Moving from the USA to Germany
From New York, California, Texas, Illinois or anywhere in the US to Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Hamburg or anywhere in Germany.
Popular areas we cover
From United States
- New York and New Jersey
- California
- Texas
- Illinois
- Washington State
- Virginia
To Germany
- Berlin
- Munich
- Frankfurt
- Hamburg
- Stuttgart
- Düsseldorf and Cologne
How the United States → Germany route works
Your belongings are packed at your US home and loaded into your own container (FCL) or a shared one (LCL), from the nearest US port.
Containers usually arrive in Hamburg or Bremerhaven, are cleared through German customs and delivered to your new home.
Customs from the USA to Germany
Your belongings enter Germany free of customs duty and import VAT as removal goods (Übersiedlungsgut) if you have lived outside the EU for at least 12 consecutive months, owned and used them for at least 6 months, and declare them within 12 months of moving.
The exemption is claimed on German customs form 0350. Goods cleared duty-free must not be sold or lent for 12 months. Alcohol and tobacco are always taxed.
Checklist for clearance
- Valid passport and German visa or residence permit
- Registration certificate (Anmeldebestätigung)
- Customs form 0350, completed and signed
- Detailed inventory of your belongings
- Proof of your US residence for the past 12 months
Transport options and transit times
Door-to-door transit times are indicative and depend on the season, the exact addresses and, where required, customs clearance.
| Mode | Typical door-to-door time |
|---|---|
| Own container (FCL) from the East Coast | 6 to 10 weeks |
| Own container (FCL) from the West Coast | 8 to 12 weeks |
| Shared container (LCL) | Add 2 to 4 weeks |
| Air freight (small volumes) | 1 to 2 weeks |
How a move to Germany works
- Free quote. Tell us your origin, destination in Germany and approximate volume. You receive an online estimate and a detailed quote within 24 hours.
- Survey and planning. We validate the volume with you, pick the transport mode and go through the customs rules that apply on this route to Germany.
- Packing and collection. We bring the packing materials to your home, inventory each piece and load everything on moving day.
- Transport. Your belongings travel by the mode that fits your route to Germany: dedicated truck or shared load within Europe, sea container or air freight otherwise.
- Customs clearance (where required). We handle the clearance into Germany end to end (German customs declaration (form 0350) for non-EU moves).
- Delivery and set-up. Delivery to your new home, unpacking and furniture reassembly if included in your quote.
The same coordinator sees your move to Germany through, from your first email to the keys being handed over.
How the price of your move to Germany is calculated
Like every international mover, we build your price to Germany from a few concrete factors:
- Volume — measured in cubic metres (m³) — the main cost driver. Our online volume calculator helps you estimate it room by room.
- Distance and route — measured on the actual road, from your door to your delivery address in Germany.
- Transport mode — shared road load, a truck booked only for you, FCL or LCL by sea, or air for very small cargo.
- Services — packing, taking furniture apart and reassembling it, crating fragile pieces, storage, island delivery.
- 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 — a small percentage of the declared value — scalable to what you want covered.
Typical volumes, as a guide:
| Home | Typical volume |
|---|---|
| Studio | 10 to 15 m³ |
| 1-bedroom flat | 15 to 25 m³ |
| 2-bedroom home | 25 to 40 m³ |
| 3-bedroom home | 40 to 60 m³ |
| 4-bedroom house or larger | 60 m³ and more |
European road moves get a starting price straight from the estimator; everything else — sea, air, customs — is quoted in writing within 24 hours.
Other routes from United States
Read before you move
- 20ft or 40ft container: what fits and which one you needDimensions, usable volume and what really fits in a 20-foot, 40-foot and 40-foot high cube container for an overseas move — and when a shared container is the better choice.
- How to choose the best international moving companyWhat separates the best international movers from the rest: quotes, customs, insurance, red flags and the questions to ask before you book.
- Cross-border moving in Europe: how a European move worksHow cross-border moves work in Europe: transport options, transit times, when customs applies and how to choose a European moving company.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I pay customs duties when moving from the USA to Germany?
- Not if your belongings qualify as removal goods and you declare them on form 0350 within 12 months of moving.
- Do I need my Anmeldung before my container is cleared?
- Yes. Your registration certificate proves your new residence and is required for duty-free clearance.
- Which German port will my container arrive in?
- Usually Hamburg or Bremerhaven.
- Can I ship my American car to Germany?
- Yes, duty-free as removal goods if owned for 6 months, but it must pass a German technical approval to be registered, which can be costly for US models.
- How long does a move from the USA to Germany take?
- 6 to 10 weeks door to door from the East Coast, 8 to 12 from the West Coast, by sea container.
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