Jewelry and Customs: Allowances, Receipts, and What Really Matters When Entering the Country

Jewelry and customs: allowances, documentation, and what really matters when entering the EU. In short: When entering the EU from a non-EU country, you can bring in goods worth up to €430 duty-free if you arrive by air or sea. By land or inland waterway, the limit is €300, and for travelers under 15, it is generally €175.

As of September 2026. By Phil, Corelune Jewellery, Düsseldorf.

The mistake almost always happens in the same way: a holiday in Turkey or Dubai, buying a €600 gold bracelet, and walking through the green exit at the airport. If it is noticed, it will cost import VAT plus customs duty plus, depending on the case, a fine.

What are the allowances?

The important word is allowance, not exemption. If you exceed the limit, the entire value of the goods is taxed, not just the amount above it. For a €500 bracelet, you will therefore pay tax on €500, not €70. And the limit cannot be split between multiple people if it is a single item.

What you should arrange before leaving

If you take your own expensive jewelry with you, customs can theoretically assume upon your return that you bought it abroad. In practice, this rarely happens, but with eye-catching pieces or several similar items, the question will arise. Two methods help:

• Carry proof of purchase, easiest as a photo on your phone.
• For very valuable pieces, apply for a non-assessment certificate from customs before departure. Form 0329, free of charge, takes a few minutes at the airport.

The practical solution

Most customs problems on holiday arise because people take expensive jewelry with them. This is generally not a good idea anyway, because hotel rooms, beach bags, and pool loungers are the three most common places for jewelry to be lost. Chlorine and salt water damage gold-plated fashion jewelry, and sunscreen gets stuck in the links.

If you want something on your wrist on holiday, you are better off with waterproof stainless steel. A stainless steel bangle for around €22 will withstand seawater and pool chlorine, and if it gets left in the sand, the damage is manageable. Stainless steel fashion jewelry, like that offered by Corelune, usually remains well below the allowance even with several pieces. The appropriate selection can be found under waterproof jewelry.

If you have bought something anyway

Go through the red exit and declare it. The tax burden on jewelry is approximately 22 to 24 percent of the value of the goods, i.e., 2.5 percent customs duty plus 19 percent import VAT. If you declare it voluntarily, you pay exactly that. If you are caught, you pay extra and risk a tax offense proceeding. For amounts under €700 in value, customs may charge a flat rate of 17.5 percent, which is usually cheaper.

For further reading: Jewelry in carry-on luggage or a suitcase and Jewelry care in summer.

What do you get in which price range?

The price range for jewelry pieces is wide, and the surcharge does not always go into quality. Sterling silver starts at around thirty euros, solid gold only in the three-digit range, and the entire fashion jewelry market lies in between. A material value does not arise in this price range, but rather a piece that withstands everyday use.

Which categories fit this topic?

Specifically, it looks like this:

• Sea and Beach Jewelry

Two pieces bring a 20% discount, five up to 35%. From an order value of fifty-nine euros, shipping costs are waived. Two coordinated pieces offer more wearing options than one.

View Sea and Beach Jewelry at Corelune

At Corelune: Free shipping from €59, 14-day returns, shipping from the Netherlands.

→ View Sea and Beach Jewelry at Corelune