GermanyDeutschland

Travellers arriving in Germany may bring 4 L of alcohol duty-free. Anything above the allowance must be declared at the red channel. As an EU member, Germany follows EU customs union rules. Duty-free allowances for goods from outside the EU: 4L still wine + 16L beer + 1L spirits (>22% ABV) or 2L fortified wine; 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250g tobacco (for adults 17+). General goods: €430 (~$470 USD) for air/sea travelers, €300 for others. USD equivalent is approximate.

200 cigarettes per traveller (or proportionally less in cigars / tobacco). Above-limit tobacco must be declared.

Yes. Cash and equivalent bearer instruments above USD 11000 (EUR) must be declared on arrival.

€150 EUR (~USD 165). The EU removed the €22 VAT exemption for low-value goods on 1 July 2021. Now all imported goods regardless of value are subject to VAT when sold to EU consumers. Customs duty de minimis remains at €150 — goods above €150 may attract customs duty. VAT is collected at import or via the Import One-Stop Shop (IOSS) for distance sellers.

Mehrwertsteuer (MwSt) 19% standard; 7% reduced on food, books, newspapers, hotel accommodation. Applied to imports plus EU CN8 tariff at customs entry. EU IOSS for ≤EUR 150 ecommerce; over EUR 150 standard import VAT applies.

Prescription medicines for personal use are generally allowed in reasonable quantities (typically 30-90 days' supply), accompanied by the original prescription and ideally a doctor's letter. Some controlled substances need import authorisation. Verify with Zollkriminalamt / Zoll (German Customs — Federal Customs Administration) for your specific medicine.

Gifts are accepted by post but are still subject to Germany's import rules. Tax-relief gift thresholds (where they exist) are typically much lower than commercial thresholds. Declare honestly on the CN22/CN23 — undervaluation is treated as fraud.

A customs declaration filed with Zollkriminalamt / Zoll (German Customs — Federal Customs Administration), a commercial invoice, packing list, and transport document (AWB or B/L). Add a Certificate of Origin to claim FTA preferential duty. Sector-specific imports (food, plants, animals, medicines, electronics, dangerous goods) need additional permits.

The green channel is for travellers with nothing to declare. The red channel is for travellers carrying anything above allowances or any restricted goods. Spot checks happen at both. Lying or hiding goods can lead to seizure plus penalties.

Narcotics and controlled substances; Nazi memorabilia and symbols (illegal in Germany); Counterfeit goods. See the full prohibited list on this page.

Firearms and weapons (Weapons Act — Waffengesetz; licence required); Medicines and pharmaceuticals (BfArM approval; personal use quantities only for travelers); Certain agricultural and food products (EU SPS rules). Restricted items typically need a permit, certificate, or declaration. See the full restricted list on this page.

Use the red channel at the airport. Most ports of entry into Germany accept either a paper declaration or, increasingly, an electronic declaration via an app or kiosk. Be ready to show receipts, prescriptions, or permits.

Most countries restrict animal-origin food (meat, dairy) for biosecurity reasons; sealed commercial packaged food is sometimes permitted. Verify with Zollkriminalamt / Zoll (German Customs — Federal Customs Administration)'s agricultural / biosecurity authority before bringing food.

Vape rules are changing fast worldwide; Germany may have specific restrictions, age limits, or outright bans. Verify on the current Zollkriminalamt / Zoll (German Customs — Federal Customs Administration) guidance before travel — bans have grown markedly since 2023.

Many countries require advance import authorisation for opioids, stimulants, and certain psychiatric medicines. Carry the original prescription, doctor's letter, and original packaging. For controlled substances, contact Germany's health authority before travel.

Yes. Duty-free purchases at the destination airport on arrival count toward your alcohol and tobacco allowance, even though they were purchased after immigration. Buying duty-free at departure rather than arrival does not bypass the allowance.

Above the de minimis, customs assesses duty and VAT/GST on the goods value (plus, in some regimes, freight + insurance). The carrier or postal operator usually clears it and bills the recipient. Recipients can refuse delivery if they don't want to pay.

Yes. If you don't want to pay duties or taxes, you can refuse the parcel and the carrier will return it to sender or destroy it. This does not affect your tax record but means the goods don't enter Germany.

Standard clearance for compliant parcels is typically same-day to a few days. Holds for incomplete declarations, biosecurity inspection, sanctions screening, or anti-counterfeit checks can take longer. Provide complete declarations to avoid delays.

Your carrier (DHL, FedEx, UPS, postal operator) is the first contact — they handle clearance on your behalf. If you need to deal directly with the authority, contact Zollkriminalamt / Zoll (German Customs — Federal Customs Administration) via the contact route on their official site.

Watch for: fake "customs fees" demands by SMS or email; impostor officials at airports; unsolicited phone calls about a "stuck parcel"; payment requests by gift card. Real customs authorities do not ask for payment via SMS link or gift cards. See our scams page for documented patterns.