If you export items in your hand luggage via airplane, car or train, your items must be exported before the end of the 3rd month after the month of purchase. For example; if you buy items in January, they must be exported before the end of April. After your items have been exported on time, you can submit your claim until the end of the 5th year, after the year of purchase.
The expiration period after getting proof of export varies per country. Check the guidelines in the overview below.
AU Austria 3 years / 1095 days
BE Belgium* 3 years / 1095 days
BG Bulgaria 5 years / 1825 days
CR Croatia 5 years / 1825 days
CY Cyprus 5 years / 1825 days
CZ Czech Rpblk 5 years / 1825 days
DE Germany 4 years / 1825 days
DK Denmark 1 year / 365 days
ES Spain 5 years / 1825 days
ET Estonia 5 years / 1825 days
FI Finland 5 months / 150 days
FR France 6 months / 180 days
GR Greece 90 days
HU Hungary 5 years / 1825 days
IR Ireland 5 years / 1825 days
IT Italy 3 months / 90 days
LI Lithuania 5 years / 1825 days
LU Luxembourg 5 years / 1825 days
LV Latvia 5 years / 1825 days
MT Malta 5 years / 1825 days
NL Netherlands 5 years / 1825 days
PL Poland 7 months / 210 days
PT Portugal 5 years / 1825 days
RO Roemania 5 years / 1825 days
SE Sweden 1 year / 365 days
SK Slovakia 5 years / 1825 days
SV Slovenia 5 years / 1825 days
UK United Kingdom 1 year / 365 days,
NOTE: all receipts/invoices from UK businesses issued after 1 January 2021 can no longer be submitted for a VAT refund. However, receipts/invoices from (web)retailers that have delivered outside the UK (via ocean freighter or courier) can still be submitted. Read More
*Stamped receipts for purchases made in Belgium are valid until December 31st of the third year after purchase date.