When crossing the border of a particular country, travelers undergo two types of control: passport control, during which personal documents are checked, and customs, focused on the inspection of things. Various states establish their own rules regarding the transport of goods and personal items into their territory. Knowing these rules will allow you to easily cross the border and stay in the country for the required amount of time. Polish customs regulations change quite often, so it is important to familiarize yourself with the procedure for transporting things into the territory of this country shortly before your trip.
Innovations
In 2021, the Polish government made some changes and innovations regarding crossing the country's borders. The first, main innovation is the submission of biometric data at the border control point.
When crossing the border with Poland you need to give fingerprints
This procedure was introduced to control and verify the validity of new biometric passports. The government assures that biometric data collection will be carried out not only at border checkpoints.
New mobile scanners will be provided to all border guards to take fingerprints on trains and buses. Mobile scanners allow you to take a fingerprint only from the index finger of your right hand, while with a stationary scanner you will have to take prints of all five fingers.
After the procedure, all scanned information appears in the Warsaw database within 20–25 seconds. Then the screen displays information whether the owner of the fingerprints is the owner of the foreign biometric passport.
According to the innovation, mandatory checks of biometric data at the Polish border await citizens of 70 countries, including the Russian Federation, Ukraine and the Republic of Belarus.
Verification procedure
Depending on the method of crossing the Polish border, customs officers have the right to use the following inspection methods:
- accounting of imported goods;
- verification of provided documents (declaration, passports, visas, etc.);
- monitoring the movement of goods;
- oral questioning of the owner of things;
- requirement of written explanations;
- visual inspection of things;
- superficial inspection of objects;
- personal search of the passenger.
To search for prohibited quantities of items or contraband, Polish customs officers use various methods. This could be a variety of scanners, the involvement of a canine service, and much more.
Goods permitted for import
Currency
Customs rules state that a foreign resident has the right to import cash into the territory of the Polish Republic in the amount of up to 10,000 euros without paying state duty and filling out a customs declaration. If there is more money, then the person will have to fill out a customs declaration.
Alcohol products
Alcoholic products can only be transported to Poland by people who have reached 17 years of age.
You can import one of the following alcoholic beverages in an amount of 1 liter:
- Alcohol with a strength of more than 22 degrees.
- Ethyl alcohol with a strength of more than 80 degrees.
You are allowed to take 2 liters of alcoholic beverages with a strength of up to 22 degrees.
Wine can be imported in quantities of 4 liters, and beer in quantities of no more than 6 liters.
If crossing the border is carried out not by land, but by air, then the amount of permitted alcohol for import is equal to:
- 2 liters of wine.
- 5 liters of beer.
Tobacco products
How much tobacco products can you transport:
- no more than 200 cigarettes;
- no more than 50 cigars;
- no more than 250 tobacco for smoking.
Vegetables and fruits
Vegetables and fruits are imported into Poland without paying state duty in quantities up to 5 kilograms. The only exception concerns potatoes.
This vegetable is prohibited for import into Poland.
Baby food
Baby food is allowed to be imported into Poland provided that the total weight does not exceed 2 kilograms.
About smuggling and prescribed penalties
The reasons for the smuggling of cigarettes into Poland, as well as the illegal import of alcohol into this country, are obvious. First of all, this is beneficial due to the difference in prices for similar goods in this country and in neighboring Ukraine, Belarus, as well as the Kaliningrad region of Russia.
Smugglers know very well how much tobacco and alcohol they can import, and they deliberately violate these standards, often without fear of a fine. The reason is simple: you can sell your “cargo” by transporting it across the border at a higher price, because a pack costs more there. That's why they smuggle goods despite the restrictions.
2018 is no exception: the cost of cigarettes in our western neighbor continues to be higher. What tricks do smugglers go to and where do they hide cargo for the sake of making illegal profits?
Anticipated fines
The amount of the penalty imposed depends on a number of factors, including the volume of cargo transported, the presence or absence of similar offenses in the past, and so on. Accordingly, if a person is not “caught” for the first time, then the size of the fine will be higher. In most cases, it is 150-350 zlotys, unless we are talking about particularly large quantities.
Of course, all illegally transported goods are subject to confiscation. The Polish visa will be canceled, and the foreign citizen himself will be added to the “black list” as undesirable for entering the country. Often the vehicle is also seized if illegal cargo was transported by car. In a number of special cases, criminal liability may arise. For example, if a large consignment of goods was transported, or the same person committed multiple violations of customs rules.
Import restrictions
It is highly undesirable to take goods with you to Poland that have import restrictions:
- Milk.
- Eggs.
- Meat.
- Fish.
- Cheese, cheese products.
- Dairy products.
If a traveler wishes to bring such food products to Poland, they must have a quality certificate, which can only be obtained after passing veterinary control of the products.
Memo for tourists: what can be imported and exported
And also the main requirement for the import of this group of goods and products is their transportation, which must be carried out in special, tightly closed plastic containers.
Sturgeon caviar is allowed to be imported only in quantities of no more than 125 grams per person.
How many packs of cigarettes can you import into Poland?
