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No, it's Schengen area, so no border checks. You drive across just as you would from Massachusetts to Vermont.

Thrymr 13y ago
My understanding is that that is true for immigration, but not for customs. There are still limits on the amounts that can be imported into Switzerland, even from the EU, without duties [1]. Some products are more restricted, e.g. a limit of 0.5 kg of meat per person per day [2]. Anecdotally, this is rarely enforced, except during summer barbecue season, and customs officials have the authority to stop vehicles within 10 km of the border. [1] http://www.ezv.admin.ch/zollinfo_privat/04342/04343/04344/04571/index.html?lang=en http://www.ezv.admin.ch/zollinfo_privat/04342/04343/04344/04... [2] http://www.ezv.admin.ch/zollinfo_privat/04342/04343/04349/04850/index.html?lang=en&download=NHzLpZeg7t,lnp6I0NTU042l2Z6ln1ad1IZn4Z2qZpnO2Yuq2Z6gpJCDfH5_fWym162epYbg2c_JjKbNoKSn6A-- http://www.ezv.admin.ch/zollinfo_privat/04342/04343/04349/04...
- tsotha 13y ago
  Without border checkpoints official limits are sort of irrelevant, assuming you don't try to resell what you bought.
  - Thrymr 13y ago
    There are checkpoints, they are (usually) manned and funnel traffic through single lanes, it's just that they rarely actually stop people.
    - mobiplayer 13y ago
      That's how they work. I was stopped at one of those between France and Switzerland. Stopped, searched (me, my gf at that time and the car) and drug-tested.
  - smoe 13y ago
    That's the point. They do check quite a lot of people for undeclared goods. However they're no after those who buy stuff for themselves, but for example restaurant owners who try to smuggle in cheap meat in big quantities.
smoe 13y ago
The Schengen agreement does not include customs. That's in the European Union Customs Union, which Switzerland is not part of. You still have to self declare goods when entering Switzerland. Border patrol checks on suspicion.

My understanding is that that is true for immigration, but not for customs. There are still limits on the amounts that can be imported into Switzerland, even from the EU, without duties [1]. Some products are more restricted, e.g. a limit of 0.5 kg of meat per person per day [2]. Anecdotally, this is rarely enforced, except during summer barbecue season, and customs officials have the authority to stop vehicles within 10 km of the border. [1] http://www.ezv.admin.ch/zollinfo_privat/04342/04343/04344/04571/index.html?lang=en http://www.ezv.admin.ch/zollinfo_privat/04342/04343/04344/04... [2] http://www.ezv.admin.ch/zollinfo_privat/04342/04343/04349/04850/index.html?lang=en&download=NHzLpZeg7t,lnp6I0NTU042l2Z6ln1ad1IZn4Z2qZpnO2Yuq2Z6gpJCDfH5_fWym162epYbg2c_JjKbNoKSn6A-- http://www.ezv.admin.ch/zollinfo_privat/04342/04343/04349/04...

tsotha 13y ago
Without border checkpoints official limits are sort of irrelevant, assuming you don't try to resell what you bought.
- Thrymr 13y ago
  There are checkpoints, they are (usually) manned and funnel traffic through single lanes, it's just that they rarely actually stop people.
  - mobiplayer 13y ago
    That's how they work. I was stopped at one of those between France and Switzerland. Stopped, searched (me, my gf at that time and the car) and drug-tested.
- smoe 13y ago
  That's the point. They do check quite a lot of people for undeclared goods. However they're no after those who buy stuff for themselves, but for example restaurant owners who try to smuggle in cheap meat in big quantities.

smoe 13y ago

The Schengen agreement does not include customs. That's in the European Union Customs Union, which Switzerland is not part of. You still have to self declare goods when entering Switzerland. Border patrol checks on suspicion.