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 Tuesday, 2 December 2008
Travel

Europe Travel Guides

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Germany
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Before you leave

Visas overview

EU citizens can enter on an official identity card. Americans, Australians, Canadians, New Zealanders, Japanese and Israelis just need a valid passport (no visa). Unless you're a citizen of a developing country, you can probably stay up to three months.

Detailed entry requirements information

Country Passport? Visa?
Australia yes no; may enter for 90 days or less
Austria yes; though a national ID card may be sufficient no; may enter for 90 days or less
Belgium yes; though a national ID card may be sufficient no; may enter for 90 days or less
Canada yes no; may enter for 90 days or less
China yes yes; unless holding Hong Kong (SAR China) or Macao (SAR China) passport in which case may enter for 90 days or less without a visa
Czech Republic yes no; may enter for 90 days or less
East Timor yes yes
England yes no; may enter for 90 days or less
Finland yes; though a national ID card may be sufficient no; may enter for 90 days or less
France yes; though a national ID card may be sufficient no; may enter for 90 days or less
Germany n/a n/a
Greece yes; though a national ID card may be sufficient no; may enter for 90 days or less
Ireland yes no; may enter for 90 days or less
Italy yes; though a national ID card may be sufficient no; may enter for 90 days or less
Japan yes no; may enter for 90 days or less
Netherlands yes; though a national ID card may be sufficient no; may enter for 90 days or less
New Zealand yes no; may enter for 90 days or less
Russia yes yes
Scotland yes no; may enter for 90 days or less
Singapore yes no; may enter for 90 days or less
Spain yes; though a national ID card may be sufficient no; may enter for 90 days or less
Turkey yes yes
USA yes no; may enter for 90 days or less

Customs overview

German customs prohibits the private importation of firearms and ammunition, fireworks, 'literature of unconstitutional content', pornography, food, narcotics, medicines, dangerous dogs, pets (unless they have been appropriately vaccinated), animal products and counterfeit goods. For more detailed information, check out www.zoll.de.

Duty free

Articles that you take to Germany for your personal use may be imported free of duty and tax with some conditions. The following allowances apply to duty-free goods purchased in a non-European Union (EU) country: 1L of strong liquor or 2L of less than 22% alcohol by volume and 2L of wine (if over age 17); 500g of coffee or 200g of coffee extracts and 100g of tea or 40g tea extracts (if over age 15); 50g of perfume or scent and 0.25L of eau de toilette; 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250g of loose tobacco (if over age 17). Additional products up to a value of EUR 175.00 may be brought in.

Do not confuse duty free with duty-paid items (including alcohol and tobacco) bought at normal shops and supermarkets in another EU country and brought into Germany, where certain goods might be more expensive. Then the allowances are more than generous: 800 cigarettes, 200 cigars or 1kg of loose tobacco; 10L of spirits (more than 22% alcohol by volume), 20L of fortified wine or apéritif, 90L of wine or 110L of beer; and petrol reserves of up to 10L.

Note that duty-free shopping within the EU was abolished in 1999. This means that you can still take duty-free goods into an EU country, such as Germany, from a non-EU country such as the USA or Australia. You can't, however, buy duty-free goods in an EU-country unless you're headed for a non-EU country.

Electrical

European plug with two circular metal pins

Electricity voltage 230V
Electricity Hz 50Hz

Passports & Visas


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