Frommer's Scotland 8th Edition - To Parent Directory

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS & CUSTOMS 25WHAT YOU CAN TAKEHOME FROM SCOTLANDReturning U.S. citizens who havebeen away for at least 48 hours areallowed to bring back, once every 30days, $800 worth of merchandiseduty-free. You’ll be charged a flat rateof 4% duty on the next $1,000 worthof purchases. Be sure to have yourreceipts handy. On mailed gifts, theduty-free limit is $200. With someexceptions, you cannot bring freshfruits and vegetables into the UnitedStates. For specifics on what you canbring back, download the invaluablefree pamphlet Know Before You Goonline at www.customs.gov. (Clickon “Know Before You Go!”) Or contactthe U.S. Customs Service, 1300Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington,DC 20229 (& 877/287-8867) andrequest the pamphlet.For a clear summary of Canadianrules, write for the booklet I Declare,issued by the Canada Customs andRevenue Agency (& 800/461-9999in Canada, or 204/983-3500; www.ccra-adrc.gc.ca). Canada allows its citizensa C$750 exemption, and you’reallowed to bring back duty-free onecarton of cigarettes, 1 can of tobacco,40 imperial ounces of liquor, and 50cigars. In addition, you’re allowed tomail gifts to Canada valued at lessthan C$60 a day, provided they’reunsolicited and don’t contain alcoholor tobacco (write on the package“Unsolicited gift, under $60 value”).All valuables should be declared onthe Y-38 form before departure fromCanada, including serial numbers ofvaluables you already own, such asexpensive foreign cameras. Note: TheC$750 exemption can only be usedonce a year and only after an absenceof 7 days.The duty-free allowance in Australiais A$400 or, for those under 18,A$200. Citizens can bring in 250 cigarettesor 250 grams of loose tobacco,and 1,125 milliliters of alcohol. Ifyou’re returning with valuables youalready own, such as foreign-madecameras, you should file form B263. Ahelpful brochure available from Australianconsulates or Customs offices isKnow Before You Go. For more information,call the Australian CustomsService at & 1300/363-263, or logon to www.customs.gov.au.The duty-free allowance for NewZealand is NZ$700. Citizens over 17can bring in 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars,or 250 grams of tobacco (or a mixtureof all 3 if their combined weight doesn’texceed 250g); plus 4.5 liters of wineand beer, or 1.125 liters of liquor. NewZealand currency does not carryimport or export restrictions. Fill out acertificate of export, listing the valuablesyou are taking out of the country;that way, you can bring them backwithout paying duty. Most questionsare answered in a free pamphlet availableat New Zealand consulates andCustoms offices: New Zealand CustomsGuide for Travellers, Notice no. 4. Formore information, contact NewZealand Customs, The Customhouse,17–21 Whitmore St., Box 2218,Wellington (& 04/473-6099 or 0800/428-786; www.customs.govt.nz).Tips Calling ScotlandTo call Scotland from the United States, dial the international prefix, 011;then Scotland’s country code, 44; then the city code (for example, 131 forEdinburgh and 141 for Glasgow—minus the initial zero, which is used onlyif you’re dialing from within the United Kingdom); then dial the actualphone number.