Duty on musical instruments is low almost everywhere — the real complication is CITES, which restricts instruments made with certain protected tonewoods regardless of tariff rate.
Musical instruments are classified by type: pianos under heading 9201, string instruments (guitars, violins, harps) under 9202, brass and woodwind under 9205, percussion under 9206, and electronic instruments (synthesizers, digital pianos) under 9207. Parts and accessories — strings, cases, mouthpieces — fall under 9209. Import duty is generally low or zero across the EU, UK and USA, since instruments aren't treated as a sensitive trade category. The genuine complexity is CITES: the international wildlife trade treaty restricts movement of instruments containing certain protected woods (most notably Brazilian rosewood) or animal-derived materials (ivory, tortoiseshell), and this applies independently of the customs duty rate — a duty-free instrument can still be seized without the correct CITES permit.
Import duty rates shown for the EU (from non-EU), UK (from non-UK), and USA (from non-USA). Intra-EU shipments have 0% duty.
| HS Code | Product description | EU duty | UK duty | USA duty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9201.10 / 9201.20 | Upright and grand pianos | Free | Free | Free | Pianos generally cannot ship via standard courier — specialist piano freight required regardless of duty |
| 9202.10 | String instruments played with a bow (violins, cellos, double basses) | Free | Free | Free | Includes bows classified separately under 9209.94 |
| 9202.90 | Other string instruments (guitars, harps, ukuleles) | Free | Free | Free | Acoustic and classical guitars — check 9207 for electric instruments requiring amplification |
| 9205.10 | Brass instruments (trumpets, trombones, tubas, French horns) | Free | Free | Free | |
| 9205.90 | Other wind instruments (flutes, clarinets, saxophones, bagpipes) | Free | Free | Free | |
| 9206.00 | Percussion instruments (drums, xylophones, cymbals) | Free | Free | Free | |
| 9207.10 | Electric/electronic keyboard instruments (synthesizers, digital pianos) | Free | Free | Free | Instruments whose sound is produced or must be amplified electrically |
| 9207.90 | Other instruments requiring electrical amplification (electric guitars) | Free | Free | Free | Note: electric guitars fall under 9207, not 9202, because the sound requires amplification |
| 9209.94 | Parts and accessories for stringed instruments (bows, pegs, tailpieces) | Free–2.7% | 0% | Free | Some EU accessory sub-headings carry a small duty |
| 9209.92 | Parts and accessories for guitars in 9202 | Free–2.7% | 0% | Free | Cases classified separately by material, not under this heading |
Duty rates are indicative based on standard MFN (Most Favoured Nation) tariffs. Actual rates may vary by country of origin and applicable trade agreements. Always verify with the official tariff database of the destination country.
Complete musical instruments across all Chapter 92 headings are duty-free (0% MFN) in the EU, UK and USA — one of the most consistently duty-free product categories in international trade. Some parts and accessories under 9209 carry small residual duty in the EU (up to roughly 2.7% on certain sub-headings), but the instruments themselves do not.
Duty being 0% does not mean unrestricted movement. CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) requires export and import permits for instruments made with or containing protected materials — most significantly Brazilian rosewood (Dalbergia nigra, CITES Appendix I), but also other Dalbergia species, African blackwood, elephant ivory and tortoiseshell depending on quantity and species. A vintage guitar with a genuine Brazilian rosewood fretboard needs a CITES permit even for personal, non-commercial travel — there is no de minimis exemption for Appendix I species.
Portuguese exporters and travellers apply for CITES export permits through ICNF (Instituto da Conservação da Natureza e das Florestas). Processing typically takes several weeks, so this needs to be arranged well ahead of a planned shipment or trip — it cannot be resolved at the point of shipping or at the airport.
The UK now operates its own CITES permitting system separate from the EU's. Moving a CITES-listed instrument between the EU and UK requires both an EU export permit and a UK import permit (or vice versa) — this is a new administrative step that didn't exist pre-Brexit for EU-UK instrument movement.
Before shipping any instrument made before roughly 1992, or made from tropical hardwood, research the specific wood species — Brazilian rosewood is the most commonly flagged, but other Dalbergia species and some ebony variants can also trigger CITES requirements depending on quantity.
For vintage instruments over 100 years old, check whether the piece qualifies as an antique (HS 9705) — this can affect duty treatment and may itself have separate cultural-property export considerations distinct from CITES.
Always travel or ship with the CITES permit physically with the instrument, not just a digital copy on file — customs and airline staff at both departure and arrival need to see the original or an accepted certified copy.
For commercial instrument exports (a shop or manufacturer shipping stock), maintain a wood-species inventory record for CITES-relevant materials across your product range — retrospective sourcing of proof-of-origin for an already-shipped instrument is far harder than documenting it at time of sale.
Instrument cases are typically classified and dutied separately from the instrument based on their own material (leather, plastic, wood) — a high-value hard case can occasionally attract more scrutiny on declared value than the instrument itself if not itemised clearly.
For orchestras and touring musicians moving multiple high-value instruments temporarily across borders, an ATA Carnet avoids paying full import duty and VAT at each destination for what is fundamentally a temporary, returning shipment.
Do I pay customs duty shipping a guitar internationally?
No — complete musical instruments including guitars are duty-free (0% MFN) in the EU, UK and USA under Chapter 92. The cost consideration for guitars is CITES compliance for the fretboard/body wood, not customs duty.
What is CITES and does it apply to my guitar?
CITES is the international treaty restricting trade in endangered species, including certain woods used in instrument making. It applies if your guitar contains Brazilian rosewood (Dalbergia nigra) or certain other protected Dalbergia species, regardless of the instrument's age or whether the shipment is commercial or personal. Most modern guitars use non-restricted woods, but many vintage and high-end instruments do contain protected materials — check the specific wood species before shipping internationally.
Why is an electric guitar classified differently from an acoustic guitar?
Acoustic and classical guitars fall under HS 9202 (string instruments, not requiring electrical amplification to produce sound). Electric guitars fall under HS 9207, the heading for instruments whose sound is produced or must be amplified electrically. Both are duty-free, but the different heading matters for correct customs declaration and any future statistical or regulatory purposes.
How long does it take to get a CITES permit from Portugal?
Processing through ICNF (Portugal's nature conservation authority) typically takes several weeks — plan well ahead of any international shipment or trip involving a CITES-listed instrument. There is no expedited same-week option for this specific permit type in most cases.
Can I ship a piano through a standard parcel courier?
No — pianos, while duty-free under HS 9201, cannot ship via standard parcel courier due to size and weight. Specialist piano movers with appropriate vehicles and climate-controlled handling are required regardless of the customs classification, which only affects the tariff, not the physical shipping method.
Do vintage instrument cases need separate customs declaration from the instrument?
Yes, ideally — cases are classified by their own material (leather, wood, plastic/ABS) separately from the instrument's HS 92 classification, and high-value hard cases should be itemised on the commercial invoice separately from the instrument to avoid confusion during any customs valuation review.
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