Landing at Funchal with luggage full of gifts, a bottle of something nice, or your dog in a travel crate? Here's exactly what Portuguese Customs allows — figures checked line by line against the official traveller's leaflet.
UK travellers
Treated as a third country since Brexit — lower allowances apply.
Travelling with a pet
Funchal is one of only a handful of approved EU entry points in Portugal.
Carrying cash
Declare €10,000 or more to Customs.
Which channel do I use at Funchal Airport?
Use the green channel if you have nothing to declare; use the red channel if you're carrying goods above your allowance, prohibited items, or you're simply unsure.
Nothing to declare
- No luggage, or
- Luggage within your duty-free and tax-free allowance
- No goods whose circulation is prohibited or restricted
Goods to declare
- Anyone outside green-channel conditions
- Crew and vessel personnel
- When in doubt — always use red
How much alcohol can I bring in duty-free?
From outside the EU you can bring up to 1L of spirits, 2L of fortified wine, 4L of table wine and 16L of beer. Arriving from another EU country, those limits rise to 10L, 20L, 90L and 110L.
| Beverage | From a third country | From an EU member state |
|---|---|---|
| Spirits (>22% ABV) | 1 litre | 10 litres |
| Intermediate / fortified wine | 2 litres | 20 litres |
| Table wine | 4 litres | 90 litres (max 60L sparkling) |
| Beer | 16 litres | 110 litres |
You can also bring a proportional mix of these categories instead of the maximum of a single one.
What tobacco products can I bring?
From a third country you can bring 200 cigarettes, 100 cigarillos, 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco; from an EU state, those limits quadruple to 800, 400, 200 and 1kg.
| Product | From a third country | From an EU member state |
|---|---|---|
| Cigarettes | 200 units | 800 units |
| Cigarillos (max 3g each) | 100 units | 400 units |
| Cigars | 50 units | 200 units |
| Smoking tobacco | 250 g | 1 kg |
Newer product categories (same allowance regardless of origin): heated tobacco 20g, e-cigarette refill liquid 30ml, nicotine pouches 20g, snuff (rapé) 250g, chewing tobacco 250g.
How much can I bring in gifts and personal goods?
Travellers from a third country can bring goods worth up to €430 duty-free on a normal flight into Funchal — €300 by road, rail or private aircraft/boat, €150 if under 15, and €200 for crew.
| Traveller / route | Duty-free threshold |
|---|---|
| Scheduled air or sea transport (your flight) | €430 |
| Road, rail, or private aircraft/boat | €300 |
| Under 15 years old | €150 |
| Crew members | €200 |
These thresholds apply to travellers arriving from third countries. Above the threshold, a flat-rate duty of 2.5% applies, as long as the total value of the goods doesn't exceed €700. Beyond €700, standard import tariffs apply instead.
Is the UK still treated as an EU country?
No. The UK left the EU on 31 January 2020, and since the transition period ended on 1 January 2021, UK travellers are treated as arriving from a third country — the lower allowances apply.
The EU currently comprises 27 member states: Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Romania and Sweden — current as of the February 2026 leaflet.
Can I bring my pet to Madeira?
Yes — non-commercial companion animals may enter, but only through an approved "Traveller Entry Point," and Funchal Airport is one of the few in Portugal.
What about medicines?
Medicines are allowed in quantities matching your personal needs, provided you carry the relevant medical prescription.
Do I need to declare cash at customs?
Yes, if you're carrying €10,000 or more entering or leaving the EU, it must be declared to Customs.
What's prohibited or restricted?
Drugs, weapons, radioactive material, counterfeit goods, protected species and most foodstuffs and plant/animal products are prohibited or restricted, regardless of quantity: drugs and drug precursors; radioactive products; weapons, explosives and war material; counterfeit goods; protected animal or plant species and their derivatives (governed by CITES); foodstuffs and animal-origin products; plant products including fruit, plants and seeds; and commercial-purpose animals and their feed.
