Moving to Germany, handled from door to door

Where we move clients to Germany from

Dedicated corridor pages

• United States → Germany

Other origins we cover

• France → Germany
• Belgium → Germany
• Netherlands → Germany
• Luxembourg → Germany
• Austria → Germany
• Switzerland → Germany
• Ireland → Germany
• United Kingdom → Germany
• Spain → Germany
• Portugal → Germany
• Italy → Germany
• Greece → Germany

Customs & paperwork into Germany

Moving from another EU country

Moving to Germany from another EU country involves no customs clearance and no import duty on your belongings.

Once you have a home, you must register your address with the local registration office (Anmeldung), usually within two weeks of moving in. The registration certificate (Anmeldebestätigung) is needed for almost everything that follows: bank account, tax ID, contracts.

Moving from outside the EU (UK, Switzerland, Norway, USA, and others)

From outside the EU — including the United Kingdom since Brexit, Switzerland, the USA and beyond — your belongings can enter Germany free of customs duty and import VAT as removal goods (Übersiedlungsgut). To qualify:

• you have lived outside the EU for at least 12 consecutive months;
• you have owned and used your belongings for at least 6 months before the move;
• you are transferring your normal residence to Germany;
• you declare your goods within 12 months of moving to Germany.

The exemption is claimed in writing on German customs form 0350, the declaration for removal goods.

Goods cleared duty-free must not be sold, lent, given away or hired out for 12 months after customs accepts your declaration.

You can ship before you move, but customs will then ask for a financial guarantee until your residence is established.

Alcohol and tobacco are not covered and are always taxed.

Documents usually required for customs clearance

• Valid passport
• Your German registration certificate (Anmeldebestätigung)
• Customs form 0350, completed and signed
• A detailed inventory of your belongings
• Proof of your previous residence outside the EU for at least 12 months
• A signed declaration that the shipment contains no alcohol, tobacco, firearms or other taxable high-value goods — or a separate list if it does

If your goods enter the EU through another country, such as the Netherlands or Belgium, they can travel to Germany under customs transit and be cleared there. We organise the transit and the German clearance for you.

Vehicles and restricted items

• Vehicles Cars can be imported duty-free as removal goods if you have owned and used them for at least 6 months. Once cleared, a vehicle from outside the EU must be registered in Germany and becomes subject to German vehicle tax.
• Alcohol and tobacco Never part of duty-free removal goods. They are cleared separately and taxed.
• Firearms Require permits and specific declarations. Tell us before packing.
• Pets Pets travel separately from household goods. They need a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination and an EU pet passport or an official health certificate, depending on the country of origin.

How a move to Germany works

1. Free quote. Give us your departure address, your new home in Germany and a rough volume. We send an online estimate right away and a written quote within a day.
2. Survey and planning. A coordinator confirms your volume and the transport mode, and reviews the customs rules that apply to your move to Germany.
3. Packing and collection. Our local team packs, inventories and loads your belongings at your home in Germany.
4. Transport. On the road for a European route, in a sea container across an ocean, or by air for small urgent shipments to Germany.
5. Customs clearance (where required). We prepare and file the documents for clearance in Germany (German customs declaration (form 0350) for non-EU moves).
6. Delivery and set-up. We deliver at your new address and, if you asked for it on the quote, unpack boxes and reassemble furniture.

One coordinator follows your move to Germany from the first call to the final delivery.

How your belongings travel — mode by mode

The times below are door to door and depend on the season, your exact addresses and, if the route needs it, customs clearance.

Door-to-door transit times are indicative and depend on the season, the exact addresses and, for non-EU moves, customs clearance.

How the price of your move to Germany is calculated

We price every move to Germany with the same ingredients — nothing hidden, nothing improvised:

• Volume — measured in cubic metres (m³) — the main cost driver. Our online volume calculator helps you estimate it room by room.
• Distance and route — from your origin address to your new home in Germany.
• Transport mode — groupage, your own truck, shared or full container, air for urgent small shipments.
• Services — everything beyond pure transport: packing, dismantling, crating, short-term storage, extra legs by ferry.
• Access — floors without a lift, narrow streets, long carry distances or the need for an external lift.
• Customs — declaration fees and port or airport handling, when the route to Germany crosses a customs border.
• Insurance — calculated as a percentage of the declared value of your belongings.

Typical volumes, as a guide:

Our online estimator gives you a starting price for road moves within Europe in two minutes. For sea and air freight, and for any move with customs, you receive a detailed written quote — reply within 24 hours.

Frequently asked questions

Do I pay customs duties when moving to Germany from the UK or the USA?

Not if your belongings qualify as removal goods: at least 12 months living outside the EU, goods owned and used for at least 6 months, a transfer of your normal residence, and a declaration on form 0350 within 12 months of your move.

What is form 0350?

It is the German customs declaration used to release removal goods free of duty and import VAT. It lists your belongings and confirms you will not sell or lend them for 12 months.

Do I need my Anmeldung before my shipment is cleared?

Yes. Your registration certificate proves your new residence in Germany and is required for duty-free clearance. Register as soon as you have an address.

Is there any customs paperwork when moving from another EU country?

No. Moves between EU countries involve no customs formalities and no import duty.

Can I bring my car to Germany?

Yes. If you have owned and used it for at least 6 months, it can be cleared duty-free with your removal goods. It must then be registered in Germany and is subject to German vehicle tax.

How long does a move to Germany take?

From neighbouring countries, a dedicated truck usually delivers within a few days. A shared load takes one to four weeks. From North America, allow six to twelve weeks by sea container.