Customs

How it is used

Arriving passengers go through customs after collecting their bags, usually choosing the green channel (nothing to declare) or the red channel (goods to declare). Officers may open bags. Customs rules set tax-free limits for items such as alcohol, tobacco and cash.

Example sentences

1. It took us an hour to get through customs.

2. The customs officer asked me to open my suitcase.

Common collocations

• go through customs
• customs officer
• customs check
• customs declaration
• customs allowance

Related terms

• declareTo tell customs officers officially that you are bringing goods, cash or food into a country that may be taxed or controlled.
• nothing to declareThe sign over the customs exit, usually green, for passengers who are not bringing in goods above the tax-free limits or any restricted items.
• duty-freeSold to international travellers without some of the usual taxes, usually in airport shops after passport control; also used for the shops themselves.
• passport controlThe point at a border, airport or port where officers check passengers' passports and visas before they enter or leave a country.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

• customs · International Trade
• customs · Immigration & Visas

More terms: Passport Control & Customs

• passport
• visa
• immigration
• arrival card
• Schengen visa
• expiry date