Gold Allowance for Travellers to Switzerland (2026)
There is no limit on how much gold you can bring into Switzerland, and since industrial tariffs were abolished on 1 January 2024 there is no customs duty on gold jewellery. What you may owe is import VAT: goods for your own use or as gifts are VAT-free up to CHF 150 per person per day (down from CHF 300 on 1 January 2025). Once your goods total more than CHF 150, 8.1% VAT is due on the full value, and any single item worth more than CHF 150 is always taxable. Investment gold bars and gold coins are not subject to Swiss VAT. Cash of CHF 10,000 or more does not have to be declared on your own initiative, but you must answer customs' questions about it.
Reviewed November 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, after deducting any foreign VAT shown on the receipt. VAT is 8.1% of the full value once the CHF 150 limit is exceeded. An estimate, not a customs assessment.
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Duty-Free Gold Allowance in Switzerland
| Traveller | Duty-free allowance | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Any traveller (adults and children) | CHF 150 of goods VAT-free, per person per day | Covers goods for personal use or gifts, including new jewellery. Once the total is above CHF 150, VAT is charged on the full value, not only the excess. A single item worth more than CHF 150 is always taxable, even if several people travel together. |
| Your own jewellery and watches | Free as personal effects | Items you took with you from Switzerland, or that a visitor uses during the stay and takes back out, do not count towards the CHF 150. |
| Investment gold bars and coins | No Swiss VAT | Bank gold bars of at least 99.5% and gold coins are exempt from Swiss VAT. Declare them anyway if your other goods are above CHF 150. |
| Gold jewellery above the allowance | No customs duty; 8.1% VAT | Industrial tariffs, which include jewellery, were abolished on 1 January 2024. Only import VAT remains. |
VAT on gold above the allowance
Switzerland stopped charging customs duty on industrial products, including jewellery, on 1 January 2024. Travellers still pay import VAT. Goods for your own use or as gifts are VAT-free up to CHF 150 per person per day; the limit was CHF 300 until 31 December 2024. Above CHF 150, VAT of 8.1% is due on the whole value: CHF 400 of goods means VAT on CHF 400. Any single item worth more than CHF 150 is always subject to VAT, and the limit cannot be split between people for one item.
Investment gold is treated differently. Bank gold bars (at least 99.5% fine) and gold coins are exempt from Swiss VAT, which is one reason Switzerland is a centre of the gold trade. If the receipt shows foreign VAT, customs use the value after deducting it, so ask for a VAT refund in the country where you bought the gold.
Declaring gold: QuickZoll and the red channel
Use the green channel only if your goods are within the CHF 150 limit and the other allowances, or if you have already declared them in the QuickZoll app. QuickZoll lets you declare and pay VAT before you reach the border. Otherwise go to the red channel. Keep receipts: proof of value speeds up clearance.
Switzerland has no obligation to declare cash on your own initiative. If you carry CHF 10,000 or more, or customs suspect you do, you must tell them who you are, where the money comes from, what it is for and who owns it, and the amount is recorded.
Buying gold in Switzerland and taking it out
Visitors who live abroad can reclaim Swiss VAT on goods they buy and take out of the country, if the purchase from one shop is at least CHF 300 including VAT. Get the export form from the shop and have it stamped by Swiss customs when you leave. Bars and coins carry no Swiss VAT to reclaim.
The rules of the country you fly to apply on arrival. Switzerland is not in the EU: arriving in the EU, gold bars and coins worth €10,000 or more must be declared as cash, and jewellery counts towards the €430 allowance. See also the UK, India and UAE pages.
Practical tips
- Total all your purchases, not only the gold: above CHF 150 the VAT applies to everything.
- Use QuickZoll if you know you are over the limit; it is quicker than the red channel.
- Keep receipts and the certificate for bars and coins.
- Carry proof that jewellery you wear was bought before the trip.
Keep proof of what you're carrying
Take the invoices, which show each piece's weight, karat and price, and a clear photo of each piece next to its hallmark. Customs may ask for them when you leave or come back. If a bag is lost or stolen, your insurer and the police will want the same proof, and photos taken before the trip make a claim much quicker. Keep copies on your phone or in email, not only in the bag.
Gold price in Switzerland today
Live rates →| 24K (999) | CHF 104.32 / gram | CHF 1,043 / 10 g |
|---|---|---|
| 22K (916) | CHF 95.65 / gram | CHF 957 / 10 g |
| 18K (750) | CHF 78.32 / gram | CHF 783 / 10 g |
Bringing Gold to Switzerland: FAQ
How much is 10 grams of 22K gold worth in Switzerland today?
About CHF 957 at the international price converted to CHF (Nov 13, 2026, 10:47 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 Switzerland without paying tax?
Goods worth up to CHF 150 per person per day, including gold jewellery, are VAT-free. Above that, 8.1% VAT is due on the full value. There is no customs duty on jewellery, and investment gold bars and coins are not subject to Swiss VAT.
Is the Swiss allowance CHF 300 or CHF 150?
CHF 150. Switzerland lowered the VAT-free limit for travellers from CHF 300 to CHF 150 on 1 January 2025.
Do I pay customs duty on gold jewellery in Switzerland?
No. Switzerland abolished customs duties on industrial products, including jewellery, on 1 January 2024. Only import VAT of 8.1% applies above the CHF 150 limit.
Do I have to declare gold bars or cash at the Swiss border?
Gold bars and coins are not subject to Swiss VAT, but declare them if your goods exceed CHF 150. Cash of CHF 10,000 or more need not be declared spontaneously, but you must answer customs' questions about it.
Can I get the VAT back on gold bought in Switzerland?
Yes, if you live abroad, spend at least CHF 300 including VAT in one shop and have the export form stamped by Swiss customs when you leave.
Gold Travel Allowance in Other Countries
Sources: FOCBS: Value added tax, CHF 150 tax-free limit · FOCBS: Air travel, green and red channels · FOCBS: Cash, foreign currency, securities · Federal Council: Swiss industrial tariffs abolished (2 January 2024) · FOCBS: Export of private goods and VAT refund (CHF 300 minimum) · Degussa Switzerland: gold is not subject to VAT. Information, not legal advice: customs officers decide on the spot, and rules change. See also: gold price in Switzerland · gold price by weight.