Customs and entry at Düsseldorf Airport: allowances & rules

Back at Düsseldorf Airport after your holiday: on flights from non-EU countries, customs is waiting between the baggage belt and the exit. Many travellers are unsure how much they may bring – cigarettes from the duty-free shop, spirits from their holiday destination, a new phone or jewellery from the bazaar. If you know the allowances and what is prohibited, you can walk through the green channel relaxed. If you exceed them without declaring, you risk duties and penalties. In this guide we explain the most important rules for entry. The current information from German customs on zoll.de is always authoritative.

EU or non-EU: the decisive difference

For customs rules, what matters is where you are coming from – not the Schengen area, but the EU customs union:

• Travel within the EU (for example from Spain, Greece, Italy): you can generally bring goods for personal use without a value limit. For tobacco and alcohol, however, there are guide quantities. If you carry significantly more, you must prove that the goods are for personal use.
• Travel from non-EU countries (for example Turkey, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, the USA, the UK, Switzerland): fixed allowances apply here. Anything above them must be declared and, if applicable, duty paid.

Watch out for special cases: some territories belong to an EU country but not to the EU tax area – for example the Canary Islands. For tobacco and alcohol from there, the allowances for non-EU countries apply. Check this on zoll.de before shopping.

Allowances when entering from non-EU countries

Tobacco products (aged 17 and over)

• 200 cigarettes or
• 100 cigarillos or
• 50 cigars or
• 250 grams of smoking tobacco

These quantities are alternatives, not cumulative. If you bring both cigarettes and tobacco, you must calculate proportionally. Separate rules apply to other tobacco products and e-cigarette liquids.

Alcohol (aged 17 and over)

• 1 litre of spirits over 22% alcohol or 2 litres of at most 22% (for example liqueur, sparkling wine)
• plus 4 litres of still wine
• plus 16 litres of beer

Other goods

For all other goods – clothing, electronics, jewellery, perfume, souvenirs – there is a value limit of 430 euros per person aged 15 and over for air travel, and 175 euros for travellers under 15. The values of several people may not be combined to import an expensive single item duty-free. If an item exceeds the limit, duty is charged on the entire value of that item, not just the part above 430 euros.

These figures come from the publications of German customs. As rules can change, check the current information on zoll.de before your trip.

Green or red channel?

After baggage reclaim you come to two exits:

• Green channel (“Nothing to declare”): for travellers carrying only goods within the allowances and no prohibited or restricted goods. Spot checks take place here too.
• Red channel (“Goods to declare”): for anyone above the allowances, carrying restricted goods or unsure.

Anyone caught in the green channel with undeclared goods above the allowances must expect, in addition to the duties, tax criminal proceedings or a fine. If in doubt, the red channel is the safe choice – there you only pay what is due anyway.

Cash and valuables

When entering from non-EU countries, you must declare cash of 10,000 euros or more, or the equivalent in another currency, in writing. This also includes certain securities and gold. Within the EU, you must declare cash above this amount orally on request. If you take expensive items such as cameras or watches on your trip, carry purchase receipts so you can prove on your return that they were not bought abroad.

Prohibited and restricted goods

Some souvenirs may not be imported at all, or only with a permit:

• Counterfeit products: fake branded goods can be confiscated, especially in larger quantities.
• Species protection: products made from protected animals and plants such as ivory, certain corals, shells, reptile leather or remedies containing protected ingredients.
• Foods of animal origin: meat, sausage, milk and dairy products from most non-EU countries are generally prohibited.
• Weapons and ammunition: including certain types of knives and pyrotechnics.
• Medicines: only in a quantity appropriate for the trip; certain active ingredients are prohibited.
• Cultural goods: antiques and archaeological finds may be subject to export and import restrictions.

Using duty-free correctly

Goods from the duty-free shop of a non-EU airport count towards your allowances on entry. “Duty-free” only means that no taxes were charged in the country of departure – not that you can import unlimited amounts. Liquids from duty-free should stay in the sealed bag with the receipt, especially when changing planes. More in the guide Liquids in hand luggage.

Passport control on entry

On flights from outside the Schengen area, you go through Federal Police passport control before baggage reclaim. Have your ID ready. For children: every child needs their own document. In addition, the EU is gradually introducing an electronic Entry/Exit System for travellers from non-EU countries, which means no change for EU citizens.

Allowing time for your return

Passport control, baggage reclaim and customs can take some time when returning from non-EU countries. So let your parking provider know if it is taking longer, and contact them after customs. How the return of your car works is explained in the guide Returning: collecting your car at Düsseldorf Airport. If you are picking someone up, you will find tips in the guide Dropping off and picking up at Düsseldorf Airport.

Online purchases and parcels from your holiday

Some travellers have purchases from their holiday sent home to save luggage space. Then the travel allowances do not apply, but the rules for shipments from abroad. For parcels from non-EU countries, import VAT is usually charged, often plus fees from the delivery company. Take this into account before sending larger purchases.

Common customs misconceptions

• “Used means duty-free”: a phone bought on holiday does not become duty-free just because you have already used it.
• “Combined for the family”: the value limits apply per person and may not be added together for a single expensive item.
• “Duty-free is tax-free on entry”: duty-free goods count towards your allowances.
• “Within the EU everything is allowed”: guide quantities apply to tobacco and alcohol, and prohibited goods remain prohibited.

Getting your purchases home safely

If you went shopping on holiday, short distances after landing are welcome. With parking booked in advance, you don’t have to drag bags and suitcases through stations. With valet parking at Düsseldorf Airport, your car is waiting at the meeting point near the terminal. Compare the providers here: Find parking at Düsseldorf Airport.

Customs and pets

If you bring a pet back from your holiday or return with your own animal, animal health regulations apply – for example on microchips, rabies vaccination and the EU pet passport. For animals from certain countries, additional blood tests are required. Find out from customs and the responsible veterinary office before you travel.

Customs checklist

• Country of origin checked: EU or non-EU (note special cases such as the Canary Islands)
• Allowances for tobacco, alcohol and goods respected
• Receipts for expensive purchases kept
• No prohibited souvenirs such as counterfeits or protected species
• Cash of 10,000 euros or more declared
• If in doubt, red channel

Conclusion: know the allowances, declare honestly

With the most important allowances in mind and a little care when buying souvenirs, customs at Düsseldorf Airport is no problem. If you are unsure, ask at the red channel – that is always better than a penalty. A parking space booked in advance takes care of the journey home. All options are on the page Parking at Düsseldorf Airport.