Vape Travel Guide for 2019

Most of us love traveling. And when we travel, we want to bring along what’s important to us. If you are a committed vaper, this includes your vaping gear. But there are quite a few things to keep in mind before casually tossing your vape gear pack into your suitcase.

In this guide, we have tried to look at every aspect of traveling with your vape gear: from packing and vaping on-the-go to legality and vaping regulations in different countries.

Here’s what you will find in this guide:

 What vaping gear and accessories to bring with you

1. What vaping gear and accessories to bring with you
2. How to pack your vaping gear?
3. Traveling by plane: regulations
4. Traveling by train, bus or car: regulations
5. Vaping regulations by country

What vaping gear and accessories to bring with you?

This should be an easy one: as a habitual vaper, you probably already have your must-have vape pack that includes your vaping gadget and favorite e-liquid flavors. But things may be a bit different in travel mode. For instance, you may want to pack a compact vaping mod along with (or instead of) your main vaping device to make vaping on-the-go easier. Plus, you simply may want to travel with something more subtle and discreet than a large box mod.

In general, you will need to pack the following gear and accessories:

• Your vaping gadget
• All the removable components (tank, battery, etc.)
• A charger for your vaping device
• Extra coils, pods, and wicks (if needed)
• Extra vape juice
• A carrying case for your vaping gadget
• A sealable bag for your e-liquids

How to pack your vaping gear?

It is important to take the time to think this part through as improper handling of your vaping gear can not only damage your vaping device but also stain and ruin the contents of your luggage. So, what rules should you follow when packing your vape gear?

First, it’s strongly recommended that you have a reliable protective case for your vaping gadget. If you are willing to invest in it, get a case made specifically for your vaping device. If you don’t have the time to go shopping, use any padded case that won’t give your vaping device too much room to move around. This will prevent damage to your vaping gear in the form of cracks and dents — and, most importantly, accidental firing.

Second, it’s best to store the batteries separately in order to avoid short-circuiting.

Third, place your e-liquids in a sealable bag and check if they are securely closed. If you keep your e-liquid in glass bottles, it’s also recommended to put some padding in between them or use bubble wrap.

Traveling by plane: regulations

If your destination country does not ban the import of vaping devices and e-liquids, you can bring your vaping gear on the plane with you. However, there are some rules to follow, which may differ slightly based on your choice of airline.

Thus, it is strongly advised that you contact your chosen airline prior to your flight, inform them that you will be traveling with your vaping gear and ask for packing recommendations.

Most airlines will require you to do the following:

• Transport your vaping device in your carry-on. It’s best to empty it of e-liquid to avoid leakage caused by changes in pressure.

• Note that you are allowed to have up to 100ml of liquids in your carry-on and if you have e-liquid in your vaping device, it will count towards the 100ml limit. 

• Special care should be exercised when transporting batteries. Batteries will need to be placed in your carry-on and it’s best to pack them in a padded carrying case and cover the metal parts with electric tape. Most airlines impose a limit on how many batteries you can travel with — but this does not include the batteries that are already in your vaping device. Note that if you are traveling with a mechanical mod without a safety timer, it’s best to remove the batteries altogether.

• For the vaping juice in your checked luggage, as we’ve already noted above, it’s best to have your e-liquid bottles placed in a saleable bag together with other liquid items. It’s also best to keep them close to the top of your suitcase in case you may be asked to present these for additional inspection. Finally, it’s advised that you keep all your e-liquids in their original packaging and with the labels still on them.

Traveling by train, bus or car: regulations

While the regulations for bringing your vape gear on a bus or train are much less strict compared to those imposed when traveling by plane, it is still suggested to keep to similar guidelines when it comes to packing:

• Pack your vaping gear carefully, preferably in special cases and sealable bags.
• Keep your vaping gear close so that you can easily present it for inspection (if needed) as well as check for leaks and other problems.
• If possible, keep you vaping juices in their original packaging.

Once again, it is always a good idea to check with the company you are using (unless, of course, you are traveling by a private vehicle) if they have any specific regulations in place prior to your trip.

