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EU Customs?
I'm traveling to Toulouse, France, in May (from Denver) on Lufthansa with a change of planes in Frankfurt. I assumed that I wouldn't have to go through customs until I get to Toulouse, but now I'm hearing all sorts of conflicting reports -- and I haven't been able to find this information anywhere! Since I'm entering the EU first in a short stopover in Frankfurt, do I have to go through customs there?
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You will go through passport control in Frankfurt and customs in Toulouse.
For the most part, though, EU customs is simply baggage claim plus a green aisle (nothing to declare) and a red aisle (something to declare) at the exit. You will likely not need to speak to an agent and may not even see any customs officers (they're definitely watching you, though!). (There are inspections of some pax, of course, but it's a different atmosphere than in the US--where you *will* talk to an agent and hand in a form.) |
Originally Posted by soitgoes
(Post 9436259)
You will go through passport control in Frankfurt and customs in Toulouse.
For the most part, though, EU customs is simply baggage claim plus a green aisle (nothing to declare) and a red aisle (something to declare) at the exit. You will likely not need to speak to an agent and may not even see any customs officers (they're definitely watching you, though!). (There are inspections of some pax, of course, but it's a different atmosphere than in the US--where you *will* talk to an agent and hand in a form.) You go through customs with your HANDLUGGAGE in Frankfurt. In general, customs is only be interested in large duty free shop bags and "strange looking people" with backpacks or with huge cartons full with whatever (in general coming from Asia or Eastern Europe). Your luggage will be checked through. You collect you CHECKED LUGGAGE at your final destination and walk through the green channel (or the red one, as appropriate) as soitgoes said correctly. In provincial airports you will hardly see any customs officers. |
Originally Posted by Flying Lawyer
(Post 9437039)
This was half of the story, this is the other half:
You go through customs with your HANDLUGGAGE in Frankfurt. In general, customs is only be interested in large duty free shop bags and "strange looking people" with backpacks or with huge cartons full with whatever (in general coming from Asia or Eastern Europe). Your luggage will be checked through. You collect you CHECKED LUGGAGE at your final destination and walk through the green channel (or the red one, as appropriate) as soitgoes said correctly. In provincial airports you will hardly see any customs officers. |
Originally Posted by szg
(Post 9439440)
At SZG (also a provincial airport) you will find a lot of customs officers, who are always very interested to check the luggage from people coming outside the EU. :)
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Originally Posted by supermasterphil
(Post 9439782)
The "Ösis" are way more strict anyway... No kidding with "Ösi-cops" !! :o
I remember driving from Schleching (Germany) to Reit im Winkl (Germany) in pre EU times with German passports in a German car. The shortest journey was via Koessen (Austria). We had bought (plenty of) wool in a shop in Schleching. Austrian custom's officer asked us to open the trunk (!) and saw the wool. The young guy asked: What do you want to do with that? My wife gave the honest and natural answer: Knitting... The guy gave us a hard time..... |
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