Mistakes are most often caused by rushing, repeating a procedure or misreading a status, so start by checking the details calmly. At the border, the decision depends on your route, nationality, the purpose of your journey and the current regulations of the country you are entering. 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 rules 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.
- Who chooses the corridor
- Declaration
- luggage
- Liability
Step-by-step guide
Compare the information on your ticket, in the notification and in your official account. Write down any discrepancies word for word: this will reduce the need to explain things to the operator and help identify the cause more quickly.
Until the check is complete, keep all confirmations and do not delete any messages, even if they appear to be duplicates.
Useful links
Read more about how to clear customs, prohibited items and what to say to customs officers. Current flights are available on RedRay. For rules that may change, refer to the European Commission’s official guidance on customs restrictions and the official resources of your destination country. Sources verified on 6 September 2026.
Questions and answers
Who chooses the lane: where can I find out?
The green channel should only be chosen if you have no goods or sums of money to declare.
Declaration: what should you do?
The red channel is intended for declaring and clarifying items of doubt; it is safer to approach a customs officer than to conceal them.
Luggage: how should you check it?
The owner of the luggage is responsible for its contents, so do not take other people’s sealed packages.
Responsibility: when to prepare?
Before travelling, check the customs regulations on both sides of the border on the official websites.