Customs and export information

To send DHL PAKET items, please use the customs declaration CN 23, which is included in the Paketschein International, available from your local outlet. The customs declaration must be placed in an adhesive pouch available from the outlet and attached to the address side of the parcel.

• Download CN 23

To send DHL PÄCKCHEN items, please use the customs declaration CN 22, which is included in the Päckchenschein WELT, available from your local outlet. Customs declaration CN 22 must be attached to the address side of the parcel.

• Download CN 22

Note:

If the value of the content exceeds 300 Special Drawing Rights (EUR 339.41 on 01.01.2012), you must use customs declaration CN 23. This must be placed in an adhesive pouch available from your outlet and attached to the address side of the parcel.
If the CN 23 form cannot be fastened to the address side, you may use a different side. In this case, the top section of the CN 22 form must also be affixed to the address side.

To send business parcels with DHL EUROPAKET or WELTPAKET, the following customs documents are required:

Commercial invoice
The commercial invoice must be enclosed with every commercial shipment to a country with payable duties. It serves as a basis for settlement between the business partners, legitimation for export to the destination country and a legally binding customs document for the import of the goods. It also functions as the basis for calculating the import duties.

Note: No separate pre-printed form is required for the commercial invoice. It must not be altered after being issued (e.g. by overwriting or using correction fluid).

The commercial invoice must show the following information (in English or the national language):

• Freight conditions (terms of delivery)
• Exact description of the goods (including item description, quantity, total weight and size/dimensions), with customs tariff number if possible
• Value of goods: individual price and total value; the agreed packaging, insurance and transport costs should be listed separately
• Country of origin of the goods
• Invoice number and date of commercial invoice
• Address and if possible bank details of sender (usually shown on the company notepaper); the phone and fax numbers may also be useful
• Full address of recipient
• The value of goods should if possible be stated in the country’s own currency (but this is not mandatory)
• VAT number of sender
• Name and address of manufacturer, if the goods were not manufactured in the sender’s country
• Reason for export, e.g. sale of goods, sample, repair etc.
• Original signature and stamp, including sender’s name and position in the company
• Declaration of origin on the commercial invoice

The commercial invoice is placed in the shipment pouch behind the parcel registration card and the pouch is then attached to the parcel.

Pro forma invoice
In the case of free goods deliveries, a pro forma invoice can be used for customs purposes. It is enclosed with the goods instead of a commercial invoice in the following example scenarios:

• for free samples or gifts
• if the goods will only remain in the foreign country temporarily
• for free spare parts deliveries

Note: Because customs officials may sometimes be suspicious of pro forma invoices, it is advisable to use a commercial invoice with the words “Value for customs purposes only” instead of a pro forma invoice.

Proof of preferential origin
If the destination country does not already offer special exemption from duty, EU products can be treated with preferential rates of import duty. These are set at such a level as to reduce or eliminate the rate of duty in relation to the standard rate of duty for third countries. Acceptable proofs of preferential origin include the EUR.1 movement certificate or a declaration of origin on the commercial document. The nature of the evidentiary document depends on the destination country and the value of the goods.

• Proof of preferential origin for a value of up to €6000: A declaration of origin on the commercial invoice is sufficient as proof of preferential origin.
• Proof of preferential origin for a value greater than €6000: Proof of preferential origin / EUR.1 movement certificate instead of declaration of origin on the commercial invoice

Information on the current conditions relating to preferential origin is available from the Customs office.

If a declaration of origin on the commercial invoice is sufficient, it must contain the following:

• Date
• Stamp
• Original signature of the exporter
• The following wording:

In German: “Der Ausführer der Waren, auf den sich dieses Handelspapier bezieht, erklärt, dass diese Waren, soweit nicht anders angegeben, präferenzbegünstigte EU-Ursprungswaren sind.”

In English: “The exporter of these products covered by this document declares that except where otherwise clearly indicated, these products are of… (insert country of origin of the goods) preferential origin.”

• The sender assumes the risk for all consequences arising from the shipment of non-permissible goods abroad, the non-observance of import and customs regulations of other countries (including transit regulations), the incorrect or inadequate filling-out of the customs declaration (CN23 or CN22) or any other accompanying paperwork, and from the non-observance of applicable export regulations. This also applies to damages incurred by the sender as a result of any loss of claim to compensation if the shipment is confiscated by the customs authorities of another country. It is the sender’s responsibility to obtain the relevant information for themselves from the recipients of the shipments, overseas representatives of the country of destination or transit, foreign trade offices, chambers of commerce and industry or other appropriate places.
• It should be noted that, even when sending within EU states, customs and excise obligations may arise from other stipulations relating to customs, taxation or foreign trade legislation.
• Deutsche Post AG can provide information on import and customs regulations (including transit regulations) in foreign countries provided such information is available to it.
• No guarantee is provided for the correctness of this information. By calling the customer service team on +49 (0)18 05 / 345 22 55 (14 cents per minute from a German land line; mobile rates may vary), you can obtain further information and non-binding advice, for instance on the “Liste des objets interdits” (list of banned objects) published by the International Office of the Universal Postal Union.

1. Register the export of your goods using the online customs tool Internetausfuhranmeldung Plus (IAA Plus) or, if you are a user of ATLAS (Automatisiertes Tarif- und lokales Zollabwicklungssystem), with the relevant export customs office.
2. The code DE003305 must always be used as the departure customs office for all shipments sent via Deutsche Post, regardless of their destination country.
3. Please print out a separate Export Accompanying Document (EAD) for each shipment. You will recognise the export accompanying document from its Movement Reference Number (MRN) and MRN barcode, which serve as a means of identifying the export declaration within the processing chain.
4. Place the export accompanying document as the topmost document in the self-adhesive transparent parcel registration card pouch and secure it to the outside of the parcel. Please note that your parcel is not correctly assembled and thus the export process cannot be completed electronically if the export accompanying document is placed inside the shipment or attached to the delivery list.
5. Near the shipment address, affix the label “Achtung! Ausfuhranmeldung”. Simply print out the label (black and white is acceptable), cut it out and affix it to the shipment next to the address label using glue.

You can download the label further down on this page.

Important:
If it is discovered when the parcel is handed over to Deutsche Post AG that any of the required documents are missing, Deutsche Post AG must refuse to accept the shipment and will return the parcel to the person dropping it off.

With effect from 01.07.2009, you will only be able to make an export declaration electronically.
Written customs declarations using copies 1-3 of the single administrative document will no longer be accepted from 01.07.2009.
Your export shipment can only be processed correctly and the export process completed electronically if you follow the points below carefully. The electronic “exit confirmation” message sent by customs is also your proof for VAT purposes.

NOTE: Unfortunately the files are only available in German.