Each export shipment must be accompanied by certain documents for export customs clearance.

• Up to 1,000 EUR shipment value (concludent export declaration):
  Commercial or proforma invoice (original and 3 copies)
• Over 1,000 EUR shipment value (electronic export procedure):
  Commercial or pro forma invoice (original and 3 copies) and export accompanying document
• Goods subject to special surveillance (electronic export procedure):
  Commercial or pro forma invoice (original and 3 copies) and export accompanying document and, where appropriate, export licence or other accompanying documents
• With DHL Paperless Trade (PLT), you can also send the required accompanying documents online to DHL Express without having to print them out and attach them to the shipment.

Export consignments whose value exceeds EUR 1,000 or weight exceeds 1,000 kg must be declared to customs electronically. DHL can generally only process export declarations in the two-stage procedure, as since ATLAS-AES Release 3.0 only here is a structurally uniform ID assigned via the so-called Master Reference Number (MRN, formerly Movement Reference Number), which can be processed in an automated and standardised manner. We recommend that electronic declarations are always made in a two-stage procedure.

• Use our AES declaration service or create the declaration yourself using your own ATLAS software or free of charge using the Internet Export Declaration Plus (IAA+).
• The two-stage procedure is mandatory for all goods subject to special surveillance (e.g. goods subject to export authorisation). The values of individual DHL shipments must be added together if they are sent from one sender to the same recipient in the same destination country on the same day.
• In the case of two-stage export procedures that you open at your competent customs office of export, you provide us with the export accompanying document (ABD for short) and the MRN after the export procedure has been released.
• After your shipment has been exported, you will receive an exit note via your ATLAS or IAA+ as proof for your documents.

Export consignments whose value does not exceed EUR 1,000 or weight 1,000 kg may be declared concludent to customs.

• Implied export by DHL Express directly at the customs office of exit at which the shipment leaves the EU. You hand over the commercial or pro forma invoice to us.
• The values of individual DHL shipments must be added together if they are sent from one sender to the same recipient in the same destination country on the same day. As a result, they may exceed the limit of 1,000 EUR/1,000 kg and an electronic export declaration is required.
• Goods that are subject to special surveillance (e.g. goods subject to export authorisation) must be declared in a two-stage electronic procedure, irrespective of the value of the consignment.
• After your shipment has been exported, you will receive an export certificate for VAT purposes by Email as proof of export for your records.

The AES (Automated Export Declaration Service) offers the possibility of having the registration of international Time Definite Export shipments in ATLAS carried out competently and reliably via DHL Express.

If you have any questions, our AES Service Desk will be happy to help you:

Tel. +49 (0) 203-348 599 45 (Mon-Thu: 08:30 - 17:00, Fri: 8:30 - 16:00, except on public holidays)

EUR 0.14 per minute or part thereof from German fixed networks; a maximum of EUR 0.42 per minute or part thereof from German mobile networks

Preferential agreements exist between the EU and many countries, which allow duty-free or preferential import for certain goods produced in the EU.

• Proof by means of preferential certificates of origin (e.g. EUR.1, EUR-MED, A.TR) or origin declarations on the invoice, which must accompany the consignment as original document
• Please check your options via the portal "Origin of Goods and Preferences Online" of the German customs

For some goods, non-preferential certificates of origin are required by the recipient, e.g. due to import restrictions or as proof of origin for resale.

• For further information please contact your responsible chamber of commerce

Some goods are subject to special export controls and may or may not require an export licence or are not exportable.

• Prohibitions and restrictions for certain goods, e.g. species-protected animals & plants, narcotics, weapons
• Trade policy measures in the form of sanctions and embargoes against certain countries and persons, e.g. Iran, Syria, North Korea, Taliban. 

Europe as a continent comprises about 50 countries, but only 27 belong to the European Union. All European countries outside the 27 EU states are considered as non-EU countries.

• Free movement of goods only between EU countries
• Free trade zone EFTA (Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Iceland), but no free movement of goods
• Customs union with Turkey, San Marino and Andorra, but no free movement of goods