GPSrChive Discussion Forum

I'm off to Portugal next year, has anyone ever taken their GPSMAP 67 or which ever model to another country on holiday with them? Is it allowed through airport security etc?

I have taken several different Garmin outdoor handhelds to different countries on vacation and never had any issues with security or customs.

Just be sure to pre load the right maps on the device before travelling

Depends on the country, I came across this restriction for Cuba:

For security reasons: Satellite, GPS, Walkie-Talkies and electronic cigarettes are prohibited in Cuba. These devices will be confiscated by Cuban Customs upon arrival.

And from Russia you could get arrested for espionage if they catch you with some types of GPS:

The importation and use of electronic equipment are strictly controlled. Foreigners have faced charges of espionage for possessing improperly certified GPS devices, such as those used for geological mapping.

These are 2 extremes and I would definitively check, from a reputable source, if the country you are travelling to has such restrictions.

I take it you can't claim it back later down the line if they confiscate it?

RickN55 wrote: Fri Sep 29, 2023 8:56 pm I take it you can't claim it back later down the line if they confiscate it?

For Cuba, it says:
Electronic devices with GPS technology may be confiscated upon entry and returned upon departure.

Satellite telephones are forbidden.

My source of information is:

Spoiler

https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/advisories

In Cuba, it is prohibited to possess GPS surveying equipment. I will mention that smartphones are equipped with a GPS location system and there is no ban on having this type of devices.

I imagined countries such as Cuba, Russia, China etc such devices would be banned due to their communist rules. I can imagine Thailand, Vietnam those sort of places there would be issues as well.