Can I bring pasteles from Puerto Rico? - 2023 (2023)

FAQs

Can you take food back from Puerto Rico? ›

USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) prohibits or restricts the entry of many agricultural products from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands into the U.S. mainland, including most fresh fruits and vegetables, certain types of plants and flowers, and certain pork and pork products.

Animal Products:

Meat, milk, egg, poultry, and their products, including products made with these materials are either prohibited or restricted from entering the United States. For further information, please visit the Don't Pack A Pest website.

Fresh. Almost all fresh fruits and vegetables (whole or cut) are prohibited from entering the United States because of the potential pest and disease risks to American agriculture. This includes fresh fruits or vegetables given to you on your airplane or cruise ship. Please plan to leave them behind.

Processed, prepared foods from Puerto Rico are generally admissible, but you must present all food, plants, and other agricultural items to the USDA inspector at the airport before you leave Puerto Rico.

Yes, you may pack food in your carry-on or checked bag, but remember all food must undergo x-ray screening. Foods that are liquids, gels, or aerosols must comply with the 3-1-1 liquids rule. TSA officers make the final decision on whether certain items are permitted into the secured areas of the airport.

All travelers entering the United States are REQUIRED to DECLARE meats, fruits, vegetables, plants, seeds, soil, animals, as well as plant and animal products (including soup or soup products) they may be carrying. The declaration must cover all items carried in checked baggage, carry-on luggage, or in a vehicle.

Solid food items (not liquids or gels) can be transported in either your carry-on or checked bags. Liquid or gel food items larger than 3.4 oz are not allowed in carry-on bags and should be placed in your checked bags if possible.

Declaring is the law

For instance, you must declare: live animals and animal products, such as cooked or raw meats, hides, skins, trophies, milk, fat, butter, cheese, eggs, fish, seafood.

Testing Upon Return to Mainland

Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory and excluded from the CDC requirement to provide a negative COVID-19 test result to return to the mainland United States. Quarantine mandates, recommendations, and entry requirements may vary by state.

Passengers flying from Hawaii, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands to the U.S. mainland cannot take most fresh fruits and vegetables due to the risk of spreading invasive plant pests.

Can you mail pasteles? ›

Pasteles ship unbaked and frozen with dry ice and/or ice packs. May thaw in transit. Upon arrival place in the freezer, may be kept frozen for up to 1 month.

What food products can you bring? A long list of food items are allowed into the US, including condiments, cooking oils, bread, cookies, crackers, cakes, cereal, packed tea and other baked and processed products. The CBP provides a list of allowed items on its website.

Generally, there are no restrictions on baked goods. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has a general list of approved products of which breads, cakes, cookies, and other bakery goods are listed.

As a general rule, processed foods for personal consumption or for family/friend gatherings are allowed. This typically means food that's commercially packaged, or thoroughly cooked throughout.

Checked Bags: Yes

If the food is packed with ice or ice packs in a cooler or other container, the ice or ice packs must be completely frozen when brought through screening. If the ice or ice packs are partially melted and have any liquid at the bottom of the container, they will not be permitted.

Yes, you can bring frozen food on a plane as long as it is in a carry-on bag. The TSA has no restrictions on carrying frozen food in your carry-on or checked baggage.

Download our Puerto Rico Quick Reference Guide. Will my shipments go through Customs? Puerto Rico is part of the U.S. Customs territory and therefore no customs duties are assessed on products coming from the mainland United States.

Checked Bags: Yes

Solid food items (not liquids or gels) can be transported in either your carry-on or checked baggage. TSA officers may instruct travelers to separate items from carry-on bags such as foods, powders, and any materials that can clutter bags and obstruct clear images on the X-ray machine.

Once you declare your items, a US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) specialist can make sure your items are free of plant, pests, and animal diseases that can negatively impact the environment. If it's determined that what you claimed is contaminated, it's destroyed.

What Cannot be brought through customs? ›

Examples of restricted items include firearms, certain fruits and vegetables, animal products, animal by products, and some animals.

Merchandise is declared to CBP. If you do not declare something that should have been declared, you risk forfeiting the item.

Travellers have to declare everything they acquired abroad and possibly pay customs duty tax on goods. Some countries offer a duty-free allowance of certain products which may not need to be declared explicitly.

The same is true for lawful permanent residents: you generally cannot be denied entry to the United States, but declining to answer questions may result in delay or further inspection.

