At PACK & SEND, we have more than 30 years’ experience in managing shipments to and from every country in the world. Experts in large, small, awkwardly shaped or valuable cargo – we handle every type of freight, so you can trust us with your imports from Germany. To get a quote, simply fill in the form here.
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Paperwork Needed for Importing from Germany
You will need to complete the following paperwork in preparation for importing items from Germany to the UK:
Customs declaration – this document provides details of the German goods you are importing. It can be submitted by you, your broker, or your freight forwarder.
Commodity code – this is a ten-digit number that classifies imports from outside the UK. It determines the rates of duty and VAT you’ll pay and any restrictions on your items.
EORI number – this is a registration and identification number required for anyone importing goods into the UK.
Import licences – while most goods don’t require a licence, some items do. These include military goods, technology, art, plants, animals, medicines, and chemicals.
MRN – (Movement reference number) required for all commercial shipment exporting from Germany
The duties and taxes you pay on goods from Germany will depend on their commodity codes, as well as the overall purchase and shipping value of the shipment.
Since the UK has left the European Union, customs duties apply to goods worth over £135. The exact rate will depend on the commodity code of the goods in question.
If you fail to pay any required import duties, customs may hold your goods for up to three weeks before returning them. In some cases, customs may seize the goods entirely, and you could face fines.
Value Added Tax (VAT) is payable on anything being imported into the UK from Germany. VAT is calculated on top of import duties at the UK’s standard rate of 20%, the same as if the items were purchased in the UK.
This calculation includes the door-to-port cost of shipping the items to the UK, ensuring fairness regardless of distance from the port.
If your EORI number is linked to your UK VAT number, you can reclaim the VAT on your usual VAT return using HMRC form C79.
Avoid Double Taxation You must ensure you don’t pay German VAT (Mehrwertsteuer, MWSt) on the goods, as VAT is paid in the UK, and double taxation is unnecessary. Ensure your German supplier does not charge you VAT on the export invoice, as reclaiming MWSt can be a complex process.
Whether or not you choose sea freight for your goods from Germany will depend on how much you’re shipping and how urgently you need it. If your items are large or bulky, road freight is usually the best option. However, road freight from Germany can take up to one week to reach the UK, so this isn’t the optimal choice for urgent shipments.
If you want your item to arrive quickly, choose air freight. Flight times are under two hours.
Note that smaller items may take longer to arrive via air freight because they will be part of a consolidated flight and may have to wait until a plane is full before departing.
Fast and cost-effective, our Online Self-Service is an alternative way to import items from Germany.
You’ll have access to our full range of shipping capabilities at a lower price than you would pay for a bespoke solution in our service centres. Your items may be eligible if your shipment is pre-packaged and weighs less than 30kg.
Using our Online Self-Service option is quick and easy, and you’re in control of the whole process – packing your own items, scheduling the shipment, printing the labels and tracking the cargo all the way through.
Packed & Less Than 30kg?