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The French EU Customs brochure (mirror) states:

Les bagages personnels sont ceux que le voyageur présente au service des douanes lors de son arrivée. Il s’agit aussi des bagages que le voyageur présente ultérieurement à ce service, sous réserve qu’il justifie qu’ils ont été enregistrés comme bagages, au moment du départ, par la compagnie qui a assuré son transport.

Gtranslation:

Personal luggage is that which the traveler presents to the customs service upon arrival. This also applies to baggage that the traveler subsequently presents to this service, provided that they prove that it was checked in as baggage, at the time of departure, by the company that provided their transport.

What is non-personal luggage in the eyes of EU customs? I thought passengers would present all their luggage to customs, and that subsequently all luggage would be regarded as personal luggage in the eyes of EU customs

phoog
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2 Answers2

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"Personal luggage" does not seem to be defined in EU customs law. Therefore, we may conclude that the dictionary definition applies.

An article shipped separately isn't personal luggage because it's not luggage. Luggage refers to goods accompanying a traveler. Non-personal luggage, we can conclude, is luggage that accompanies a traveler but is for some reason not "personal" to the traveler. This could be, for example, a package transported by a courier on behalf of someone else, or to luggage belonging to a company or other organization that is carried by an officer or an employee of that organization.

phoog
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I'll summarize the answers the question received in the comment section. The non-personal luggage likely refers to luggage/packages shipped separately via international shipper (e.g., DHL).

Comments:

  • I suspect this policy is to prevent a traveler sending additional packages separately via international shipper (DHL or something), and trying to claim them later as "personal luggage". However, there is a clause in there so any bags which are delayed in transit can still be claimed as "personal luggage" when they eventually arrive. Greg Hewgill 2 days ago
phoog
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