Entry & Exit
What is the difference between the red channel and the green channel?
Answer: They are two channels in China Customs. If you have nothing to declare, please take the green one, otherwise pass through the red one. When you are uncertain which one to take, choose the red one.
How much US currency and Chinese RMB can I bring in?
Answer: 5,000 US dollars or equivalent in any foreign currency and 20,000 CNY is permitted. If you have more than this amount, related documents will be needed and you need to declare to the customs.
Do I need to declare my golden necklace which I am going to wear when traveling in China?
Answer: According to the regulations, if gold, silver and the products made from them are less than 50g (2 ounce), they are duty-free and do not need to be declared. If the weight exceeds the limitation, you should declare it.
What about the gold objects I have bought in China?
Answer: All the receipts for valuable articles, such as jewelry, jade, gold and silver ornaments, handicrafts, artifacts, paintings and calligraphy that you buy in China should be kept for the exit check.
Are cigarettes and alcohol duty-free?
Answer: up to 400 cigarettes or 100 cigars and up to 1.5 liters of alcoholic beverages (alcohol measure above 12 degrees) are duty-free either entering or exiting. More than the limited amount needs to be declared and a certain mount of duty needs to be paid.
Can I take Bible to China?
Answer: It is allowed for personal use and up to 3 copies is a reasonable amount. If the amount exceeds the reasonable amount, the China Customs will confiscate the extra ones.
Can you give specific information about the things need to be declared?
Answer: The followings need to be declared according to the China Customs Luggage Declaration Form when entering into China:
1. Any item that will be left in China whose value exceeds 2,000 CNY
2. More than 400 cigarettes or 100 cigars and 1.5 liters of alcoholic beverages (alcohol measure above 12 degrees)
3. Foreign currency greater than 5,000 US dollars or the equivalent, or 20,000 CNY
4. Animals and animal products, microorganism, biological products, human tissue, blood and blood products
5. Transceiver, communications devices.
6. Any items prohibited and limited according to the laws of the People's Republic of China
7. Luggage that need to be transported separately
8. Cargo, commercial samples, advertising items
The followings need to be declared according to the China Customs Luggage Declaration Form when exiting China:
1. Foreign currency above 5,000 US dollars or equivalent, or 20,000 CNY
2. Gold, silver and other valuable items
3. Cultural relics, endangered animals and plants as well as their products, biological species resources
4. Transceiver, communication devices.
5. Any items prohibited and limited according to the laws of the People's Republic of China
6. Cargo, commercial sample, advertising items
Will I be punished if I did not declare the things that need to be declared?
Answer: Yes. China Customs follows the regulation strictly. There is detailed information about what kind of things needed to be declare on the Declaration Form, so check your Custom Declaration Form carefully and make sure you complete it accurately.
Note: Custom Declaration is quite a troublesome procedure. We strongly recommended that foreign travelers should ask in advance if you may have any problems concerning the regulations. You can consult your travel agency or the Custom Declaration office in the airport for help.
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Travelers' Voices on Customs Declaration
1.
Jul. 3,2009 10:42 Reply
Mr.Alex(USA) said:
What will happen if I don't declare at the customs if the foreign currency I bought into China is more than USD5000? Let's say USD10,000 and I don't intend to take out of China after that. What will be the penalty if caught with too much foreign currency on hand at customs? Thanks.
2.
Jul. 1,2009 02:13 Reply
Mr.Frank(USA) said:
Can I bring a couple of live lobsters and smoked turkey in a sealed cooler to China?
Jul. 1,2009 03:33
Mr.blare(cn) replied:
Smoked turkey is ok, but i am not sure about live lobster. In my opinion, it is not allowed. Why do you want to take lobsters? In china, it is easy to buy such things!
Jul. 1,2009 22:10
Mr.HECARES(Afghanistan) replied:
Many thanks. I will bring turkey then. The lobsters are great and cheap here which can be something special for my parents... :)
3.
Jun. 26,2009 06:27 Reply
Mrs.Davis(Australia) said:
We are planning to stay in China for more than 6 months and therefore would like to bring many food items with us. All items are processed, such as biscuits, coffee, long-life milk, dried-herbs. I also would like to bring some frozen pastry . Not sure whether these are allowed?
Could some one let me know?
Jun. 27,2009 21:46
Mr.yina(cn) replied:
It is ok, but do not take too much of them. By the way, it is easy to find such things in CHina, especially in the bif cities, do not worry, in the big supermarket, there are a lot of foreign brands, so i think you may not need to take many food items, just take some for the flight and then after you arrive in china, you can buy whatever you want.
4.
