Camera equipment and customs checks
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- Iwan Bogels
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Camera equipment and customs checks
Hi guys,
Here’s a spin-off question from this topic.
We all leave Holland many times for trips and holidays, taking our camera gear with us. Coming back to Holland we may be checked by customs, and they may be asking you to prove that you bought your camera equipment here in Holland (e.g. that you paid BTW and import taxes).
As there is a discussion about buying camera gear in the USA, where camera’s and lenses are now about 25% cheaper than in Holland because of the extremely low Dollar, I wonder about the customs issue. Therefor my question is:
Who has ever been checked by customs and had to prove the origins of their camera / lenses ?
Curious regards,
Iwan Bogels
Here’s a spin-off question from this topic.
We all leave Holland many times for trips and holidays, taking our camera gear with us. Coming back to Holland we may be checked by customs, and they may be asking you to prove that you bought your camera equipment here in Holland (e.g. that you paid BTW and import taxes).
As there is a discussion about buying camera gear in the USA, where camera’s and lenses are now about 25% cheaper than in Holland because of the extremely low Dollar, I wonder about the customs issue. Therefor my question is:
Who has ever been checked by customs and had to prove the origins of their camera / lenses ?
Curious regards,
Iwan Bogels
- Iwan Bogels
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Being the one who sent in this poll, I think I should answer it myself first...
Travelling with camera equipment for over 25 years, I have never been asked by customs to explain the origins of my camera equipment.
Even in the 80's, when borders with Germany were still subject to customs checks, I was never checked. Even though at that time I did have a camera and lenses that were bought in Germany (prices in Germany were always lower in these days).
And even with the intensive air travel that I have done this century, I have never had anyone wonder about the origins of my equupment. So far they have never even bothered to inspect it when I entered the country....
So 25+ years of travelling experience, and never encountered problems with customs at any Dutch border.
Looking forward to see more replies, even if they are all positive.
Cheers,
Iwan
Travelling with camera equipment for over 25 years, I have never been asked by customs to explain the origins of my camera equipment.
Even in the 80's, when borders with Germany were still subject to customs checks, I was never checked. Even though at that time I did have a camera and lenses that were bought in Germany (prices in Germany were always lower in these days).
And even with the intensive air travel that I have done this century, I have never had anyone wonder about the origins of my equupment. So far they have never even bothered to inspect it when I entered the country....
So 25+ years of travelling experience, and never encountered problems with customs at any Dutch border.
Looking forward to see more replies, even if they are all positive.
Cheers,
Iwan
Hi Fooks,
Just past security check here in Italy and like Iwan NEVER had any problems about my equipment. Even to take it with me as handbagage, and that for 2x mkII with objectives etc. but that's another POLL to look after...
Back in about a few days and don't think I will have a checkup (I hope).
Just past security check here in Italy and like Iwan NEVER had any problems about my equipment. Even to take it with me as handbagage, and that for 2x mkII with objectives etc. but that's another POLL to look after...
Back in about a few days and don't think I will have a checkup (I hope).
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- DJMikey
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I've only been checked by customs at Schiphol and Eindhoven once. It was probably a random check, they didn't ask questions.
At Heraklion my photobag has been checked after it went through the scanner. The security called me back to explain the contents of my bag while looking at the scanpicture. They were puzzled about my Sigmalens. Because of it's size the customsemployee didn't know what it was and I had to open the bag and explain. After that it was ok.
Grt, Mike.
At Heraklion my photobag has been checked after it went through the scanner. The security called me back to explain the contents of my bag while looking at the scanpicture. They were puzzled about my Sigmalens. Because of it's size the customsemployee didn't know what it was and I had to open the bag and explain. After that it was ok.
Grt, Mike.
Mike Schoenmaker
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- Delta12
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I've neverbeen asked by customs about my gear. Only some security guy asked last year at ZRH what I was going to do with my scanner and I had to show my camera @ the check point for the visitor terrace.
Only one time I was approached by a guy of the customs when I got back from Tunisia my family had allready left the area with the baggage belts and left me alone I had 4 exactly the same bags on the baggage cart. While I was looking like some kind of drug runner with my khaki shorts and white shirt with hat and sunglasses. No wonder they picked me out for some questions fortunetly, 2 where enough and they let me go.
Only one time I was approached by a guy of the customs when I got back from Tunisia my family had allready left the area with the baggage belts and left me alone I had 4 exactly the same bags on the baggage cart. While I was looking like some kind of drug runner with my khaki shorts and white shirt with hat and sunglasses. No wonder they picked me out for some questions fortunetly, 2 where enough and they let me go.
- Alpha Kilo One
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- Iwan Bogels
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Hi guys,
So far the results of my poll look promising. Nevertheless I'm very curious about the one result were somebody has had to prove the origins of the camera. Would this guy/girl be so kind to write a little text with some more info please ? Thanks, as I'm very curious.
Next to that I'm surprised that this topic has been read about 400 times, and that the poll received only 26 votes.......
I hope more people will vote and / or write about their experiences.
Cheers,
Iwan
So far the results of my poll look promising. Nevertheless I'm very curious about the one result were somebody has had to prove the origins of the camera. Would this guy/girl be so kind to write a little text with some more info please ? Thanks, as I'm very curious.
Next to that I'm surprised that this topic has been read about 400 times, and that the poll received only 26 votes.......
I hope more people will vote and / or write about their experiences.
Cheers,
Iwan
I have never been checked, but it doesn't really mather in my opinion. It only takes one check at precisely the right/wrong moment to spoil the party.
It's the reason I bought my 40D last week here in the Netherlands instead of in the US in the next few months. The 70 euro cashback also played a role, btw.
It's the reason I bought my 40D last week here in the Netherlands instead of in the US in the next few months. The 70 euro cashback also played a role, btw.
Answers will be questioned.....
- Richard from Rotterdam
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Apart from having my rental car literally taken apart by customs in England once, I have had several checks of my camera equipment.
In South Africa and Egypt customs wanted to see receipts, of which I had copies with me (always carry them).
Been checked once at Schiphol, where they wanted to see the receipts as well, returning from SA. Well judging from the age and state of my Nikon F90 there was nothing to worry about.
Returning from a USA trip at Rotterdam Airport, customs agents wanted to check my friend's suitcase, minutes after he handed me a backpack to hold while he fetched the suitcases. In the backpack were his new camera lens and a computer graphics card and joysticks, which I carried out without a problem. Back then they used to take out 2 people from every arriving flight.
In South Africa and Egypt customs wanted to see receipts, of which I had copies with me (always carry them).
Been checked once at Schiphol, where they wanted to see the receipts as well, returning from SA. Well judging from the age and state of my Nikon F90 there was nothing to worry about.
Returning from a USA trip at Rotterdam Airport, customs agents wanted to check my friend's suitcase, minutes after he handed me a backpack to hold while he fetched the suitcases. In the backpack were his new camera lens and a computer graphics card and joysticks, which I carried out without a problem. Back then they used to take out 2 people from every arriving flight.
- canberra
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Interesting as they don't have anything to say unless you have residence in either country.Richard from Rotterdam wrote:In South Africa and Egypt customs wanted to see receipts, of which I had copies with me (always carry them).
Have been asked once in Copenhagen, told the truth that I bought it tax free in the States while living in Israel. Owned the camera more than 6 months before moving to Denmark (it then counts as moving goods which is tax free). No further questions and no proof asked.
/Michael