Hello together, first of all: sorry for my poor english. I have a small question and saddly no one in our german board is able to help me. There are different countries, in which it is not allowed to introduce tobacco (specifically Sri Lanka but also eg Singapore). Now this refers generally especially to smoke tobacco like cigarettes, cigars etc. Does anyone know they will handle this with snuff? Especially for Sri Lanka it is known that they do regular hand controls on the entry at the airport. Has anyone of you made in this regard, in recent years / months practical experience? On the other hand I don´t like to miss my beloved snuff there but on the other hand getting some trouble with the officials is also not what I´m looking for. Can anyone here help me? Best regards, Epidares
The only advice I could give you is to have the sender list the snuff as something other than snuff. Perhaps photos or something might work. But that carries a risk as well. Welcome to Snuffhouse… your english is fine!
Hi cstokes4, sorry, I think my english isn´t that fine because my topic is not about sending snuff but going there (Sri Lanka) for holiday. What happens on the airport?
According to the export data available on the net Snuff is being exported from India to Sri Lanka & Singapore on a regular basis. So carrying some snuff on person should not be any cause for concern IMO
Not really because the law was obviously introduced to avoid that travelers buy cheap duty free cigarettes and later sell them in the country. So they looses some taxes.
@epidares I think most countries have a rule about what you can bring in with you for that reason (skipping taxes). Most countries have a limit that they allow for “personal use.” If Sri Lanka is stricter in this regard, you seem to know better than I do already. However, I think worse case scenario is that they would simply confiscate it from you when you pass through customs. How long were you plannng on staying, and how much do you want to bring?
I would check with their custom officials by sending them an e-mail. They should answer your inquire direct. A local library internet access should have translation software . Address:Director General of Customs,Sri Lanka Customs,No 40,Main Street, Colombo 11, Sri Lanka. TP:+94 11 2445147 Fax:+94 11 2446364 e-mail:dgc@customs.gov.lk http://www.agc.gov.sg/contact/index.html http://statutes.agc.gov.sg/aol/search/summary/results.w3p;query=Status%3Acurinforce%20Type%3Aact,sl%20Content%3A"snuff"%20Content%3A"tobacco" You may also want to research if you can buy snuff at a local shop in Sri Lanka & Singapore.
http://www.hoteltravel.com/sri\\_lanka/guides/travel\\_tips.htm “Visitors are no longer allowed to bring any tobacco products into Sri Lanka without incurring a duty tax. Although a few packs of cigarettes are allowed for personal use, each carton brought in will cost Rs6,000 in duty tax.” Looks like you will only have to pay a tax if you are over a certain amount. I’m not sure what the equivalent in snuff is. My advice would be to bring a pack of cigarettes as a “gift” to the customs agent. To allow you to bend the rules. That works in a lot of places.
http://sri-lanka.visahq.com/customs/ Free import For residents over 18 years old • 2.5L of alcoholic liquor • 2 L of wine • 250 ml of perfume • 50 cigars • 200 beedi • 200g tobacco • 100g snuff
Xander, your last two posts are very helpfully. We want to stay just for 2 weeks and I want to bring only the snuff I use by myself on this time: 3 or 4 10gr packs. And then we are two people Thank you very much for your help! Is here anyone with practicall experience there?
@epidares you will not have any trouble with that amount in either country and worst case they might ask for a few dollars tax. Regarding Xanders suggestion of a pack of cigarettes as a “gift” for customs agent. Do not try this! While graft and corruption may be rife in many countries, if you get the wrong person you could end up with a full body cavity searches or even jail for attempted bribary (particulary in Singapore which is very strict and they dont have a sense of humor). I make these comment based on decades of business and personal travel and having lived in Singapore. Bribary does occur in less salubrious countries but usually when you have a “contact”. @Xander I know that i am contradicting what you have said but i hope you dont take offence to this as none is intended. Just didnt want our friend cursing this forums name from the Changi “hilton”.
No offence taken. I actually haven’t travelled in that part of the world. However, in many places I have gone, it works and in some cases is expected.
No offence taken. I actually haven’t travelled in that part of the world. However, in many places I have gone, it works and in some cases is expected.
Absolutely true. Just not so good in Singapore. Cheers
@epidares see this for Sri lanka: http://www.tripadvisor.com.au/ShowTopic-g293962-i9270-k4984518-Duty\\_free\\_allowances\\_into\\_Sri\\_Lanka-Colombo.html and this for Singapore: http://www.tripadvisor.com.au/ShowTopic-g294262-i1747-k5168659-Singapore\\_duty\\_free\\_cigarettes\\_and\\_alcohol\\_limitations-Singapore.html You can take it in both places but will pay a bit of Tax. Tripadvisor is a good site to use when travelling. edit. i just reread the line above and i hope it translates into German the way i’m intending it.