CarryRules
US

What can you bring into United States?

U.S. Customs and Border Protection · U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Office of the Federal Register (eCFR) · U.S. Customs and Border Protection (eCFR) · Transportation Security Administration
At a glance
Tobacco 200 piece / 1000 piece Restricted Last verified 2026-09-19 Alcohol 1 liter / 5 liter / 2 liter Restricted Last verified 2026-09-19 Cash 10,000 USD Declare Last verified 2026-09-19 Duty-free value allowance 100 USD Restricted Last verified 2026-09-19
Categories
Tobacco and vaping products Cigarettes 200 piece · Cigars 100 piece · Nicotine pouches 800 USD 29 rules Prohibited
General allowances Gifts and personal goods 800 USD · Personal exemption, absence over 24 hours 800 USD · Personal exemption, absence over 48 hours 800 USD 31 rules Prohibited
Cash and valuables Cash and bearer negotiable instruments (all currencies) 10,000 USD · Cross-border movement of monetary instruments (cash and bearer negotiable instruments) 10,000 USD · Currency and monetary instruments (CAN$10,000 reporting) 10,000 USD 12 rules Restricted
Pets and live animals 4 rules Restricted
Animal and plant products Plants and plant products 12 piece 18 rules Prohibited
Food consumables 8 rules Allowed
Commercial goods, relocation and vehicles 2 rules Restricted
Cosmetics and personal care Perfume and toilet water 500 milliliter · Liquids, aerosols and gels (LAGs) 100 milliliter · Skincare and make-up products 100 milliliter 6 rules Restricted
Cultural property and antiques 4 rules Restricted
Electronics and batteries Radios, transmitters and pagers 3 device · Mobile phone 3 device 9 rules Restricted
Medicines and medical devices Personal-use cosmetics (each item) 500 milliliter · Controlled substances for personal medical use (schedules II-V) 50 piece 13 rules Restricted
Narcotics and controlled substances 1 rule Prohibited
Weapons, explosives and dangerous goods Counterfeit and pirated goods 1 piece · Dry ice (carbon dioxide, solid) 2.5 kilogram · Powders and other granular substances 350 milliliter 41 rules Prohibited
Alcoholic beverages Spirits and wine 1 liter · Beer 1 liter · Wine 1 liter 22 rules Prohibited

