goods to declare
/ɡʊdz tə dɪˈkleə/
Meaning
This phrase refers to items brought into a country that must be reported to customs officers because they exceed personal duty-free allowances, are restricted, or are intended for commercial use. Travelers carrying these items must go through the red channel marked 'Goods to Declare' to pay taxes or get clearance.
Examples
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If you are bringing in more than $10,000 in cash, you must go to the goods to declare desk.
If you are bringing in more than $10,000 in cash, you must go to the goods to declare desk.
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I had some local agricultural products, so I went to the red lane for goods to declare.
I had some local agricultural products, so I went to the red lane for goods to declare.
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Do you have any goods to declare, such as alcohol, tobacco, or commercial samples?
Do you have any goods to declare, such as alcohol, tobacco, or commercial samples?
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Failure to report goods to declare can result in heavy fines at the border.
Failure to report goods to declare can result in heavy fines at the border.
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She wasn't sure if her expensive watch counted as goods to declare, so she asked an officer.
She wasn't sure if her expensive watch counted as goods to declare, so she asked an officer.
Common Mistakes
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✗ I have some products to declare to the customs.
✓ I have some goods to declare to customs.
'Goods' is the standard term used for items in a customs context, and 'customs' does not take an article here.
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✗ He went to the red line for goods to explain.
✓ He went to the red lane for goods to declare.
'Declare' is the specific legal term for reporting items to customs, and 'lane' or 'channel' is used instead of 'line'.
Related Expressions
Practice
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If you have purchased items over the duty-free limit, you must go through the ___ lane.
💡 The red channel at customs.
Show answer
goods to declare
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The sign said that travelers with ___ must fill out a paper form.
💡 Items that need to be reported to border control.
Show answer
goods to declare