Customs and export information

When sending international items with DHL (DHL Paket international, DHL Päckchen international, DHL Europaket) to countries within the European Union (EU), a customs declaration is not required.

You can download a list of EU countries and territories here.

Import and customs regulation of other countries

When sending international parcels (DHL Paket international, DHL Päckchen international) to countries outside the EU, a fully completed customs declaration (CN23 or CN22) is required. This must always include information on the content's value, even for gifts.

The information on the customs declaration helps the customs authorities to determine the (country-specific) customs duties and import taxes that must be paid by the recipient. In some cases, customs handling and/or customs processing fees may also be levied.
In certain cases, you may need an export declaration in addition to the customs declaration.

Download CN22

Download CN23

Import and customs regulation of other countries

Note:
If the value of the content exceeds 300 Special Drawing Rights (ca. EUR 350), you must use customs declaration CN 23. This must be placed in an adhesive pouch available from your outlet and attached to the address side of the parcel.

If the CN 23 form cannot be fastened to the address side, you may use a different side. In this case, the top section of the CN 22 form must also be affixed to the address side.

In certain cases, you may need an export declaration in addition to the customs declaration.

• The sender assumes the risk for all consequences arising from the shipment of non-permissible goods abroad, the non-observance of import and customs regulations of other countries (including transit regulations), the incorrect or inadequate filling-out of the customs declaration (CN23 or CN22) or any other accompanying paperwork, and from the non-observance of applicable export regulations. This also applies to damages incurred by the sender as a result of any loss of claim to compensation if the shipment is confiscated by the customs authorities of another country. It is the sender’s responsibility to obtain the relevant information for themselves from the recipients of the shipments, overseas representatives of the country of destination or transit, foreign trade offices, chambers of commerce and industry or other appropriate places.
• It should be noted that, even when sending within EU states, customs and excise obligations may arise from other stipulations relating to customs, taxation or foreign trade legislation.
• Deutsche Post AG can provide information on import and customs regulations (including transit regulations) in foreign countries provided such information is available to it.
• No guarantee is provided for the correctness of this information. By calling the customer service team on +49 (0) 228 4333112, you can obtain further information and non-binding advice, for instance on the “Liste des objets interdits” (list of banned objects) published by the International Office of the Universal Postal Union.

There are various situations in which you must complete an export declaration for items sent to non-EU states or EU excepted territories with DHL Paket International.

An export declaration is required if the shipment contains goods

• for commercial purposes (e.g. sales resulting from an Internet auction) whose total value exceeds EUR 1,000 or
• for commercial purposes that form part of a regular series of similar transactions and the material value of the individual shipment is less than EUR 1,000 but the total material value of all shipments exceeds EUR 1,000 or
• for which a guarantee of export rebate or other sums or the reimbursement of expenses is intended or has been applied for;
• that are banned or restricted, or are subject to export approval for goods, production documents and technologies as a result of the regulations laid down in foreign trade legislation and the legal acts of the Council or Commission of the European Communities or
• are subject to other formalities (e.g. requirement for an export licence, statistical formalities).

Note: The exporter or his representative is obliged as per § 9 Para. 1 of the German Foreign Trade Ordinance (AWV) to register the goods electronically with the export customs office before handover to Deutsche Post AG.

1. Register the export of your goods using the online customs tool Internetausfuhranmeldung Plus (IAA Plus) or, if you are a user of ATLAS (Automatisiertes Tarif- und lokales Zollabwicklungssystem), with the relevant export customs office.
2. The code DE003305 must always be used as the departure customs office for all shipments sent via Deutsche Post, regardless of their destination country.
3. Please print out a separate Export Accompanying Document (EAD) for each shipment. You will recognise the export accompanying document from its Movement Reference Number (MRN) and MRN barcode, which serve as a means of identifying the export declaration within the processing chain.
4. Place the export accompanying document as the topmost document in the self-adhesive transparent parcel registration card pouch and secure it to the outside of the parcel. Please note that your parcel is not correctly assembled and thus the export process cannot be completed electronically if the export accompanying document is placed inside the shipment or attached to the delivery list.
5. Near the shipment address, affix the label "Achtung! Ausfuhranmeldung". Simply print out the label (black and white is acceptable), cut it out and affix it to the shipment next to the address label using glue.
   
   You can download the label further down on this page.
   

Important:
If it is discovered when the parcel is handed over to Deutsche Post AG that any of the required documents are missing, Deutsche Post AG must refuse to accept the shipment and will return the parcel to the person dropping it off.

With effect from 01.07.2009, you will only be able to make an export declaration electronically.
Written customs declarations using copies 1-3 of the single administrative document will no longer be accepted from 01.07.2009.

Your export shipment can only be processed correctly and the export process completed electronically if you follow the points below carefully. The electronic “exit confirmation” message sent by customs is also your proof for VAT purposes.

Export declaration label

Information on electronic customs declarations