How much alcohol can you bring into Denmark from outside the EU?
Duty-free quantities for travellers
Short answer
18+ topic. When you arrive in Denmark from a country outside the EU, you may bring 1 litre of spirits over 22 % or, instead, 2 litres of fortified wine of 22 % or less, such as port or sherry. On top of that you may bring 4 litres of table wine and 16 litres of beer without paying duty, VAT or excise. You must be at least 17 years old to bring alcohol from outside the EU. If you bring more, you declare it in the red channel and pay duty, VAT and excise on the extra amount.
Why
- Spirits and fortified wine are alternatives: you choose one of them.
- Alcohol does not count toward the value limit for other goods.
- The Faroe Islands, Greenland and the Canary Islands count as outside the EU here.
Details
If you are stopped in the green channel with too much, you pay the duty plus a fine, which for spirits is generally twice the duty and excise.
Tip
If you are unsure whether you are within the limits, take the red channel or ask at the customs point.
What may differ
At airports without a red channel, you go to the customs point instead.
Common misconception
The large EU quotas also apply when you fly home from the Canary Islands.
What actually happens
Travel from outside the EU, including the Canary Islands, follows the much smaller non-EU allowances.
People also ask
- How many cigarettes can you bring from outside the EU?
- What is the red and green channel?
- How much alcohol can you bring from an EU country?
Sources
- Danish Customs Agency: Travel outside the EUChecked at:
- Danish Customs Agency: TravelChecked at:
This answer is for reference only. Entry and customs rules can change, so check the Danish Immigration Service, the Danish police and the Danish Customs Agency before you travel.
Planning and budgetRelated questions
-
Do you pay customs on gifts sent to Denmark from outside the EU?
A gift sent by a private person from outside the EU is free of duty and VAT if it is worth EUR 45 or less.
-
Can you bring medicine into Denmark?
Yes, from 1 January 2026 you may bring medicine into Denmark for personal use from any country, if it was sold legally in the country where you bought it.
-
Can you bring meat and milk into Denmark from outside the EU?
No, travellers coming from a country outside the EU may not bring any meat or dairy products, which includes sausages, cheese and milk.
-
Do you have to declare cash over EUR 10,000 when entering or leaving Denmark?
Yes, if you carry cash or other liquid assets worth EUR 10,000 (about 75,000 kr.) or more, you must declare them to Toldstyrelsen when you enter or leave Denmark.