Country Conditions for Mailing — Germany

All items containing goods must include the corresponding 6-digit harmonized system code for each article listed on the customs declaration form. For more information, see 537 and the Observations section below.

 

Prohibitions (130)

 

Absinthe.

Arms and weapons, including firearms, parts of arms, ammunition, and imitation arms.

Articles bearing political or religious notations on the address side.

Human and cremated remains. According to Deutsche Post, the designated postal operator of Germany, human and cremated remains are prohibited in international mail to Germany; however, under certain conditions, an individual might be able to ship such remains by a private shipping courier — an individual has the responsibility of searching for such a courier.

Lithium cells and batteries — including items containing lithium cells and batteries under 135.6.

Live plants and animals.

Melatonin.

Perishable infectious biological substances.

Playing cards, except in complete decks properly wrapped.

Pulverized coca beans.

Radioactive materials.

Restrictions  

Importation of medicines requires special authorization by German authorities.

Import licenses or certificates are required for meat and meat products; pasta products; dairy products; egg and egg products; plant and plant products; tobacco products; and cigarette paper. Senders should ascertain before mailing whether the necessary documents are held by the addressee.

Plants and seeds that originate outside the European Union are prohibited unless accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate issued by the country of origin.

Observations  

1. Any mail requiring a customs form must be addressed to the recipient’s physical residential or business address and may not be addressed directly to a parcel locker (DHL Packstation), a service point (postal outlet or DHL Paketshop), or a post office box (Postfach). Otherwise, the German customs authority may reject the mail for return to the sender. Deutsche Post, the designated operator of Germany, also requests that such mail include a local telephone number for the addressee.
2. For Priority Mail International parcels, an invoice, in duplicate, is required for all commercial shipments regardless of value and all personal shipments valued at $300 or more. The invoices must be affixed to the outside of the parcel or may be enclosed in PS Form 2976-E with the customs declaration.
3. Mailpieces delivered through international bulk mail services must be addressed with the correct postcode number or delivery zone number, if one exists. Without this number, the German postal administration will return such pieces to the sender or the country of origin due to insufficient addressing.
4. The customs treatment of gift parcels will be facilitated if the customs declaration is marked by the sender “Private Geschenksendung” (personal gift package).
5. Germany will not accept any Priority Mail Express International or Priority Mail International insured item valued at more than $500. Items valued at more than $500 will be returned to sender.
6. As of July 1, 2021, the value-added tax (VAT) exemption is abolished on all imported goods, with the exceptions noted in number 7 below. For more information regarding the European Union’s VAT rules, visit https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/business/vat/vat-e–commerce_en.
7. As of January 31, 2022, an item containing goods is exempt from import taxes and duties — with the exceptions noted in entry number 8 below — provided that the item meets all of the following conditions:
1. The mailer sends the item occasionally.
2. The item is declared as a “gift.”
3. The total value of the item is less than 45 EUR.
4. The item does not involve a commercial transaction.
5. The item does not require payment.
6. The mailer sends the item as a consumer to consumer (C2C) shipment.
7. The item is intended for personal use or consumption by the recipient.
8. As of January 31, 2022, import taxes and duties apply to the following:
1. An item associated with a swap deal, such as one conducted online or at a swap meet.
2. An item associated with a transaction between private persons conducted via an online auction platform.
3. An item sent either from or to a business — business to business (B2B), business to consumer (B2C), or consumer to business (C2B) — even when declared as a gift.
9. Germany requests that, for all items containing goods, the customs declaration form include the following information, if available:
1. Country of origin for each article in the item.
2. Economic Operator Registration Identification (EORI), if such a number has been assigned.

 

 

Global Express Guaranteed (210) Price Group 3

Note: Global Express Guaranteed service is suspended as of September 29, 2024.

 

Refer to Notice 123, Price List, for the applicable retail, Commercial Base, or Commercial Plus price.

Weight Limit: 70 lbs.

 

Size Limits (211.22)

The surface area of the address side of the item to be mailed must be large enough to completely contain the Global Express Guaranteed Air Waybill/Shipping Invoice (shipping label), postage, endorsement, and any applicable markings. The shipping label is approximately 5.5 inches high and 9.5 inches long.

Maximum length: 46 inches

Maximum width: 35 inches

Maximum height: 46 inches

Maximum length and girth combined: 108 inches

Value Limit (212.1)

The maximum value of a GXG shipment to this country is $2,499 or a lesser amount if limited by content or value.

 

Insurance (212.5)

See Notice 123, Price List, for the fee schedule for GXG document reconstruction insurance and non–document insurance.

 

 

Priority Mail Express
International (220) Price Group 16

 

Refer to Notice 123, Price List, for the applicable retail, Commercial Base, or Commercial Plus price.

Weight Limit: 66 lbs.

 

Priority Mail Express International — Flat Rate Envelopes

Flat Rate Envelopes: The maximum weight is 4 pounds. Refer to Notice 123, Price List, for the applicable retail, Commercial Base, or Commercial Plus price.

 

Size Limits (221.42)

Maximum length: 60 inches

Maximum length and girth combined: 108 inches

 

Insurance (232.91)

Available for Priority Mail International merchandise only (see for markings)

 

See Exhibit 322.2 for individual country merchandise insurance limits. See Notice 123, Price List, for the fee schedule for Priority Mail International merchandise insurance coverage.

