Prohibited and Restricted Items when Sending to Switzerland

From skis to lederhosen, there are plenty of products that you can send to Switzerland, however, there are also some items which are restricted or even totally banned from import.
Before we get into the Swiss specifics, it’s a good idea to check ’s list of prohibited items , which our couriers won’t carry to any country.

Once you have checked that we can deliver your goods, it’s important to check that Swiss customs will let them into the country. Switzerland’s list of prohibited items includes fairly standard hazardous or illegal items, such as guns and drugs, but there are also a few notable restrictions which might catch out the casual sender.

The Swiss take a very dim view on forgeries, so if you try to send items which infringe intellectual property into the country, they will hold your goods at the border and contact the rights holder to give them an opportunity to take action. The Swiss, being the Swiss, are particularly hot on fake watches, so don’t try to send your cousin in Bern a ‘Rolex’ you bought for $10 in Thailand.

If one thing proves that the Swiss are not scared of a little competition it’s their rules around importing knives – most knives need a permit to be imported, however, knives with a non-fixed blade which is up to 5cm in length will pass customs without one. So, if you really want to try to take on the Swiss Army Knife on its home turf, then you’re free to do it.

Switzerland has a rocky history when it comes to storing antiques and other valuables, and it still welcomes the import of items over 100 years’ old by not charging duty on them. However, the country has clearly learned its lesson from history, and any items deemed to be ‘cultural property’ (a broad definition including items significant to archaeology, literature, art and science) must be thoroughly declared to customs, with very detailed information required. This can cause delays in clearing customs.
You can see a comprehensive list of all Switzerland’s prohibited and restricted items at the official Swiss customs website