What can you bring to the United States?
What customs allows on arrival, item by item, and what can travel in the cabin or the hold. Every rule cites its official source and the date we read it.
Customs at a glance
- Duty-free allowance
- Counts toward the $800 personal exemption. Anything you bring back that you did not leave with has to be declared. U.S. Customs and Border Protection, read on 2026-09-23
- Alcohol
- One American litre (33.8 fl oz) within the personal exemption, from age 21 and for personal use only. U.S. Customs and Border Protection, read on 2026-09-23
- Tobacco
- 200 cigarettes and 100 cigars at most. Beyond that: detention, seizure, penalties or destruction. U.S. Customs and Border Protection, read on 2026-09-23
- Food
- Every food and agricultural item must be declared and presented for inspection. Failing to declare costs $300 the first time and $500 after that. U.S. Customs and Border Protection, read on 2026-09-23
- Medicine
- A US citizen may travel only with their own prescribed medication. A visitor may bring up to a 90-day supply, with the prescription in English and in its original packaging. U.S. Customs and Border Protection, read on 2026-09-23
Item by item
Everyday items
ClothingAllowed with limits
No transport restriction. New items with tags count toward the customs allowance like anything else bought abroad.
On the aircraft
Cabin or hold
At customs
Allowed with limits
Counts toward the $800 personal exemption. Anything you bring back that you did not leave with has to be declared.
Sources
- Service-Public.fr — Vol en avion : quels sont les objets interdits en cabine ? (read on 2026-09-22)
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection — Customs Duty Information (read on 2026-09-23)
ShoesAllowed with limits
No transport restriction. Bulky rather than complicated: the real constraint is the traveller’s spare space.
On the aircraft
Cabin or hold
At customs
Allowed with limits
Counts toward the $800 personal exemption. Anything you bring back that you did not leave with has to be declared.
Sources
- Service-Public.fr — Vol en avion : quels sont les objets interdits en cabine ? (read on 2026-09-22)
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection — Customs Duty Information (read on 2026-09-23)
Papers and documentsGenerally allowed
No restriction either way. Keep originals in the cabin, where they cannot go missing with a checked bag.
On the aircraft
Cabin or hold
At customs
Generally allowed
Sources
- Service-Public.fr — Vol en avion : quels sont les objets interdits en cabine ? (read on 2026-09-22)
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection — Customs Duty Information (read on 2026-09-23)
BooksAllowed with limits
No transport restriction. Heavy for their size, so agree the weight with the traveller up front.
On the aircraft
Cabin or hold
At customs
Allowed with limits
Counts toward the $800 personal exemption. Anything you bring back that you did not leave with has to be declared.
Sources
- Service-Public.fr — Vol en avion : quels sont les objets interdits en cabine ? (read on 2026-09-22)
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection — Customs Duty Information (read on 2026-09-23)
ToysAllowed with limits
Fine as such. A toy with a battery follows the battery rules, and a replica weapon is refused at screening however obviously fake it looks.
On the aircraft
Cabin or hold
At customs
Allowed with limits
Counts toward the $800 personal exemption. Anything you bring back that you did not leave with has to be declared.
Sources
- Service-Public.fr — Vol en avion : quels sont les objets interdits en cabine ? (read on 2026-09-22)
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection — Customs Duty Information (read on 2026-09-23)
Scissors, knives, toolsAllowed with limits
The hold is the answer. Cabin screening refuses a blade over 6 cm, and screwdrivers and pointed tools whatever their length.
On the aircraft
Checked baggage only, not through cabin screening
A blade over 6 cm, and any screwdriver or pointed tool, is refused at cabin screening. In the hold it is fine.
At customs
Allowed with limits
Counts toward the $800 personal exemption. Anything you bring back that you did not leave with has to be declared.
Sources
- Service-Public.fr — Vol en avion : quels sont les objets interdits en cabine ? (read on 2026-09-22)
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection — Customs Duty Information (read on 2026-09-23)
Cosmetics and toiletries
Creams and skincareAllowed with limits
The staple of the France–Maghreb corridor. In the cabin the 100 ml rule applies per container; in the hold it does not, which is where most of it should go.
