- International Mail Manual > Individual Country Listings > Egypt - Ghana > Germany
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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.
Arms and weapons, including firearms, parts of arms, ammunition, and imitation arms.
Articles bearing political or religious notations on the address side.
Lithium cells and batteries — including items containing lithium cells and batteries under 135.6.
Perishable infectious biological substances.
Playing cards, except in complete decks properly wrapped.
Importation of medicines requires special authorization by German authorities.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- The customs treatment of gift parcels will be facilitated if the customs declaration is marked by the sender “Private Geschenksendung” (personal gift package).
- 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.
- 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.
- 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:
- The mailer sends the item occasionally.
- The item is declared as a “gift.”
- The total value of the item is less than 45 EUR.
- The item does not involve a commercial transaction.
- The item does not require payment.
- The mailer sends the item as a consumer to consumer (C2C) shipment.
- The item is intended for personal use or consumption by the recipient.
- As of January 31, 2022, import taxes and duties apply to the following:
- An item associated with a swap deal, such as one conducted online or at a swap meet.
- An item associated with a transaction between private persons conducted via an online auction platform.
- 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.
- Germany requests that, for all items containing goods, the customs declaration form include the following information, if available:
Global Express Guaranteed (210) Price Group 3
Refer to Notice 123, Price List, for the applicable retail, Commercial Base, or Commercial Plus price. |
General Conditions for Mailing
See Publication 141, Global Express Guaranteed Service Guide, for information about areas served in the destination country, allowable contents, packaging and labeling requirements, tracking and tracing, service standards, and other conditions for mailing.
Maximum length and girth combined: 108 inches
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. |
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.
Maximum length and girth combined: 108 inches
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.
PS Form 2976-B placed inside PS Form 2976-E (plastic envelope). | |
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 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.
- Arms, weapons, and human remains are prohibited.
- 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.
- 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. |
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.
Maximum length and girth combined: 108 inches
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.
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; |
Large Envelopes (Flats): See 241.232
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. |
Packages (Small Packets): See 251.22 and 251.23.
Direct Sack to One Addressee Price Group 5
Refer to Notice 123, Price List, for the applicable retail price. |
Free Matter for the Blind (270)
Free when sent as Priority Mail International items. Weight limit: 15 pounds.
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)
PS Form 2976-A inside PS Form 2976-E (envelope)
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.
Fee: Refer to Notice 123, Price List, for the applicable price.
Fee: Refer to Notice 123, Price List, for the applicable price.
Available for Registered Mail and insured Priority Mail International parcels only.
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:
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