Citizen Services

Information on U.S. Customs

The following is intended for general guidance, but may not be current or complete. For updates and more specific information on U.S. Customs, please visit http://www.customs.gov/. Please check this site as needed for the most recent available guidance.

A non-resident may bring gifts totaling $100.00 in value to the U.S. duty free. Family members may not group their gift exemptions.

A returning resident may bring gifts totaling $400.00 in value to the U.S. duty free.

Residents and non-residents (at least 21 years old) may bring no more than one liter of alcoholic beverages (beer, wine or liquor) to the U.S. duty free. In addition to federal laws, you must also meet state alcoholic beverage laws, which may be more restrictive than federal laws.

Food Products

Bakery items and all cured cheeses are admissible.

Meats, livestock, poultry and their by-products (e.g. sausage, pate) are either prohibited or restricted from entering the U.S., depending upon the animal disease condition in the country of origin. Fresh meat is generally prohibited from most countries. Canned meat is permitted if the inspector can determine that it is commercially canned, cooked in the container, hermetically sealed, and can be kept without refrigeration. Other canned, cured, or dried meat is severely restricted.

In general you are not allowed to bring fresh fruit or vegetables, or meat products to the U.S. If you plan to bring salmon, it must be smoked and vacuum-packed. Raw-spiced (graavi) is not permitted.

Pets

Cats

Must be free of evidence of diseases communicable to people when examined at the port of entry. If the animal is not in apparent good health, further examination by a licensed veterinarian may be required at the owner's expense.

Dogs

Must be free of evidence of diseases communicable to people when examined at the port of entry. Is the animal is not in apparent good health, further examination by a licensed veterinarian may be required at the owner's expense.

Vaccinations

According to Division of Global migration and Quarantine, Finland is considered to be rabies-free country. For further information please visit http://www.cdc.gov/.

The following information applies to dogs arriving in the U.S. from countries that are NOT considered as to be rabies-free.

Dogs must be vaccinated against rabies at least 30 days before entering the United States. This requirement does not apply, however, to puppies less than three months of age or to dogs originating or located at least six months in areas designated by the U.S. Public Health Service as being rabies-free.

The following procedures pertain to dogs arriving from areas that are not rabies-free:

• A valid vaccination certificate should accompany the animal. This certificate should be in English or be accompanied by a translation. It should identify the animal, the dates of vaccination and expiration, and be signed by a licensed veterinarian. If no expiration date is specified, the certificate is acceptable if the date of vaccination is no more than 12 months before the date of arrival.
• If a vaccination has not been performed, or is the certificate is not valid, the animal may be admitted if it is confined immediately upon arrival at a place of the owner's choosing. The dog must be vaccinated within four days after arrival at the final destination, but no more than 10 days after arrival at the port of entry. The animal must remain in confinement for at least 30 days after being vaccinated.
• If the vaccination was performed less than 30 days before arrival, the animal may be admitted but must be confined at a place of the owner's choosing until at least 30 days have passed since the vaccination.
• Young puppies must be confined at a place of the owner's choosing until they are three months old; then they must be vaccinated. They must remain in confinement for 30 days after the vaccination.

Sales Tax

Foreign visitors to the U.S. frequently confuse the state sale tax with the value-added tax (VAT). The state sales tax is a small tax on purchases or services, calculated at the time of purchase, which individual states assess and which the U.S. federal government neither determines nor receives. The VAT, on the other hand, is a national tax commonly applied in foreign countries that is included in the actual sales price rather than at the time of purchase. The United States does not have a VAT, and the federal government cannot refund state sales taxes.