With the Spring Festival around the corner, many are planning holiday getaways. Naturally, traveling abroad means picking up souvenirs and gifts for friends and family. But while you shop, remember to follow customs rules to avoid entry delays that could dampen your holiday spirit.
On November 29, 2024, the GACC issued Announcement No. 176 (2024), revising and repealing certain regulations on inbound goods. The new rules took effect on December 1, 2024.
Let's take a look at what's changed and what you need to keep in mind when mailing items or traveling overseas.
I. Adjustments to the rules on personal inbound and outbound mailed items
Relevant document revised: GACC Announcement No. 43 (2010), concerning the adjustment of personal inbound and outbound mailing measures
Under the previous rules:
Items mailed by individuals from or to Hong Kong, Macao, or Taiwan were limited to RMB 800 per shipment;
Items from or to other countries and regions were capped at RMB 1,000 per shipment.
After the change:
Items mailed from overseas into China now have a limit of RMB 2,000 per shipment;
The limit for items sent to Hong Kong, Macao, or Taiwan remains RMB 800;
The limit for other countries and regions remains RMB 1,000 per shipment.
II. Adjustments to the declaration requirements for inbound and outbound travelers
Relevant document revised: GACC No. 72 (2007), introducing the new traveler declaration system at all open ports nationwide
Under the previous rules:
Travelers aged 16 or older were required to follow the declaration rules,
resident travelers bringing back personal-use items worth RMB 5,000 or more had to declare them;
Alcoholic beverages exceeding 1,500 ml (with an alcohol content above 12%), over 400 cigarettes, over 100 cigars, or over 500 grams of tobacco had to be declared.
After the change:
Travelers aged 18 or older must follow the declaration system. This aligns with other legal definitions of adulthood.
Resident travelers must declare personal-use goods acquired abroad if the total value exceeds RMB 12,000 (including RMB 12,000) when entering from Hong Kong or Macao, or exceeds RMB 5,000 when entering from other countries or regions.
Any individual must also declare alcoholic beverages over 1,500 ml (with an alcohol content above 12%), more than 400 cigarettes (including heated tobacco products), more than 20 cigars, or more than 500 grams of tobacco. In addition, if any individual carries more than two e-cigarette devices, more than six e-cigarette cartridges (including liquid aerosols and disposable e-cigarettes), or exceed 12 ml of e-liquid in total, he/she needs to declare them. For arrivals from Hong Kong or Macao, the declaration thresholds are over 750 ml of alcohol (above 12% alcohol content), more than 200 cigarettes (including heated products), more than 10 cigars, more than 250 grams of tobacco, more than one e-cigarette device, more than three e-cigarette cartridges (or combined products), or over 6 ml of e-liquid.
III. Adjustments to e-cigarette taxation rules
Relevant document revised: GACC Announcement No. 102 (2022), concerning e-cigarette taxation
Under the previous rules:
The value of duty-free e-cigarettes was excluded from the overall duty-free baggage allowance;
Travelers aged 16 or older were subject to e-cigarette taxation rules.
After the change:
The value of duty-free e-cigarettes counts toward the traveler’s duty-free baggage limit;
Travelers aged 18 or older must comply with the applicable e-cigarette taxation requirements.
IV. A Reminder from Customs
Travelers entering or leaving the country must follow customs regulations and keep their items within "reasonable personal use" limits. Declaration channels are available at all ports of entry and exit. If you carry items listed on the Customs Declaration Form for Baggage of Incoming/Outgoing Passengers of the People's Republic of China, you should declare them proactively and cooperate with inspections to ensure a smooth, safe trip. (Authors: Zhang Nian, Sun Caiyi, and Xie Dongliang)
Disclaimer：The above content is translated from Chinese version of this website. The Chinese version shall prevail.