How to go through customs
This page explains the customs channels at ports and airports in the United Kingdom, and which one you should use.
We have a duty to protect the United Kingdom from drugs, firearms and other harmful goods, and to stop smugglers evading taxes that fund vital public services. To do this we carry out checks on some travellers. If we stop you and ask you about your baggage, please co-operate because we need your help to prevent smuggling.
If you have goods that are banned, restricted or more than your allowance, you must declare them. To do this, you must speak to one of our officers.
Most ports and airports in the United Kingdom have three exits (known as channels). Some have only one exit, with a red-point phone for declaring goods.
If there are three channels, use the:
red channel (or red-point phone) if you:
- have goods to declare;
- have commercial goods (see rules on merchandise in baggage on the website of HM Revenue & Customs);
- have tobacco products from a European Union country that are over the limits for imports from that country (see rules on tobacco imports on the website of HM Revenue & Customs); or
- are not sure what you should declare;
green channel if you are travelling from a country outside the European Union with:
- no more than the customs allowances listed on the website of HM Revenue & Customs; and
- no banned or restricted goods;
blue channel if you are travelling from a country in the European Union with:
- no banned or restricted goods; and
- no tobacco products that are over the limits for imports from that country (see rules on tobacco imports on the website of HM Revenue & Customs).
Customs at Heathrow - passenger surveys
The UK Border Agency and Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs regularly carry out passenger surveys to assess the performance of customs officers at Heathrow Airport.
Our poster What you think of us (PDF 80K opens in new window) summarises responses from our October 2008 questionnaire for Heathrow passengers using our red channel and VAT refund services.
Terms explained
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European Union
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Irish Republic, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom.