Customs & Immigration
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EN: Greetings and welcomes are often used as fixed phrases to start a conversation politely.
Good afternoon. Welcome to our home.
EN: In English-speaking cultures, making eye contact while saying 'Good morning' is considered polite and professional.
EN: Use 'Thank you' to show appreciation or politeness after someone greets you or helps you.
Thank you for the coffee.
EN: In English-speaking cultures, it is common to respond to a greeting with a polite 'Thank you' or by repeating the greeting back.
EN: Using 'please' at the end of a short phrase is a polite way to ask for something without using a full sentence.
Water, please.
EN: In formal settings like airport customs, officials often use short, direct phrases with 'please' to keep the line moving while remaining professional.
EN: Use 'Here it is' when you are handing something to someone or pointing out an object nearby.
Here is your coffee.
EN: In English, it is polite to say 'Here it is' or 'Here you go' when handing over documents like a passport to an official.
EN: Use 'What is the purpose of...' to ask for the reason why someone is doing something or going somewhere.
What is the purpose of your meeting?
EN: In immigration and customs, officers use formal and direct language. 'Purpose of visit' is a standard phrase used globally at border control.
EN: Use 'I am here for...' followed by a noun to explain the reason for your visit or presence in a place.
I am here for business.
EN: In immigration contexts, 'vacation' and 'holiday' are used interchangeably, though 'vacation' is more common in American English.
EN: Use 'What is the [noun] of [something]?' to ask for specific information about a situation or object.
What is the price of this bag?
EN: In immigration contexts, 'stay' is used as a noun meaning the period of time you spend in a country. Officers use formal language like 'duration' instead of 'how long'.
EN: Use 'will' + 'verb' to talk about future plans or intentions.
I will eat lunch at noon.
EN: When entering a country, immigration officers ask for the duration of stay to ensure it matches your visa or travel plans. Being precise with numbers is helpful.
EN: Use 'Where will you...' to ask about future locations or plans.
Where will you eat?
EN: When entering a country, immigration officers ask this to ensure you have a confirmed place to sleep. It is helpful to have your hotel name or address ready.
EN: Use 'will' + 'verb' to talk about your plans or things that will happen in the future.
I will eat lunch at noon.
EN: When passing through customs, it is helpful to have the name and address of your hotel ready, as officers may ask for specific details.
EN: Use 'Do you have...?' to ask if someone possesses something. Use 'anything' in questions instead of 'something'.
Do you have anything to eat?
EN: In customs, 'declare' refers to telling the officer about items you are bringing into the country that might be taxed or restricted (like alcohol, tobacco, or large amounts of cash).
EN: Use 'What does [word] mean?' to ask for the definition of a word you don't understand.
What does 'prohibited' mean?
EN: In customs, 'declare' refers to the legal act of informing officials about items you are bringing into a country that may be subject to tax or restrictions.
EN: Use 'Do you have...?' to ask if someone possesses something. Use 'are' when talking about multiple things (plural subjects).
Do you have any bags? They are in the car.
EN: Customs regulations are strict in many countries to protect local ecosystems. Items like fresh fruit or meat are often completely banned.
EN: Use 'do not' (or 'don't') to make a negative statement in the simple present tense. It follows the subject 'I'.
I do not have a pen.
EN: In customs declarations, 'I do not' is a formal and clear way to state you have nothing illegal or restricted. Using the full 'do not' instead of the contraction 'don't' can sound more deliberate and clear in official settings.
EN: Use 'look' + adjective to describe how something appears or seems based on visual evidence.
The cake looks delicious.
EN: In Western culture, service workers like customs officers or hotel staff often use 'Enjoy your trip' or 'Have a nice stay' as a polite closing to an interaction.
EN: Use 'Have a + adjective + day' to give a friendly wish to someone when saying goodbye.
Have a great day!
EN: In English-speaking cultures, especially in service industries like customs or retail, it is very common and expected to exchange these polite phrases at the end of an interaction.
EN: The phrase 'You too' is a short way to return a wish or greeting (like 'Have a nice day') without repeating the whole sentence.
A: Have a great weekend! B: You too!
EN: In service environments (like customs or shops), 'Next, please' is the standard polite way to call the next person in line.
Key vocabulary words with IPA pronunciation, definitions, example sentences, and interactive quizzes.
Phrases with type tags, bilingual definitions, usage notes, and example sentences.
The reason why someone is traveling to a specific country.
The length of time that you will remain in a place.
A standard question asking if you have items that must be reported to customs.
A polite way to say goodbye to someone.
To make an official statement of goods or money being brought into a country to determine if taxes are owed or if the items are allowed.