Import restrictions for Germany 🇩🇪

Updated: July 2026

Customs rules can change. Before sending a parcel or travelling, check the current requirements on the customs authority's website. This material is for reference only and is not legal advice.

General information

These rules are useful both for people carrying items across the border themselves and for those sending a parcel with a fellow traveller. When entering from outside the EU, the value of goods in your baggage may not exceed EUR 300 (by land) or EUR 430 (by sea or air). For persons under 15, the limit is EUR 150. If the limit is exceeded, the goods must be declared — this can be done online.

✅ Allowed with restrictions

💰 Cash

You may bring in any amount of cash, but amounts over EUR 10,000 (or the equivalent) must be declared (this can be done online).

Cash includes not only banknotes and coins, but also other valuables:

• precious stones and metals;
• promissory notes;
• traveller's cheques;
• payment orders;
• shares and other securities.

Jewellery is not considered a means of payment — it does not need to be declared together with cash.

🍷 Tobacco and alcohol

Only persons aged 17 and over may import tobacco and alcohol. For personal use from EU countries, the guide amounts are no more than:

• 1 kg of tobacco;
• 400 cigarillos;
• 200 cigars;
• 800 cigarettes;
• 110 L of beer;
• 90 L of wine (of which no more than 60 L sparkling);
• 10 L of spirits;
• 10 L of intermediate (fortified) alcoholic drinks;
• 20 L of low-alcohol drinks (other than beer and wine).

When entering from non-EU countries, you may import duty-free:

• 250 g of tobacco;
• 100 cigarillos;
• 50 cigars;
• 200 cigarettes;
• 16 L of beer;
• 4 L of wine;
• 2 L of sparkling or fortified wines;
• 1 L of spirits with an alcohol content over 22%.

Tobacco and alcohol types may not be combined above 100% of the allowance. For example, you can take 100 cigarettes and 25 cigars, but not 100 cigarillos and 250 g of tobacco at the same time. The same applies to spirits and sparkling wines.

🍕 Food

You may take with you no more than 10 kg of coffee. Meat and dairy products may be imported freely only from EU countries, as well as Greenland, Iceland and some other states. From other countries — only through a border crossing point with a veterinarian.

Some animal products are allowed in limited quantities:

• baby food — up to 2 kg;
• honey and other products that are not dairy or meat — up to 2 kg;
• fish products — up to 20 kg (a single fish weighing more than 20 kg is allowed whole).

Pineapples, coconuts and bananas may be imported without restriction.

💊 Medicines

You may freely import into Germany any medicines that are not classed as narcotics or doping agents — including those not registered in Germany. The quantity is limited to a three-month supply.

For medicines with narcotic or psychotropic substances, supporting documents are required (within the Schengen area — the relevant certificate), issued in the name of the person carrying the medicine.

🐶 Pets

Certain dog breeds may not be imported into Germany, including bull terriers and pit bull terriers.

You may bring up to 5 animals (cats, dogs or ferrets). They must have a microchip (a tattoo is accepted for animals marked before 2011), an official veterinary certificate with the microchip/tattoo number, and vaccination documents. If a pet arrives from a third country not on the EU's list of rabies-controlled countries, you must include a rabies antibody blood test result (it is not required for the USA, Canada, Japan and a number of other countries — it depends on the country of departure).

🌸 Plants

It is prohibited to import into Germany shoots, seeds and other parts of many plants:

• coniferous plants;
• some deciduous trees (chestnut, oak, poplar from North America);
• fruit trees and medlar;
• potato;
• grapevines;
• citrus plants;
• nightshade plants;
• many types of herbs.

❌ Prohibited without special permits:

• weapons and ammunition;
• dangerous types of fireworks;
• soil;
• rough diamonds;
• cultural property.

This service provides information for reference purposes only, is not a customs authority, and does not guarantee its completeness or accuracy. Responsibility for complying with customs rules and for the contents of the goods being moved lies with the person importing or exporting them. Before moving goods, check the current requirements in official sources.

Sources:

German Federal Customs Administration (Zoll)

German Mission in Russia