How Much K-Beauty Can You Bring Home? Duty-Free Allowances for the US, UK, Australia and Canada

The short version: K-beauty for your own use is fine to bring home, but every country caps how much you can bring in without paying duty or tax. Most hauls stay under these limits. A very big one, or shopping for friends, might not.

Returning to	Duty-free allowance for general goods	Source
United States	US$800 per person, if you were abroad at least 48 hours, once every 31 days	CBP
United Kingdom (Great Britain)	£390 (£270 if you arrive by private plane or boat)	GOV.UK
Australia	AUD900 for adults, AUD450 under 18	ABF
Canada	CAN$200 after 24+ hours away, CAN$800 after 48+ hours	CBSA

These figures are for travellers returning home after a trip to Korea.

United States

Returning US residents get a US$800 personal exemption every 31 days, as long as they were outside the US for at least 48 hours. Goods above the exemption may be dutiable. (CBP)

United Kingdom

Arriving in Great Britain, you can bring in other goods worth up to £390. If you go over, you pay tax and duty on the total value of the goods, not just the amount above £390, and you must declare them. Goods you don't declare can be seized. (GOV.UK)

That "total value" rule matters. A £420 haul isn't taxed on £30 — it's taxed on £420.

Australia

Adults can bring in up to AUD900 of general goods duty-free; under-18s, AUD450. If you exceed the limit, duty and tax apply to all items of that type, not just the excess. Declare anything over your allowance and keep proof of purchase. (ABF)

Keep your Olive Young receipts — they're your proof of purchase.

Canada

Canadian residents can claim CAN$200 after more than 24 hours away (alcohol and tobacco not included), or CAN$800 after more than 48 hours.

The two work differently. If your goods are worth more than CAN$200 on a short trip, you can't claim the exemption at all, and duty and taxes apply to the whole amount. Above CAN$800 on a longer trip, they apply only to the amount over the limit. You can't combine exemptions or share them with another person, and goods must be for personal or household use. (CBSA)

Tips for a big haul

• Keep every receipt in your carry-on. They show what you paid if customs asks.
• Your tax-refunded price is what you paid. Keep the receipt that shows it.
• Shopping for friends? Allowances are for your own personal use. The UK and Canada don't let you combine your allowance with someone else's; Australia lets families on the same flight pool theirs. (GOV.UK, CBSA, ABF)
• Convert to your currency before you land, so you know where you stand. Our Price Check shows Korean prices with a rough US dollar conversion.

FAQ

Do I have to pay duty on K-beauty I bought in Korea?

Not if the total value of what you bring home is within your country's duty-free allowance and it's for personal use.

What happens if I go over the UK allowance?

You pay tax and duty on the total value of the goods, not just the part above £390, and you must declare them.

Can two people combine their allowances?

It depends on the country. The UK and Canada say no: allowances can't be combined with anyone else's. Australia lets families travelling home on the same flight pool their allowances.