Jun. 27,2009 05:00 Reply
Mr.Jimmie(USA) said:
I'll be traveling to China with a gift Macbook Pro (Worth 199) and an iPod touch (Worth 29). These are all brand-new items and according to "1. Any item that will be left in China whose value exceeds 2,000 CNY", I should declare them when I go through the customs. Is that correct? Will I be asked to pay anything?
Jun. 27,2009 21:26
Mr.herry(cn) replied:
Hi, i am not sure whether you need to pay anything, but i am sure that you need to declare it on the delaration form if the value exceed the limitation. Actuall, it you do not take the prohibited items and the items which will damage the nation, you won't have too much problem in the customs.
By the way, welcome to china!
5.
Jun. 23,2009 12:28 Reply
Mr.Kim(USA) said:
I am going to China to live for several years and would like to take my gold since I don't trust the US government. And they will confiscate it if the dollar collapses.
How much gold coins can I take without declaring it? 2 Oz or about 47 grams?
If I take more and declare, how much duty will I need to pay to take gold into China?
I am a US citizen.
Jun. 23,2009 21:38
Mr.cindy(cn) replied:
Within 2 oz, you do not need to declare. As for the duty, i think you need to pay 10%, but i am not sure
Jun. 23,2009 21:40
Mr.yina(cn) replied:
Hi, it's true that you need to 10% of the value of the gold.
6.
Jun. 22,2009 04:01 Reply
Mr.JK(NZ) said:
What foods are allowed or no allowed? I have several prepackaged baby food items for my 1 year old baby, like milk powder etc. No fresh/perishable foods etc.
I do not want to use any chinese made baby food products, due to the poisoning problems they had previously.
Jun. 22,2009 20:14
Mr.cindy(cn) replied:
Hi, the food for baby is Ok, remember that do not take any liquid items. Wish you have a good trip with your baby！
7.
Jun. 15,2009 02:58 Reply
Mr.Travis(USA) said:
Can anyone clarify the amount of smokeless tobacco passengers are allowed to possess without declaring?
Jun. 15,2009 04:31
Mr.laura(cn) replied:
Hi, do you mean how much tobacco you can take into China without declaring? Up to 400 cigarettes or 100 cigars or 500g tabaccos are duty free and do not need to be declared.
8.
Jun. 12,2009 08:26 Reply
Mr.Webb(UK) said:
Hi there, thank you for your great information! I have some questions:
I will be going to China and staying for potentially over 5 years (university study - long term). I will be bringing quite a lot of essentials with me and a few gifts. I am a little unsure of some of the things I need to declare or not - could you advise me? I am bringing:
-Some sets of clothes for my own use. Maybe a few pairs of trousers, few shirts, etc.
-My laptop - belongs to me and for my personal use. About 10 months old.
-My camera - for my personal use, a few years old. I'm not sure about the value.
-Some gifts, including: -Two books - value 10/CNY 112
-A board game - value 10/CNY 112
-Metal earrings - non-precious metal - value 8/ CNY90
-Gift/birthday card - value 3/CNY40
-Two gold neckalaces - total value 125/CNY 1350
-The gifts are all wrapped in gift paper - will this be a problem? The total gift CNY value is about CNY1700 to 1800.
-108 DVDs, all in one bag (DVDs only, not in their cases - can't really value them. All of them belong to me, and are old.
Would any of this need to be declared - what about items used by me for a long time? Thank you very much.
Jun. 13,2009 21:19
Mr.yina(cn) replied:
Hi, for your gold necklace, if it is less than 50g (2 ounce), they are duty-free and do not need to be declared. Or you need to declare it and pay centain duty. The laptop, camera and other personal things do not need to declare. Do not worry, just fill out the custom declaration form correctly, there won't be any problem.
9.
Jun. 5,2009 13:52 Reply
Mr.BND(USA) said:
I see that i can take 100 cigars with me to China; if i bring 500, do i declare 500 or 400 and how do i find out how much the duty will be?
Jun. 5,2009 21:26
Ms.Evelyn(China) replied:
You should pay for the surplus 400 cigars.
Jun. 6,2009 21:05
Mr.paula(cn) replied:
Hi, you need to declare 500. And you need pay duty for the surplus 400 cigars, each for 1 CNY, totally 400CNY.
10.
May. 19,2009 08:08 Reply
Ms.Lyn(usa) said:
I want to take silver jewelry components into china to make jewelry there and then take the jewelry back to USA. How do I declare and what kind of duty would I have to pay?!
May. 31,2009 03:23
Mr.hebie(cn) replied:
If it is within the limitation, there is no need to declare. Over the limitation, you need to fill i t out on the Declaration Form.