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Germany
Check our destination guide for postal restrictions and requirements
An update on our pre-departure customs clearance process
An update on our pre-departure customs clearance process
From 1 March 2023, there is an additional change to pre-departure customs clearance process due to European Union Import Control System (EU ICS2).
Prohibitions
The following items are prohibited from importation, meaning they won't be allowed to enter the destination country, territory or region.
To check which items are considered dangerous and prohibited for sending from Australia, download our dangerous goods guide (1.2MB).
- Animals and animal products
- Absinth
- Arms and ammunition, including toys
- Alcoholic beverages
- Base metals
- Batteries (lithium)
- Coins and medals
- Dairy produce, birds eggs, natural honey
- Dry vine wood
- Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof
- Fish
- Imitation and pirated products
- Inorganic and organic chemicals
- Lac, gums, resins and other vegetable saps
- Liquids with above 82% alcohol
- Listening devices
- Methyl alcohol
- Natural or cultured pearls
- Precious or semi-precious stones
- Printed matter, videos & sound recordings of an offensive nature
- Salt, sulphur, earth and stone
- Small arms
- Some mineral products
- Toys, games and sports requisites
- Wood and articles of wood
- Video games.
Transporting food of any kind, cash and perfumes are prohibited under International Courier.
Batteries
All types of batteries and devices containing them are prohibited from being sent via International Courier services.
Import restrictions
If an item is subject to import restrictions, it means that provisions must be met before it will be released from customs in the destination country, territory or region.
We recommend you confirm import restrictions with local authorities before posting:
- Animal products
- Beer, wine and spirits
- Chemical or allied industries products
- Coins and medals
- Cosmetics
- Fodder
- Foodstuffs
- Hair
- Hides and skins, raw
- Jewellery
- Mineral products
- Plants and parts of plants
- Preparations for the production of beer
- Paper and paper-board
- Pharmaceutical products
- Seeds
- Tobaccos
- Toys
- Vegetable products
- War materials
- Wood
- Wool.
Please note the following restrictions for International Standard articles being carried by the EMS network:
- Ammunition
- Animals
- Antiques
- Asbestos
- Bees
- Biological substances
- Bullion
- Coins
- Counterfeit
- Currency
- Fur
- Human ashes
- Human remains
- Ivory
- Jewellery
- Leeches
- Live
- Narcotics
- Perfumery
- Perfume
- Perishable
- Pornography
- Precious metals
- Precious stones
- Silkworms
- Watches (only if over $150.00)
- Weapons
Gifts
Articles proved as private gifts are generally exempt from duty.
Okay to send? Send responsibly.
As the sender, it's your responsibility to make sure your items don't break any laws or rules – both within Australia and in the destination country.
Restrictions and conditions can change at short notice so the information on this page should be used as a guide only. For the latest information, you should check the UPU prohibitions & restrictions (PDF 3.2MB) or contact the destination country's customs, postal trade or government authority.
It's also your responsibility to check if the destination country imposes any duties, taxes, brokerage fees or any other fees on the item you're sending. If you're unsure, please contact the consulate office of the destination country.
Special documentation
In addition to our customs forms, authorities in the destination country, territory or region require further documentation for some items.
Where required, senders must attach unsealed Certificates of Origin or Phytosanitary Certificates to the customs declaration. Goods delivered against payment must contain an invoice in duplicate.
Addressing
German postcodes always precede the name of the city or locality (for example 22767 HAMBURG).
However, to expedite mail processing through customs, please ensure that you write the postcode in the separate postcode field and not in the city/locality field when filling out the Recipient address.
Delivery locations & exclusions
Before sending to this destination, it’s worth noting a few more details about our international delivery services.
Delivery locations & exclusions data (Personal)
- International Express and International Standard (both carried via the EMS network) - Parcels deliver to all cities and towns
International Express has delayed delivery to rural destinations, which might be by local Registered or Express services. International Express and International Standard - Parcels does not deliver to parcel lockers (DHL Packstation), service points (postal outlets and DHL Paketshops) or post office boxes (Postfach).
- International Courier
Check our International Courier page to find a participating Post Office.
Shipments must be lodged at the counter by the participating Post Office cut-off time, which may vary by outlet. International parcels are charged according to actual weight. The maximum weight you can send is 20kg and the maximum girth is 140cm.
International Courier Declaration and DHL Airway Bill forms, available at participating retail centres, need to be filled out by hand and attached to the shipment (instructions available in-store). For Customs declarations, articles may not be declared as containing "Personal effects".
International Courier does not deliver to a Post Office Box or Poste Restante.
Metropolitan delivery to (valid postcodes in brackets):- Berlin (10082 to 14199)
- Hamburg (20001 to 21149, 22001 to 22769)
- Munich (80331 to 81929)
- Frankfurt (60001 to 60599, 65901 to 65936)
- Dusseldorf (40180 to 40721)
- Essen (45063 to 45359)
- Duisburg (47043 to 47279)
- Dortmund (44001 to44388)
- Stuttgart (70173 to70619)
- Bremen (28001 to28779)
For more information from the overseas carrier, check the Deutsche Post website.
Make sure it's safe to send
Some items are considered dangerous and unsuitable for sending from Australia, even if they’re not prohibited by the destination country.
