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Customs Germany

COUNTRY DESCRIPTION: Germany is a modern and stable democracy. Tourist facilities are highly developed. In larger towns, many people can communicate in English. You can obtain additional information by reading Department of State’s Background Notes on Germany.

SMART TRAVELER ENROLLMENT PROGRAM (STEP) / EMBASSY LOCATION: If you are going to live in or travel to Germany, please take the time to tell us about your trip. If you enroll in our Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, we will be able to keep you up to date with the latest safety and security announcements. Your enrollment can also help us reach your family and friends in case of emergency. Here is the link to the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment page.

Local embassy information is available below and at the Department of State’s list of embassies and consulates. Please check the individual webpage for the embassy or consulate you will be visiting to verify their public hours and security regulations. Generally, you won’t be allowed to bring electronic devices such as cell phones and laptops with you inside our facilities. Appointments are required for most services. Instructions for making appointments can be found on our website.�

All of our telephone numbers below are written the way you would dial them from the U.S. When calling from within Germany, just drop the country code and add a zero. For example: (49) (69) 7535-0 becomes (069) 7535-0.

U.S. Consular Sections are located at:

U.S. Embassy Berlin
U.S. Consulate General Frankfurt
U.S. Consulate General Munich
U.S. Consulate Leipzig (emergency services only)
U.S. Consular Agency Bremen

Consular services are only provided at the Consulates General in Hamburg and Dusseldorf through periodic visits by consular staff from Berlin and Frankfurt, respectively.

ENTRY / EXIT REQUIREMENTS: Germany is a party to the Schengen Agreement. As a U.S. citizen, you may enter Germany for up to 90 days for tourist or business purposes without a visa. Your entry into Germany begins the 90 day limit for the entire Schengen area. For further details about travel into and within Schengen countries, please see our Schengen fact sheet. Contact the German Embassy in Washington at 4645 Reservoir Road N.W., Washington, D.C. 2007, telephone (202) 298-4000, or the German consulates in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, or San Francisco for the most current visa information.

If you are transiting Germany en route to other countries, make sure you know all of the entry and exit requirements for your final destination. If you don’t have the right documentation, you might be denied boarding to your connecting flight. For example, some countries (e.g., South Africa) require a certain number of blank visa pages or more than six months remaining validity on your passport.

We are unaware of any HIV/AIDS entry restrictions for visitors to, or foreign residents of, Germany.

You can find information about dual nationality or the prevention of international child abduction on our website. For more information about customs regulations, please read our Customs Information page.

THREATS TO SAFETY AND SECURITY: German authorities are vigilant in combating terrorism and other threats to security. They have uncovered specific threats and prosecuted suspects, though Germany itself has been largely free of terror incidents. However, like other countries in the Schengen area, Germany’s open borders with its European neighbors limits their ability to track suspect individuals entering/exiting the country with anonymity.

Germany’s robust democracy is often expressed in large, public demonstrations on a variety of political and economic issues.� Such demonstrations are common on politically significant holidays, such as German Labor Day on May 1, and during international summits hosted in Germany. In order to stage a demonstration, groups must obtain prior police approval, and police routinely oversee participants and passersby. Nonetheless, these demonstrations can attract counter-demonstrations and have the potential to turn violent. Avoid areas around protests and demonstrations and check local media for updates on the situation and traffic advisories.

In addition, hooligans, most often drunken “skinheads,” have been known to harass or even attack people whom they believe to be foreigners or members of rival groups. On occasion, U.S. citizens have reported that they were assaulted for racial reasons or because they appeared “foreign.” �In addition, U.S. citizens should also exercise caution when congregating in restaurants, bars, and discos frequented by high numbers of U.S. citizens as this could attract unwanted attention from disorganized groups of rowdy patrons seeking to start a fight.

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CRIME: Violent crime is rare in Germany, but can occur, especially in larger cities or high-risk areas such as train stations. There have been several reports of aggravated assault against U.S. citizens in higher-risk urban areas. However, most incidents of street crime involve the theft of unattended items and pick-pocketing. Take the same precautions that you would in any U.S. city.

Don’t buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available. Not only are bootlegs illegal in the United States, you could be fined for bringing them in, and you may also be breaking local laws.

INFORMATION FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME: If you or someone you know becomes the victim of a crime abroad, you should contact the local police and the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.� We can:

  • Replace a stolen passport.
  • For violent crimes such as assault or rape,help you find appropriate medical care,
  • Put you in contact with the appropriate police authorities, and contact family members or friends.
  • Although the local authorities are responsible for investigating and prosecuting the crime, consular officers can help you understand the local criminal justice process and can direct you to local attorneys.

We also maintain information on our website on where to get help in child abuse situations.

The local equivalent to the “911” emergency line in Germany is 112.

Please see our information for victims of crime, including possible victim compensation programs in the United States.

CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While traveling in Germany, you are subject to its laws. While you are overseas, U.S. laws do not apply, and if you do something illegal in your host country, your U.S. passport won’t help you. It is very important to know what is legal and what is not, since foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different from our own.� Criminal penalties also vary from country to country. There are also some things that may be legal where you are traveling but illegal in the United States. If you engage in sexual conduct with children or use or disseminate child pornography in a foreign country, you can be prosecuted in the United States.

