When travelling with several passengers, you need a single, coordinated system; otherwise, it’s easy to mix up tickets, documents and notifications. At the border, the decision depends on the route, nationality, purpose of the journey and the current regulations of the country of entry. Prepare your supporting documents in advance, but remember: the final assessment is made by the relevant authorities.
What to do before your trip
Check the regulations on the websites of border, customs and consular authorities specifically for your route. Organise your documents in an easily accessible folder, make offline copies and prepare brief, truthful answers. Do not conceal items that are subject to declaration or inspection.
- Phytosanitary regulations
- soil
- Seeds
- home-made preserves
Step-by-step plan
Appoint someone to be in charge of the up-to-date list, but send each person their own details. Before setting off, check the details together and agree on a meeting point.
Children and adults should know who to ring if the group gets split up; make a note of the number on a piece of paper as well.
Useful links
Read more about flowers on the bus, prohibited items and food for the journey. Up-to-date journey information is available on RedRay. For rules that may change, refer to the European Commission’s official guidance on customs restrictions and the official resources of the destination country. Sources verified on 6 September 2026.
Questions and answers
Phytosanitary regulations: how to check?
Plants with soil, seeds and planting material may require phytosanitary documents.
Soil: when to prepare it?
Home-made preserves are difficult to identify, so there is a higher risk of them being seized.
Seeds: where to check?
Don’t rely solely on the experience of friends: the rules depend on the type of goods and the direction of travel.
Homemade preserves: what should you do?
Before packing, check the requirements of the phytosanitary and customs authorities in the country of destination.