Before a holiday this is the single most common question. The basic rule: if you are travelling to a country where IQOS is sold normally, there is nothing to worry about – as a battery device it belongs in your hand luggage, not in checked baggage. Trouble only starts with the countries below.
Countries with an explicit ban
In the following states heated tobacco products or electronic cigarettes are prohibited. IQOS almost always falls under the e-cigarette ban, which was originally aimed at the vaping of drugs:
- Thailand – strict ban on import, sale and use; confiscation and heavy penalties, with checks in tourist areas.
- Singapore – import and use banned, luggage is X-rayed at the border and the device is usually seized.
- India – officially banned.
- Vietnam – ban on electronic cigarettes.
- Turkey – import ban on heated tobacco products and e-cigarettes.
- Brazil, Argentina, Mexico – sale and import banned.
- Panama, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, Fiji – e-cigarettes banned, and IQOS falls under that ban.
The list changes constantly and is indicative only. Binding information comes solely from the embassy and the customs authority of your destination – not even the IQOS hotline can guarantee it.
Remember transit countries too: if you clear immigration during a stopover, local law applies to you.
IQOS in the European Union
IQOS is sold normally in almost every EU country. And even where it is not, you may bring the device and your sticks within the EU personal-use allowances. Inside the EU the limit is 250 g of tobacco per person.
Popular destinations
Croatia, Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania sell ILUMA and TEREA normally, so restocking is no problem – and often cheaper than at home.
Egypt and Dubai sell IQOS officially, and carrying it in hand luggage is straightforward. The ranges differ considerably, though, so bring your usual variant with you.
Japan and South Korea are the oldest IQOS markets in the world and have the widest range anywhere.
Repairs and warranty abroad
In countries where IQOS is sold, service and warranty claims work essentially as they do at home, and the warranty is international. Philip Morris generally replaces faulty devices on the spot. Outside those countries the rule is simple: IQOS is not realistically repairable – for long trips, take a second device.