Based on the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, bilateral agreements with certain countries, and customary international law, if you are arrested in Germany, you have the option to request that the police, prison officials, or other authorities alert the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate of your arrest, and to have communications from you forwarded to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: Germany has strict customs regulations concerning temporary importation into or export from Germany of items such as firearms, military artifacts (particularly those pertaining to the Second World War), antiques, medications/pharmaceuticals and business equipment. Under German law it is also illegal to bring into, or take out of, Germany literature, music CDs, or paraphernalia that glorifies fascism, the Nazi past, or the ”Third Reich.” Contact the German Embassy in Washington or one of the German consulates in the United States for specific information regarding customs requirements.
Surprisingly, credit cards are not accepted as widely as in the United States, and many kiosks that do take credit cards may not accept U.S.-issued cards without microchip identification technology and an associated PIN.� However, automatic teller machines (ATMs) are widely available throughout Germany. They utilize many of the same account networks that are found in the U.S., so it is possible in most cases to get Euros directly from your U.S. bank while you are in Germany without paying currency exchange fees.

Surprisingly, credit cards are not accepted as widely as in the United States. However, automatic teller machines (ATMs) are widely available throughout Germany. They utilize many of the same account networks that are found in the U.S., so it is possible in most cases to get Euros directly from your U.S. bank while you are in Germany without paying any inordinate fees for currency exchange.

Accessibility:� While in Germany, individuals with disabilities may find accessibility and accommodation different from what is found in the United States.� Many existing buildings and public transportation systems are less adapted to individuals with disabilities.� You should check ahead with your hotel /destination to learn more about options to accommodate disabled traveler needs before visiting Germany.� At German airports, Lufthansa and Air Berlin offer services for disabled travelers, and Deutsche Bahn (German Rail) maintains a mobility hotline for information and guidance.� On the accommodation front, the German Hotel and Restaurant Association (DEHOGA) and the German Hotel Association (IHA) maintain directories of accessible accommodations.� You can see more information on the German National Tourist Board website.

MEDICAL FACILITIES AND HEALTH INFORMATION: Germany has good medical care. If you are not a resident of Germany, doctors and hospitals may expect immediate payment in cash for health services. Most doctors, hospitals and pharmacies do not accept credit cards.

Germany has strict customs regulations, and you are generally not allowed to receive prescription medication by mail without special permission. During your trip, you should only carry the amount you plan to use. You can see more information on the German Customs website.

You can find good information on vaccinations and other health precautions, on the CDC website.� For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad, consult the World Health Organization (WHO) website. The WHO website also contains additional health information for travelers, including detailed country-specific health information.

MEDICAL INSURANCE: Don’t assume your insurance coverage will go with you when you travel. It is very important to find out the details from your insurance provider BEFORE you travel. You should ask your insurance company two questions:

  • �Does my policy apply when I am outside of the U.S.?
  • Will it cover emergency expenses such as a trip to a foreign hospital or an evacuation?

If your policy doesn’t cover you while you travel, consider taking out another medical insurance policy for the duration of your trip. You can find more information on our medical insurance overseas page.

TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS: In Germany, road conditions can be significantly different from those in the United States. If you hold a valid U.S. driver’s license, you can drive in Germany for up to six months without acquiring a German driver’s license.

German road conditions in general are excellent, although you should exercise caution while traveling on older roads in eastern Germany. Contrary to popular belief, there are posted speed limits on large stretches of the Autobahn, mostly when traveling through urban areas or when the road has many curves. The high speed permitted on the Autobahn, adverse weather conditions, and unfamiliar road markings can pose significant hazards. Driver error is a leading cause of accidents involving U.S. citizen motorists in Germany.

The other leading cause is bicycles. Many German streets and sidewalks have dedicated bike lanes for use by bicyclists. Whether you are driving or walking, be aware that bicycles have priority use of these lanes. If you are walking, watch for bicyclists before crossing or stepping into bike lanes. Bicyclists also have priority over cars when turning onto side streets. If you are driving, check whether a bicyclist is approaching from either direction before attempting to enter side streets, even when the light is in your favor. If you are turning into a side street and hit a bicyclist using a marked bike lane, you will be held responsible for any injury or damage caused.

The rules regarding which driver has the right-of-way are different from the United States. Unless you are traveling on a priority road, vehicles coming from the right have the right of way. It is also generally illegal in Germany to pass vehicles on the right. The threshold for determining whether a person has been driving under the influence of alcohol is lower than in many U.S. states.

It is illegal to use your cell phone while driving in Germany. If you would like more specific information on travel within Germany, contact the German National Tourist Board Office in New York at (212) 661-7200, fax (212) 661-7174.

Please refer to our Road Safety page for more information.

AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT: The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the government of Germany’s Civil Aviation Authority as being in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards for oversight of Germany’s air carrier operations. Further information may be found on the FAA’s safety assessment page.

CHILDREN’S ISSUES: Please see our Office of Children’s Issues web pages on intercountry adoption and international parental child abduction.

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This replaces the Country Specific Information for Germany dated November 29, 2010, to update the ”Special Circumstances” section to include information on accessibility.

 

We keep these regulations updated but because such regulations are subject to change without notice, we strongly recommend you to consult your local embassy or consulate before you make your move.
# 1 Directory of International Movers is not responsible for any loss resulting from the use of these customs information.

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