Customs Regulations
Aruba Customs Regulations
Besides articles for personal use, persons over 18 are allowed to bring into Aruba one fifth of liquor and 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars, 250 grams of tobacco.United States Customs Regulations
Significant benefits for international travelers are included in the Publication No. 521 Act of 1983 of the Department of Treasury, U.S. Customs Service. Hereunder are some guidelines of the new customs exemptions for returning U.S. residents.
You may declare orally all items acquired abroad and brought back with you, whether purchased or given to you as gifts, if their total value does not exceed $600. State the price actually paid for each article in U.S. currency or its equivalent in country of acquisition. Repairs or alterations to articles taken abroad and returned must be declared, whether paid for or provided free of charge. State the fair retail value of aquisitions not purchased.
You must declare in writing your acquisitions when:
* You have exceeded the personal, liquor, or tobacco exceptions explained hereunder.
* You bring in items for business purposes or for someone else.
* You send home items acquired in the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa or Guam or you are asked to do so by the Customs Inspector.
If you have not claimed this exemption within 30 days, you receive an exemption from duty and Federal tax on the first $600 worth - fair retail value where acquired - of all personal and household goods you obtain abroad and bring back with you.
Limitations on alcohol, tobacco, and perfume are listed below.
Goods shipped for personal use may be imported free of duty and tax if the total value is not more than $200. This exemption does not apply to perfume containing alcohol if it is valued at more than $5 retail, to alcoholic beverages, or to cigars and cigarettes.
If you do not meet the 30-day time requirements, you may bring in $200 or less of items for your own personal or household use, free of duty and Federal tax. However, if you exceed $200, all your items become dutiable and receive no exemption.
Tobacco, Alcohol and Perfume
If you are eligible for the $600 exemption, you may include 100 cigars and 200 cigarettes, regardless of your age. Cigarettes may be subject to state or local tax.
If you are 21 or older, you may include 1 liter (33.8 fl. oz.) of alcoholic beverages, if it is for your own use or a gift, and if it is allowed by the state in which you arrive. Liquor cannot be mailed into the United States.
Individual states can impose their own laws, so your point of entry could affect your liquor allowance.
State Laws on Importing Alcoholic Beverages is available from the Customs Service.
If you are only eligible for the $200 exemption, you may include 10 cigars, 50 cigarettes, 150 milliliters (4 fl. oz.) alcoholic beverages, or 150 milliliters (4 fl. oz.) of perfume containing alcohol.
If you exceed these limits, you must pay duty, internal revenue tax and possibly state tax. Duty rates for distilled spirits, wine, and beer are generally 10% of their value. Internal revenue tax is $10.50 per proof gallon on distilled spirits, from $0.17 to $10.50 on wine, and $0.29 per gallon on beer.
Customs enforces the laws of the state in which you arrive. State laws differ as to quantity you may bring in. Some differ regarding personal possession and shipment of liquor. Some states do not allow individuals to import more liquor than listed, even by paying tax. Check with the state liquor authorities for current practices prior to departure.
Duty Free Items
Personal belongings: Present proof of prior possession such as a receipt of purchase, bill of sale, insurance policy, or jeweler's appraisal. You may take foreign-made items bearing serial numbers (e.g. cameras, watches, tape recorders) to a Customs Office for registration before leaving the U.S. marked "American Goods Returned" on the shipping carton.
Duty
The Congress of the United States has set the resident exemption at $600 to simplify the international traveler's re-entry into the United States. The next $1,000 in items is dutiable at a flat 10% rate, bringing the total possible duty on purchases valued at $1,400 to $100. Families living in one household and returning together may combine their purchases on joint declaration and multiply their exemptions accordingly. For example, a family of 4 would pay duty of $600 on the first $5,600 of dutiable items. Families must prepare a joint declaration in order to get the flat duty rate.
Gifts you ship from abroad, if worth $100 or less in fair retail value where shipped, can be received in the U.S. free of duty and tax if the same person does not receive more than $100 in gift shipments in one day. Mark the package "UNSOLICITED GIFT" and indicate contents and retail value. Duty cannot be prepaid. You do not declare gifts you have shipped.
For cultural treasures, art or artifacts, especially pre-Columbian, check with U.S. Customs and the country of export for special requirements.
Every effort has been made to indicate essential requirements. However, all regulations of Customs and other agencies cannot be covered in full. For Customs leaflets, write U.S. Customs, OPA, 1301 Constitution Avenue. NW, Room 2133, Washington D.C. 20229 or call (201) 927- 5580.
Canada Customs Regulations
After 24 hours' absence or more (any number of times per year), you may bring in goods to the value of $20 (except tobacco products and alcoholic beverages). A written declaration may be required.
After 48 hours' absence or more (any number of times per year), you may bring in goods to the value of $100. A written declaration may be required.
After 7 days' absence or more (one every calendar year), you may bring in goods to the value of $300. A written declaration will be required.
Any person 16 or older may include up to 200 cigarettes and 50 cigars and 1 kg. (2.2 lbs.) of tobacco. Of course, the dollar value of these goods form part of your personal exemption.
If you meet the age requirements set by the province or territory through which you re-enter Canada, you may include up to 1.4 liters (40 oz.) of wine or liquor.
Original works of art valued at $20 or more are duty free.
Please note: This information was believed correct at the time of publication, but is not official. All information is subject to change without notice. If you have any questions, please contact the Aruba Tourism Authority. In the US, contact 1-800-toaruba. From outside the US, contact (in the US) 201-330-0800.
Click for Information