🇩🇪 Germany vs 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Side-by-side customs reference: duty-free allowance, de minimis, VAT, restricted and prohibited categories, and customs authority.
| 🇩🇪 Germany | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Customs authority | Zollkriminalamt / Zoll (German Customs — Federal Customs Administration) | His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) |
| VAT / GST | 19% | 20% |
| De minimis (USD) | USD 165 | USD 190 |
| Cash declaration (USD) | USD 11000 | USD 12500 |
| Duty-free alcohol (L) | 4 | 4 |
| Duty-free cigarettes | 200 | 200 |
| Duty-free personal goods (USD) | USD 540 | USD 1100 |
| Prohibited categories | Narcotics and controlled substances; Nazi memorabilia and symbols (illegal in Germany); Counterfeit goods; Pornographic material involving minors; Endangered species products without CITES permits | Illegal firearms and offensive weapons (flick knives, knuckledusters); Class A, B, and C controlled substances without authorisation; Obscene publications and indecent images; Counterfeit currency; Products from endangered species without CITES permits |
| Restricted categories | Firearms and weapons (Weapons Act — Waffengesetz; licence required); Medicines and pharmaceuticals (BfArM approval; personal use quantities only for travelers); Certain agricultural and food products (EU SPS rules); Plants and plant products (phytosanitary certificate from outside EU); Animals and animal products (health certificate required) | Firearms and weapons (requires licence); Controlled drugs (prescription required); Certain food products from outside EU/GB (health certificate may be required); Plants and plant products (phytosanitary certificate required); Live animals (health certificate and pre-notification required) |
| Known scams | Fake ETIAS / Schengen pre-arrival sites demanding fees before the system is even live. Apply only via travel-europe.europa.eu. | Unofficial 'UK ETA' booking sites charging well above the official £10 fee. Apply only via gov.uk. • Fake HMRC/Border Force payment-demand SMS or emails after recent arrivals. HMRC never asks for payment by SMS link. |
Detailed pages: Germany • United Kingdom
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