duty free allowance

[mybutty]

i'm sorry if i'm on the wrong site for this question, i'm going to spain over christmas does anyone know how many cigarettes i can bring back and is it best to buy them at stanstead airport (here) or palma airport in spain. thanks for any replys

[mike11111]

There is no duty free within the EU any more, so best buy them in Spain. In theory you can buy as many as you like if you can show that they are for you own consumption, but I believe the recommended guideline is something like 3000, above which questions may be asked.

[mybutty]

thanks very much

[barb1314]

When we went to Palma,the tobacconists in Palma itself were the cheapest for cigarettes but they don't sell all the British brands.Cheaper than the airport.Have a nice trip.

[Buenchico]

HMRC's 'guideline maximum' is 3200 cigarettes:
http://www.hmrc.gov.u...riving/arrivingeu.htm
UKBA staff will not normally challenge travellers about whether imports are solely for personal use if they don't exceed that figure. However they might still get suspicious if, for example, a traveller brings in several different brands. (The definition of 'personal use' includes bona fide gifts for other people but excludes imports for which you'll receive payment, even if you don't make a profit).

For sample Spanish prices, see here:
http://www.day-trippe...tobacco-in-spain.html

Chris

[metalbluepeter]

Suggest you don't buy duty free at UK or Spanish airports, buy from a proper tobacconist in Spain, much wider range of UK brands & works out cheaper - Spanish brands even cheaper. Don't go to a supermarket because many don't even sell cigarettes nowadays. Recommended maximum per adult is 3,400. As an EU resident you've paid EU duty. However, believe if you buy them in Canaries/Andorra, you haven't paid EU tax so limited to 200, same as duty free if you're going outside EU. Balearics considered as mainland Spain so 3,400 limit applies there.

[Buenchico]

MBP seems to be trying to sneak an extra pack into his bag. The 'advisory limit' is 3200 cigarettes, not 3400. (See my link to the HMRC website above).

As MBP states, however, if you visit the Canary Islands you need to be aware that (as part of Spain) they ARE within the EU but, because of their special tax status, imports from there are treated as if they were NOT within the EU. (i.e. you can import a maximum of 200 cigarettes 'duty free').