You can bring into Ukraine, duty-free and without a declaration, goods worth up to €500 and weighing up to 50 kg (by land), 1 l of spirits, 2 l of wine, 5 l of beer and 200 cigarettes, and cash up to the equivalent of €10,000. On the way back to Poland the limits are much lower: €300 for goods, 40 cigarettes and 1 l of spirits. Below are the full tables under the Customs Code of Ukraine and EU and Polish rules (as of 2026).
How much can you bring into Ukraine duty-free?
The basis is Articles 374–378 of the Customs Code of Ukraine (Митний кодекс України). The limits apply to persons aged 18 and over (alcohol and tobacco) and to goods for personal use, not for sale.
| Category | Limit without duty or declaration | Above the limit |
|---|---|---|
| Goods in total (road and rail crossings) | up to €500 and up to 50 kg in total | up to €10,000: written declaration, 10% duty + 20% VAT on the excess; above that – clearance as for businesses |
| Goods in total (airports) | up to €1,000 | as above |
| Frequent border crossing | if you were outside Ukraine for less than 24 h or enter more often than once every 72 h: only €50 | duty and VAT on the excess |
| Cash and bank metals | up to €10,000 in total across all currencies – no declaration | from €10,000: written customs declaration (no upper limit, but you must document the origin) |
| Alcohol | 5 l of beer, 2 l of wine, 1 l of drinks above 22% | excise + duty + VAT; an excess above reasonable quantities may be treated as smuggling |
| Tobacco products | 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 g of tobacco | as above |
| Food | up to €200 in total, in the manufacturer's packaging, up to 10 kg per item | meat and dairy without factory packaging may be seized by the veterinary service |
| Medicines | up to 5 packs of each preparation per person; psychotropic drugs and strong painkillers only with a prescription or a doctor's certificate | larger quantities for a course of treatment – with a prescription stating the dose; without it the medicines will be seized |
| Fuel | a full factory tank + up to 10 l in a jerrycan | duty and excise |
Personal electronics (phone, laptop, camera, one item per person) do not count towards the €500 limit if they are used and are going back with you. Declare new boxed equipment worth more than €500 – otherwise the customs officer may charge tax on the full value plus a penalty.
What is prohibited or requires a permit?
| Item | Rule (as of 2026) |
|---|---|
| Firearms, gas weapons, ammunition | only with a permit from the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs obtained in advance; hunting weapons – additionally an invitation to a hunt |
| Knives | penknife and kitchen knife – no restrictions; combat, butterfly and switchblade knives are treated as cold weapons and are confiscated |
| Pepper spray, stun gun | a small canister of self-defence spray is allowed; electric stun guns – banned for private individuals |
| Drones | since 2023 civilian drones brought in as humanitarian aid do not require letters of guarantee; a private drone must be declared, and using it under martial law is prohibited without military consent – in practice it is better to leave it at home |
| Walkie-talkies, radio sets | dual-use goods; without documents the customs officer may hold them for clarification. Portable PMR 446 radios are tolerated, but declare them too |
| Bulletproof vests, ballistic helmets | since March 2022 treated as humanitarian aid (Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 174): declare at the border and name the recipient (unit, foundation). Equipment manufactured to military standards for commercial purposes requires a permit from the State Export Control Service |
| Night-vision and thermal-imaging devices | as above – as humanitarian aid with the recipient's documents; privately they may be seized |
| Narcotics, steroids, cannabis products | total ban, including CBD and preparations that are "legal" in Poland |
| Russian and Soviet symbols, books published in Russia | ban on importing publications from Russia and Belarus; symbols of the aggressor state are confiscated and penalised |
| Plants, seeds, soil | only with a phytosanitary certificate |
Pets
A dog, cat or ferret enters Ukraine on the basis of an EU pet passport or an international veterinary certificate. Required: a microchip compliant with ISO 11784/11785, a valid rabies vaccination given at least 21 days before departure, and a clinical examination by a veterinarian no earlier than 5 days before the trip (entry in the passport). A maximum of 5 animals per person. On the way back into the EU, new certificate templates apply from 22 April 2026, but for an animal with an EU passport vaccinated in Poland nothing changes – Ukraine is on the list of countries from which an antibody titre test is not required.
How much can you bring from Ukraine into Poland?
The limits follow from EU Directive 2007/74/EC and the Polish Excise Duty Act. The allowances below apply to persons aged 17 and over entering by land and rail – by air they are higher.
| Category | Limit when entering Poland by land |
|---|---|
| Goods in total | €300 per person (€430 by air and sea; €150 for persons under 15) |
| Cigarettes | 40 cigarettes or 20 cigarillos or 10 cigars or 50 g of tobacco (by air: 200 cigarettes) |
| Spirits above 22% | 1 l or 2 l of drinks up to 22% (e.g. sparkling wine, liqueurs) |
| Still wine | 4 l |
| Beer | 16 l |
| Fuel | a full tank + up to 10 l in a jerrycan |
| Cash | from €10,000 (or the equivalent) – mandatory declaration to the National Revenue Administration (KAS) |
| Food | ban on importing meat, cured meats, dairy and products containing milk from non-EU countries (including salads and sandwiches); allowed: sweets, bread, honey up to 2 kg, tinned fish |
| Medicines | for personal use, in a quantity sufficient for the course of treatment; prescription medicines with a prescription |
| E-cigarettes, e-liquid | 10 ml of nicotine liquid or 20 g of heated-tobacco sticks |
Exceeding the cigarette limit is the most common reason for fines at Medyka and Hrebenne – KAS searches cars at random, and a few undeclared cartons mean a fine and forfeiture of the goods. Alcohol and tobacco do not count towards the €300 limit, but their allowances cannot be pooled onto children.
Customs rules are no substitute for insurance – the Ukrainian border officer also checks every person's medical policy. The EUROINS Ukraine policy costs from €3.56 for 3 days and includes war risk; buy insurance before you leave. We describe the other entry formalities in the guide Entering Ukraine from Poland 2026, and the choice of crossing in the article Poland–Ukraine border crossings.