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.

Services in Imports and exports

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Apply for "Authorized consignee" status for the Union transit procedure
If you regularly receive goods under the transit procedure, you can simplify the customs procedure with the "Authorized consignee" status.
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Apply for a comprehensive guarantee for customs duties
If you import goods into the customs territory of the European Union and/or handle them there, you can apply for a comprehensive guarantee under certain conditions. The amount may be reduced or may not apply.
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Apply for a license to trade in raw materials
If you handle Category 1 precursors that can potentially be converted into drugs, you need a permit.
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Apply for a license to trade in raw materials
If you wish to change your authorization to trade in category 1 precursors, you can submit an application. This may concern the precursors, the processes, the business premises or the responsible representative(s).
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Apply for a permit to operate a customs warehouse
If you wish to operate a customs warehouse, you must submit an application.
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Apply for a WHO certificate (CPP) for the export of medicinal products
To export a medicinal product approved in Germany to a country outside the EU, you need the certificate issued in accordance with the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO).
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Apply for authorization for customs declarations by entering them in the accounts
If you want to make customs declarations by writing them down in the accounts, you must apply for authorization beforehand.
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Apply for authorization to use an electronic transport document (ETD) as a customs declaration
As an airline or shipping company, you can apply for a simplification of the transit procedure. With this simplification, it is possible to use an electronic transport document as a transit declaration in the Union transit procedure.
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Apply for authorized consignee status in the TIR procedure
You can receive goods that are transported internationally by road using the TIR procedure as an "authorized consignee".
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Apply for central customs clearance
Do you want to declare goods for a customs procedure at a centrally responsible customs office, even though the goods are located elsewhere at the time? This is possible with an authorization for central customs clearance.
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Apply for certificates of free sale for active in-vitro diagnostics
As a manufacturer of in vitro diagnostic medical devices that are associated with an active medical device, or its authorized representative, you can apply for the issue of a certificate of free sale for export purposes.
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Apply for certificates of free sale for active medical devices
As a manufacturer of active medical devices or its authorized representative, you can apply for the issue of a certificate of free sale for export purposes. This certificate of free sale confirms the marketability of the products in question within the EU.
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Apply for deferment BIN at customs
Do you want to use a deferment account to defer payments to customs? Among other things, you will need a deferment BIN with which you can identify yourself electronically.
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Apply for deferral of payment for import duties
When importing goods to Germany, the applicable customs duties and import sales taxes are always due, which generally have to be paid directly upon import. Under certain conditions, you as an importer or freight forwarder can apply for a deferment of payment.
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Apply for European Technical Assessment (ETA)
If you would like to obtain a European Technical Assessment (ETA) for your construction product, you can apply to the German Institute for Building Technology (DIBt).
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Apply for evaluation of mixtures containing basic substances
Do you handle mixtures containing basic substances that can be used for the manufacture of narcotics? Then you can apply to the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) for an examination to determine whether handling restrictions also apply to the mixture.
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Apply for official acts subject to customs costs
If you make use of special official acts by the customs administration, you may have to pay fees and expenses.
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Apply for reduced customs duties for goods imported for end use
If you declare non-Union goods for the end-use procedure, you can claim reduced customs duties.
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Apply for registration to trade in commodities
If you handle category 2 raw materials or export category 3 raw materials to countries outside the EU, you need a registration.
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Apply for registration to trade in commodities
If you wish to change the registration for the trade in basic substances or for the use of basic substances of category 2A, you must apply to the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices.
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Apply for status as an "authorized consignor" for the Union transit procedure
If you regularly ship dutiable goods within the European Union, you can simplify the customs procedure with the "Authorized consignor" status.
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Apply for the option to tax goods with a material value of up to EUR 150 in the Import-One-Stop-Shop (IOSS)
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.
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Apply for the status of Authorized Economic Operator
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.
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Apply for the use of special closures
An authorization to use special seals is required for the shipment of certain goods.
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Applying for "approved exhibitor" status to prove the Union status of goods
In some cases, you must provide proof of the Union status of goods. By obtaining the status of an "approved exhibitor", you can simplify the verification procedure vis-à-vis the customs authorities.
