Customs

What You Can Bring Into Cuba

You may bring in all manner of effects meant for personal use, including video and still cameras, personal electronic devices, jewelry, and sports equipment. In addition, visitors may bring in up to 2 bottles of liquor, a carton of cigarettes, and up to 10 kilograms of medications, provided it is in its original packaging. Anything that might be deemed an import destined to be sold or given as a gift to a Cuban citizen will raise eyebrows and may be subject to stiff import duties and/or confiscation. This includes TVs, VCR or DVD players, telephones, fax machines, desktop computers, and most forms of appliances. In fact, by law you may only import up to CUC$250 worth of any merchandise, and there is a 100% duty on all but the first CUC$50 worth. In practice, most visitors can freely bring in reasonable quantities of basic goods, like dried foods, vitamins, pharmaceuticals, and household supplies, without it being taxed or confiscated.

Note: It is illegal to bring in any pre-recorded videotapes or DVDs. Laptop computers are currently a gray area. Most travelers are permitted to enter with their laptop computers without any problem, although sometimes they are actually confiscated upon entry and returned just prior to your return flight.

You may bring unlimited amounts of cash, but it is wise to declare quantities in excess of US$5,000, as you may have trouble re-exporting large quantities of cash, if discovered upon departure. For current and more detailed information, check out www.aduana.islagrande.cu.

Gifts & Other Assistance -- Cuba is greatly lacking in many consumer and health-related products, and many visitors make a point of bringing items that are hard to find or prohibitively expensive to give as gifts. However, some visitors may be concerned about paternalism or setting examples that influence Cubans to look upon all travelers as bearers of material goods (in some areas popular with tourists, begging has even become a minor issue). One possible solution is to take along gifts to offer to those who may welcome you into their homes or with whom you have some sort of meaningful interaction. Another is to seek out schools and local officials to ensure that gifts are properly distributed. Items greatly appreciated by all Cubans include toothpaste; aspirin and other medicines; sporting goods and equipment, especially baseballs, bats, and gloves; pens and colored pencils; makeup; clothing; and disposable diapers. -- Neil E. Schlecht

What You Can Take Home

Travelers may export up to 23 cigars with no questions asked. Larger quantities -- up to CUC$2,000 worth -- can be exported, provided you show proof that they were bought in official Habanos S.A. outlets. There is no specified limit on the dollar value of arts and crafts items, or clothing you can take home with you. Travelers are officially limited to bringing home 2 bottles of rum or other spirits, although this limit is rarely enforced. Still, if the Customs officials deem your purchases to be of a commercial nature, you could face fines or confiscation.

To export some works of art you will need a permit from the Registro Nacional de Bienes Culturales (National Register of Cultural Heritage). Theoretically, any reputable gallery or shop will provide you with this permit along with your purchase. Handicrafts and artwork bought at street fairs is exempt from this requirement, although I have heard of cases of people being hassled upon departure for not having a permit for art that should be exempt.

Note: There's a CUC$25 departure tax. You must pay this in cash, so be sure to have it on hand.

For a clear summary of Canadian rules, write for the booklet I Declare, issued by the Canada Border Services Agency (tel. 800/461-9999 in Canada, or 204/983-3500; www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca). Canada allows its citizens a C$750 exemption, and you're allowed to bring back duty-free one carton of cigarettes, 1 can of tobacco, 40 imperial ounces of liquor, and 50 cigars. In addition, you're allowed to mail gifts to Canada valued at less than C$60 a day, provided they're unsolicited and don't contain alcohol or tobacco (write on the package "Unsolicited gift, under $60 value"). All valuables should be declared on the Y-38 form before departure from Canada, including serial numbers of valuables you already own, such as expensive foreign cameras. Note: The $750 exemption can only be used once a year and only after an absence of 7 days.

U.K. citizens returning from a non-E.U. country have a customs allowance of: 200 cigarettes; or 50 cigars; or 250 grams of smoking tobacco; 2 liters of still table wine; 1 liter of spirits or strong liqueurs (over 22% volume); or 2 liters of fortified wine, sparkling wine, or other liqueurs; 60cc (ml) perfume; 250cc (ml) of toilet water; and £145 worth of all other goods, including gifts and souvenirs. People under 17 cannot have the tobacco or alcohol allowance. For more information, contact HM Customs & Excise at tel. 0845/010-9000 (from outside the U.K., 020/8929-0152), or consult their website at www.hmce.gov.uk.

The duty-free allowance in Australia is A$400 or, for those under 18, A$200. Citizens can bring in 250 cigarettes or 250 grams of loose tobacco, and 1,125 milliliters of alcohol. If you're returning with valuables you already own, such as foreign-made cameras, you should file form B263. A helpful brochure available from Australian consulates or Customs offices is Know Before You Go. For more information, call the Australian Customs Service at tel. 1300/363-263, or log on to www.customs.gov.au.

The duty-free allowance for New Zealand is NZ$700. Citizens over 17 can bring in 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars, or 250 grams of tobacco (or a mixture of all three if their combined weight doesn't exceed 250g); plus 4.5 liters of wine and beer, or 1.125 liters of liquor. New Zealand currency does not carry import or export restrictions. Fill out a certificate of export, listing the valuables you are taking out of the country; that way, you can bring them back without paying duty. Most questions are answered in a free pamphlet available at New Zealand consulates and Customs offices: New Zealand Customs Guide for Travellers, Notice no. 4. For more information, contact New Zealand Customs, The Customhouse, 17-21 Whitmore St., Box 2218, Wellington (tel. 04/473-6099 or 0800/428-786; www.customs.govt.nz).

Special Rules for U.S. Citizens -- Only licensed U.S. travelers can bring Cuban-bought goods back into the United States, and they are limited to US$100 in merchandise. It is highly recommended you have your receipts handy. All other travelers bringing back Cuban-made goods will be considered in violation of the Treasury embargo and their goods will be confiscated.

Note: It is illegal for U.S. citizens to import Cuban products even if they never stepped foot on the island. It does no good to try to convince the Customs agent confiscating your stogies that you bought them in a cigar shop in Canada or Mexico or Costa Rica.