Entering Germany from a non-EU country (2024)

Obligation to declare in writing or orally

• Cash subject to declaration
• Equivalent means of payment which must be declared
• Consequences of non-compliance with the obligation to declare in writing or orally

Any person entering Germany from a non-EU country and carrying cash with a total value of 10,000 or more euros is obliged to declare that amount of money, immediately and unsolicited, in writing to the competent German customs authorities.
If subject to an inspection by the customs at any time, you must inform the inquiring official orally of any means of payment deemed equivalent to cash if you are carrying an amount of 10,000 or more euros.

Cash subject to declaration

"Cash" comprises:

• currency, i.e.

  • banknotes and coins, or
  • banknotes and coins that are valid means of payment or banknotes and coins that are not valid means of payment but can still be exchanged into a currency that is valid means of payment (e.g. German Mark (DEM), Austrian Schilling (ATS)- where conversion into Euros (EUR) is still possible).

• bearer negotiable instruments, e.g.

  • promissory notes
  • travellers cheques
  • shares
  • payment orders

and

• gold in the form of

  • coins with a gold content of at least90%
  • gold bullion in the form of bars, nuggets or nuggets with a gold content of at least99.5%

Foreign currencies shall be valued in euros at the exchange rate applicable on the day of entry.

The value of collectors’ or bullion coins (such as Maple Leaf, Eagle, WienerPhilharmoniker) shall be calculated based on its actual value and not the coin’s nominal or face value.

Declaration of cash

You have to use the "Cash declaration" form to make a declaration:

• Form040000 (German Version) with additional sheet040050 or
• Form040001 (English Version) with additional sheet040051

You can fill in the form electronically or by hand. Please make sure that the copy is signed when you submit it to the customs office. You may request an official copy.

Formular040000
Formular040001

The declaration of cash is free of charge.

Please pay attention to the respective signs and notices when crossing the border and/or ask for the customs office counter where you can submit your declaration.

If you are travelling by air, the cash declaration form must be submitted in the red exit when entering the country.

You are under an obligation to make a declaration without being explicitly requested to do so, even though a customs official has not stopped you and asked whether you are carrying cash.

Specific rules concerning flights in transit from one non-EU country to another non-EU country via an EU Member State

The obligation to declare any cash worth 10,000 or more euros also exists for air travellers in transit from one non-EU country to another non-EU country whenever they stop over in the international transit zone of an airport in a European Union Member State.

Equivalent means of payment which must be declared

Equivalent means of payment comprise:

• passbooks
• precious stones (rough or cut), e.g. diamonds, rubies, sapphires or emeralds

• gold in the form of

  • coins with a gold content of less than90%
  • gold bullion in the form of bars, nuggets or nuggets with a gold content of less than99.5%
• other precious metals, e.g. platinum or silver

Oral declaration of equivalent means of payment

Any person bringing means of payment deemed equivalent to cash in a total amount of 10,000euros or more to Germany from a third country, must orally declare that amount when enquired by a customs official.

Consequences of non-compliance with the obligation to declare in writing or orally

The failure to declare, in writing or orally, the cash or equivalent means of payment you are carrying, or making an incorrect or incomplete declaration, is an administrative offence which is punishable with a fine of up to onemillioneuros.