Yes, the requirement to present a negative COVID-19 viral test result or documentation recovery from COVID-19 also applies to air travel to US territories. U.S. territories include American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

All departure gates are located on the second level of the airport. Everyone travelling outside Puerto Rico must pass Customs and Agriculture inspections, located in all the entrances of the airport. All passengers must scan their luggage before checking in their respected airlines.

USDA does not require a permit to bring saltwater sea shells into the country because, if cleaned properly, they do not pose a significant pest or disease threat to agriculture. To avoid complication, you must make sure the shells are as clean as possible and do not contain any dirt, which can carry microorganisms.

You may ship frozen articles using packaging supplies like Dry Ice at your own risk and according to Publication 52 section on Dry Ice. The frozen product must be packaged so as not to leak or cause odors. You could be held liable for damage to other mail if yours is not properly packaged.

We're here to make shipping frozen items easier - from healthcare essentials to frozen foods. We know that frozen products require strict temperature control to remain viable, and each of our solutions provide the reliable shipping you need.

Can you bring bakery items on a plane? ›

Apple dumplings, cupcakes, brownies, fritters, donuts (filled or not), cookies, gingerbread, dry baking mixes, and even fruitcake are okay to fly in the cabin. They do count as a carry-on item, though, and you may be asked to put them underneath the seat in front of you as opposed to the overhead bin.

Visitor's Gift Exemptions. Travelers should declare all items being brought from abroad that will remain in the United States. This includes gifts and duty-free purchases. Goods purchased in a duty-free shop are not automatically free of duty upon your return to the United States.

Flour and products made from it, from wheat to cornmeal, are allowed, as are noodles and ramen.

Passengers flying from Hawaii, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands to the U.S. mainland cannot take most fresh fruits and vegetables due to the risk of spreading invasive plant pests. For more prohibited items, please go to the 'What Can I Bring?'

Can I bring food on an international flight? You can bring food on an international flight, but for fresh fruit and vegetables, you'll need to finish eating those before arriving at your destination. This also applies to certain domestic locations, like Hawaii and Puerto Rico.

Testing Upon Return to Mainland

Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory and excluded from the CDC requirement to provide a negative COVID-19 test result to return to the mainland United States. Quarantine mandates, recommendations, and entry requirements may vary by state.

All departure gates are located on the second level of the airport. Everyone travelling outside Puerto Rico must pass Customs and Agriculture inspections, located in all the entrances of the airport. All passengers must scan their luggage before checking in their respected airlines.

All travelers entering the United States are REQUIRED to DECLARE meats, fruits, vegetables, plants, seeds, soil, animals, as well as plant and animal products (including soup or soup products) they may be carrying. The declaration must cover all items carried in checked baggage, carry-on luggage, or in a vehicle.

Food Products (Raw and Prepared)

Many prepared foods are admissible. However, bush meat made from African wildlife and almost anything containing meat products, such as bouillon, soup mixes, etc., is not admissible. As a general rule, condiments, vinegars, oils, packaged spices, honey, coffee and tea are admissible.

Can I put food in my carry-on bag? ›

Solid food items (not liquids or gels) can be transported in either your carry-on or checked bags. Liquid or gel food items larger than 3.4 oz are not allowed in carry-on bags and should be placed in your checked bags if possible.

Meat, seafood, vegetables and other non-liquid food items are permitted in both carry-on and checked bags. If the food is packed with ice or ice packs in a cooler or other container, the ice or ice packs must be completely frozen when brought through screening.

All U.S. citizens, including children, must present a passport or other approved travel document when entering the U.S. by air. U.S. citizens can present a passport, a NEXUS card at airports with a NEXUS kiosk, a U.S. military ID with travel orders, or a U.S. Merchant Mariner Document when on official business.

ALL Travelers. Get tested with a viral test 3-5 days after arrival. Find a U.S. COVID-19 testing location near you or use a self-test. If you already had COVID-19 within the past 90 days, see specific testing recommendations.

All you will need is your flight and accommodations booked and you'll be on your way. Puerto Rico is a unique country in the Caribbean for not needing your passport. Most of the other countries are not US territories.

The ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization), is the online visa with which you can travel to Puerto Rico or any other state of the United States. This visa allows multiple entries within 2 years, with a maximum stay of 90 days per entry.

Are COVID-19 tests required to travel to Puerto Rico? Anyone arriving to Puerto Rico will be required to present negative PCR test results, no older than 1 day. Arrivals from the US are exempt.