On the aircraft
Cabin or hold
Toiletries and medicinal articles, aerosols included: 0.5 kg or 0.5 L per article, and 2 kg or 2 L in total per person.
At customs
Allowed with limits
Counts toward the $800 personal exemption. Anything you bring back that you did not leave with has to be declared.
Sources
- IATA — Dangerous Goods Regulations, Table 2.3.A, 67th edition (1 January 2026) (read on 2026-09-22)
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection — Customs Duty Information (read on 2026-09-23)
PerfumeAllowed with limits
Carried within the toiletry allowance: 0.5 L per bottle, 2 L in total. In the cabin the 100 ml rule applies on top, so a large bottle travels in the hold.
On the aircraft
Cabin or hold
Toiletries and medicinal articles, aerosols included: 0.5 kg or 0.5 L per article, and 2 kg or 2 L in total per person.
At customs
Allowed with limits
Counts toward the $800 personal exemption. Anything you bring back that you did not leave with has to be declared.
Sources
- IATA — Dangerous Goods Regulations, Table 2.3.A, 67th edition (1 January 2026) (read on 2026-09-22)
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection — Customs Duty Information (read on 2026-09-23)
Aerosols and deodorantsAllowed with limits
Permitted within the toiletry allowance with the valve capped. Check with the airline all the same: some are stricter than the IATA baseline on pressurised containers.
On the aircraft
Cabin or hold
The release valve must be protected by a cap. Same allowance as toiletries: 0.5 L per can, 2 L in total.
At customs
Allowed with limits
Counts toward the $800 personal exemption. Anything you bring back that you did not leave with has to be declared.
Sources
- IATA — Dangerous Goods Regulations, Table 2.3.A, 67th edition (1 January 2026) (read on 2026-09-22)
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection — Customs Duty Information (read on 2026-09-23)
Liquids over 100 mlAllowed with limits
Not a category so much as a threshold. Anything liquid above 100 ml has to travel in the hold, whatever it is.
On the aircraft
Checked baggage only, not through cabin screening
In the cabin, containers of 100 ml maximum, all inside one transparent resealable bag of 1 L. One bag per passenger. Anything larger goes in the hold.
At customs
Allowed with limits
Counts toward the $800 personal exemption. Anything you bring back that you did not leave with has to be declared.
Sources
- Service-Public.fr — Vol en avion : quels sont les objets interdits en cabine ? (read on 2026-09-22)
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection — Customs Duty Information (read on 2026-09-23)
Medicine and baby
Over-the-counter medicineAllowed with limits
Fine for your own use, and exempt from the liquids rule when you can justify the need. Keep it in its box with the leaflet.
On the aircraft
Cabin or hold
Medicine and baby food are exempt from the 100 ml rule, for the outbound trip, the stay and the return, with a prescription or an obvious need.
At customs
Allowed with limits
A US citizen may travel only with their own prescribed medication. A visitor may bring up to a 90-day supply, with the prescription in English and in its original packaging.
Sources
- Service-Public.fr — Vol en avion : quels sont les objets interdits en cabine ? (read on 2026-09-22)
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection — Prohibited and Restricted Items (read on 2026-09-23)
Prescription medicineAllowed with limits
Allowed, but the customs allowance covers "the traveller’s own needs". Carrying someone else’s prescription falls outside that: keep the prescription with the box, and check the arrival country.
On the aircraft
Cabin or hold
Medicine and baby food are exempt from the 100 ml rule, for the outbound trip, the stay and the return, with a prescription or an obvious need.
At customs
Allowed with limits
A US citizen may travel only with their own prescribed medication. A visitor may bring up to a 90-day supply, with the prescription in English and in its original packaging.
Sources
- Service-Public.fr — Vol en avion : quels sont les objets interdits en cabine ? (read on 2026-09-22)
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection — Prohibited and Restricted Items (read on 2026-09-23)
Infant formulaAllowed with limits
Exempt from the liquids rule in the cabin. Entering the EU it counts as an animal product: 2 kg per person.
