Languages

Obviously German is the official language of Germany, with the West Germanic language generally accepted as the 'Hochdeutsch' which is the German equivalent to the 'Queen's English'. East and Northern German dialects are both still spoken, but to a lesser extent.  A number of other languages are listed as being spoken in the country due to immigration, such as Danish, Kurdish, Polish and Turkish.  English is also popular, as with lots of European countries, but care should be taken when addressing parcels as some cities and locations can have different spelling in English to their German form.

Weights and Measurements

The country now uses the international metric system but prior to this had its own 'German units of measurement' that actually varied between different parts of the country.  This was potentially confusing as distances such as a mile (or meile in German) had different definitions depending on the area of Germany, with a mile being 1000m in Wiesbaden but 9062m in Saxony.

All parcel measurements when being sent to anywhere in Germany should now use the metric system we are familiar with in the UK.

Currency

Germany is now a part of the 'Eurozone', a grouping of European countries that all use the same currency, the Euro.  One Euro, which is divided into 100 cents, is now used in most European countries as well as Germany. 

Time Zones

Germany is one hour ahead of the UK, despite being relatively close to the United Kingdom. It is, however, within the Central European Time zone (GMT +1 hrs. It also observes daylight saving time, where the clocks go forward by one hour to make Germany 2 hours ahead of the UK for approximately one month each spring.

Public Holidays and Dates of Interest

Germany has a number of public holidays that coincide with the same days in the UK but there are a number of other days specific to Germany itself.  When sending a parcel to Germany you may encounter delays if they coincide with one of the public holidays, so make sure to check beforehand and advise your parcel’s recipient that there may be a slight delay.

·         New Year’s Day – 1^st January

·         Good Friday – Friday before Easter

·         Easter Monday – Monday after Easter

·         Labour Day – 1^st May

·         Peace Festival – 8^th August

·         German Unity Day – 3^rd October

·         Reformation Day – 31^st October

·         Christmas Day – 25^th December

·         St. Stephen’s Day – 26^th December

Customs Information

As Germany is an EU member there is no need for customs declaration forms to be used to send a parcel from the UK.  A clearly labelled parcel is still required but there is no requirement for a commercial invoice or customs declaration forms (CN22 or CN23 forms) to be attached to your parcel.

There are still restrictions on what you can send, outlined below, and any items found that are restricted or banned could result in your parcel being returned or disposed of.

Import restrictions

Germany has a set of import restrictions on items such as alcohol and tobacco but there is also a restriction on goods over the value of 175 Euros. 

Germany has a number of restricted imports that will need to be checked before you send them in a parcel, such as animal products, meat, drugs and medicines.  Many of these items will also be restricted by the company you are sending from so it is important to know your parcel will be accepted at both ends of the delivery chain. 

Visit the German customs information page to find out more about what can and cannot be sent to the country at http://germany.visahq.co.uk/customs/.

Export restrictions

Exporting items from Germany is allowed to a certain point. If the commercial value of your shipment is above €1,000 an export declaration is required, regardless of where your parcel is going.  Items which are covered by import restrictions are covered by similar limitations on their exportation.  Before sending any parcels containing goods you are not sure about it is wise to check with the official restricted items lists to make sure your parcel can be delivered successfully.

Items which are specifically restricted for export to Germany:

·         Agricultural products (chemicals, machinery, etc)

·         Livestock (cattle, sheep, pigs)

·         Alcoholic spirits

·         Controlled drugs

FAQ's

Sending a parcel to Germany should be straightforward for most people, especially as no additional customs paperwork is required.  There may still be questions you have about the delivery process and how to send a parcel to Germany, whether it’s for individual or business reasons.

Do I need to fill in any customs declaration forms for shipping to Germany?

Customs declaration forms are not required when sending parcels within the UK as both countries are members of the EU.  If you are sending parcels from outside the EU to Germany then you will need to fill in a commercial invoice (link below) declaring your parcel’s contents.

How long will my parcel take to arrive in Germany?

Germany is only a short distance from the UK, across the English Channel to the nearest point, but deliveries may still take some time by air or sea freight.  Check with the couriers available here on Parcel2Go for precise delivery times; one delivery service going to Germany can be delivered within 48 hours.

Do I have to pay any taxes on my parcel delivery?

Generally the parcel sender will not need to pay any taxes or customs fees.  If receiving parcels from Germany, provided you have already paid the VAT in Germany when purchasing something then you will not have to pay VAT when it enters this country.

Does the recipient have to pay any taxes?

Depending on what the parcel contains, the recipient may need to pay import taxes or duty on it.

How much does it cost to ship to Germany?

Obviously your parcel’s weight and measurements will affect the cost of your parcel delivery but most couriers here at Parcel2Go have generous weight limits. So provided your parcel is under this limit you could get it sent to Germany for as little as £14.99 + VAT.

What happens if the recipient is not in when my parcel is delivered?

This can happen, so most couriers will leave a card containing their contact details so that the recipient can rearrange the delivery for a more convenient time or to an alternative address.  After a period of time if the delivery has been unsuccessful then the parcel will be returned to you.  (Note: it’s important to include a return address on your parcel somewhere clearly marked).

Does my parcel need to go via airmail?

Not necessarily, for larger shipments we also offer sea freight delivery options as well. If you need to send large quantities of larger or heavier items then arranging a sea freight delivery will be much cheaper.

Useful Links

Germany Parcel Delivery – Our Germany delivery page gives details of all of the services that deliver to Germany.

Download Commercial Invoice Form – Download our commercial invoice form, which is needed to accompany your parcel if it is being sent to Germany from anywhere outside the EU.

eBay Shipping Tool – If you have sold items online at eBay we have a dedicated shipping tool for you to use.

Parcel Tracking – Our parcel tracking page allows you to track your delivery ordered through us with any of the couriers and parcel delivery firms available on the site.

Sea Freight Enquiry – Visit our sea freight page to find out about sending your parcel by sea rather than by air freight.