Hey everyone,
I’m taking my first international vacation next week. I am going to the Philippines, but I have a layover in South Korea. I just got an email from my airline and it says I might need to fill customs declaration. This is kind of confusing me, because the Website says you have to declare goods that exceed $800 US. But it doesn’t specify if goods means everything you’re bringing, or just 1 item exceeding $800. The most expensive things I’m bringing are my phone, steam deck and a tablet. Everything else is just clothes. But all that together would be over $800, (my phone was $799.99 brand new). So I’m just not sure if I need to fill out a declaration or not. I tried looking for the answer but was unsuccessful.
EDIT: thanks everyone for the responses. It is clear now that by “goods” they mean items intended for sale. I will not need to sign a declaration form. Thanks!
Thanks!
You need to declare new goods (i.e. stuff that looks like it could be intended for resale), not pre-owned stuff. Nobody will ask you to fill a customs declaration for your luggage.
Oh I see. So the point is to limit ppl bringing in a bunch of stuff to sell and make a big profit. That makes sense.
Not even too limit. Just to properly evaluate and tax it if needed.
While you bring only a laptop in carry on, someone may be transporting 15 000€ worth of diamonds for their Korean customer.
Custom also case about illegal goods such as drug and fake brands, but their main job is to ensure that the government properly collects import taxes
Your phone and tablet can be considered personal items, so you don’t need to declare those. The only thing I’d second guess is the steam deck given the statement:
Personal care goods, ornaments, and tools to be used during the period of stay by a traveler who enters the country temporarily and to be brought out again when leaving the country
But I would personally consider that a personal item since you’re not gonna be using it for commercial purposes anyway. I recommend you get a second opinion on that one.
my steam deck is only about $600 so that’s in the clear.
You’re not leaving any of it there, it’s all for personal use. You don’t need to declare it, it’s not “goods”.
