Customs Information

Germany - Returning Citizen

CUSTOMS REGULATIONSGermany

  • Used household goods are duty-free if customer has resided at least one year abroad, if the goods were owned by customer over six months and will not be sold for a minimum of one year.
  • Goods should be imported within one year of customer taking up residence; if not, reasons needed for delay - maximum limit three years.
  • Inheritance Items:
  • Death Certificate    
  • "Erbschein" or an official document which certifies the customer has inherited the items from the deceased and states the relationship between them.
  • Wedding Trousseaux and gifts (not exceeding  EUR 1,000 in value per gift)
  • Marriage Certificate
  • Certificate of registration with the German Police authorities
  • The goods must be imported between 2 months before the wedding and 4 months after

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED

  • Copy of passport (the page showing photo)
  • Renting contract of a domicile (if possible)
  • Contract of employment
  • Customs registration form 0350
  • A letter from a third party (employer, German embassy) confirming that the shipper has lived and worked more than 12 months in a foreign country.
  • Certificate of Registration (Anmeldebestaetigung) from the local registration office - not older than 3 months
  • Goods Inventory
  • Signed declaration, stating:
    • the imported goods are the owners personal effects
    • the imported goods are not subject to any customs restrictions ( e.g. drugs, weapons, etc.)
    • no taxable high value good (such as alcohol, tobacco, coffee, tea, guns, etc.) are in the shipment such good must be listed separately and will be taxed. 

MOTOR VEHICLES

  • Admitted duty-free if customer has lived abroad for over one year, has owned and used the auto for a minimum of six months and has brought in for personal use and will not be sold for one year. If not, subject to payment of taxes and duties.
  • Documents required:
  • Copy of title
  • Copy of last registration in a foreign country for a minimum of 6 months prior to shipping the vehicle to Germany.
  • After the customs clearance, vehicle must be inspected before licensing and must comply with German technical and environmental regulations and required modifications.

PETS

  • clearly identifiable by microchip
  • Dogs, cats and canaries permitted with a Health Certificate (in German or with a translation) issued by a licensed veterinarian describing the animal and stating that the pet is free from rabies and contagious diseases.
  • No case of rabies has been notified within a radius of 20 km from the place of origin of the animal during the previous 3 months prior to the date the health certificate was issued.
  • Importation or transit of other domestic animals is  subject to a special authorization or eventually forbidden.    
  • Health Certificate is valid ten days from the date in which it was issued (20 days for pets coming from non-European countries).
  • Form 38 (SV0802)
  • All endangered species and exotic animals are prohibited.

DUTIABLE/RESTRICTED ITEMS

  • New Items (less than six months old) invoice required
  • Alcohol:
  • Inventory must detail exact number and size of bottles, exact alcoholic strength in percent, and value of each bottle. 
  • Tobacco tea, coffee, etc.
  • Food stuffs in large quantities (not recommended to ship with household goods). Duty free entry, providing quantity that can be considered as normal provisions. Signed explanation form shipper about contents is necessary.
  • Large amounts of handicrafts 
  • Guns require a Certificate of Registration, valid passport of owner, proof of ownership, hunting permit and a gun license for importation 
  • Duty-free if firearm has been owned for at least six months prior to importing
  • Firearms must be easily accessible in the shipment.
  • Must apply for a German Ownership Permit

PROHIBITED ITEMS

  • Explosives
  • Ammunition
  • Drugs and narcotics
  • Live plants (need special import permit)
  • Any protected animal or species, dried plants or items of historical significance (ivory, snakeskin, leopard fur, pre-Columbian items, etc.)
  • Pornographic material
  • Certain types of meat
  • Absinthe, Methyl alcohol and pure alcohol
  • Radioactive material