Limits for importing cigarettes into Poland:
- cigarettes – 2 packs (total 40 pieces)
- cigarillos – 20 pieces
- cigars – 10 pieces
- dry tobacco – no more than 50 grams
When traveling by plane:
- cigarettes – 10 packs (total 200 pieces)
- cigarillos – 100 pieces
- cigars – 50 pieces
- dry tobacco – no more than 250 grams
Import of animals
Many foreigners prefer to travel to other countries with their pets. You are only allowed to take dogs, cats and ferrets with you to Poland.
Dog passport
But animals can be transported across the border to Poland only under the following conditions:
- All animals that cross the Polish border must be tagged, that is, have a microchip.
- Pet owners must visit veterinary services in advance and obtain certificates about the health status of their pet. The veterinarian is also required to issue a certificate stating that the animal has a rabies vaccination. If there is no such vaccination, then it must be done urgently, since after vaccination, at least 21 days must pass before crossing the Polish border.
The rabies vaccine must be inactivated. Only animals that have been vaccinated in accordance with OIE standards are allowed to enter Poland.
Information about animal vaccinations
If a traveler brings more than 5 animals across the border, they undergo mandatory veterinary control.
What is prohibited to carry?
Definitely prohibited:
- drugs;
- radioactive, incl. infected, elements;
- explosives;
- potent poisons.
Despite the impressive amount of information, it is not only possible, but also necessary to understand the issue of permission for entry and exit. Any lack of awareness can lead to penalties, including deprivation of the right to visit the EU for several years.
It is better to spend a little time studying the issue, and then enjoy visiting Poland! If something is unclear, ask clarifying questions in the comments.
Sample of filling out a customs declaration
The customs declaration is filled out at border control points personally by the tourist. It is necessary to fill out 2 copies of the document. The first one remains with the border guard, and the second copy is given to the traveler. It is also worth noting that when leaving Poland, a customs declaration is presented at the border.
What can be transported without declaration (green corridor), what must be declared (red corridor)
Sample of filling out a customs declaration:
Point No. 1: “Information about the person.”
It is advisable to enter all data in block letters using a blue or black pen. Handwriting must be legible. The declaration can be filled out in Russian.
This column contains information such as:
- FULL NAME.
- State of permanent residence.
- Country of citizenship.
- Number of the tourist's identity document.
- Departure country.
- Destination country (Poland).
- The presence of minor children who, together with a foreign resident, cross the Polish border. If children also enter Poland, then their number must be indicated.
Point No. 2: “Information regarding the method of movement of goods and transport.”
In this column you need to indicate who is accompanying the luggage: the traveler himself or the carrier.
Point No. 3: “Information about goods and transport.”
In the first column you need to indicate the exact amount of money being transported. The currency and amount are indicated in detail in words and figures.
Then, information about the transport used to cross the Polish border is indicated: the make of the car, the year of its manufacture, the body number and the registration number of the car.
Next, it must be shown whether the foreigner has goods, the import of which is restricted or prohibited in Poland. If yes, then it is necessary to describe all the goods in detail: the name of the item, quantity and weight in numbers and words, its cost in euros.
Sample translation of a Polish export declaration into Russian
This concludes the writing of the customs declaration. At the end of the declaration, the person filling it out puts the date and his signature.
How much money can you bring to Poland?
10 thousand euros to Poland
in any currency. The amount exceeding the norm must be declared. When leaving the country, customs officers will definitely check the cash with the numbers in the declaration.
Important.
If the national currency of the importing country is different from the euro (for example, rubles), then calculations are made in Polish zlotys. In this case, import standards are recalculated at the current exchange rate.
When passing passport control, employees ask all tourists about the length of stay in the country and the availability of means of subsistence. If a foreigner plans to stay in Poland for 3 days, he must have at least 900 zlotys or an equivalent amount in any convenient currency. Foreigners who come to Poland to study must have the means to live, subject to a minimum monthly cost of PLN 543.
Transporting medicines across the border with Poland
Medicines,
Your first aid kit should contain no more than 5 small packages of medicines for personal use (more medicines can be imported after obtaining permission from the Minister of Health) and in no case should they contain narcotic or psychotropic substances. Except in cases where transportation is carried out by licensed entities on the basis of special permits, or if the person transporting them has a certificate containing detailed information about the patient, doctor, transported medicine, as well as details of the organization that issued and confirmed the certificate (prescription).
But not everyone knows about the presence of such prohibited substances in medicines. Some of the most common illegal drugs are those containing sibutramine (banned in the EU). Most often these are medications for weight loss and potency. Basically, such drugs are of Indian or Chinese origin. Sibutramine is also found in menopause tablets.
Diet pills prohibited for import into Poland:
- DNP
- Adipex
- Meridia
- Clenbuterol
Also prohibited for import are ordinary cold or painkillers that contain:
- pseudoephedrine
- codeine
- dextromethorphan
- tramadol (nurofen, solpadeine, codesan, cofex, etc.)
Drops containing a high percentage of alcohol (Valocardine, Corvalol) are also subject to restrictions. Therefore, be extremely careful when buying this or that medicine for a sore throat, cough or migraine, study its composition, since some require permission from the Ministry of Health to transport.
