What You Cannot Bring from Belarus into the EU: Limits & Prohibitions 2026

Goods Prohibited from Belarus into the EU

The following categories are prohibited under EU sanctions or the national legislation of the entry country. A general duty-free allowance does not override a sanctions prohibition.

• ▸Spirit drinks under CN 2208 (spirits and liqueurs) originating in or exported from Belarus — prohibited under EU sanctions.
• ▸Cigarettes, cigarillos and cigars (CN 2402) of Belarusian origin or export — prohibited under EU sanctions. Lithuania applies a broader national prohibition covering Belarus-origin tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes.
• ▸Petroleum products (fuel) of Belarusian origin or export in portable containers — Lithuania and Latvia: 0 l. For Poland: the general 10 l allowance does not apply to prohibited fuel of Belarusian origin.
• ▸Military equipment, hunting weapons, air guns, self-defence gas sprays.
• ▸Medicinal products in quantities exceeding personal needs for the trip.
• ▸Animal-origin food (meat, meat products, milk and dairy products) — prohibited from import into the EU from Belarus as a third country without a veterinary certificate. Customs may assess a specific product on its quantity, origin, value, packaging and declared purpose.
• ▸Fresh fruit, vegetables, plants, seeds, seedlings, soil — EU phytosanitary restrictions apply; customs assesses each case.
• ▸EU-sanctioned goods: certain types of steel, timber, potassium fertilisers, machinery — the list is set by the current EU regulation (latest amendment: Council Regulation (EU) 2026/1846 of 23 July 2026).

Entry from Belarus into the EU by land: allowances for ordinary passengers

Allowances apply to adult ordinary passengers entering from third countries by land. Reduced or different allowances may apply depending on the traveller's status (see the section on drivers below).

Separate Rules for Drivers and Transport Crews

The table above is for ordinary passengers. Drivers, transport crew members, border workers, border-area residents and persons who cross the border regularly may be subject to separate or reduced allowances.

• ▸Lithuania sets a general value allowance of €150 and reduced alcohol allowances for certain crew members on regular international routes.
• ▸Poland states reduced allowances for crew members, border workers and border-area residents: 0.5 l of spirits or lower-alcohol equivalent, plus 0.5 l of wine and 2 l of beer.
• ▸In Latvia, import of certain excisable goods for personal use is normally permitted no more than once every 30 days. A written declaration may be required for more frequent crossings or at customs' request.
• ▸Whether a private-transfer driver qualifies as a crew member of a regular international service may depend on the nature of the journey and the decision of the customs authority.

European Union → Belarus: duty-free import

The duty-free allowance depends on how you cross the border. For land transport (car, bus) or on foot — which covers all ComfortLine passengers — a reduced allowance has applied since 1 April 2024: goods worth no more than €500 and weighing no more than 25 kg per adult passenger.

Tobacco products have a separate allowance that is the same for every mode of entry: 200 cigarettes, or 50 cigars (cigarillos), or 200 heated-tobacco sticks, or 250 g of tobacco (or an assortment totalling no more than 250 g). Alcoholic drinks over 0.5% ABV — no more than 3 l when carried in baggage. Alcohol and tobacco allowances apply to travellers aged 18 and over.

Above these limits, customs duty applies: for goods in baggage entering by land, the rate is 30% of the excess value, but no less than €4 per kilogram over the weight limit. For goods delivered by a carrier or by post, the rate is lower — 15% of the excess, but no less than €2 per kilogram. Alcohol between 3 and 5 l is charged at €10 per litre over the 3 l allowance; ethyl spirit (up to 5 l) is charged at €22 per litre. Goods showing signs of a commercial shipment (wholesale quantities, multiple identical items) are declared and processed separately.

Cash and Declaration Requirements

Rules on exporting cash from Belarus and importing it into the EU are regulated independently — by Belarusian customs (SCC) and by the customs authority of the EU entry country.

Exporting Cash from Belarus

• ▸Up to USD 10,000 (or equivalent in any currency) — no declaration required.
• ▸Over USD 10,000 — mandatory written customs declaration at the Belarusian border.
• ▸Undeclared amounts above the limit may be subject to enforcement action under Belarusian law.
• ▸Personal jewellery, bank cards and traveller's cheques do not count towards the cash limit.

Importing Cash into the EU (Lithuania, Poland, Latvia)

• ▸Up to €10,000 (or equivalent) — no declaration required on the EU side.
• ▸Over €10,000 — mandatory EU Cash Declaration upon entering the EU zone.
• ▸The declaration is submitted to the customs of the entry country (Lithuanian, Polish or Latvian).
• ▸Undeclared amounts above the limit may be detained and become subject to administrative or criminal proceedings.

Parcels and Online Shopping Items

If you are carrying a parcel from a Belarusian courier service or goods ordered online (OZON, Wildberries, AliExpress), customs applies separate rules for international postal items.

• ▸Goods from EAEU countries (Russia, Kazakhstan, etc.) are treated as goods from a third country at the Belarus–EU border.
• ▸EU duty-free import threshold — up to €150 per parcel; above that, customs duty and VAT of the entry country apply.
• ▸Goods with commercial characteristics (multiple identical units, wholesale retail packaging) may be reclassified as commercial cargo.
• ▸Belarusian SCC rules on controlling goods sent to private individuals from the EAEU are on the official customs website.

What Border Guards Check at Belarus–EU Crossings

• ▸Fuel tanks — Lithuanian and Latvian border guards may ask you to open the tank for inspection.
• ▸Cigarettes and tobacco — border guards check excise stamps and count quantities.
• ▸Alcohol — excise stamps are checked and quantities verified.
• ▸Electronics and purchases — receipts or bank statements may be requested to assess value against the general goods allowance.
• ▸Food — coolers and food bags are inspected for prohibited categories.
• ▸Boot and luggage — X-ray scanner, sometimes manual search.

Consequences of Customs Violations

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I bring home-cooked food into Lithuania or Poland?

Animal-origin products (meat, dairy, eggs) are prohibited from import into the EU from Belarus. For other food products, customs may assess the specific item on its quantity, origin, value, packaging and declared purpose. If in doubt, contact the customs authority of your entry country before travelling.

Do cigarettes in my pocket count separately from those in my suitcase?

No, the limit is total per person. 40 cigarettes (provided they are permitted having regard to origin) means 2 packs in total, regardless of where they are.

Do I need to declare a laptop or phone?

New electronics, gifts and other purchases normally count towards the general value allowance (up to €300 when entering by land). Customs may assess whether goods are for personal or commercial use. If you are unsure whether a specific item falls within the allowance, contact the customs authority of your entry country.

Is there a difference between Kamenny Log, Terekhovka and Bruzgi?

General EU rules apply at all checkpoints, but specific procedures and inspection intensity may vary. Your choice of crossing affects waiting time. To clarify requirements at a specific checkpoint, contact the customs service of the relevant country.

Official Sources and Verification Date

Belarus

European Union

Lithuania

Poland

Latvia