Removals to Germany from the UK
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Since Brexit, a move to Germany means a customs declaration — but used household goods still go in free if you meet two simple rules. Here is how relief works, what you can't pack, and how the move is routed and priced.
Last updated: October 2026 · 3 min read
Written and fact-checked by the Removly editorial team · How we research prices
Do you pay customs moving to Germany after Brexit?
Not on qualifying household goods. Transfer-of-residence relief applies when your normal home has been outside the EU for at least 12 months, and you have owned and used the goods for at least six. An employment contract can stand in where you intended to stay at least 12 months.
You declare the goods on Form 0350, the customs declaration for removal goods, within 12 months of moving. It costs nothing. Alcohol, tobacco, commercial vehicles and business goods are excluded, and new goods don't qualify.
Source: German federal services portal (transfer of residence) (2026)
What food can't you take to Germany?
Meat, milk and products made from them — cheese, sausage, ham — from outside the EU can't come in with your belongings. Since Brexit that includes Great Britain; Northern Ireland is the exception. Empty the fridge and freezer before packing day.
Source: German Customs (Zoll) (2026)
How do removals to Germany travel, and what do they cost?
By road. Lorries cross on the Dover–Calais or Dover–Dunkirk ferries, or through the Channel Tunnel from Folkestone. A part load shares the lorry and costs less, with a delivery window instead of a fixed day; a dedicated vehicle runs on your dates.
Published prices for Germany disagree by thousands of pounds for the same size home, so we won't quote one. A survey of your volume gives a fixed figure. Our European removals guide compares the wider continent.
What do you need to do when you arrive?
Register at the local registration office within two weeks of moving in — it's a legal requirement. Keep your Form 0350 paperwork and the removal inventory together, because customs relief depends on them.
If your new flat isn't ready on arrival, storage in the UK can hold your things until it is.
Removals to Germany: FAQs
Do I pay customs duty moving household goods to Germany after Brexit?
Not if you qualify for transfer-of-residence relief: you have lived outside the EU for at least 12 months and owned and used the goods for at least six. You declare them on Form 0350 within 12 months of moving. New goods do not qualify.
What is Form 0350?
The German customs declaration for removal goods (Zollanmeldung für Übersiedlungsgut). It is free, made in writing at entry or by post, within 12 months of your move. Your removal company normally prepares it with you.
Can I take British food to Germany?
Not meat or dairy. Meat, milk and products made from them — cheese, sausages — from outside the EU cannot come into Germany in private belongings. Goods from Northern Ireland are the exception.
Do I need to register when I move to Germany?
Yes. You must register at the local registration office within two weeks of moving into your new home.
How do removals get from the UK to Germany?
By road, crossing the Channel on the Dover–Calais or Dover–Dunkirk ferries or through the Channel Tunnel. A part load shares the lorry and costs less; a dedicated vehicle runs on your dates.