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Each country has certain rules and regulations that must be followed to ensure trouble-free shipping.

Due to the large number of countries and regulations, we recommend that you always check with the relevant customs office in advance for additional information about the desired destination country and its regulations.

Russia

Shipping goods to Russia is only possible to a business address. Shipments of goods to private persons are not allowed in Russia and cannot be carried out. If you want to ship goods to Russia, please make sure that your shipment is sent to a business address.

Iran | Embargo Countries

All shipments to Iran or any embargo country require an export license from customs. In this case, it is irrelevant whether the shipment is a document or goods shipment, or what the value of the shipment is. Without an EAD (ABD) the shipment cannot be sent.

Canary Islands

The Canary Islands are not part of the customs territory of the EU and are therefore considered a third country. Therefore, when shipping to the Canary Islands, the same customs-related regulations regarding value of goods, export documents, etc., apply as to other third countries. When booking a shipment, please also note that the Canary Islands do not have the Spanish (ES), but their own country code (IC).

Shipment from EU countries/h3>

Within the European Union, goods can be imported duty-free.

However, there are exceptions where restrictions apply and taxes may have to be paid in order for shipments to be imported into Germany.

If your shipment includes, among other things, pharmaceuticals, fireworks, cultural goods, or weapons / ammunition, it is strongly recommended that you check with the German customs authorities prior to shipping.

Shipment from non-European countries

A shipment from non-European countries must always be cleared by the German customs authorities.

Customs regulations for import from non-European countries may differ. Therefore, the country of origin can have a significant influence on whether restrictions apply to the import of certain goods. Below you can find out which goods and commodities are generally restricted or prohibited from being imported into Germany.

If your import into Germany is a commercial shipment, you will need an EORI number. EORI is an abbreviation for "Economic Operators and Identification Number". The EORI number identifies you or your company as an economic operator.

In case you do not have an EORI number yet, please make sure to apply for it in time. You can find further information on the German customs website.

Shipments from non-European countries are subject to customs duties. However, duties may not be applicable if the shipment is a gift item. A shipment can be declared as a gift shipment if it meets the following three criteria:

  • It is a shipment from a private person to another private person
  • The shipment has a value of max. 45,00 EUR
  • The shipment is not intended for commercial purposes

If all the above criteria are met, the shipment is exempt from customs duty and import VAT. If the value of your shipment is between 45.00 EUR and 700.00 EUR, a fixed duty rate of 17.5% applies. If your shipment exceeds a value of 700.00 EUR, the duty rates of the customs tariff serve as the basis for the import duties.

Before you import goods from non-European countries into Germany, you should definitely find out whether there are any restrictions on the respective products / product categories.

German Customs lists the following categories and products on its website that are either subject to an import ban, subject to a notification requirement, or require a special permit:

  • Medicinal products and narcotics
  • Cash
  • Fireworks
  • Publications or media likely to harm minors and unconstitutional publications
  • Rough diamonds
  • Cultural assets
  • Food and feedstuffs
  • Counterfeiting and piracy
  • Textiles
  • Animals, plants and products made thereof
  • Weapons and ammunition

The following goods are also prohibited for parcel import by most shipping service providers:

  • Accumulators and batteries
  • Artwork
  • Antiques

Please note

If several different items are sent to Germany with a single shipment and one or more of these items is subject to an import ban, the entire shipment will not be delivered.

You can find a comprehensive list of prohibited items on the German Customs' official website

     

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