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Shipping your belongings to Germany: customs relief for household goods

How to bring household goods, a car and pets to Germany without paying import duties, which conditions apply when you move from outside the EU, which form to use, and what customs restricts.

Checked 5 Oct 2026
Applies to
People moving their normal residence to Germany from a country outside the EU (for example the UK, the US, Switzerland, Türkiye or India). If you move from another EU country, household goods cross the border without customs formalities, but the rules on pets, cash and some goods still apply.
Effort
Medium effort
Time needed
About one hour at the customs office for the declaration, plus preparation of the inventory and documents
Cost
Customs clearance of removal goods is free of charge. Moving company, shipping and storage costs vary and are not regulated.
When
Removal goods must be declared within 12 months of moving your normal residence to Germany. Earlier import is possible against a security if you commit to moving within six months.
On this page
  1. Overview
  2. Before you start
  3. Documents you need
  4. Step by step
  5. Bringing a car
  6. Pets
  7. Plants, food and medicines
  8. Cash and valuables
  9. Moving from another EU country
  10. Watch out
  11. Common mistakes
  12. Tips
  13. Frequently asked questions
  14. Official links
  15. In your plan
  16. Sources
  17. Related guides

European customs law lets you bring your used personal belongings to Germany without import duties or import VAT when you move your normal residence here from outside the EU. German customs (Zoll) calls these goods Übersiedlungsgut (removal goods). The relief is generous, but it is tied to conditions on how long you lived abroad, how long you have owned and used the goods, and what you do with them after the move.

This guide walks you through the conditions and the declaration, then covers the special cases: vehicles, pets, plants and food, and cash.

Before you start

  • Your normal residence was outside the EU for at least 12 consecutive months
  • The goods belong to you and you have used them for at least six months before the move
  • You are moving your normal residence to Germany

Documents you need

  • Customs declaration for removal goods (form 0350)

    required

  • Detailed inventory list of the goods

    required

  • Passport or ID card

    required

  • Proof of your new residence (rental contract or registration certificate)

    required

  • Registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung)

    Can serve as proof of your new residence

    optional

  • Employment contract

    Can support proof of your move and of time spent abroad

    optional

  • Proof of deregistration or of your residence abroad

    optional

  • Foreign vehicle registration documents

    If you import a vehicle

    optional

  • Weapons permits

    Only if you bring weapons

    optional

Step by step

  1. Step 1: Check that you qualify

    According to German customs, the relief requires that:

    • you are a private individual moving your normal residence to the EU, and the new residence is in Germany if you clear the goods through German customs;
    • your normal residence was outside the EU for at least 12 months before the move (exceptions are possible if you can show you intended to stay abroad that long, for example with an employment contract);
    • the goods actually belong to you and, unless they are consumables, you have used them for at least six months in the country you are leaving, for the same purpose you will use them for in Germany (invoices and purchase contracts help as proof).

    Typical removal goods are furniture, household equipment, personal effects, private vehicles, household provisions, and pets and riding animals. Goods used commercially are always excluded.

  2. Step 2: Know what is excluded

    The federal service description lists goods that cannot be imported duty-free as removal goods: alcoholic products, tobacco and tobacco products, commercial vehicles, and items used for business purposes. The relief also covers import VAT, but not excise duties or motor vehicle tax. If you are unsure about a specific item, ask customs before you ship.

  3. Step 3: Plan your timing

    You must declare the goods within 12 months after moving your normal residence to Germany. If you want to ship before you move, customs can clear the goods earlier provided you undertake to take up residence in Germany within six months and lodge a security (Sicherheit). Ask your mover or the customs office how the security is calculated in your case.

  4. Step 4: Prepare the declaration and inventory

    Fill in form 0350 (Zollanmeldung für Übersiedlungsgut, customs declaration for removal goods) from the customs website and sign it. Attach a detailed inventory of the goods; movers usually prepare one, but check it, because you sign for its accuracy. Add proof of your move (rental contract, registration certificate or employment contract), proof of deregistration or residence abroad, and the foreign registration documents of any vehicle.

  5. Step 5: Declare the goods at customs

    Hand in the declaration when the goods enter Germany: at the border customs office, or at the inland customs office where your shipment is cleared. If goods arrive by post or freight, mark them as removal goods (Umzugsgut). Customs may inspect the shipment. The procedure is free and usually takes about an hour. Many international movers handle the formalities for you, but the relief is yours as the person moving, so you sign the declaration and remain responsible for its accuracy.

  6. Step 6: Respect the 12-month restriction after clearance

    For 12 months after clearance, the goods remain under customs supervision. You may not lend, pledge, rent out, sell or give them away. If you do, the relief is withdrawn and customs collects the duties retrospectively. Plan to keep things you ship, or sell them before you move.

Bringing a car

A private vehicle can be a removal good if it was registered in your name in the country you are leaving and meets the six-month use rule. Duty and import VAT relief does not exempt you from motor vehicle tax once you register it here.

To register an imported used vehicle from outside the EU in Berlin, Service Berlin lists, among other things:

  • the foreign vehicle papers and proof that you may dispose of the car;
  • a customs clearance certificate (Zollunbedenklichkeitsbescheinigung);
  • either an EU certificate of conformity (COC) or a full technical report for individual approval under section 21 of the Road Vehicle Licensing Regulations (no older than 18 months), plus a valid main inspection;
  • electronic insurance confirmation (eVB), a SEPA direct debit mandate for vehicle tax, and your ID with registration.

Fees start at €34.70 (2026), excluding number plates. A car built for another market may need technical changes before it can be approved, so get a quote for the individual approval before you ship. Your foreign licence is usually valid for six months after you take up residence; see driving licence exchange.

