The laws on E-cigarettes differ around the world, if you’re planning a holiday soon you will need to know the laws on vaping in the country you are planning on visiting.

The list below covers some of the most popular travel destinations (accurate as of January 2018). Please use this guide as part of your research before travelling but also consult other sources to ensure you have more up to date knowledge. Some countries such as the USA, Australia and Russia have both national and state/regional laws.

Ensure you check the policy on E-cigarettes with your airline to avoid confiscation before you’ve even reached your destination.

Europe

EU Vaping Rules

All EU member states are governed by the TRPR laws (TRPR is the EU law that the UK’s TPD law was based on). This is ideal for UK holidaymakers — if you have to buy juice locally, we can rely on the same nicotine strengths, safety standards and quality of the product. 

While there may be no problem at a national level, some restaurants, bars and beaches will have their own vaping bans, depending on where you go. If in doubt, ask someone locally before firing up your vape

The UK

Permitted

France

Permitted

Germany

Permitted

Italy

Permitted

Useful information: Italy has a large number of vapers but has also introduced some tax laws at the end of 2017 which makes vaping more expensive than smoking. Because of this there aren’t many shops around.

Greece

Permitted

 Turkey

It is illegal to buy e-liquid or e-cigarettes anywhere in Turkey. E-liquid can’t be manufactured in the country. There is no law against actually using an e-cigarette in Turkey, so technically, as a tourist you could bring your vape kit with you, but our advice is to leave it at home if at all possible. If you really need your vape by your side, try to be respectful and discreet. 

Spain

Permitted

Portugal

Permitted

The Netherlands

Permitted

Russia

Permitted

Denmark

Permitted

Useful information: Until recently vaping products were classed as medical supplies and were therefore banned from general sale.

Sweden

Permitted

Useful information: Sweden, like Denmark, had classed e-cigarettes as medical products meaning they were banned from sale to the consumer.

Finland

Permitted

Norway

Permitted with Limitations

Useful information: Vaping is allowed, however, the sale of nicotine-containing products is not. If you plan on staying for a while then you’ll require a doctor’s note to show that your vaping to help quit smoking. Without this, your device and liquids may be confiscated. If you’re making a shorter trip then you shouldn’t have any issues.

Iceland

Permitted

Malta

Permitted

Belgium

Permitted

Austria

Permitted

Vaping in Switzerland

At the moment, thanks to equivalency agreements that Switzerland has with the EU, you can vape in Switzerland. This may change in future, however — vaping was banned in Switzerland until very recently, when a legal challenge forced the Swiss government to allow vape juice and kit to go back on sale. Switzerland is arranged into 26 cantons, and every canton sets its own local laws. As a result, when you’re travelling through the country, you’ll find that some bars and restaurants ban vaping altogether, while others are happy for you to use designated smoking areas.

North America

The USA

Vaping laws in the USA, at a federal level, are looser than they are here in the UK. You should still check before you fly, because most US states and major cities are free to set their own laws on vaping. There could be local restrictions in place, depending on where you’re going. Vaping indoors is banned in a lot of coastal states (California, New York, Vermont and Maine, for example). Many cities have their own local laws, too. For instance, in the city of Chicago, the only ‘enclosed workspace’ in which you can vape is a vape shop.  The USA doesn’t have the same limits on tank capacity that we have here in the UK, so you may come across some whopping squonk mods on your travels. The biggest surprise to watch out for, if you’re a UK tourist in the States, is nicotine strength. The e–liquid you buy in an American vape shop may contain a much higher nicotine concentration than it does in the UK, so choose your juice carefully and check your dose before you vape.

 

Canada

Permitted

Mexico

Permitted with Limitations

Useful information: Vaping is legal in Mexico, however under federal law, you can not sell, trade, promote, distribute or produce any vape related products.

Jamaica

Permitted

Useful information: There is a ban on imports with many people having devices confiscated when trying to enter the country.

The Bahamas

Permitted

South America

Brazil

Banned

Argentina

Banned

Venezuela

Banned

Chile

Permitted

Asia

China

Permitted

Useful information: Vaping laws tend to vary from region to region but e-cigarettes are allowed throughout China so just check on any regional variations before you visit.

Japan

Permitted with Limitations

Useful information: Vaping is allowed but using e-liquids that contain nicotine are not.

Hong Kong

Permitted with Limitations

Useful information: In Hong Kong nicotine is under the classification of  poison so any e-liquids containing it are against the law and their usage is considered a criminal offence. There are plans to ban vaping totally so if you plan on travelling to Hong Kong make sure you check the current status.

Singapore

Banned

Thailand

Banned

Useful information: Risks a 10 year jail sentence.

 South Korea

Permitted

India

Bad news if you were hoping to pack your mod & head to India: vaping is banned across the whole country. You can’t buy e-liquid or vape devices anywhere in India, and you can’t bring your own vape device into the country (see the UK government’s advice on Indian laws & customs here). If you’re trying to quit smoking then you can, of course, pack nicotine patches or gum. Just try to pack a little more than you need. NRT products are not as prevalent in India as they are not as prevalent in India as they are here in the UK.

Malaysia

Permitted

Useful information: Another country where state and national laws conflict. There is no national ban on vaping but several states prohibit the sale of vape products. There seems to be no issue for tourists bringing e-cigarettes into the country.

The Philippines

Permitted (Potential to Change)

Saudi Arabia

Banned

Dubai – United Arab Emirates

You can vape in the United Arab Emirates, but you have to be careful where you do it. If you use an e-cigarette in a public place, hospital or in a vehicle, the fines can be hefty. For instance, vaping in the wrong place in Dubai could land you a fine of 2,000 Dirham (around £400).

Vaping laws and rules on vaping taxes in the United Arab Emirates are evolving — out of all of the countries on our list, the UAE is the one most likely to change vaping laws while you’re on holiday — so make sure you check with your travel agent or hotel to get the latest advice before you travel. The Dubai Tourism website is a really helpful resource, too.

The Maldives

Permitted

Cambodia

Banned

Oceania

Australia

Permitted with Limitations

Useful information: Vaping is not banned but using e-liquids that contain nicotine is. Purchasing e-cigarettes is against the law in some states but legal in others.

New Zealand

Permitted

Fiji

Permitted

Papua New Guinea

Permitted

Africa

South Africa

Permitted with Limitations

Useful information: E-cigarettes are legal but e-liquids that contain Nicotine are prohibited.

Morocco

Unclear

Egypt

Permitted with Limitations

Useful information: E-cigarettes are legal but vaping in public is not.

Tunisia

Unclear

Useful information : The National Board of Tobacco and Matches (RNTA) is the only body entitled to sell vape products in Tunisia.  The laws on carrying your device and liquids into the country aren’t clear, however if you plan on trying we recommend not taking anything of value in case it is confiscated.

Kenya

Permitted

Mauritius

Permitted

Zambia

Permitted

Flying with a vape device: what the airlines say

We took a quick look at the guidance for the top 20 airlines serving all of the destinations on our list, and we found the rules on transporting vape kits to be pretty similar across all operators. 

Whether you fly Ryanair or Emirates, you can never put your vape in hold luggage. Vapes should always be in your personal carry-on luggage. Most airlines require you to store your vape in a separate carry case within your bag, just so there’s no risk of it being activated during your flight. 

A few airlines go further than this. KLM asks you to remove every battery from your vape and keep them in a separate carry-case. If you haven’t got a case, you’re expected to seal the ends of each battery with non-conductive tape, and then carry the batteries separately in a clear plastic bag.