On the aircraft
Cabin or hold
Medicine and baby food are exempt from the 100 ml rule, for the outbound trip, the stay and the return, with a prescription or an obvious need.
At customs
Allowed with limits
Every food and agricultural item must be declared and presented for inspection. Failing to declare costs $300 the first time and $500 after that.
Sources
- Service-Public.fr — Vol en avion : quels sont les objets interdits en cabine ? (read on 2026-09-22)
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection — Prohibited and Restricted Items (read on 2026-09-23)
Food supplementsAllowed with limits
Generally fine sealed and in their original packaging. Some countries treat certain active ingredients as medicine, so check the destination.
On the aircraft
Cabin or hold
At customs
Allowed with limits
Every food and agricultural item must be declared and presented for inspection. Failing to declare costs $300 the first time and $500 after that.
Sources
- Service-Public.fr — Vol en avion : quels sont les objets interdits en cabine ? (read on 2026-09-22)
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection — Prohibited and Restricted Items (read on 2026-09-23)
Food
HoneyAllowed with limits
Allowed up to 2 kg per person entering the EU, unlike meat and dairy. No air-transport restriction at all.
On the aircraft
Cabin or hold
At customs
Allowed with limits
Every food and agricultural item must be declared and presented for inspection. Failing to declare costs $300 the first time and $500 after that.
Sources
- Service-Public.fr — Vol en avion : quels sont les objets interdits en cabine ? (read on 2026-09-22)
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection — Prohibited and Restricted Items (read on 2026-09-23)
Meat and charcuterieNot allowed
Refused on both sides: the EU bans it from a non-EU country with no tolerance and no small-quantity exception, and the US refuses fresh, dried or canned meat from most countries. Pâté, sausage and foie gras included.
On the aircraft
Cabin or hold
At customs
Not allowed
Fresh, dried or canned meat is inadmissible from most countries, including inside a prepared dish.
Sources
- Service-Public.fr — Vol en avion : quels sont les objets interdits en cabine ? (read on 2026-09-22)
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection — Prohibited and Restricted Items (read on 2026-09-23)
Cheese and dairyAllowed with limits
One of the few places the two sides genuinely part company: the EU bans it from a non-EU country exactly as it bans meat, while the US admits some of it depending on origin. Cheese, yoghurt and butter are all covered.
On the aircraft
Cabin or hold
At customs
Allowed with limits
Some cheeses are admitted and others are not, depending on origin and composition. Declare it either way.
Sources
- Service-Public.fr — Vol en avion : quels sont les objets interdits en cabine ? (read on 2026-09-22)
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection — Prohibited and Restricted Items (read on 2026-09-23)
Fish and seafoodAllowed with limits
Allowed entering the EU up to 20 kg per person, unlike meat and dairy. Fresh fish also has to survive the journey.
On the aircraft
Cabin or hold
At customs
Allowed with limits
Every food and agricultural item must be declared and presented for inspection. Failing to declare costs $300 the first time and $500 after that.
Sources
- Service-Public.fr — Vol en avion : quels sont les objets interdits en cabine ? (read on 2026-09-22)
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection — Prohibited and Restricted Items (read on 2026-09-23)
Chocolate and sweetsAllowed with limits
No transport restriction. Chocolate needs an import licence into Algeria, so check that corridor before promising anything.
On the aircraft
Cabin or hold
At customs
Allowed with limits
Every food and agricultural item must be declared and presented for inspection. Failing to declare costs $300 the first time and $500 after that.
Sources
- Service-Public.fr — Vol en avion : quels sont les objets interdits en cabine ? (read on 2026-09-22)
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection — Prohibited and Restricted Items (read on 2026-09-23)
Spices, tea, coffeeAllowed with limits
Fine sealed. Loose plant products can attract plant-health checks, so keep the original packaging.
On the aircraft
Cabin or hold
At customs
Allowed with limits
Every food and agricultural item must be declared and presented for inspection. Failing to declare costs $300 the first time and $500 after that.