Vaping regulations by country

Finally, no matter how much care you take to pack your vaping gear, it will all go to waste if it gets taken away by the customs when you arrive. Or, if you get arrested for vaping in your travel destinations — and yes, this happens. 

Thus, prior to packing your vaping gear, make sure that vaping is legal where you are going. For your convenience, we have summed up the most recent vaping regulations updates for most of the world countries.

 However, as vaping regulations change frequently — we, once again, suggest that you check the legal status of vaping at your destination prior to your travels — make sure you consult a reputable source or reach out to a fellow vaper living in the country for advice.

EUROPE

Theoretically, all European countries should be applying the Tobacco Product Directive — a directive of the European Union which regulates the use, sale and merchandising of tobacco and tobacco-related products in the EU. In practice, however, the interpretation of the directive is often different from country to country.

The use of vaping products appears to be LEGAL in the following countries:

Albania, Andorra, Austria (regulated), Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium (regulated), Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria (in restricted areas), Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France (in restricted areas), Georgia (in restricted areas), Germany, Ireland (banned on public transport), Liechtenstein (in restricted areas), Lithuania, Luxembourg (regulated), Malta (in restricted areas), Moldova, Netherlands (Holland), Norway (in restricted areas), Poland (in restricted areas), Portugal (in restricted areas), Romania (banned on public transport), Slovakia (in restricted areas), Slovenia (in restricted areas), Spain (in restricted areas), Sweden, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.

These countries have a SPECIAL approach to vaping:

• Armenia: vaping is now legal but restrictions have been proposed by the government
• Cyprus: legal but e-liquid is taxed at 12 cents per ml.
• Finland has the harshest vaping laws in Europe. Vaplegal is legal but it is illegal to sell e-liquid containing nicotine. For personal use, you can import pods with less than 10mg of nicotine and vape juice with under 0.42g of nicotine. All e-liquid flavors except for tobacco are banned. 
• Greece: legal but e-liquid is taxed at 10 cents per ml.
• Hungary: legal but e-liquid is taxed at 70 Forints per ml.
• Iceland:  legal but pod and refills containing over 0.9mg of nicotine are illegal.
• Italy: legal but e-liquid is taxed at 0.393 euros per ml.
• Latvia: legal but e-liquid is taxed is 0.01 euros per ml + there is an extra tax of 0.005 euros per 1mg of nicotine.
• Montenegro: legal but e-liquid is taxed at the rate of 0.9 euros per ml.
• Serbia: legal but e-liquid is taxed at RSD 4.06 per ml.
• Switzerland: legal but the sale of pods and vape juices that contain nicotine is illegal — but you can still import them for personal use (up to 150ml).

The regulations on vaping are UNCLEAR in the following countries:

• San Marino
• Turkey
• Macedonia: no official regulations seem to be in place but vapers report no issues vaping where smoking is allowed.
• Monaco: unclear but no issues have been reported.

RUSSIA

The Russian Ministry of Health does not regard electronic cigarettes as tobacco products. Thus, vaping is allowed in public places (including bars and restaurants).

USA

Vaping is legal in the majority of US states — but the regulations and restrictions on where you can vape differ from state to state and even city to city. Thus, it is strongly advised to check with your particular destination about the most up-to-date vaping laws prior to your trip. The sale and import of vaping gear and accessories are regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration.

Important!

San Francisco is the first major US city to have banned the sale and distribution of e-cigarettes unless they have FDA approval. Currently, the city has the strictest vaping regulations in the country.

CANADA

Vaping and the import of vaping devices are legal in Canada — but all vaping gear and accessories must be authorized by Health Canada before being sold in the country.

CENTRAL AMERICA

The regulations on vaping vary from country to country, but, generally, vaping is legal but restricted.

The use of vaping products appears to be LEGAL in the following countries:

Antigua and Barbuda (in restricted areas), Bahamas, Barbados (in restricted areas)

Belize, Costa Rica (in restricted areas), Nicaragua (in restricted areas), Panama (in restricted areas), Trinidad (in restricted areas).

