Italian Phrase
Ci sta nella franchigia doganale.
Meaning
The sentence states that something falls within the customs duty‑free allowance. It is commonly used when talking about goods, luggage, or imports that do not exceed the tax‑free limit set by customs authorities.
When to use
Use this phrase when you need to confirm that an item, shipment, or amount of money is covered by the customs exemption, such as during airport security checks, when filling customs declaration forms, or when a logistics agent explains import rules.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Cistanellafranchigiadoganale
Ci (adverbial pronoun)
Used to indicate location or existence, similar to 'there' or 'it is' in English, often paired with verbs like 'stare' or 'essere'.
Stare (verb)
Here 'sta' (third person singular) expresses location, equivalent to 'is' in English.
Nella (preposition + article)
Contraction of 'in' + 'la', meaning 'in the' or 'within the'.
Franchigia doganale (noun phrase)
Refers to the customs duty‑free allowance or exemption limit for goods.
🗨In Conversation
Ho comprato un profumo da 45 euro. Ci sta nella franchigia doganale?
I bought a perfume for 45 euros. Does it fall within the duty‑free allowance?
Sì, ci sta nella franchigia doganale, quindi non pagherai tasse.
Yes, it’s within the duty‑free allowance, so you won’t pay taxes.
✕Common Mistakes
C'è nella franchigia doganale.
‘C’è’ means ‘there is’, which does not convey the idea of fitting within a limit; use ‘ci sta’ instead.
Ci sta franchigia doganale.
Do not omit the article; ‘franchigia doganale’ needs the preposition + article ‘nella’ to be grammatically correct.
↔Alternatives
È compreso nella franchigia doganale.
It is included in the customs duty‑free allowance.
Rientra nella franchigia doganale.
It falls under the customs duty‑free allowance.
Non supera la franchigia doganale.
It does not exceed the customs duty‑free limit.
Cultural Tip
In Italy, the 'franchigia doganale' for travelers is €300 for air and sea arrivals and €430 for arrivals from EU countries. Customs officers often use 'ci sta' to quickly confirm that an item is within the allowed limit. Remember that the phrase is informal; in official documents you’ll see 'rientra nella franchigia' or 'è compreso nella franchigia'.