Moving to Germany – household effects duty-free, with inventory list and plan

The conditions for duty-free import and form 0350 are summarised above. This section answers the questions that usually remain open during planning: which items German customs actually accepts as household effects (Übersiedlungsgut), what is expressly excluded and what matters organisationally on the Swiss side on moving day.

What German customs accepts as household effects

According to zoll.de, household effects include household goods – personal belongings, household, bed and table linen, furniture and appliances – private vehicles as well as pets and riding animals. Household provisions are also covered, as long as they do not exceed the quantity a family normally keeps in stock. So you do not have to empty your pantry; large-scale stockpiling, however, is not included.

Expressly excluded are alcoholic products, tobacco and tobacco products, and commercial vehicles. According to customs, items used for business purposes are also excluded; for professional equipment German customs has a separate procedure, temporary admission. If you are taking a wine cellar or workshop equipment with you, list these items separately and clarify them with customs in advance.

Import before the change of residence

Not every move fits exactly with your registration in Germany. German customs also permits import before the transfer of residence if you undertake to establish your residence in the customs territory of the Union within six months. According to customs, ownership and use of the items can be proven with invoices, for example – so do not throw away receipts for more expensive furniture and appliances.

If the new flat is not ready until later, part of your household goods can stay in Switzerland. Our furniture storage bridges this period; keep in mind the twelve-month import deadline described above.

Export from Switzerland: customs office and opening hours

On the Swiss side, the BAZG (Federal Office for Customs and Border Security) requires the export to be declared during opening hours at a customs office that handles commercial goods. For moving day this means: the border crossing depends on this customs office and not on the shortest route, and the departure time on its opening hours. If a vehicle was not yet registered in Switzerland, form 13.20A must be handed in on departure.

For dogs, cats and ferrets, the BLV (Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office) specifies a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination and a pet passport. For exports to EU countries the same requirements apply as for imports, supplemented by any national regulations. According to the BLV there are no checks on export – the documents must nevertheless be complete.

Checklist for customs and the border

• Organise the inventory list by category of goods and list alcohol, tobacco and professional equipment separately.
• Keep receipts for more valuable furniture and appliances ready as proof of ownership and use.
• Choose the customs office for commercial goods and check its opening hours before the moving date.
• Carry the pet passport and vaccination certificate in your car, do not pack them in the removal van.
• If importing before the change of residence, clarify the undertaking to take up residence with customs.

We go through these points together during the free viewing. The information provided by German customs is binding; it is best to check details in advance with the responsible customs office. If you are planning a move to Austria instead, you will find the rules there on the corresponding page, and all other destinations under international removals.

Frequently asked questions

Who takes care of handing over my Swiss flat if I already live in Germany?
Our cleaning team: we clean the empty flat after you move out and are on site with the property management at the handover appointment. If they find any issues, we fix them immediately and free of charge. That way you do not have to travel back from Germany specially for the inspection.

Who makes sure there is space in front of my new front door in Germany?
We organise it: in German cities a temporary no-parking zone (Halteverbot) is requested from the city administration, and every city has its own procedure with lead time. We find out early which office is responsible at the destination and coordinate the date with your loading day. The German authority invoices you directly for the fee.

How do you split a move from Switzerland to Berlin or Hamburg over two days?
On the first day we load in Switzerland and complete the export, then the van heads north. Your household goods remain secured in the vehicle and insured the whole time. On the second day we unload at the new address and assemble the furniture; you travel ahead at your leisure and meet us with the key.

When is the van loaded for a move to Germany so that customs runs smoothly?
Depending on the starting point, the day before or very early in the morning: the van should be at the chosen customs office when it opens, so that the export is cleared without waiting. We set the exact schedule after the viewing and include it in the quote. That way you know in advance when the flat will be empty and the van on its way.

What happens to an upright or grand piano when moving to Germany?
We transport the instrument with the rest of your goods, padded, on suitable dollies and firmly strapped in the van. If it is on an upper floor, we check the stairwell and the access at the destination during the viewing. The effort involved is included in the individual quote for the entire move.

What support is available for an office or business relocation to Germany?
We also move offices, IT equipment and archives, outside business hours if you wish. Because items used for business purposes do not count as private household effects, we clarify the customs procedure separately in advance and handle the complete customs clearance from Swiss export to import into Germany.