Sources
- Service-Public.fr — Vol en avion : quels sont les objets interdits en cabine ? (read on 2026-09-22)
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection — Prohibited and Restricted Items (read on 2026-09-23)
Electronics
PhoneAllowed with limits
A portable electronic device: cabin or hold, but in the hold it has to be fully off and protected. A new sealed phone counts toward the customs allowance and can be declared.
On the aircraft
Cabin or hold
Lithium battery of 100 Wh or less, or 2 g of lithium metal or less. Up to 15 devices per person. A device in the hold must be fully switched off and protected from damage.
At customs
Allowed with limits
Counts toward the $800 personal exemption. Anything you bring back that you did not leave with has to be declared.
Sources
- IATA — Dangerous Goods Regulations, Table 2.3.A, 67th edition (1 January 2026) (read on 2026-09-22)
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection — Customs Duty Information (read on 2026-09-23)
LaptopAllowed with limits
Same rules as a phone. Its value usually exceeds the customs allowance on its own, which is what to plan for.
On the aircraft
Cabin or hold
Lithium battery of 100 Wh or less, or 2 g of lithium metal or less. Up to 15 devices per person. A device in the hold must be fully switched off and protected from damage.
At customs
Allowed with limits
Counts toward the $800 personal exemption. Anything you bring back that you did not leave with has to be declared.
Sources
- IATA — Dangerous Goods Regulations, Table 2.3.A, 67th edition (1 January 2026) (read on 2026-09-22)
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection — Customs Duty Information (read on 2026-09-23)
TabletAllowed with limits
Same rules as a phone: 100 Wh or less, switched off if it goes in the hold.
On the aircraft
Cabin or hold
Lithium battery of 100 Wh or less, or 2 g of lithium metal or less. Up to 15 devices per person. A device in the hold must be fully switched off and protected from damage.
At customs
Allowed with limits
Counts toward the $800 personal exemption. Anything you bring back that you did not leave with has to be declared.
Sources
- IATA — Dangerous Goods Regulations, Table 2.3.A, 67th edition (1 January 2026) (read on 2026-09-22)
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection — Customs Duty Information (read on 2026-09-23)
SmartwatchAllowed with limits
A portable electronic device like any other. Far below every battery threshold.
On the aircraft
Cabin or hold
Lithium battery of 100 Wh or less, or 2 g of lithium metal or less. Up to 15 devices per person. A device in the hold must be fully switched off and protected from damage.
At customs
Allowed with limits
Counts toward the $800 personal exemption. Anything you bring back that you did not leave with has to be declared.
Sources
- IATA — Dangerous Goods Regulations, Table 2.3.A, 67th edition (1 January 2026) (read on 2026-09-22)
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection — Customs Duty Information (read on 2026-09-23)
HeadphonesAllowed with limits
No difficulty. The built-in battery is well below the limits.
On the aircraft
Cabin or hold
Lithium battery of 100 Wh or less, or 2 g of lithium metal or less. Up to 15 devices per person. A device in the hold must be fully switched off and protected from damage.
At customs
Allowed with limits
Counts toward the $800 personal exemption. Anything you bring back that you did not leave with has to be declared.
Sources
- IATA — Dangerous Goods Regulations, Table 2.3.A, 67th edition (1 January 2026) (read on 2026-09-22)
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection — Customs Duty Information (read on 2026-09-23)
Games consoleAllowed with limits
A portable electronic device. A portable console travels fine; its charger and any spare battery belong in the cabin.
On the aircraft
Cabin or hold
Lithium battery of 100 Wh or less, or 2 g of lithium metal or less. Up to 15 devices per person. A device in the hold must be fully switched off and protected from damage.
At customs
Allowed with limits
Counts toward the $800 personal exemption. Anything you bring back that you did not leave with has to be declared.
Sources
- IATA — Dangerous Goods Regulations, Table 2.3.A, 67th edition (1 January 2026) (read on 2026-09-22)
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection — Customs Duty Information (read on 2026-09-23)
CameraAllowed with limits
The body may go in either bag. Spare batteries may not: those are cabin only.
