Moving to the Germany from Singapore
Customs & Documentation Made Simple
Planning to move your home from Singapore to Germany?
Before your belongings are shipped, there are several customs and documentation requirements to consider. Your eligibility for duty-free entry can depend on how long you've lived outside the EU, how long you've owned and used your belongings, and when your shipment arrives in Germany.
Special requirements may also apply if you're bringing a vehicle, pet, alcohol, wedding gifts, inherited belongings or other restricted items.
Start Here: Do Your Belongings Qualify for Duty-Free Entry?
Your household belongings may qualify for duty-free entry when you are transferring your residence to Germany and meet the applicable conditions.
You must generally:
- Have lived in a country outside the EU for more than 12 months.
- Import your belongings within 12 months after establishing your permanent residence in Germany.
- Have owned and used your household goods and/or vehicle for at least 6 months before the shipping date.
- Bring the belongings for the same personal or household purposes for which they were used previously.
- Keep the imported goods in your possession for at least 12 months after importation.
An exemption may also be possible if you can demonstrate that you had planned to live outside the EU for 12 months or longer.
What Counts as Household Removal Goods?
A household relocation can include more than furniture and personal belongings.
Removal goods may include:
- Personal effects
- Household linen
- Furniture and household equipment
- Private bicycles and motorcycles
- Private motor vehicles and trailers
- Camping caravans
- Pleasure craft
- Private aeroplanes
- Household provisions in quantities appropriate for normal family requirements
- Domestic animals and pets
- Horses
- Portable instruments and equipment needed for manual or freelance work
Items that are not treated as standard removal goods include:
- Alcohol products
- Tobacco and tobacco products
- Commercial transport vehicles
- Commercially used items, except qualifying portable professional equipment
Your Germany Customs Documents
Preparing your paperwork before your shipment leaves Singapore can help make the clearance process smoother.
- Customs Registration Form 0350
- Notice of departure or deregistration showing how long you lived outside the EU
- Copy of your passport
- Confirmation of registration at your new residence in Germany, if available
- Rental contract for your German residence, where applicable
- Employment contract, where applicable
- Detailed goods inventory
A notice of departure, known as Abmeldebescheinigung, can be used to demonstrate your previous residence outside the EU.
If appropriate, a letter from an employer or German Embassy may also confirm that you planned to live abroad for more than 12 months.
Helpful declaration
It can also be useful to provide a signed statement confirming that the shipment does not contain:
- Firearms
- Alcohol
- Tobacco
- Cigarettes
- Tea
- Coffee
A Clear Inventory Matters
Your inventory should provide enough detail for customs clearance.
For items with a single value above €5,000, the individual value must be stated.
When preparing your packing list, avoid overly vague descriptions and make sure higher-value belongings can be clearly identified.
Moving With a Vehicle?
Private vehicles can form part of a household relocation and may qualify for duty-free entry when the relevant conditions are met.
To qualify, the vehicle must generally:
- Have been owned and used by you for at least 6 months before shipping.
- Have been registered in your name in the country of origin.
Vehicle documents
You should prepare:
- Copy of ownership document
- Copy of the vehicle’s foreign registration showing it was registered for at least 6 months before shipment
After customs clearance, the vehicle must undergo a technical inspection through the vehicle registration authority before a German title can be issued.
Vehicles imported from outside the EU may also be subject to German Motor Vehicle Tax (Kraftfahrzeugsteuer). The applicable tax may need to be paid when the vehicle is declared at German border customs.
Alcohol, Tobacco & Cigarettes
Alcohol and tobacco are treated differently from ordinary household belongings and are not included in the standard duty-free removal goods exemption.
This includes:
- Beer
- Wine
- Aperitifs
- Brandies
- Liqueurs
- Spirits
- Tobacco and tobacco products
- Cigarettes
Wedding Trousseaux & Wedding Gifts
If you're moving to Germany because of a marriage, certain household items and wedding gifts may qualify for duty-free entry.
The applicable conditions include:
- The person must be transferring their permanent residence from a non-EU country to Germany because of their marriage to an EU citizen.
- They must have lived outside the EU for at least 12 consecutive months.
- The goods must arrive between 2 months before the wedding and 4 months after the wedding.
