imposed; it is prosecuted as a criminal offence.
- Can I post or ship gifts and personal goods to United Kingdom 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 gifts and personal goods out of United Kingdom?
- United Kingdom publishes no separate rule for taking gifts and personal goods out; the destination's rules are what will apply.
- Does the United Kingdom limit for gifts and personal goods 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?
- HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) / Border Force states it in Bringing goods into the UK for personal use: Arriving in Great Britain. CarryRules last confirmed that sentence at the source on 2026-09-19.
- How does United Kingdom compare with other countries on gifts and personal goods?
- Of the 21 countries covered here, 0 prohibit gifts and personal goods, 14 limit it and 7 let it through. United Kingdom is among the ones that set a limit.
Source: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) / Border Force — Bringing goods into the UK for personal use: Arriving in Great Britain · verified 2026-09-19
Source: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) / Border Force — Bringing goods into the UK for personal use: Arriving in Great Britain · verified 2026-09-19
Source: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) / Border Force — Bringing goods into the UK for personal use · verified 2026-09-16
Source: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) / Border Force — The Travellers' Allowances Order 1994 · verified 2026-09-20
Source: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) / Border Force — Bringing goods into the UK for personal use: Arriving in Great Britain · verified 2026-09-19
Source: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) / Border Force — Bringing goods into the UK for personal use: Arriving in Great Britain · verified 2026-09-19