On the aircraft
Cabin or hold
Lithium battery of 100 Wh or less, or 2 g of lithium metal or less. Up to 15 devices per person. A device in the hold must be fully switched off and protected from damage.
At customs
Allowed with limits
Counts toward the $800 personal exemption. Anything you bring back that you did not leave with has to be declared.
Sources
- IATA — Dangerous Goods Regulations, Table 2.3.A, 67th edition (1 January 2026) (read on 2026-09-22)
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection — Customs Duty Information (read on 2026-09-23)
Batteries and vaping
Power bankAllowed with limits
Cabin only, without exception. This is the single most common mistake, and a power bank in the hold is the reason cargo fires start where nobody can reach them.
On the aircraft
Cabin baggage only, never in the hold
Cabin only, always. 100 Wh or less, up to 20 spares per person, each protected against short circuits. Between 100 and 160 Wh, two maximum and the airline must agree.
At customs
Allowed with limits
Counts toward the $800 personal exemption. Anything you bring back that you did not leave with has to be declared.
Sources
- IATA — Safe Travel with Lithium Batteries (read on 2026-09-22)
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection — Customs Duty Information (read on 2026-09-23)
Spare batteriesAllowed with limits
Cabin only, terminals taped or in their original packaging. Loose in a bag they short against keys and coins.
On the aircraft
Cabin baggage only, never in the hold
Cabin only, always. 100 Wh or less, up to 20 spares per person, each protected against short circuits. Between 100 and 160 Wh, two maximum and the airline must agree.
At customs
Allowed with limits
Counts toward the $800 personal exemption. Anything you bring back that you did not leave with has to be declared.
Sources
- IATA — Safe Travel with Lithium Batteries (read on 2026-09-22)
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection — Customs Duty Information (read on 2026-09-23)
E-cigarette and vapeAllowed with limits
Cabin only, never the hold, and never charged on board. Protect it against accidental activation.
On the aircraft
Cabin baggage only, never in the hold
Cabin only, protected against accidental activation. Never charge one on board.
At customs
Allowed with limits
Counts toward the $800 personal exemption. Anything you bring back that you did not leave with has to be declared.
Sources
- IATA — Dangerous Goods Regulations, Table 2.3.A, 67th edition (1 January 2026) (read on 2026-09-22)
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection — Customs Duty Information (read on 2026-09-23)
Smart luggageAllowed with limits
Fine if the battery comes out and travels in the cabin. A bag whose battery is sealed in and over 2.7 Wh is refused outright.
On the aircraft
Cabin or hold
A non-removable battery must not exceed 2.7 Wh, otherwise the bag is refused outright. A removable battery has to come out before check-in and travel in the cabin.
At customs
Allowed with limits
Counts toward the $800 personal exemption. Anything you bring back that you did not leave with has to be declared.
Sources
- IATA — Dangerous Goods Regulations, Table 2.3.A, 67th edition (1 January 2026) (read on 2026-09-22)
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection — Customs Duty Information (read on 2026-09-23)
Valuables
Jewellery and watchesAllowed with limits
No transport restriction, but value is the issue: past the allowance it must be declared, and it belongs in the cabin.
On the aircraft
Cabin or hold
At customs
Allowed with limits
Counts toward the $800 personal exemption. Anything you bring back that you did not leave with has to be declared.
Sources
- Service-Public.fr — Vol en avion : quels sont les objets interdits en cabine ? (read on 2026-09-22)
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection — Customs Duty Information (read on 2026-09-23)
Gift cardsNot allowed
Colia does not accept them. They are bearer value, indistinguishable from cash once handed over, and impossible to arbitrate if a dispute follows.
On the aircraft
Cabin or hold
At customs
Allowed with limits
Counts toward the $800 personal exemption. Anything you bring back that you did not leave with has to be declared.
On Colia
Cash or untraceable financial instruments
This one is our own rule, not a regulation: Colia does not accept it even where the law allows it.