- The goods cannot be lent, pledged, rented, sold or given away for 12 months after importation.
Wedding gifts can qualify when each individual gift is valued at no more than €1,000.
Documents may include:
- Marriage certificate or proof of marriage
- Proof of residence or planned residence outside the EU
- Registration confirmation for the new German residence, if available
- Inventory list
- Required customs declaration
Bringing Inherited Belongings?
Inherited personal belongings may qualify for customs relief when the relevant conditions are met.
You'll need evidence establishing the inheritance, such as:
- Certificate of inheritance
- Will
- Other documentation confirming your entitlement to the property
The goods must genuinely originate from the estate of the deceased. The inheritance relief must generally be claimed within 2 years from the date you became entitled to the property, although an extension may be possible in particular circumstances.
What can qualify?
- Household effects
- Personal belongings
- Household linen
- Furniture
- Household equipment
- Private vehicles
- Household provisions
- Household pets and horses
- Portable professional equipment used by the deceased
Restricted & Prohibited Items
Certain goods are subject to restrictions or additional requirements when entering Germany.
These categories include:
Unsure whether an item can be shipped? Speak with us before packing it.
Wooden Packing Materials
Wooden packaging entering Germany must meet ISPM 15 requirements.
Solid wood packaging and dunnage must carry the appropriate ISPM 15 mark, showing that the timber has received the required treatment.
Approved treatments include:
- Heat treatment
- Fumigation
If the required ISPM 15 mark is missing, the timber may be subject to examination or mandatory treatment.
Some materials are exempt, including:
- Raw wood that is 6 mm thick or less
- Processed wood produced using glue, heat and pressure
Diplomatic Relocations
Diplomatic shipments have separate customs arrangements.
For alcohol and tobacco, a special declaration signed and stamped by the applicable embassy is required under the relevant German customs provisions.
Alcohol may be imported duty-free by diplomats when it falls within the annual quota agreed between the local Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the relevant embassies.
Before Your Shipment Leaves Singapore
Use this checklist to make sure you've prepared the key requirements.
Household Documents
- Customs Registration Form 0350
- Proof of departure or residence outside the EU
- Passport copy
- German registration confirmation, if available
- Rental contract, where applicable
- Employment contract, where applicable
- Detailed inventory
Household Goods
- Items valued above €5,000 individually identified
- Alcohol and tobacco declared separately
- Restricted items removed or requirements confirmed
- Wooden packaging checked for ISPM 15 compliance
Vehicle
- Ownership document
- Foreign registration document
- Proof of at least 6 months' ownership and use
Pet
- Microchip or qualifying tattoo
- Rabies vaccination
- Veterinary certificate
- Vaccination records
- Rabies antibody test, where applicable
- Breed restrictions checked, where applicable
Special Circumstances
- Marriage documents, if applicable
- Wedding gift inventory, if applicable
- Inheritance documents, if applicable
Why Choose CM Relocation?
Your move from Singapore to Germany, handled with care
Relocating internationally involves many details, from preparing your household goods in Singapore to coordinating shipping, customs clearance and delivery at your new home.
CM Relocation can help manage the different stages of your move, giving you professional support from the preparation stage through to delivery.
Our services include
Professional Packing
Your belongings are carefully prepared for international transportation.
International Shipping
Moving solutions tailored to the size and requirements of your shipment.
Customs Coordination
Support with the documentation and customs clearance process.
Door-to-Door Delivery
Coordinated collection, transportation and delivery to your new residence.
Personalised Relocation Support
Guidance throughout the different stages of your international move.
General FAQ for Moving to the USA
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
You may qualify for duty-free entry if you’ve lived outside the EU for more than 12 months, have owned and used your belongings for at least 6 months, and import them within 12 months of establishing your permanent residence in Germany.
Yes. A private vehicle may qualify for duty-free entry when you’ve owned and used it for at least 6 months before shipping. You’ll need ownership and foreign registration documents, and the vehicle must undergo a technical inspection after customs clearance.
Alcohol is excluded from the standard duty-free household goods exemption and is subject to duties. It should therefore be declared separately before shipping.
Dogs, cats and ferrets coming from non-EU countries need appropriate identification, rabies vaccination and veterinary documentation. Additional rabies antibody testing may be required depending on the country of origin.