Tobacco — France
What travelers need to know about tobacco in France. What is legal at home can be a serious crime here — each rule links to its official source.
Tobacco in France: restricted — there are real limits travelers must follow.
Flying into France from the US you get 200 cigarettes duty-free - or 100 cigarillos, or 50 cigars, or 250 g of loose smoking tobacco. Pick ONE; they do not stack. You must be 17 or older.
No fine is documented for an individual traveller exceeding the tobacco allowance - the consequence is TAX, not a penalty: "Les quantites excedant celles fixees ci-dessus sont soumises au paiement des droits de douane, de la taxe sur la valeur ajoutee (TVA) et des droits d'accises exigibles." Separately and unrelated to over-allowance, DGDDI states that buying tobacco on a website is prohibited and the goods will be confiscated by customs before delivery.
§ Direction generale des douanes et droits indirects (DGDDI) - "Franchises douanieres et fiscales en quantites et en valeurs", Mise a jour le 06/08/2026; read with DGDDI "Vous rapportez du tabac, de l'alcool ou d'autres marchandises achetees hors de l'Union europeenne"