Moving from the UAE to Germany
In short
Shipping household goods from the UAE to Germany takes 22–32 days port to port for a full container to Hamburg and Bremerhaven, or 4–8 days by air through Frankfurt. Clearance is handled by German Customs (Zoll) under Übersiedlungsgut (transfer of residence) relief. Hamburg and Bremerhaven both serve Germany; the EU relief needs proof of twelve months residence outside the Union.
| Capital | Berlin |
|---|---|
| Arrival port | Hamburg, Bremerhaven |
| Airport | Frankfurt |
| Sea — full container | 22–32 days |
| Sea — shared container | 30–42 days |
| Air freight | 4–8 days |
What is different about moving to Germany?
Zoll requires a Zollanmeldung plus an Anmeldung (city registration) confirming your new German address. Hamburg serves the north and east; Bremerhaven is often quicker for the northwest and for vehicle cargo.
Who clears your shipment in Germany?
German Customs (Zoll), under Übersiedlungsgut (transfer of residence) relief. Germany applies the twelve-month rule strictly and asks for documentary proof of residence outside the EU rather than a declaration.
How long does it take, and by which route?
A full container runs 22–32 days port to port to Hamburg and Bremerhaven; shared container space takes 30–42 days because it must be consolidated before departure and unpacked on arrival. Air freight through Frankfurt is 4–8 days. Add roughly two weeks across packing, clearance at both ends and final delivery.
What happens when it arrives?
Altbau apartments in Berlin, Hamburg and Munich commonly have no lift and narrow stairwells; an external Möbelaufzug is standard and is quoted rather than improvised. We survey the destination access before quoting rather than discovering it on the day, because a street a full-size vehicle cannot enter means a shuttle, and an upper floor without a lift means a longer carry. Both are priced at survey.
Documents you need
- Passport copy — Photo page, plus the UAE residence visa and exit stamp.
- Itemised and valued packing list — The document customs actually reads. We produce it as the goods are packed.
- Proof of 12 months residence outside the EU — Tenancy contract, employment letter or utility bills covering the period.
- Proof of address in Germany — Rental contract or property deed at the destination.
- Signed transfer-of-residence declaration — Confirms the goods are used personal property, not for resale.
- Bill of lading or air waybill — Issued once the shipment is loaded.
- Authorisation for the clearing agent — Lets our destination agent clear on your behalf.
Shipping a vehicle
A vehicle imported with your household goods can qualify for relief in Germany if you have owned and used it outside the EU for at least six months, but it is declared separately from the household consignment. After clearance it needs national registration and a conformity certificate showing it meets EU construction and emissions standards. Start the UAE export deregistration well before the container is booked, because finance clearance and unpaid fines both block it.
Taking pets
Germany follows the EU pet travel scheme. Cats and dogs need a microchip fitted before the rabies vaccination, a valid rabies vaccination, and an EU health certificate issued by an official vet close to travel. Entering from the UAE, animals must arrive at an approved traveller's point of entry and are checked there. Because the UAE is not on the EU's listed-country list for every purpose, a rabies antibody titre test is commonly required, and that test carries a waiting period of several months from the date the blood sample is taken.
Restricted and prohibited items
- Meat, dairy and other animal products
- Plants, seeds and soil
- Counterfeit goods
- Certain knives and offensive weapons
- Flammable liquids, gas cylinders, aerosols and paint
- Fireworks, ammunition and explosives
- Narcotics and controlled substances
- Endangered species products (CITES)
What affects the price
Volume is the main driver, then whether you take shared container space or a full container — the crossover usually sits around fifteen cubic metres. Destination charges at Hamburg and Bremerhaven are billed separately from the ocean freight and vary more than people expect. Delivery to an address a full-size vehicle cannot reach needs a smaller shuttle, and that is quoted at survey rather than added afterwards.
Questions about Germany
Do I need my Anmeldung before the goods arrive?
It helps considerably. German customs wants evidence of your new residence, and the Anmeldung from the local Bürgeramt is the cleanest form of it. Arriving without it is workable but slower, and slower means storage.
Hamburg or Bremerhaven?
Hamburg for Berlin, Leipzig and the east; Bremerhaven for Bremen, the northwest and anything involving a vehicle, where its car terminal is better set up. The inland difference is usually a few hundred kilometres.
What cannot be shipped to Germany?
Flammable liquids, gas cylinders, aerosols, paint and ammunition are refused on every route we run. Germany adds its own restrictions, including meat, dairy and other animal products and plants, seeds and soil. Anything on your inventory that will cause a problem is flagged before it is packed.
Who decides whether I pay duty in Germany?
German Customs (Zoll), applying Übersiedlungsgut (transfer of residence) relief. Goods you have genuinely owned and used abroad normally qualify; anything new, unused or bought shortly before the move is assessed on its own, and alcohol and tobacco are excluded almost everywhere. We confirm your position in writing before booking.
What will hold my shipment up at Hamburg and Bremerhaven?
A vague inventory, more than anything else. "Kitchen items" invites an officer to open the box; "6 dinner plates, 8 glasses, 1 blender, AED 450" does not. After that it is missing residence documentation, which is why we assemble it before the vessel sails rather than after it berths.
Customs, vehicle and pet import rules change, and transit bands are corridor averages rather than promises. We confirm what applies to your shipment in writing before booking.
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