JoanneH

Flying SFO- Venice via Frankfurt. Will I be going through EU customs there or Venice?
I have heard its either or could be both.
What's the right information. Thanks

kaneda

You should only go through customs once on entry to the EU (though you could go through again if you enter Britain whose customs officers are a law unto themselves). There is a law about free movement of goods and people through the EU so they should not stop you a second time.

LoveItaly

Hi JoanneH, when I fly from SFO via Amsterdam and then onto Venice I have always gone through immigration in Amsterdam. My check bags are not retrieved until I arrive in Venice. The last couple of trips there has not been any checking by customs. Very strange.

I would imagine your check in bags will be sent straight through to Venice also. When you retrieve your bags in Venice just do whatever everyone else is doing..there doesn't seem to be any consistant procedure. Have a wonderful trip.

J62

Loveitaly has it correct

1. Immigration (passport control) at Frankfurt
2. Customs at Venice. Even if nobody stops you as you exit baggage claim, there are eyes watching you. So yes, you are going through customs when you decide to exit through the green 'nothing to declare' exit.


The confusion could be because some people mix or interchange the terms immigration and customs.

JoanneH

Thanks. I think your right about interchangeable terms.