What happens if you do not declare

  • Step 1: Confiscation Statute: 1010.830
  • Step 1: Confiscation Statute: 12.101(a)
  • Step 1: Return to origin Statute: 71.51(b)(5)
  • Step 1: Confiscation Statute: 515.204(a)(1)
  • Step 1: Flat rate tax, Standard duty Statute: 19 CFR 148.102(a); see also 19 CFR 148.101
  • Step 1: Standard duty Statute: 19 CFR 148.26(b); quantity limits at 19 CFR 148.33(d)
  • Step 1: Reported to authority, Administrative fine, Confiscation Statute: 31 U.S.C. 5321(a)(2); reporting duty at 31 U.S.C. 5316(a)
  • Step 2: Administrative fine Statute: 1010.821(b), Table 1
  • Step 2: Confiscation, Administrative fine Statute: 19 CFR 148.18(a); penalty amount at 19 U.S.C. 1497(a)(2)(B)
  • Step 2: Criminal prosecution, Confiscation Statute: 31 U.S.C. 5332(b)(1); offence defined at 31 U.S.C. 5332(a)(1)
  • Step 3: Criminal prosecution Statute: 1010.840(b)
  • Step 3: Confiscation, Administrative fine Statute: 19 U.S.C. 1497(a)(2)
  • Step 4: Confiscation, Administrative fine, Standard duty Statute: 19 U.S.C. 1592(c)(1); applied to passengers by 19 CFR 148.19
Official authorities 58 official sources
  1. U.S. Customs and Border Protection 19 CFR 148.33 - Articles acquired abroad
  2. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Office of the Federal Register (eCFR) 19 CFR 148.43 -- Tobacco products and alcoholic beverages.
  3. U.S. Customs and Border Protection Customs Duty Information | U.S. Customs and Border Protection
  4. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Office of the Federal Register (eCFR) 19 CFR 148.33 -- Articles acquired abroad.
  5. U.S. Customs and Border Protection 19 CFR 148.43 - Tobacco products and alcoholic beverages
  6. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (eCFR) 19 CFR 148.43 Tobacco products and alcoholic beverages
  7. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (eCFR) 19 CFR 148.33 Articles acquired abroad
  8. U.S. Customs and Border Protection 19 CFR 148.35 - Length of stay for exemption of articles acquired abroad
  9. U.S. Customs and Border Protection 19 CFR 148.36 - Frequency of allowance of exemption for articles acquired abroad
  10. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Office of the Federal Register (eCFR) 19 CFR 148.51 -- Special exemption for personal or household articles.
  11. U.S. Customs and Border Protection 19 CFR 148.51 - Special exemption for personal or household articles
  12. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Office of the Federal Register (eCFR) 19 CFR 148.44 -- Gifts.
  13. U.S. Customs and Border Protection 19 CFR 148.44 - Gifts
  14. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Office of the Federal Register (eCFR) 19 CFR 148.41 -- Articles carried through the United States.
  15. U.S. Customs and Border Protection Money and Other Monetary Instruments
  16. U.S. Customs and Border Protection Prohibited and Restricted Items
  17. Transportation Security Administration What Can I Bring? Complete List
  18. U.S. Customs and Border Protection 19 CFR 148.33 Articles acquired abroad
  19. U.S. Customs and Border Protection Customs Duty Information
  20. U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration 21 CFR 1301.26 Exemptions from import or export requirements for personal medical use
  21. USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Traveling From Another Country
  22. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Office of the Federal Register (eCFR) 27 CFR 478.115 -- Exempt importation.
  23. U.S. Customs and Border Protection 19 CFR 12.40 Seizure; disposition of seized articles; reports to United States attorney
  24. Transportation Security Administration Fireworks | What Can I Bring?
  25. U.S. Customs and Border Protection 19 CFR 12.104a Importations prohibited
  26. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Office of the Federal Register (eCFR) 9 CFR 94.1 -- Regions where foot-and-mouth disease exists; importations prohibited.
  27. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), U.S. Department of Agriculture 9 CFR 94.2 - Fresh products, and milk and milk products of ruminants and swine
  28. USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service International Traveler: Meats, Poultry, and Seafood
  29. USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service International Traveler: Coffee, Teas, Honey, Nuts, and Spices
  30. USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service International Traveler: Milk, Dairy, and Egg Products
  31. USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service International Traveler: Plants, Plant Parts, Cut Flowers, and Seeds
  32. U.S. Food and Drug Administration Personal Importation
  33. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service CITES
  34. U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bringing Food into the U.S.
  35. Transportation Security Administration Liquids, Aerosols, and Gels Rule
  36. U.S. Customs and Border Protection 19 CFR 12.41 Prohibited films
  37. Federal Communications Commission 47 CFR 2.1204 Import conditions
  38. USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service International Traveler: Fruits and Vegetables
  39. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives 27 CFR 478.115 Exempt importation
  40. U.S. Customs and Border Protection 19 CFR 12.48 Importation prohibited; exceptions to prohibition of importation; procedure
  41. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Office of the Federal Register (eCFR) 7 CFR 330.203 -- Soil.
  42. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (eCFR) 19 CFR 148.64 Administrative exemption
  43. USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service International Traveler: Soil, Peat, Sand, Clay, Rocks, and Stones
  44. U.S. Customs and Border Protection Shopping Abroad: Duty Free, Gifts, Household Items
  45. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Office of the Federal Register (eCFR) 31 CFR 515.204 -- Importation of and dealings in certain merchandise.
  46. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), U.S. Department of the Treasury 31 CFR 515.560 - Travel-related transactions to, from, and within Cuba
  47. U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (eCFR) 31 CFR 515.560 Travel-related transactions to, from, and within Cuba by persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction
  48. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Office of the Federal Register (eCFR) 31 CFR 515.560 -- Travel-related transactions to, from, and within Cuba by persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction.
  49. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Office of the Federal Register (eCFR) 31 CFR 1010.340 -- Reports of transportation of currency or monetary instruments.
  50. Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) 31 CFR 1010.306 - Filing of reports
  51. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Office of the Federal Register (eCFR) 21 CFR 1301.26 -- Exemptions from import or export requirements for personal medical use.
  52. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), U.S. Department of Justice 21 CFR 1301.26 - Exemptions from import or export requirements for personal medical use
  53. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Office of the Federal Register (eCFR) 42 CFR 71.51 -- Dogs and cats.
  54. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 42 CFR 71.51 - Dogs and cats
  55. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Office of the Federal Register (eCFR) 19 CFR 148.101 -- Applicability.
  56. U.S. Customs and Border Protection 19 CFR 148.104 - Frequency of use (flat rate of duty)
  57. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Office of the Federal Register (eCFR) 19 CFR 12.97 -- Importations contrary to law.
  58. U.S. Customs and Border Protection 19 CFR 12.98 - Importations permitted by statutory exceptions (switchblade knives)
Last verified 2026-09-19 Report a mistake with this rule