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Applying for a permit to import and export protected plant and animal species
Do you want to import or export live or dead animals and plants, or parts or products with components thereof? If these fall under the Washington Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), you will need a permit.
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Applying for a permit to operate custody facilities
If you want to operate a storage facility, you need a permit from the customs authorities.
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Applying for a refund or remission of import duties
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.
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Applying for an EORI number
If you are involved in activities relevant to customs law, such as the import or export of goods, you must apply for an EORI number.
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Applying for an export license for narcotics
If you wish to export narcotics from Germany, you must apply for an export license from the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM). Under certain circumstances, you can apply for a clearance certificate instead.
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Applying for an import permit for narcotics
If you wish to import narcotics into Germany, you must apply for an import permit from the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM). Under certain circumstances, you can also apply for a clearance certificate instead.
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Applying for authorization to manufacture and place war weapons on the market
You require a license from the Federal Government if you wish to manufacture, acquire or transfer war weapons to others.
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Applying for certificates of free sale for non-active in-vitro diagnostics
As a manufacturer of non-active in-vitro diagnostics or its authorized representative, you can apply for the issue of a certificate of free sale for export purposes outside the EU and countries that have a free trade agreement with the EU.
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Applying for certificates of free sale for non-active medical devices
As a manufacturer of non-active medical devices or its authorized representative, you can apply for the issue of a certificate of free sale for export purposes outside the EU and countries that have a free trade agreement with the EU
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Applying for export refunds for agricultural products from the European Union (EU)
If you export goods to third countries, you can apply for an export refund under certain conditions. The European Union (EU) has set prices for many agricultural products that...
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Applying for phytosanitary certificates for the export of plants and plant products to countries outside the EU
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.
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Applying for simplifications in determining the customs value
If you import goods from third countries into Germany, you can use lump sums in certain cases to determine the customs value of the goods. You need a permit from customs for this.
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As the rights holder, receive information about goods stopped by customs
If goods are stopped by customs on suspicion of counterfeiting, you will be informed of this as the rights holder.
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Authorization received for the preparation of weighing certificates for bananas
If you are an economic operator and clear fresh bananas for free circulation, you can only issue the necessary weighing certificates yourself with an authorization from customs.
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Certification received for participant software for electronic data exchange with the customs administration in the IT procedures ATLAS, AES and EMCS
If you want to offer software for the ATLAS, AES or EMCS IT procedures, you must have it certified.
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Complete an entry or exit summary declaration online
If you bring goods into or out of the customs territory of the European Union, you must submit an entry or exit summary declaration under certain conditions. You can do this via the Internet declaration, among other things.
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Declare cash and certain other funds when crossing the border
If you are carrying cash or certain other funds of EUR 10,000 or more when entering or leaving Germany, you must inform Customs.
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Declare goods to customs when transporting for NATO or partner forces
If you are transporting goods for NATO or partner armed forces, these can be imported into Germany duty-free under certain conditions. However, the goods must be declared to customs.
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Declare postal or courier shipments up to EUR 150.00 to customs
If you wish to declare goods in consignments of up to EUR 150.00 in Germany, you can use a simplified electronic customs declaration.
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Disclose unaccompanied cash and/or other funds upon request in postal and freight traffic
If you transfer unaccompanied cash and/or other funds, for example in postal and freight traffic to, from or through the European Union, you must submit a disclosure declaration at the request of the customs authorities.
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Disclose unaccompanied cash on entry and exit from a third country in postal and freight traffic upon request
If you transfer unaccompanied cash from a third country to or through the European Union or from the European Union to a third country, for example in postal and freight traffic, you must submit a disclosure declaration at the request of the customs authorities.
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Enter or change the tax number or tax identification number in the master data for the use of the Internet Export Declaration Plus (IAA Plus)
Do you want to have your tax number or tax identification number, on which the ELSTER certificate used for registration in the Internet Export Declaration Plus (IAA Plus) is based, re-entered or changed in your EORI master data? Then you need to submit an application.
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Importing goods (travel souvenirs) from non-EU countries into Germany (customs control)
You can import goods from countries outside the EU into Germany. However, there are quantity and value limits for certain goods.
