What must be borne in mind about baggage?
If you are staying in Germany you can usually bring properties in your baggage into Germany at zero import duty and without customs formalities.
Restrictions
However, you should bear in mind that
- goods that you bring to Germany and that you intend to leave (such as visitor’s gifts) may only be imported duty-free within the traveller’s allowances;
- you may not bring to the place where you intend to stay any items that are banned in Germany, nor any goods whose import is banned;
- goods that you use professionally (for example photographic equipment, cases of samples) or that will be not only imported occasionally, you have to apply an oral declaration;
- on entry you must lodge a written declaration with the customs authorities for items that are the subject of restrictions, and you must have the certificates required for them;
- you must show an import authorisation as well as a written declaration for goods that require an import authorisation;
- you must lodge a written declaration if the German custom authorities require you to do so, for instance if you bring particularly valuable items.
Portable musical instruments that you use professionally and therefore import and export temporarily are duty free.
Red-green clearance procedure
A special clearance procedure has been adopted at most German airports to speed the processing for air passengers. After having retrieved your baggage, you can choose either the red or the green exit.
The correct exit depends on the goods you are bringing with you. There are notices to inform you of the customs requirements.
You may only use the green "Nothing to declare" exit if all the goods you are carrying are
- duty-free,
- not subject to any bans or restrictions
- not subject to any formalities.
You must always use the red exit and declare the goods to the customs if
- the goods are not for the exclusively private use of yourself or a member of your household (e.g. professional camera equipment, cases of samples);
- the goods are subject to bans or restrictions;
- a Carnet ATA has been issued for the goods;
- the goods are not duty-free;
- the import of the goods is not of an occasional nature;
- the goods are being imported for commercial purposes, even though they are duty-free.
It is also in your own interest to always use the red exit if you are uncertain whether one of the above conditions applies.
You should also expect inspections in the green exit.
Procedure
After entry, your baggage is under customs supervision. This remains the case, even though you were merely waved through on crossing the border, or though you used the green exit after a flight. The customs supervision continues until you have re-exported the items. It means that you may not
- sell, give away, or pledge the accompanied baggage (for example, expensive photographic equipment, sports equipment, or jewellery) and that
- you must re-export it all.
If you do, though, transfer items from your personal baggage to third parties, then the relevant import duties must be paid to a customs office.
Any baggage sent in advance or forwarded by the same route is subject to the same import provisions as apply to your accompanied baggage. If your baggage is sent in advance or forwarded by post it is not seen as accompanied and postal provisions apply.
