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Imports and exports
What rules apply to cross-border trade? Certain import exemptions and
limitations exist to protect people from dangers and to ensure compliance with
international agreements. Germany has a long history as a leading exporter. But what
requirements need to be followed when exporting goods? You will find relevant
information and government services here.
If you wish to modify your permit to trade in Category 1 raw materials, you may submit an application. This may pertain to the raw materials, the operations, the facility, or the responsible representative.
If you are an institution preserving cultural property and wish to export parts of your collection from Germany to member states of the European Union (EU) on a regular and temporary basis, you can apply for a general open license for the export of cultural property.
If you are an institution preserving cultural property and wish to export parts of your holdings from Germany to third countries on a regular and temporary basis, you can apply for a general open license for the export of cultural property to third countries.
If you wish to export cultural property from Germany to a member state of the European Union (EU) for longer than 5 years, you may require an export license.
If you wish to export national cultural property less than 5 years old from Germany to a country in the European Union (EU), you require an export license.
If you wish to export cultural property less than 5 years old from Germany to a member state of the European Union (EU), you may require an export license.
If you wish to export a specific cultural good from your collection from Germany to member states of the European Union (EU) on a regular temporary basis, you can apply for a specific open license for export to EU member states.
In some cases, you must provide proof of the EU status of goods. By obtaining the status of an “authorized exhibitor,” you can simplify the verification process with customs authorities.
If you import goods into the customs territory of the European Union and/or process them there, you may apply for a comprehensive guarantee under certain conditions. The amount may be reduced or waived, as appropriate.
Do you need a certificate to submit to customs or a government agency in a third country for the import of raw materials, mixtures containing raw materials, or natural products? If so, you can apply for a declaration of no objection.
When importing goods into Germany, the applicable customs duties and import sales tax are always due and must generally be paid at the time of import. Under certain conditions, you, as an importer or freight forwarder, can apply for a deferral of payment.
Would you like to use a deferred payment account to arrange deferred payment with customs? To do so, you’ll need, among other things, a deferred payment BIN, which you can use to identify yourself electronically.
If you would like to obtain a European Technical Assessment (ETA) for your construction product, you can apply for it at the German Institute for Building Technology (DIBt).
Do you want to import or export live or dead animals and plants, or parts or products containing such components? If these are covered by the Washington Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), you will need a permit.
For non-Union goods that you import into the customs territory of the Union only temporarily and for a specific purpose, you may have to pay fewer or no import duties.
If you wish to export controlled substances from Germany, you must apply for an export license from the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM). Under certain circumstances, you may apply for a certificate of no objection instead.
If you export goods to third countries, you may apply for an export refund under certain conditions.
For many agricultural products, the European Union (EU) has set prices that...
If you wish to import controlled substances into Germany, you must apply for an import license from the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM). Under certain circumstances, you may also apply for a certificate of no objection instead.
As an airline or shipping company, you can apply for a simplification under the transit procedure. This simplification allows you to use an electronic transport document as a transit declaration under the Union transit procedure.
As an Authorized Economic Operator (AEO), you benefit from simplified customs clearance procedures. To obtain this status, you must submit an application to your main customs office.
Do you want to declare goods for a customs procedure at a central customs office, even though the goods are located elsewhere at that time? This is possible with an authorization for central customs clearance.
If your company wishes to certify the origin of an export good on its own, you must submit a one-time application to do so. In addition, there is a simplified procedure for storing input materials—whether or not they have certified origin—together.
If you import goods with a material value of up to EUR 150 into the EU as an entrepreneur, you can declare and pay tax on the resulting turnover centrally using the Import-One-Stop-Shop (IOSS) procedure.
If you import goods into the European Union, you can have customs duties refunded or waived under certain conditions. You can submit an application to the customs authorities for this even without your own access to the ATLAS system.
If you export plants, plant products or other objects to countries outside the EU, they must not contain any harmful organisms. As proof of this, you must apply for a phytosanitary certificate or a pre-export certificate or re-export certificate.
Manufacturers of in-vitro diagnostics can apply for a certificate of free sale. The certificate of free sale confirms that the manufacturer or authorized representative has its registered place of business in Germany and that the product in question can be traded within the Union.
Manufacturers of medical devices can apply for a certificate of free sale. The certificate of free sale confirms that the manufacturer has its registered place of business in Germany and that the product in question can be traded within the Union.