These countries have a SPECIAL approach to vaping:

• Dominican Republic: nicotine e-liquids are only allowed with a medical prescription.
• Jamaica: vaping is allowed in restricted areas but e-liquids are regulated as a medicine. The import of nicotine-containing e-liquids for sale requires a special permit. 

The regulations on vaping are UNCLEAR in the following countries:

• Cuba: there are no clear rules on vaping but vapers have reported having trouble taking their vaping gear out of the country.
• Mexico: nicotine e-liquids are banned, but the regulations are unclear regarding zero nic e-liquids.

SOUTH AMERICA

The attitude towards vaping in South America appears to be similar to that in Central America. Mostly, the use of vaping products is legal, but restrictions apply to the sale and distribution.

The use of vaping products appears to be LEGAL in the following countries:

• Guatemala, Peru, Venezuela, Falkland Islands, El Salvador: use and sale are legal
• Argentina: use is legal but import, manufacturing, and sale are not. 
• Brazil, Columbia: use is legal in restricted areas but the sale is banned
• Ecuador: use is legal in restricted areas
• Uruguay: vaping seems to be legal in restricted areas but the sale, import of vaping gear and e-liquids are illegal.

These countries have a SPECIAL approach to vaping:

• Guyana: vaping is legal but strict limitations apply. You can’t have vaping gear in your checked luggage and vaping in public (instead of specially designated areas) can result in a heavy fine. 
• Suriname: sale, import, and distribution of vaping gear are prohibited

The regulations on vaping are UNCLEAR in the following countries: Bolivia, Chile, and Paraguay.

ASIA

The regulations on vaping differ A LOT across Asia. While some countries allow vaping in public places, others have made vaping illegal and impose harsh punishments in the form of heavy fines and even jail sentences. 

The use of vaping products appears to be LEGAL in the following countries: Afghanistan (local vaping supply may be limited), Bangladesh, China, Kyrgyzstan, Myanmar, Pakistan, Tajikistan ( in restricted areas; import and sales restricted), Turkmenistan (in restricted areas; import and sales banned) and Uzbekistan.

These countries have a SPECIAL approach to vaping:

• Indonesia: originally, vaping was officially banned in the country. These days, personal use does not seem to be a problem and you will easily find vaping supplies in the country. 
• Malaysia: as nicotine is classified as a poison, nic-containing e-liquids and vape gadgets are only sold in licensed pharmacies and by medical practitioners. With that, you should be able to vape in areas designated for smoking.
• Japan: you can vape zero-nic e-liquids with no restrictions. However, nicotine-containing e-cigarettes are considered a medicinal product and you are not allowed to bring more than 100ml of nicotine vape juice for personal use.
• Philippines: similarly to Japan, e-cigarettes are considered medical products in the country and their sale is restricted. You are allowed to vape in areas reserved for smoking.
• South Korea: vaping in the country is legal but heavily taxed: it’s best to vape in areas designated for smoking.

The use of vaping products appears to be ILLEGAL in the following countries:

• Jordan 
• Cambodia: vaping has been banned since 2014. 
• East Timor: use, sale, and imports of vaping gear and e-liquids are banned. 
• Singapore: sale, use, import and possession of vaping gear and e-liquids are banned. Those violating the no vaping regulations can be fined for up to $2,000. Plus, if you are found buying vaping gear online and shipping it to Singapore for personal use, the punishment goes up to a $10,000 and/or up-to 6 months in jail; repeat violators will be fined up to $20,000 and/or will have to spend up to 12 months in jail.
• Thailand: the import and use of vaping gear and e-liquids are illegal in Thailand. Just like in Cambodia, the ban on e-cigarettes was introduced in the country in 2014 and has remained unchanged since. Violations can result in fines and even jail sentences. 
•  Vietnam –  the sale, use and import of electronic cigarettes are illegal. There are reports that a black vaping market is thriving in the country despite the regulations — but we strongly advise against taking any risks.
• Hong Kong: the city has a near-total ban on vaping. Technically, however, you can still vape in Hong Kong: but only in the areas designated for smoking. Vaping outside of these areas would result in a fine of over $190. Moreover, the import, sale, distribution, and promotion of vaping devices are prohibited. Nicotine is also classified as Part 1 Poison in Hong Kong, so you won’t find any nicotine-containing e-liquids sold in the city. With that, there are vape shops in Hong Kong that sell vaping gear and zero nic e-liquid.
• Taiwan – a ban on e-cigarettes has been proposed in Taiwan. This would include the manufacture, import, sale, and advertising of vaping devices and accessories. The proposed legislation has not come into force yet. 