Pets

Dogs, cats and ferrets entering from outside the EU must, according to German customs:

  • be identified with a microchip (or a legible tattoo applied before 3 July 2011);
  • have a valid rabies vaccination given after the microchip;
  • travel with an EU animal health certificate or EU pet passport plus vaccination records;
  • for many countries, have a rabies antibody test at an EU-approved laboratory, with the blood sample taken at least 30 days after vaccination and at least three months before entry.

You may bring at most five animals, certain dangerous dog breeds may not be imported, and entry must be through an approved point of entry where the animal is declared. Animals that do not meet the rules can be sent back or quarantined at your expense. Start preparing at least four months ahead. For life with a pet in Berlin, see pets in Berlin.

Plants, food and medicines

  • Plants and plant parts such as cut flowers, fruit and seeds from outside the EU generally need a phytosanitary certificate from the plant protection service of the exporting country.
  • Meat and dairy products may not be brought into the EU by travellers from outside the EU. Small quantities of powdered infant milk, infant food and special medical food (up to 2 kg, in unbroken commercial packaging) are an exception.
  • Removal goods may include household provisions in normal quantities, but the food rules above still apply.

Check the EU's rules before packing food in your shipment, because prohibited items are confiscated and can lead to fines.

Cash and valuables

If you enter Germany from outside the EU carrying €10,000 or more in cash or equivalent (banknotes, cheques, traveller's cheques, bearer securities, gold coins and bars of high purity), you must declare it in writing or online through the customs portal. Violations can lead to substantial fines.

Moving from another EU country

Within the EU, your household goods do not go through customs. The rules on pets (microchip, rabies vaccination, EU pet passport), on carrying cash across external borders, and on importing vehicles for registration still matter, so read the relevant sections above.

Watch out

Selling, lending or giving away cleared removal goods within 12 months can trigger retrospective customs duties.

Alcohol, tobacco and commercial vehicles are not covered by the household goods relief.

Pets that arrive without the required microchip, vaccination, antibody test or certificate can be refused entry, quarantined or sent back at your expense.

Common mistakes

  • Shipping new items bought just before the move; goods must have been owned and used for at least six months.
  • Waiting more than 12 months after moving before importing the remaining goods.
  • Packing meat, cheese or plants in the shipment without checking the import rules.

Tips

  • Photograph valuable items and keep purchase receipts with your inventory; they help prove ownership and use.
  • Ask movers for a written quote that states whether customs clearance, storage and delivery to your flat are included.
  • If you have no permanent flat yet, ask your mover about storage until you can take delivery; the 12-month window gives you time.

Frequently asked questions

Editorial answers written by our team, based on the sources below.

Do I pay import VAT on my used furniture?

Not if the conditions for removal goods are met: the relief covers customs duties and import VAT. Excise duties (for example on alcohol) and motor vehicle tax are not covered.

Can I ship my things before I have a German address?

Yes, customs can clear removal goods before you move if you undertake to take up residence in Germany within six months and provide a security. You will need to show your new residence later.

I have lived abroad for only eight months. Can I still use the relief?

The general rule is 12 months of normal residence outside the EU. Customs may accept a shorter period if you can show you intended to stay abroad for at least 12 months, for example with an employment contract. Ask the customs office about your case before shipping.

Is my car tax-free if I bring it as a removal good?

It can be free of customs duty and import VAT, but you will still pay motor vehicle tax once it is registered, and the car must pass the German technical approval and inspection.

In your plan

  • Plan how to bring your belongings

Sources

Written and checked by HomiStart editorial against the official sources below. Next scheduled check: 3 Apr 2027.

  1. Generalzolldirektion – Zoll onlineOfficial source
    Umzug (Opens {{site}} in a new tab)
    Accessed 5 Oct 2026
  2. Generalzolldirektion – Zoll onlineOfficial source
    Voraussetzungen und Regelungen – Übersiedlungsgut (Opens {{site}} in a new tab)
    Accessed 5 Oct 2026
  3. Generalzolldirektion – Zoll onlineOfficial source
    Voraussetzungen – Übersiedlungsgut (Fachthemen) (Opens {{site}} in a new tab)
    Accessed 5 Oct 2026
  4. Generalzolldirektion – Zoll onlineOfficial source
    Übersiedlungsgut (Opens {{site}} in a new tab)
    Accessed 5 Oct 2026
  5. Bundesportal – Verwaltung.bund.deOfficial source
    Umzugsgut beim Zoll anmelden (Leistungsbeschreibung) (Opens {{site}} in a new tab)
    Accessed 5 Oct 2026

    Documents, excluded goods, free of charge, about one hour

  6. Generalzolldirektion – Zoll onlineOfficial source
    Regelungen für Heimtiere (Opens {{site}} in a new tab)
    Accessed 5 Oct 2026
  7. Generalzolldirektion – Zoll onlineOfficial source
    Barmittel (Opens {{site}} in a new tab)
    Accessed 5 Oct 2026
  8. European Union – Your EuropeOfficial source
    Bringing meat, dairy, animal products, plants into the EU (Opens {{site}} in a new tab)
    Accessed 5 Oct 2026
  9. Land Berlin – Service-Portal BerlinOfficial source
    Zulassung eines aus dem Nicht-EU-Mitgliedstaat eingeführten Gebrauchtfahrzeuges (Opens {{site}} in a new tab)
    Accessed 5 Oct 2026
  10. Bundesministerium der Justiz – Gesetze im InternetOfficial source
    § 29 FeV – Ausländische Fahrerlaubnisse (Opens {{site}} in a new tab)
    Accessed 5 Oct 2026

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