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Imports, transit, exports and intra-Community movements in accordance with animal health and foodstuffs legislation: Authorization
You require a permit for the import, transit and, in individual cases, export and intra-Community movements of animals and animal products as well as goods that may be carriers o...
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Receive binding tariff information
To simplify the clearance of goods when importing into the European single market, you can apply for binding tariff information (BTI) in advance.
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Receive information about goods stopped by customs as an interested party
If your goods are stopped on suspicion of counterfeiting, customs will inform you of the next steps.
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Receive information from the customs administration
If you have general questions on all areas of customs and excise law, motor vehicle tax, financial control of illegal employment or questions about customs online applications, you can obtain information from the Central Information Office of the Customs Administration.
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Refund value added tax
If you are a visitor leaving the territory of the EU to return home or travel to another location outside the EU, you may be able to purchase goods free of VAT.
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Customs control - import bans
Despite facilitations in the clearance of goods in your personal luggage, you cannot carry all goods and products in cross-border travel without restrictions. The customs...
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Declare cross-border shipments of commercial goods to customs online via the Union transit procedure
If you are involved in customs-related trade in the EU and want to use the Union transit procedure, you must participate in the automated customs clearance system ATLAS and declare your shipment of goods to customs. You can use a customs internet platform to do this.
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Declare diplomatic or consular goods to customs
If you wish to import diplomatic or consular goods free of import duties, you must declare them.
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Declaring goods to customs when exporting via the Internet
If you export goods from Germany to a country outside the European Union (third country), you can complete the customs declaration via the Internet under certain conditions.
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Declaring goods to customs when importing via the Internet
If you import goods into Germany from outside the EU, you can submit the customs declaration via the Internet.
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Declaring removal goods to customs
If you are moving to the European Union from a third country, you can generally import household goods and other household effects duty-free. However, you must declare this to customs.
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Importing goods from EU countries to Germany
You can bring goods from any EU country to Germany. However, there are standard quantities for certain goods.
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Paying import or export duties in arrears
If the customs authorities determine that import or export duties were not claimed in the legally stipulated amount, you may receive an additional claim.
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Register and participate in the customs IT procedures ATLAS, AES and EMCS
The IT procedures ATLAS and AES are used for electronic customs clearance. You must participate in EMCS in order to be able to electronically declare and process your excise goods consignments under duty suspension.
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Registration in the goAML web portal
If you, as an obligated person, wish to report indications of money laundering or terrorist financing online, you must register on the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) web portal.
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Report raw materials
If you have a permit or registration to handle certain basic substances or export certain basic substances, you must report this annually to the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM).
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Request for the customs administration to stop counterfeit or infringing products
Are you concerned that goods being imported into or exported from the customs union could infringe your intellectual property rights? Then you can apply to the Central Industrial Property Office to stop these goods.
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Request preferential simplification
If you as a company want to prove the origin of an export product yourself, you must submit a one-time application. There is also a simplified procedure for storing input materials with or without origin together.
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Submit an application for approval to set up a regular service
If you are a shipping company based in the EU, you can apply for a liner service for customs purposes. In liner shipping, you transport EU goods from one EU port to another EU port without the goods having to undergo customs clearance again there.
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Submit an application for authorization to submit simplified customs declarations for export to non-EU countries
As the holder of an authorization for the submission of simplified customs declarations for the export of goods, you can also release the goods for the export procedure outside the opening hours of the customs office of export.
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Submit an application for inward processing
Under the inward processing procedure, you can have non-Union goods processed in the customs territory of the European Union. You do not initially have to pay any duties on import.
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Submit an application for outward processing
Under the outward processing procedure, you can have goods processed in third countries. You then pay reduced or no import duties on re-importation.
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Submit an application for temporary importation
For non-Union goods that you import into the customs territory of the Union only temporarily and for a specific purpose, you have to pay less import duties or none at all.
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Track (re-)export declarations electronically
With the "MRN status information" from customs, you can call up information about your (re-)export declarations online.
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Track applications for temporary storage electronically
You can use the Internet Status Information (ISA) to call up information about your temporary custody applications online.
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Tracking cross-border shipments of commercial goods within the EU via the Union transit procedure online at customs
You can use the customs Internet status information service to call up online information on goods consignments that you have posted as part of the EU-wide Union transit procedure.