Jeff Mills Coastal Vacations Club Blog

When traveling to another country, there are some vital information that are considered to be a “must know” before you go travel. If you’ll be traveling to Italy, here are a couple of things that you should know so that you can avoid getting into trouble and paying for violation fees.

Piracy Is A Crime

Even in Italy, piracy is considered to be a crime. In fact they impose hefty fines on tourists that purchase counterfeit goods when visiting Italy. Being a part of the Italian Government Tourist Board’s ongoing commitment to make sure that travelers like you would be safe and secure, it is extremely recommended that you do not, in whatever circumstance; attempt to buy any kind of counterfeit item. Doing so can make you end up paying a fine that costs more than the authentic product.

Fines in Italy can cost you up to 10,000 Euros if you are caught buying a counterfeit product. On the other hand, those selling counterfeit items are charged criminal charges. The Italian government’s campaign on such kind of illegal transaction is quite strong.

Customs Regulations

Upon entering and leaving Italy, your luggage would be examined. There is free entry for personal things such as: clothing, whether used or new; books, fishing tackle, household and camping equipments, a pair of skis, two tennis rackets, CD player accompanied by up to ten CD’s, tape recorder, Dictaphone, computer, baby carriage, two still cameras and up to ten film rolls for each camera, one movie camera, personal jewelry, binoculars; a portable radio set, with a small amount of license fee; 400 cigarettes, and a number of pipe tobacco or cigars that doesn’t exceed 500 grams or 1.1 lb.

All of these items mentioned can be duty-free imported, provided that they’re for personal use only. Thus, these shouldn’t be sold, traded or given away. You can also bring a maximum of one hard liquor bottle and two wine bottles. However, these bottles shouldn’t be open. Additionally, you are allowed to bring a maximum of 6.6 lbs. of sugar, 2.2 lbs. of cocoa and 4.4 lbs. of coffee, which you can bring duty-free.

If you’ve visited another country prior going to Italy, you’re allowed to bring with you souvenir items purchased from that other country up to a maximum value of $500 only.

Exporting From Italy

If you’ll be buying souvenirs from Italy, you do not really have to worry about restrictions, since there is none. However, one exception to the rule would be works of art and antiques. Items like these would require authorization from the Ministero dei Beni Culturali e Ambientali, in able for you to export them.

Are You Canadian?

If you’re residing in Canada and you’re returning from an out of the country trip, then you could pass for personal exemption. Every article which you acquired from other countries, whether received as gifts, purchased, or bought from the duty free shop, either in Canada or abroad, should be declared on your return back to Canada.

Are You From The States?

If you’re a U.S. tourist, you are allowed to bring back home duty-free goods purchased abroad that values up to $400. Your goods should be with you as you travel. An assessment of 10% is imposed on your next $1,000 worth of purchased goods.

However, you can also send parcels, which contain gifts, back home duty-free, provided that each parcel that a person receives wouldn’t exceed $50. All packages that you would send should also have the mark “Unsolicited Gift”, and you should declare all the contents of the package and the amount that you paid for it.

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Filed under: Italian customs, customs, luggage requirements, must know before traveling to Italy