Do you have to go through customs in every country in Europe?

It depends which borders you cross. Within the EU (27 countries) , no. However, if you travel to, from or between any of the 23 countries in Europe that are not members of the EU, then yes. This is such a common American misunderstanding.



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France and Italy are signatories of the Schengen Agreement. Among other things, that means you go through immigration and customs once. You will go through immigration in Paris, but not in Florence. You will go through customs in Florence, but not in Paris.

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5. When do you go through customs on international flights? Usually, you go through customs when you exit the airport at your final destination.

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Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland, Romania and the United Kingdom are EU states that are not, or not yet, part of the Schengen area. This means that a flight from one of these states to a Schengen state is regarded as an external flight and is subject to border checks.

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You will, however, go through immigration/passport control in Amsterdam. Unless you have an unreasonable delay, this should be plenty of time. As noted, you won't have to clear customs, but you will have to go through passport control and security.

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Customs Action Steps
  • Complete the Customs Declaration Form while on the flight.
  • Ask questions to your flight attendant or traveling companions as needed.
  • Declare any goods you have with you that might have restrictions, and/or goods you purchased in country when returning to your home country.


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Trains in Europe work really well and they usually link all the most beautiful cities, even in different countries. You can even travel by bus if you like it more. Buses travel all around Europe and they link lots of cities, and they are very cheap.

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For the purposes of customs, the UK is now treated as any other non-EU country. In particular, customs procedures and formalities apply to trade between the UK and the EU.

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Customs and immigration are usually required at the connecting airport for international flights. You don't always have to for domestic flights. In most cases, passengers on layover flights must clear customs and immigration at the first point of entry.

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The minimum required transfer time at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is usually around 50 minutes. Please note, though, that if you travel to a non-Schengen country, you'll need to go through additional security checks, which might require more time.

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Of the 27 EU member states, 23 participate in the Schengen Area. Of the four EU members that are not part of the Schengen Area, three—Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania—are legally obligated to join the area in the future; Ireland maintains an opt-out, and instead operates its own visa policy.

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The Schengen area comprises 27 European countries. There is normally no passport control on the borders between these countries. If you have a valid visa or residence permit in one of these countries, you can also visit the other Schengen countries.

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Requirements for British Citizens Travelling to the EU
  • Valid passport.
  • Health insurance (such as private travel insurance or an EHIC/GHIC).
  • Enough money to cover your stay in the EU.
  • Return or onward travel ticket.
  • ETIAS Authorization (Starting from May 2025).


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No, there is no customs or border check. You won't even know that you have crossed the border unless you happen to notice that station signs are in a different language. If you are travelling entirely within the EU you won't have your passports checked and consequently won't have them collected.

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