Switzerland · Import & Export
Customs procedures, duties, de minimis thresholds, EORI/registration, and restricted goods.
AI-drafted, editorially reviewed. Confirm specifics with the official authority.
Swiss trade clears through the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (BAZG). Switzerland is outside the EU, so customs apply to all cross-border goods; duty is largely levied by gross weight, and import VAT is 8.1%. Declarations are electronic (Passar); EFTA/free-trade origin can reduce duty and rulings give certainty.
Switzerland is outside the EU customs union; imports and exports clear through the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS/BAZG).
- Switzerland is outside the EU; goods clear Swiss customs.
- Free-trade agreements (including with the EU) reduce many tariffs.
- Importers register and declare goods with the FOCBS.
- 1
Register with customs
Register in the customs client administration to get a customs number (linked to your UID business identification number).
- 2
Classify goods and check duty
Classify goods in the Swiss customs tariff (Tares); note that Swiss duty is largely charged by gross weight rather than value.
- 3
Handle import VAT
Pay import VAT at the standard 8.1% rate (reduced rates apply to some goods); registered businesses can reclaim it as input VAT.
- 4
Check origin and permits
Check EFTA/free-trade-agreement origin for preferential duty, and any permits or export controls that apply.
- 5
Declare via Passar
Submit customs declarations electronically through the Passar platform, usually via a forwarder, with invoice and transport documents.
- 6
Get rulings or resolve disputes
Request a tariff ruling for classification certainty and appeal customs assessments through the BAZG.
- Customs registration + UID number
- Swiss tariff (Tares) classification — duty by gross weight
- Import VAT (8.1% standard)
- EFTA/FTA preferential origin
- Permits / export controls
- Electronic declaration (Passar)
- Invoice + transport documents
- Tariff ruling / appeal (BAZG)
- Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS)
Customs and border security.
Frequently asked questions
How is Swiss customs duty calculated?
Unusually, Swiss duty is largely based on the gross weight of the goods rather than their value.
Is Switzerland in the EU customs union?
No — Switzerland is outside the EU and its customs union, so customs formalities apply to all cross-border goods, though FTAs reduce duty.
What is import VAT in Switzerland?
The standard import VAT rate is 8.1%, with reduced rates on certain goods; registered businesses can reclaim it.
Traveller duty-free allowances
Per adult traveller, for goods carried in personal baggage — a different regime from the commercial import rules above. Allowances move with budget announcements, so check the authority before relying on a figure.
- Goods value
- $170
Watch out for
- The value limit fell from CHF 300 to CHF 150 on 1 January 2025 — the figure shown is the CHF 150 VAT-free threshold, roughly converted
- Alcohol, tobacco and food have their own separate quantity allowances, which this row does not yet carry — check the FOCBS QuickZoll app or the information office on +41 58 467 15 15
Government portals
- ch.ch — Swiss Authorities Online — Official information portal for federal, cantonal and communal authorities
- State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) — Visas, residence permits (B/C), and naturalisation
- Federal Tax Administration (FTA) — Federal tax and VAT (cantonal taxes are levied separately)
- EasyGov.swiss — One-stop company registration and business admin