Duty-free shopping
Duty-free shopping – how it works
VAT refund is applicable for persons over 15 years of age resident outside the European Union. It only concerns non-commercial tourist purchases for amounts in excess of €175 in the same shop on the same day. You must tell the seller that you wish to make a duty-free purchase and will receive with your purchase an export sales slip. All your export sales slips must be approved by the airport customs office before you check in.
If the shop has contract with Travelex, go to their counter, where you will receive your refund directly. If not, send your export sales slips to the shop and you will receive your money back.
PABLO
If you make tax-free purchases and leave France from Terminal 2A of Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport, you are eligible for the PABLO provision. When you make your duty-free purchases, you will be handed an export sales slip marked with the logo PABLO.
To obtain your tax refund, you must proceed as follows:
• Go to the "Détaxe douane" customs tax refund office to have your slip approved at terminal No.1
• Check in
• After passport control, confirm the tax refund by presenting your slip at terminal No.2
• Go to the American Express counter, where you will receive your refund directly.
Location of the Pablo call terminals :
At Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Terminal 1: departures level, hall 1 (gate 8)
At Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Terminal 1: boarding level (next to gates 10 to 18 and 50 to 58)
At Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Terminal 1: boarding level (after the police checkpoint)
At Paris-Orly, South Terminal: departures level, gate H
At Paris-Orly, South Terminal: duty-free shops level, international flights (near TRAVELEX bank)
Movement of goods
Generally speaking, if you wish to take goods home with you from your travels, remember to check that they are not subject to restrictions or special regulations. Customs are very strict regarding the movement of goods (total value of goods brought back, quantity…). Below is a list of products subject to special regulations :
- Cultural goods
- Protected wild fauna and flora and products obtained from them
- Living animals and animal products
- Plants and plant products
- Weapons and ammunition
- Drugs and therapeutic products (except for the passenger's personal needs)
- Wine, alcohol, tobacco or other regulated products.
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Useful telephone numbers
| Customs information service | 08 20 02 44 44 |
| Paris-CDG passenger customs | 01 48 62 62 85 |
| Paris-Orly commercial transactions customs | 01 49 75 78 51 |
| Paris-Orly passenger customs | 01 49 75 09 10 |
| Paris-Orly police department | 01 49 75 43 04 |
| Paris-CDG police department | 01 48 62 31 22 |
| Ministry of Economy, Industry and Labour | 01 40 04 04 04 |
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