Gold Allowance for Travellers to the EU (2026)
There is no limit on how much gold you can bring into the EU, but jewellery bought abroad counts towards the €430 duty-free allowance for air and sea travellers (€300 by land; €150 for under-15s in some countries). An item worth more is taxed on its full value at 2.5% customs duty plus the arrival country's VAT of 17–27%, while investment gold bars and coins are free of duty and VAT. Gold coins of at least 90% and bars of at least 99.5% count as cash and must be declared, together with any cash, when they reach €10,000 entering or leaving the EU.
Reviewed October 2026 from official sources (listed below). Rules change — check with customs before you travel.
Estimate
Values the gold at today's international price; customs use the price you paid. VAT depends on the country you enter. An estimate, not a customs assessment.
Duty-Free Gold Allowance in Europe
| Traveller | Duty-free allowance | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Air or sea traveller | €430 of goods | Per person. An item's value cannot be split, so a single piece worth more is taxed in full. |
| Land traveller | €300 of goods | Same rule. |
| Under 15 | €150 in some EU countries | Otherwise the adult limits apply. |
| Anyone: investment gold bars and coins | No limit; no duty or VAT | Counts as cash: declare it, with any cash, at €10,000. |
| Your own jewellery taken abroad and back | Not charged | Carry receipts to show it was bought in the EU or that you owned it before. |
Duty and VAT above the allowance
Gold bought outside the EU counts towards your allowance: €430 for air and sea travellers and €300 by land. Some EU countries set €150 for travellers under 15. Under Directive 2007/74/EC, the value of an individual item cannot be split. A ring or chain worth more than the allowance is therefore taxed on its whole value, not just the excess.
Customs duty on goods in a traveller's baggage above the allowance is a flat 2.5% up to €700, and the tariff rate above that, which is also 2.5% for gold jewellery. VAT at the rate of the country you enter (17–27%) is added on the value plus duty, for example 19% in Germany, 20% in France and 22% in Italy. Investment gold is exempt from VAT across the EU, and gold bars and coins pay no customs duty.
Declaring gold: the €10,000 cash rule
Under Regulation (EU) 2018/1672, "cash" includes gold coins with at least 90% gold and gold bars, nuggets or clumps with at least 99.5% gold, as well as notes, coins and bearer instruments. If you carry €10,000 or more in total, entering or leaving the EU, you must declare it on the harmonised EU cash declaration form. Sovereigns and Krugerrands are over 90% gold, so they count. Undeclared cash can be detained, and each country sets its own fines.
Jewellery is not cash. If it takes you over your goods allowance, declare it in the red "goods to declare" channel. Some EU countries also have national rules on cash, which can include gold, carried between or within EU countries, so check the rules of the countries you are travelling through.
Taking gold out of the EU
There is no export duty on gold you take out of the EU for personal use. The €10,000 cash declaration, including investment gold coins and bars, also applies when you leave the EU.
Visitors who live outside the EU can reclaim VAT on jewellery bought in the EU through tax-free shopping. Have the export form stamped by customs as you leave, before the end of the third month after the month of purchase. Investment gold is sold without VAT, so there is nothing to reclaim on it. Your destination's rules apply on arrival, such as India's limits for returning residents.
From Dubai, Turkey or India to the EU
Gold jewellery bought in Dubai or Istanbul almost always exceeds the €430 allowance as a single item. Declare it and expect about 2.5% duty plus your arrival country's VAT on the full price. Gold bars and coins bought there pay no duty or VAT, but must be declared on the cash form if they reach €10,000, together with any cash.
Visitors from India bringing their own jewellery to wear and take home are not normally charged, but should carry proof of ownership. Get an Indian export certificate before departure if you will bring the jewellery back to India.
Practical tips
Keep invoices showing the weight, karat and price, and carry gold in your hand baggage. Gold bought for resale is a commercial import that needs a customs declaration. VAT rates and national cash rules differ between EU countries, so check with the customs authority of the country you are entering before you travel.
Gold price in Europe today
Live rates →| 24K (999) | €115.07 / gram | €1,151 / 10 g |
|---|---|---|
| 22K (916) | €105.51 / gram | €1,055 / 10 g |
| 18K (750) | €86.39 / gram | €864 / 10 g |
Bringing Gold to Europe (euro): FAQ
How much is 10 grams of 22K gold worth in Europe (euro) today?
About €1,055 at the international price converted to EUR (Oct 22, 2026, 21:00 UTC). Customs use their own notified or assessed value, and shops charge more, so treat this as an estimate.
How much gold can I bring into the EU?
There is no limit. Jewellery bought abroad counts towards the €430 allowance (air and sea), and a piece worth more is taxed on its full value at 2.5% duty plus national VAT. Investment gold bars and coins are free of duty and VAT but count as cash for the €10,000 declaration.
How much gold can I bring from Dubai to Europe?
Any amount, as long as you declare it. Jewellery over the €430 allowance pays 2.5% duty plus the arrival country's VAT on its full value. Gold coins and bars must be declared with your cash when they reach €10,000.
Do gold coins count as cash in the EU?
Yes, if they contain at least 90% gold, as Sovereigns and Krugerrands do. Bars, nuggets and clumps of at least 99.5% gold also count. Declare them together with notes and coins when the total reaches €10,000 entering or leaving the EU. Jewellery does not count.
Is there VAT on gold bars brought into the EU?
No. Investment gold is exempt from VAT across the EU, and gold bars and coins pay no customs duty. Bars and coins must still be declared on the cash form at €10,000.
Can I split an expensive gold item between two travellers' allowances?
No. The value of an individual item cannot be split, and each traveller's allowance applies only to their own goods.
Can a child bring gold into the EU?
Yes, but some EU countries give travellers under 15 a lower €150 allowance, and any gold worth more is taxed on its full value.
Gold Travel Allowance in Other Countries
Sources: European Commission: EU cash controls · Your Europe: Allowances for goods entering the EU · Directive 2007/74/EC, Article 7 (thresholds; items not split) · Austrian Ministry of Finance: 2.5% flat-rate customs duty for travellers. Information, not legal advice: customs officers decide on the spot, and rules change. See also: gold price in Europe · jewellery price calculator · gold price by weight.