Free import
• Réunion is part of the EU customs territory but is treated for tax purposes as a territory outside the EU, including for travel from mainland France. Goods above the allowances must be declared on arrival, even if they were bought tax-included in mainland France, and local taxes (octroi de mer and regional octroi de mer) are charged on them in addition to VAT.
• Goods for personal use or gifts arriving from mainland France or another EU country: up to EUR 1,000 per traveler. No customs duty is due on these goods, only taxes above the allowance.
• Goods for personal use or gifts arriving from a non-EU country: up to EUR 430 per traveler aged 15 or older and EUR 150 per traveler under 15. Above the allowance, customs duty, VAT and local taxes are charged.
• For travelers aged 17 or older, from any origin: 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250 g of smoking tobacco (a proportional mix is allowed).
• For travelers aged 17 or older, from any origin: 1 L of alcohol over 22% or 2 L of alcohol up to 22%, plus 4 L of still wine and 16 L of beer.
• Allowances are per person and cannot be pooled; an item worth more than the allowance is taxed on its full value.
Currency
• Réunion's currency is the euro (EUR).
• Travelers must declare cash of EUR 10,000 or more (or the equivalent in other currencies) when arriving from a non-EU country or from another EU country. Cash includes banknotes, coins, bearer instruments such as cheques and traveler's cheques, gold coins (at least 90% gold), gold bars and nuggets (at least 99.5% gold) and prepaid cards. The declaration can be made online with the DALIA service (up to 30 days before travel and at the latest before crossing the border) or at customs. Failure to declare can lead to a fine of up to 50% of the amount and retention of the cash.
Prohibited
• Fresh plants and plant products in baggage or by post, from any origin including mainland France and other EU countries: fresh, chilled or frozen fruit and vegetables, flowers, seeds, plants and parts of plants, cuttings, bulbs and roots, soil, and untreated plant fibers and raw wood. Cooked, dried, canned, pickled, candied or brined plant products, commercially packaged frozen vegetables, dry grains and packaged teas and herbal teas in industrial packaging are allowed.
• Counterfeit goods (fake designer clothing, bags, watches, perfume and similar), even in small quantities for personal use
• Meat, milk and products made from them from non-EU countries, including sandwiches and leftover meals (limited exceptions apply, for example for powdered infant milk, infant food and special medical food)
• Live invasive alien species of animals and plants listed for Réunion by French ministerial orders
• Trade in endangered species listed in Appendix I of CITES and products made from them
• Category 1 attack dogs (non-pedigree dogs of American Staffordshire Terrier, Mastiff and Tosa type)
• Illegal drugs
Restricted
• Arriving passengers receive a sanitary declaration card on the plane or ship. Travelers carrying plant or animal products must declare them and present themselves for inspection; prohibited products are seized and destroyed, and fines can apply.
• Other food of animal origin from non-EU countries: honey, wasp larvae and similar products up to 2 kg per traveler, and fishery products up to 20 kg per traveler.
• Pets (dogs, cats, ferrets), up to 5 per traveler, are checked by customs on arrival and follow the EU and French rules: a microchip, a rabies vaccination given after the microchip and at least 21 days before travel, and an EU pet passport or, from a non-EU country, an official EU health certificate. From non-EU countries not on the EU list, a rabies antibody (titer) test is also required.
• Other endangered species of plants and animals and products made from them (CITES) need CITES permits.
• Medicines: only quantities for the treatment period on the prescription or, without a prescription, up to three months of treatment. Narcotic and psychotropic medicines must be carried with the original prescription.
• Weapons and ammunition need prior import authorization.
• Cultural goods (works of art, antiques, archaeological items) need documents issued by the French Ministry of Culture.