What Will and Won’t Result in a Fine at U.S. Customs

Many international travelers’ horror stories at U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) stem from a lack of understanding, even among experienced globetrotters. This confusion often arises from the complex and evolving rules of CBP, especially concerning what foods, medications, souvenirs, and cultural artifacts are prohibited from entering the U.S. from abroad.

Before international travelers can leave U.S. airports—or clear customs at preclearance checkpoints abroad—CBP officers inspect luggage for illegal items like restricted foods or goods that don't comply with import regulations. While some inspections are random, others are triggered by advanced X-ray machines or the keen sense of detector dogs trained to detect plants and animal products. If prohibited or undeclared items are found, fines start at $300, and further civil penalties can complicate future travels for months.

Follow these tips to better understand the complex customs process and minimize the risk of fines, whether you're returning from a long overseas trip or just making a quick border run to Canada.

Declare the following items on your customs form if you’re traveling with them:

Fruits and Meats

The following foods are typically prohibited from being brought through customs:

• Fruits
• Vegetables
• Plants
• Seeds
• Meats

Ever wonder why these items are banned? Many of them can carry pests or diseases that may threaten local ecosystems. Authorities want to prevent any outbreaks, and food restrictions are especially strict when traveling to island destinations, including U.S. territories like Hawai‘i.

If you're uncertain about whether a food item is allowed, it's best to declare it to an officer for inspection. While this may slow down your screening process, it’s the safest way to avoid confusion or fines later on.

It's not only fruits and vegetables that can cause issues—and keeping track of all the food rules is a challenge. Dairy items like cheese are fine, as long as it's solid cheese without meat, since meat is generally restricted. Likewise, products that may contain meat—such as soup mixes, canned meats, and bouillon cubes—are often prohibited according to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) guidelines. While agents may approve agricultural goods for entry, there’s no guarantee. The USDA also discourages bringing rice, as it may contain insects. If in doubt, have it inspected for peace of mind. On the flip side, alcoholic beverages are usually allowed through CBP checkpoints.

Fines can escalate quickly. According to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website, failing to declare agricultural products could lead to penalties as high as $10,000.

Art and Cultural Artifacts

Art lovers, take note: Most pre-Columbian sculptures or murals from Central and South America are prohibited, along with colonial-era paintings from Peru and Khmer sculptures from Cambodia.

As noted by CBP, “Most countries have laws protecting their cultural property... These laws often include export controls or national ownership of cultural artifacts. While foreign laws aren't enforceable in the U.S., they may trigger certain U.S. regulations. For example, under the National Stolen Property Act, it's illegal to possess stolen artwork, artifacts, or antiques—even if they have changed ownership multiple times.” If you're bringing these types of items back to the U.S., ensure you have a valid import permit to avoid complications.

Handmade Crafts and Plant-Based Products

That colorful sombrero you picked up during your trip to Mexico could cost you more than expected. Any plant-based product or handicraft made from straw, including hats or baskets, must be declared to ensure they're free from pests.

Certain Souvenirs and Purchases

Counterfeit goods like fake Prada or Gucci bags, or pirated DVDs, are strictly prohibited. Carrying multiple fake Gucci bags will likely raise suspicions, so it's a good idea to keep the receipt and declare genuine, branded items. Why? Selling knock-off products is illegal in the U.S. Even if you're only bringing them home for personal use or as gifts, purchasing a large amount of counterfeit merchandise can attract unwanted attention.

What You Need to Know Before Passing Through Customs

Prescription Medication

As a U.S. citizen, you aren't required to declare prescription medications, but CBP asks that you keep them in their original containers or bring a copy of your prescription or a doctor's note. If you repackage pills into daily pill organizers or mix them into one container, make sure to have documentation proving what they are. Avoid carrying more medication than necessary—you're allowed to bring in up to 50 units of controlled substances without a prescription, but anything above that requires documentation. Foreign visitors must declare all prescription medications and provide the prescription or doctor's note (in English) upon arrival.

Controlled substances that are not legally prescribed in the U.S. cannot be brought in. Medications like cough syrups and antidepressants are closely scrutinized due to their potential for containing addictive substances or narcotics. Items with drug paraphernalia are also flagged and may be confiscated or result in fines. As per CBP, “It is illegal to bring drug paraphernalia into the U.S. unless it's prescribed for a legitimate medical condition like diabetes.”

Double-Check for Prohibited Items

At many international airports, there are clear reminders to check your bags for forbidden items, like fruit, before passing through customs. Some airports even provide amnesty bins where you can discard such items before inspection. However, U.S. arrival areas tend to have fewer amnesty bins or trash cans, increasing the risk of travelers being fined. A good practice is to inspect your bags one final time before disembarking to ensure you haven’t accidentally brought along an apple or missed a stash of mangoes in your carry-on. If you do arrive with prohibited items, many airports offer drug amnesty bins where you can surrender illegal substances without facing penalties.

Prepare for Preclearance

An increasing number of international airports (including those in Abu Dhabi, Aruba, Dublin, and Toronto) now feature preclearance facilities, which are essentially U.S. customs checkpoints located abroad. Even though you may be thousands of miles away from the U.S., U.S. Customs and Border Protection rules apply as soon as you enter these checkpoints. Be ready to comply.

What Happens If You’re Caught With Prohibited Items at Customs

Be Prepared for a Fine

If you’re polite and genuinely sorry for minor mistakes, many officers will confiscate your items and let you go with just a warning. However, they will record the incident for future reference. If you're caught again, fines can be as high as $500 per piece of fruit. Fines are usually payable immediately by cash or check, but certain airports and U.S. ports of entry may allow you to pay by credit card. Some locations may even offer a short grace period to pay the fine after your trip.

Expect Additional Scrutiny on Future Trips

For several months, expect to undergo secondary screening when re-entering the United States from overseas. Typically, this involves an X-ray scan of your bag to check if you’re a repeat offender. After clearing immigration, your customs forms might indicate to the officer near the exit that your items need to be inspected. This could be due to a prior declaration or fine, prompting a random check. During secondary screenings, you'll often see large X-ray machines and travelers unpacking their bags as part of the process.

You Could Lose Your Global Entry and TSA PreCheck Privileges

Global Entry can be revoked for a number of reasons, and even minor infractions can affect your trusted traveler status. Failing to make an accurate customs declaration, even accidentally, is one such reason. Appealing a Global Entry revocation is often a long and tedious process that usually doesn’t succeed if a prohibited item was involved. Losing Global Entry might also affect your TSA PreCheck status if you applied for both programs together. However, you can reapply for TSA PreCheck separately if needed.

What to Do if You Lose Global Entry Status

If you find yourself without Global Entry, don’t worry—there’s another option. The Mobile Passport app is a quick and easy alternative. It doesn’t require the long enrollment process or in-person interviews that Global Entry does, and it’s free. Travelers using Mobile Passport often get to skip long lines at customs and pass through immigration faster than those using Global Entry kiosks. Plus, with the Mobile Passport app, you can complete the required questions while the plane is still taxiing to the gate, rather than waiting at a kiosk.

This article was first published in May 2018 and was updated on December 14, 2023 to reflect the most current information.