Sources
- Service-Public.fr — Vol en avion : quels sont les objets interdits en cabine ? (read on 2026-09-22)
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection — Customs Duty Information (read on 2026-09-23)
- Colia — Confiance et sécurité (read on 2026-09-22)
SIM cardsGenerally allowed
No transport restriction. Be aware though that several countries regulate opening a line in someone else’s name.
On the aircraft
Cabin or hold
At customs
Generally allowed
Sources
- Service-Public.fr — Vol en avion : quels sont les objets interdits en cabine ? (read on 2026-09-22)
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection — Customs Duty Information (read on 2026-09-23)
Counterfeits and replicasNot allowed
The traveller carrying it is the one held responsible. The EU seizes it outright, with a fine; the US tolerates one article of each type every 30 days. Colia accepts it in neither case.
On the aircraft
Cabin or hold
At customs
Allowed with limits
Seized at the border. One article of each type, for personal use, is tolerated once every 30 days.
On Colia
Counterfeit goods or stolen property
This one is our own rule, not a regulation: Colia does not accept it even where the law allows it.
Sources
- Service-Public.fr — Vol en avion : quels sont les objets interdits en cabine ? (read on 2026-09-22)
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection — Prohibited and Restricted Items (read on 2026-09-23)
- Colia — Confiance et sécurité (read on 2026-09-22)
Alcohol, tobacco, dangerous goods
AlcoholAllowed with limits
The two layers stack: 5 L maximum in transit between 24% and 70% by volume, 1 L of spirits at customs. That allowance is the traveller’s, not the recipient’s.
On the aircraft
Cabin or hold
Between 24% and 70% by volume: retail packaging, containers of 5 L or less, 5 L per person. At or below 24%, no air-transport restriction.
At customs
Allowed with limits
One American litre (33.8 fl oz) within the personal exemption, from age 21 and for personal use only.
Sources
- IATA — Dangerous Goods Regulations, Table 2.3.A, 67th edition (1 January 2026) (read on 2026-09-22)
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection — Customs Duty Information (read on 2026-09-23)
TobaccoAllowed with limits
Allowed within the traveller’s own allowance: 200 cigarettes, not cumulative. The allowance is personal — beyond it, customs treats it as a commercial import.
On the aircraft
Cabin or hold
At customs
Allowed with limits
200 cigarettes and 100 cigars at most. Beyond that: detention, seizure, penalties or destruction.
Sources
- Service-Public.fr — Vol en avion : quels sont les objets interdits en cabine ? (read on 2026-09-22)
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection — Customs Duty Information (read on 2026-09-23)
Lighters and matchesNot allowed
One, on your person, in neither bag. Which makes it impossible to carry for someone else, and Colia does not accept it.
On the aircraft
On your person only, in neither bag
One small lighter or one packet of safety matches, carried on your person. Neither bag. Lighter fuel and refills are banned everywhere.
At customs
Generally allowed
On Colia
Hazardous or flammable materials
This one is our own rule, not a regulation: Colia does not accept it even where the law allows it.
Sources
- IATA — Dangerous Goods Regulations, Table 2.3.A, 67th edition (1 January 2026) (read on 2026-09-22)
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection — Customs Duty Information (read on 2026-09-23)
- Colia — Confiance et sécurité (read on 2026-09-22)
Pepper sprayNot allowed
Forbidden on the aircraft in every case: not in the cabin, not in the hold, not on your person. One of the very few items the IATA table marks outright forbidden.
On the aircraft
Not permitted on board, in any bag
At customs
We found no citable official source for this rule in this country. Check with its customs before you travel.
On Colia
Weapons, explosives, or ammunition
This one is our own rule, not a regulation: Colia does not accept it even where the law allows it.
Sources
- IATA — Dangerous Goods Regulations, Table 2.3.A, 67th edition (1 January 2026) (read on 2026-09-22)
- Colia — Confiance et sécurité (read on 2026-09-22)
Rules change, and they vary by country, by airline and by type of transport. Always check the official conditions before you travel. This page is information, not legal or customs advice.
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