The regulations on vaping are UNCLEAR in the following countries:

• Kazakhstan
• Laos: there seems to be no vaping law in place in the country.
• Mongolia: there are no clear vaping guidelines, but, according to traveler reports, vaping does not seem to be a problem. 
• Nepal: vaping is limited to restricted areas and the sale of vaping gear and accessories is prohibited. 
• North Korea: vaping appears to be legal but it’s difficult to tell for sure. 
• Syria: no official vaping regulations but there are online vape shops in the country. 
• Sri Lanka: there are no specific vaping regulations in the country and you should be okay vaping in restricted areas. However, flavored and/or colored e-liquids are prohibited.
• India: vaping regulations are not homogenous across the country. Some states ban e-cigarettes (Karnataka, Kerala, Jammu, Punjab, Maharashtra, Kashmir, Mizoram, Haryana and the Union Territory of Chandigarh and Bihar). With that, you can still find online vape shops in the country

MIDDLE EAST

Vaping regulations in the Middle East seem to be either vague or exceptionally strict. 

Vaping is ILLEGAL (or severely restricted) in the following countries:

• Lebanon, Oman, Kuwait, and the UAE have all implemented bans on the sale of vaping gear.
• Dubai: one of the strictest vaping regulations in the world, the vaping gear may be confiscated on arrival.
• Qatar: sale, distribution, and marketing of vaping gear are banned. There is a big chance your vaping gear will be confiscated on arrival — but, in most cases, you should be able to get it back when you leave the country.
• Saudi Arabia: selling and buying vaping gear and e-liquids are illegal bur vapers seem to be able to bring their devices into the country. 

The regulations on vaping are UNCLEAR in the following countries: 

• Iran: there seem to be no regulations regarding vaping but it’s becoming popular. However, gear and e-liquid can be substantially overpriced.
• Iraq: the rules are unclear but there are vape shops in the country, which means that you should be able to vape there as well.
• Yemen: no vaping regulations but vaping gear and e-liquids are available in the country.
• Israel: there seem to be no regulations on vaping and vape gear and e-liquids are sold. 

The use of vaping products appears to be legal in Bahrain but you can’t import or sell vaping gear and e-liquids. 

Africa

With many countries in Africa not having an established position on vaping, things can be tricky. Thus, if you can check with those residing in the country prior to bringing your vape gear along, that would be best. 

The use and of vaping products appears to be LEGAL in the following countries:

Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Chand (in restricted areas), Congo, Ethiopia, Gabon (in restricted areas), Ghana (in restricted areas), Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar (in restricted areas), Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria (in restricted areas), Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo (regulated), Swaziland (in restricted areas), Zambia (in restricted areas), Zimbabwe (regulated)

These countries have a SPECIAL approach to vaping:

• Seychelles: vaping used to be illegal but new legislation promises to lift the ban on e-cigarettes in 2019
• South Africa: vaping is legal, but e-liquids containing nicotine are illegal
• Tunisia: vaping is legal but the sale of vaping products is monopolized by the government
• Morocco: there are no regulations regarding vaping, but vapers report no issues with both the use and import of vaping gear

The use of vaping products appears to be ILLEGAL in the following countries:

• Egypt: fines of up to $500, vaping devices can be confiscated by the customs. 
• Gambia: it is illegal to use, sell or import; even for zero nic e-liquids. 
• Uganda: illegal to use, sell or import; even for zero nic e-liquids. 

The regulations on vaping are UNCLEAR in the following countries:

Burkino Faso, Central African Republic, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Guinea, Guinea Bassai, Liberia, Libya, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Western Sahara.

Do you have experience traveling with your vape gear? Or do you have any updates on any of the regulations above? We are happy to what from you — please share your experience in the comments or message us directly.