Customs rules define what can and cannot be imported

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General information

When entering the Philippines through an international airport or seaports, you are required to complete a customs declaration if you have items to declare. Then it is presented when leaving the country. In most cases, tourists do not need to do this, unless you have prohibited items from the lists below, or you do not exceed the duty-free rates.

However, in practice, even on airplanes, declaration forms and a migration card are distributed, which must be filled out. Upon arrival, after passing through passport control and baggage claim, you need to go through the green or red corridor, where you can selectively check your luggage and the completed form. If you do not have things to be declared, you do not need to give the completed form yourself without the request of the customs officer, and after passing the corridor you can simply throw it out.

The system of customs clearance at the entrance and exit is arranged according to the international standards of the green and red corridors. After arrival, if necessary, you get a visa, go through passport control, get your luggage, and then go through customs. If you have nothing to declare, go through the green corridor, where you can be selectively checked. If you filled out a customs declaration, you need to go through the Red Corridor.

Cebu airport luggage

Import and export of currency

The import and export of any foreign currency is not restricted, but amounts in excess of 10 000 dollars must be declared both at entry and exit. Only cash currency is declared, tourist checks and credit cards are not taken into account.

To import or export Philippine peso currency worth more than 10,000 pesos (approximately 174 USD, see Philippine currency and exchange rate) requires permission from the Central Bank of the Philippines.

What is allowed to import and export duty-free

As in any country, there are restrictions on the import of goods into the country by quantity or mass. Anything above this can be considered a commodity lot and is subject to customs duties. In order not to get into such a situation, you should be aware of these limitations.

It is allowed to carry without payment of duty to citizens over 18 years of age:

• 400 cigarettes or 50 cigars, or 250 grams of tobacco;
• No more than 2 bottles of alcoholic beverages with a volume of no more than 1 liter each. Goods purchased in dutifrey stores are also included in this volume.;
• Food (in factory packaging), items and things for personal use;

When leaving the country, there are also restrictions on the amount of goods exported.

• 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars, or 500 grams of tobacco;
• 1 quart of alcoholic beverages, which is approximately equal to 0.94 liters;

What is prohibited to import and export from the Philippines

The list of prohibited items for import/export from the country is quite standard, there is nothing exotic. It is forbidden to move clearly illegal items through customs, some things require special permits.

Here is a list of what is prohibited to import and export:

• Drugs and their components, drug-containing over-the-counter medications, and abortion drugs;
• Firearms and their models, ammunition, explosives;
• Lottery tickets;
• Machines and machines for gambling;
• Precious metals without marking;
• Food products without factory packaging, planting materials without sanitary certificates;
• Materials of pornographic, obscene, anti-state content;
• For the import of cold weapons, a permit is required.

It is forbidden to export

• Wild birds, animals, plants without special permission;
• Wood of rare breeds and products from it;
• Ivory and articles thereof;

To import pets, you must have an international veterinary certificate, an import permit issued in advance (issued by the veterinary Bureau of the Philippines, Bureau of Animal Industry), A certificate of vaccination against rabies.