Entry

Traveller's Allowances for Alcohol, Tobacco, Coffee and Others

Travellers are allowed to bring goods for private use free of duty and usually without any formalities involved, when they enter Germany from other EU-countries.

However, there are some quantitative limitations on private use. Exceeding these limits will make customs authorities suspect commercial activities, which would trigger levying import turnover and other excise taxes. Still, by proving the private purpose of exceeding the limited quantities, travellers can free themselves from this taxation. The limitations for travellers entering Germany from countries which have been EU Member States before May 1st 2004:

For Member States, which have joined the Union in May 2004, there are stricter rules. Only the following quantities are allowed:

*) The limited duty-free allowances apply to residents of regions near the border, frontier zone workers and persons who enter Germany more often than once in a calendar month for business reasons.

Excess quantities of tobacco products brought into Germany from the Member States mentioned above must be seized and destroyed - in addition to being taxed.

Coming from non-EU countries, there are precise allowances for travellers. Souvenirs and gifts can be imported duty-free only under certain conditions: Travellers must accompany the respective goods in their luggage. Goods dispatched or reforwarded by mail are not considered to be accompanied or carried  by the traveller. Furthermore, only articles intended for private use can be exempted from customs duties. Finally, the following quantities and/or values must not be exceeded: