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Customs and border protection agencies are designed to monitor and control the importation and exportation of goods between countries. Caribbean travelers have duty-free spending allowances that include limited quantities of alcohol and tobacco.
Customs in Guadeloupe
Customs regulations in the Caribbean generally allow tourists to bring reasonable quantities of their goods to the island without hassle. Tourists in Guadeloupe are permitted to bring personal items, such as tobacco and film, into the country without tax as long as items are not brought in excessive quantities. Official customs regulations for France, however, are as follows:
200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco
2 liters of still wine and 1 liter of spirits over 22 degrees volume or 2 liters of fortified wines 22 degrees volume or below
50 grams of perfume and 0.25 liter of eaux de toilettes
500 grams of coffee and 100 grams of tea
Medicine needed for the duration of trip
Vacationers wishing to bring pets must have them microchipped or tattooed and have official proof of vaccinations and health certificates. Visitors who have sailed to Guadeloupe should declare any firearms present on their vessel. Travelers may not export any plants from the island other than flowers purchased from a florist. Sea specimens such as corals, sea plants, turtles, and sponges may not be taken from their environment.
Customs in the United States
The lure of buying French designer goods in Guadeloupe may prove irresistible to some travelers. The personal duty-free spending allowance for travelers returning to the United States from Guadeloupe after at least a 48-hour absence is $800(USD). Travelers who have been out of the country for less than 48 hours have a duty-free allowance of $200(USD).
Within the $800(USD) limit, travelers may import the following quantities of tobacco and alcohol:
200 cigarettes (50 if gone for less than 48 hours)
100 non-Cuban cigars (10 if gone for less than 48 hours)
1 liter of alcohol (150 mL if gone for less than 48 hours)
Fine art and antiques over 100 years of age may also be brought into the United States duty-free.
U.S. travelers should register their expensive personal items before taking their vacation in order to avoid difficulties when reentering the U.S. Keeping track of sales receipts will help travelers move smoothly through customs when returning home. Visitors to Guadeloupe may send home $200(USD) worth of goods duty-free.
There is a long list of restricted and prohibited items that may not be imported into the United States for health, safety, or political reasons, including meats, fruits, vegetables, animals, plants, marine specimens, chemical, medicines, and more. Travelers should consult The United States Customs and Border Protection service (http://www.customs.gov) for specifics.
Customs and Excise Contacts
| Country | Contact Information |
| United States |
U.S. Customs Service 1300 Pennsylvania Ave., NW Washington, DC 20229 Tel: 877-287-8867 http://www.customs.gov |
| United Kingdom |
HM Customs & Excise Tel: 0845-010-9000 http://www.hmce.gov.uk |
| Canada |
Canada Border Services Agency Tel: 800-461-9999 http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/menu-e.html |
| France |
Embassy of France in the United States 4101 Reservoir Road, NW Washington, DC 20007 Tel: 202-944-6375 http://ambafrance-us.org/intheus/customs/index.asp |
| Netherlands |
Royal Netherlands Embassy, Washington, D.C. 4200 Linnean Ave. NW Washington, D.C. 20008 Tel: 202-244-5300 http://www.netherlands-embassy.org/homepage.asp |
| Australia |
Australian Customs Service Tel: 1-300-363-263 http://www.customs.gov.au |
| New Zealand |
New Zealand Customs Service Tel: 04-473-6099 http://www.customs.govt.nz |
Part of the excitement of visiting a foreign place is the possibility of finding new goods. Travelers in Guadeloupe can purchase a variety of French and Caribbean items as reminders of their trip.