If you wish to change your registration for trading in raw materials or for the use of Category 2A raw materials, you must submit an application to the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices.
If you want to set up a company in Germany, you must comply with certain regulations and requirements. Here you will find information on your rights and obligations, in particular on the subject of credit insurance.
Despite simplified procedures for clearing goods in personal luggage, you cannot carry all goods and products without restriction when traveling across borders. Customs...
If you engage in customs-related trade within the EU and wish to use the Union Transit Procedure, you must participate in the ATLAS automated customs clearance system and declare your shipments to customs. To do so, you can use a customs online platform.
If you are exporting goods from Germany to a country outside the European Union (third country), you can file the customs declaration online under certain conditions.
If you are transporting goods for NATO or partner armed forces, these goods may be imported into Germany duty-free under certain conditions. However, the goods must be declared to customs.
If you are moving to the European Union from a third country, you can generally import household goods and other personal effects duty-free. However, you must declare them to customs.
If you are transporting unaccompanied cash and/or other funds—for example, via mail or freight—into, out of, or through the European Union, you must submit a disclosure statement upon request by customs authorities.
If you are transporting unaccompanied cash—for example, in postal or freight shipments—from a third country into or through the European Union, or from the European Union to a third country, you must submit a disclosure statement upon request by the customs authorities.
Would you like to add or update your tax number or tax identification number—which is associated with the ELSTER certificate used to log in to Internet-Ausfuhranmeldung-Plus (IAA Plus)—in your EORI master data? If so, you must submit an application.
If you are moving goods into or out of the customs territory of the European Union, you must, under certain conditions, file an entry or exit summary declaration. You can do this, among other ways, through the online declaration system.
As a church or religious community, you may, under certain conditions, apply for a general open authorization to export cultural property from your holdings to member states of the European Union (EU).
As a church or religious community, you can apply for a general open license for the export of cultural property to third countries under certain conditions.
For general questions regarding all areas of customs and excise law, motor vehicle tax, and financial controls on undeclared work, or for questions about the customs agency’s online applications, you can obtain information from the Customs Administration’s Central Information Service.
If the customs authorities determine that import or export duties were not claimed in the legally stipulated amount, you may receive an additional claim.
If your company clears fresh bananas for free circulation under customs regulations, you can only issue the required weighing certificates yourself if you have a customs authorization.
The ATLAS and AES IT systems are used for electronic customs clearance. To electronically declare and process your shipments of excise-taxable goods under tax suspension, you must participate in the EMCS system.
If you, as a reporting entity, wish to report indications of money laundering or terrorist financing online, you must register on the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) web portal.
If you hold a permit or registration to handle certain starting materials or export certain starting materials, you must report this annually to the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM).
If you are a firearms dealer or manufacturer with a general transfer permit and are transporting firearms or ammunition from Germany to the EU, the Schengen Area, or Northern Ireland, you must report the transfer to the Federal Office of Administration.
Do you handle mixtures containing raw materials that could be used to manufacture narcotics? If so, you can apply to the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) to have the mixture reviewed to determine whether restrictions apply to its handling.
Are you concerned that goods being imported into or exported from the Customs Union might infringe on your intellectual property rights? If so, you can apply to the Central Office for Industrial Property Protection to have these goods detained.
If you import goods into Germany from third countries, you may, in certain cases, use flat-rate amounts to determine the customs value of the goods. To do so, you need authorization from customs.
If you, as a church or religious community, wish to export a specific cultural asset from Germany to member states of the European Union (EU) on a regular and temporary basis, you can apply for a specific open permit.
If you are a shipping company based in the EU, you can apply for regular shipping service status for customs purposes. Under this status, you transport Union goods from one EU port to another without the goods having to undergo customs clearance again at the destination port.
As the holder of an authorization to file simplified customs declarations for the export of goods, you may place the goods under the export procedure even outside the export customs office’s hours of operation.
Under the Inward Processing procedure, you can have non-Union goods processed within the customs territory of the European Union. You do not have to pay any duties at the time of importation.
Under the outward processing procedure, you can have goods processed in third countries. When you reimport them, you will then pay reduced or no import duties.
Using the customs online status inquiry service, you can access information online about shipments of goods that you have declared under the EU-wide transit procedure.