 

 

Customs Forms Required (123)

 

Articles Admitted	Required Customs Form/Endorsement
Any kind of written communications including legal documents, instruments, and manuscripts; computer data, including magnetic tapes, magnetic disks, punch cards, and recording tapes.	PS Form 2976-B placed inside PS Form 2976-E (plastic envelope).
Merchandise samples without commercial value.	PS Form 2976-B placed inside PS Form 2976-E (plastic envelope).
Merchandise and all articles subject to customs duty.	PS Form 2976-B placed inside PS Form 2976-E (plastic envelope). An invoice, in duplicate, is required for all commercial shipments regardless of value and all personal shipments valued at $300 or more. The invoices must be either affixed to the outside of the parcel or enclosed in PS Form 2976-E with the customs declaration.

Note: For mailers completing PS Form 2976-B or an online combined shipping label and customs form that electronically transmits customs-related data, no additional customs form is required because customs information is incorporated into the form that the mailer must complete.

Notes:  

1. An invoice, in duplicate, is required for all commercial shipments regardless of value and for all personal shipments valued at $300 or more. The invoices must be either affixed to the outside of the parcel or enclosed in PS Form 2976-E with the customs declaration.
2. Arms, weapons, and human remains are prohibited.
3. Coins; banknotes; currency notes, including paper money; securities of any kind payable to bearer; traveler’s checks; platinum, gold, and silver; precious stones; jewelry; watches; and other valuable articles are prohibited in Priority Mail Express International shipments to Germany.
4. See Observation 1 above.

Reciprocal Service Name: There is no reciprocal service.

Country Code: DE

Areas Served: All

 

 

Priority Mail International (230) Price Group 16

 

Refer to Notice 123, Price List, for the applicable retail, Commercial Base, or Commercial Plus price.

Weight Limit: 70 lbs.

 

Priority Mail International — Flat Rate

Flat Rate Envelopes or Small Flat Rate Priced Boxes: The maximum weight is 4 pounds. Refer to Notice 123, Price List, for the applicable retail, Commercial Base, or Commercial Plus price.

Flat Rate Boxes — Medium and Large: The maximum weight is 20 pounds, or the limit set by the individual country, whichever is less. Refer to Notice 123, Price List, for the retail, Commercial Base, or Commercial Plus price.

 

Size Limits (231.22)

Maximum length: 60 inches

Maximum length and girth combined: 108 inches

 

Insurance (232.91)

Available for Priority Mail International merchandise only (see for markings)

 

See Exhibit 322.2 for individual country merchandise insurance limits. See Notice 123, Price List, for the fee schedule for Priority Mail International merchandise insurance coverage.

 

 

Customs Forms Required (123)

All Priority Mail International items:

PS Form 2976-A inside PS Form 2976-E (envelope)

 

 

First-Class Mail International (240) Price Group 5

 

Refer to Notice 123, Price List, for the applicable retail price.

Weight Limit: 3.5 oz. for letters and postcards; 15.994 oz. for large envelopes (flats).

Size Limits  

Letters: See 241.212

Postcards: See 241.221

Large Envelopes (Flats): See 241.232

Customs Form Required (123)

None, unless otherwise required (see123.61 and Footnote 4 of Exhibit 123.61)

 

First-Class Package International Service (250) Price Group 16

 

Refer to Notice 123, Price List, for the applicable retail, Commercial Base, or Commercial Plus price.

Weight Limit: 4 lbs.

Size Limits  

Packages (Small Packets): See 251.22 and 251.23.

Customs Form Required (123)

PS Form 2976

 

 

Airmail M-bags (260) —

Direct Sack to One Addressee Price Group 5

 

Refer to Notice 123, Price List, for the applicable retail price.

Weight Limit: 66 lbs.

Customs Form Required (123)

PS Form 2976

 

 

Free Matter for the Blind (270)

Free when sent as First-Class Mail International (documents only), First-Class Package International Service, Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes, or Priority Mail International Small Flat Rate Priced Boxes.
Weight limit: 4 pounds.

Free when sent as Priority Mail International items. Weight limit: 15 pounds.

Customs Form Required (123)

First-Class Mail International items:
None, unless otherwise required (see123.61 and Footnote 4 of Exhibit 123.61)

First-Class Package International Service items:
PS Form 2976 as required (see 123.61)

Priority Mail International items (including Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes and Priority Mail International Small Flat Rate Priced Boxes):

PS Form 2976-A inside PS Form 2976-E (envelope)

 

 

Extra Services  

Certificate of Mailing (310)

 

Individual Pieces — Refer to Notice 123, Price List, for the applicable price:

Individual article (PS Form 3817).

Firm mailing books (PS Form 3665), per article listed (minimum 3).

Duplicate copy of PS Form 3817 or PS Form 3665 (per page).

Bulk Quantities — Refer to Notice 123, Price List, for the applicable price:

First 1,000 pieces (or fraction thereof).

Each additional 1,000 pieces (or fraction thereof).

Duplicate copy of PS Form 3606.

 

Registered Mail (330)

 

Fee: Refer to Notice 123, Price List, for the applicable price.

Maximum Indemnity: $39.86

Available only for First-Class Mail International (including postcards), First-Class Package International Service, and Free Matter for the Blind sent as First-Class Mail International or as First-Class Package International Service.

 

Return Receipt (340)

 

Fee: Refer to Notice 123, Price List, for the applicable price.

Available for Registered Mail and insured Priority Mail International parcels only.

Restricted Delivery (350)

 

NOT Available for International Mail as of January 27, 2013

International Postal Money Order (371)

NOT Available

 

International Reply Coupons (381)

 

NOT Available for International Mail as of January 27, 2013

 

International Business Reply Service (382)

Fee: Refer to Notice 123, Price List, for the applicable price:

Envelopes up to 2 ounces.

Cards.