Souvenirs seem harmless. But then you realize some of them could get you fined or stopped at the airport. Different countries have strict rules on what stays & what goes, and many of them surprise travelers. We checked out the rules in different countries. Here are fourteen souvenirs banned from leaving specific places. Do any of these surprise you?
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Sardinia’s beach sand and pebbles
Tourists love picking up Sardinia’s white & pink sands. But the Italian government made a law that bans people from removing shells or stones from beaches. They’re not even allowed to take sand. As such, anyone caught with jars full of it in their bags at the airport may be fined. How much? It’s thousands of euros for just a small bottle, which means that this little souvenir doesn’t seem worth it anymore.
Coral and giant clam shells
Coral & giant clam shells sure are pretty. And in the Philippines, they’re also protected. Locals there will tell you stories about tourists losing suitcases full of decorative coral after the government banned collection and export. This is to protect reefs. They take it rather seriously, so you’re not allowed to take home any polished clam shells at street stalls.
Raw pounamu/greenstone without authorization
Anyone lucky enough to walk along a river on New Zealand’s South Island might see greenstone (pounamu). But don’t even think about pocketing it. The Ngāi Tahu people see this stone as sacred, and you can’t export raw pieces without permission. Only licensed sellers may provide carvings with proof.
Buddha images and parts of images
Thailand has rather strict rules about Buddha statues, and taking away whole statues requires a permit. As for Buddha heads or fragments? Forget about it. Unfortunately, most people buying stone heads at weekend markets find out the hard way. Customs officers refuse to let them through. It’s the Fine Arts Department that issues the paperwork to allow people to take them.
Beach sand, coral, and shells
Feel free to take pictures of those perfect white sands in the Maldives. Just don’t take the sand. Coral & shells are also off-limits, as are turtle products. That hasn’t stopped shops from sometimes selling them anyway. But airport security knows the rules & they confiscate these souvenirs quite often.
Lava rocks and volcanic sand
Sure, Iceland’s black sand beaches & lava fields feel like another planet. But taking a few handfuls back home is illegal. This is because of the country’s environmental laws, which protect rocks and minerals. They require exporting permission. That hasn’t stopped some tourists from mailing boxes of lava back home, only to have them intercepted. Ouch.
Ancient coins and other antiquities
It doesn’t matter that Greek markets have old coins and pottery shards for sale. You can’t take them home. Greek law treats them as national heritage, while customs checks for them at airports. Of course, you can get export permits for approved items. But anything the government classifies as “antiquity” will be seized right away & some travelers have been arrested for this.
Archaeological figurines and pre-Hispanic pieces
Mexico takes its pre-Hispanic history pretty seriously. That’s why they see figurines & carved idols as archaeological artifacts, while exporting them is completely banned. INAH (the National Institute of Anthropology & History) is the authority behind it. And they rarely grant exceptions. Sure, you might find one at a roadside market, but you’re not allowed to carry it out.
Ancient statues, shabti, and other artifacts
Tourists in Egypt sometimes think they’re buying harmless little figurines. However, it’s a different story when it’s an authentic antiquity, like shabti burial figures or statue fragments. Those aren’t leaving the country. Of course, replicas are fine, as long as they’re certified. But any genuine artifacts? You can expect them to be confiscated immediately.
Dead coral skeletons and reef pieces
Decades ago, Indonesia used to export coral. Not anymore. You can’t even take dead coral skeletons as souvenirs, although that hasn’t stopped some tourists from trying. They’ve put bleached chunks into luggage. However, coral tiles or skeletons are actually illegal to remove without permits. Most people don’t have them.
Protected Aboriginal cultural objects
Australia has laws that separate cultural artifacts into Class A & Class B. Class A things, like sacred objects & human remains, can never leave. Class B requires permits. But some markets still sell these ceremonial masks and tools to tourists. They happily buy them before losing their goods at the border. That doesn’t sound like such a great vacation.
Fossils, stones, and antlers from protected areas
Svalbard looks like a natural museum, thanks to the whale bones & fossils. There are also plenty of reindeer antlers. But picking them up is against the rules in protected zones. You’re not safe with naturally shed antlers, either, because they’re covered by the restrictions. Leave them where they are.
Antique religious masks and statues
Bhutan’s laws treat anything over 100 years old as cultural property. That includes religious masks & statues, manuscripts & thangkas. Tourists can buy newer items, but you’ll need an export certificate stamped by the Department of Culture to take anything older.
Archaeological textiles and ceramics
Peru has one of the strictest heritage laws in South America. This means that textiles & pottery, or any other artifacts from archaeological sites, can’t be taken out of the country. The Ministry of Culture only allows temporary loans for exhibitions. But that’s about it.
Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.
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