Exporting to

GERMANY

Removal Goods

Description:  Removal goods are the objects that the immigrant already used at his previous domicile either for his personal use or for vocational or industrial purpose and which are capable of being re-used in Germany for the identical purpose corresponding to his economic situation.

Documents Required:  Certificate of registration with the Police (or immigration permit), inventory, certificate from the foreign authorities stating how long the immigrant has been living abroad, renting contract of a domicile, contract of employment and Customs Registration Form 0350.

Customs Regulations for Duty Free Entry:  Except for special cases, the importer must have resided outside the EEC for at least 12 months prior to the importation, and household goods must belong to the importer, and non-consumable goods must have been used by the importer at his former residence for at least 6 months and must be used for the same purpose in his new residence.  They must not leave the importers possession for 12 months after the importers arrival.  Alcohol, tobacco, commercial vehicles and commercial used goods are excluded .

Removal Goods are only granted duty free entry if they are imported within one year of the owner establishing his residence or secondary residence in Germany.

Owner Packed Goods:  German Customs Authorities require a detailed packing list on all owner-packed cartons etc. (PBO).  Failure to provide this list will result in delays and extra costs at destination.

Wedding Trousseaux

Description:  Wedding Trousseaux are objects acquired by the importer or received from other persons on the occasion of marriage and intended to equip the household for personal use of property.

Documents Required:  Marriage certificate, certificate of registration with the German police authorities, renting contract (proof of domicile), inventory, if the household goods are imported before the marriage, proof must be furnished that the marriage will take place within 2 months (time limit can be extended if requested).

Customs Regulations:  Duty free entry for Wedding Trousseaux and gifts (not exceeding  ECU1000 in value per gift) belonging to persons coming from a non-EEC country where they have resided for at least the previous 12 consecutive months.  The goods must be imported between at most 2 months before the wedding and 4 months after it.  The goods must not leave the possession of the importers for 12 months after importation.  Tobacco and alcohol are excluded from these provisions.

Inheritance

Description:  Used objects for which the future heir or legatee can furnish proof that the goods will be received from the testator and that these goods constitute the share of the inheritance or legacy.

Documents Required:  Justification of the entitlement as heir or legatee.

Customs Regulations:  Duty-free entry.  The inheritor or legatee must have a customary place of residence in the EEC, and must ask for duty free entry of the inherited goods within 2 years of coming into possession.  Excluded from duty free entry are:  Tobacco and alcohol, commercial vehicles, objects that were used by the dead person (except portable tools and instruments), stocks of raw materials, or finished or half-finished products.

Motor Cars

Documents Required:  Registration card issued in the foreign country in the name of the importer.

Customs Regulations:  Duty Free entry; provided the car has been used before by the person who is importing it.  After customs clearance, a technical inspection is performed by the vehicle registration office is required.  Then a title will be issued.

Commercial Vehicles

Customs Regulations: Commercial vehicles, commercial goods, portable instruments and equipment for craftsmen or self-employed persons are subject to payment of duties.

Food, Spirits, Wine, Tobacco

Customs Regulations:  Food and Meat (including sausage) is allowed duty free entry, provided in quantities, which can be considered normal provisions.    Importation Forbidden for meat of dogs, cats, foxes, badgers, monkeys, horses or other solid ungulates, as well as from other animals (except poultry) originating from Africa, Asia, Portugal, Spain, Turkey and USSR).Spirits, wine and tobacco are subject to payment of duties.

Arms, Ammunition, Dangerous Objects

Documents Required:  A gun license and hunting permit is required.

Customs Regulations: Importation of objects from the arms register needs an authorization.  Importation forbidden for objects which are mentioned  in the Law of Arms.

 Animals (Cats & Dogs)

Documents Required:    A health certificate issued by a competent veterinary surgeon, at the place of origin abroad.  This certificate must be in German or accompanied by a certified true translation. A health certificate must be valid 10 days (20 days for animals coming from non-European countries)  from the date it has been made out. 

Customs Regulations:  Importation admitted, provided, there is no report or suspicion of infectious illness, no case of rabies has been notified within a radius of 20km from the place of origin of the animal during the previous 3 months prior to the date the health certificate was issued.  Importation is subject to the German law for animal epidemics.

Other Domestic Animals:  Importation or transit is subject to a special authorization or eventually forbidden.

Explosives

Description:  Explosives, radioactive stuff, writings which are forbidden by the constitution or pornographic writings, absinthe, methyl alcohol, pure alcohol, narcotics, wine, grape juice and other various foodstuffs and consumer goods in large quantity which are usually held as provisions.

Customs Regulations:  The importation of the listed articles is only granted under special conditions or forbidden.

Due to the great number of importation restrictions and prohibitions, it is advisable before each intended importation to ask the nearest German customs office or German representation in a foreign country. 

Any information above is to be used as a general guide only and is subject to change with or without notice.  We strongly recommend you contact the applicable authorities directly. (Revised March 2004)