Germany

Germany

Regulations on the Items Taken into and out of Germany

The cash or marketable securities (such as traveler's checks) taken by any person into, out of or via Germany cannot be valued at more than EUR 10,000. Any amount in excess must be declared for customs clearance. Otherwise, German customs can seize the money in the name of “combating money laundering”, investigate the sources of the cash and the purposes of taking it into or out of the country, and finally decide to confiscate the cash or impose a fine on the person who carries the cash. It is worth keeping in mind that for the cash of a group of visitors that is in the custody of one person of the group, if the amount reaches or exceeds EUR 10,000, the cash must also be declared upon entry or exit.

For visitors from EU countries, items for personal use are tax-exempt when taken into Germany. For passengers from non-EU countries, the quantities of tax-exempt items taken into Germany are subject to the following provisions:

1. Tobacco products: 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars, or 250 grams of tobacco.

2. Alcohol: 1 liter of alcoholic drinks of 22% or above; or 2 liters of alcoholic drinks of lower than 22%; or 2 liters of sparkling wine or alcoholic wine; or 2 liters of ordinary wine.

3. Coffee: 500 grams of coffee or 200 grams of Espresso.

4. Tea: 100 grams of tea or 40 grams of tea concentrate.

5. Perfume: 50 grams of perfume or 0.25 liters of eau de toilette.

Note: Only visitors above the age of 17 are allowed to carry duty-free tobacco and alcoholic drinks. And only visitors above the age of 15 are allowed to carry coffee.

The following items are subject to Germany’s animal and plant quarantine regulations:

1. Animal products or dairy products: It is forbidden to take into Germany meat products or dairy products from non-EU countries (except small quantities of such products for personal use from Andorra, Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, San Marino and Switzerland).

2. Other types of food: Visitors are allowed to carry small quantities of other types of food (no more than 2 kg), but such foods must meet the following requirements: a. Refrigeration is not necessary before they are opened. B. The packaging must carry the logo of the manufacturer; c. The product is intended for the end consumer; d. Packaging is in good condition.

Visa

German embassy and consulates in China have outsourced the reception of applications for Schengen visas to third-party suppliers. Outsourcing started from mid-October 2012.

For more on the new approach and how it is used in the embassy or consulate close to you, head to:

http://www.china.diplo.de/Vertretung/china/zh/02-service/visa/tls/0-s.html

Appointment for Visa

If you want to apply for a visa of a country, or submit the application for a Schengen visa to an embassy or a consulate, you must make an appointment with the embassy or consulate in question about your application being processed. German embassy and consulates in China have specific consular regions. You can visit the embassy website to learn about which consular region you belong to.

Materials to be submitted for visa application

Schengen visa holders can stay in Schengen states for up to 90 days every six months. The visa validity period is always the maximum length of stay allowed. Holders of tourist passport must make an appointment before physically going to the consular office to submit the materials for vsia application.

* Travel passport signed by the applicant himself/herself (at the time of visa application, the passport must be valid for at least another 3 months after the visa's validity period expires), and the photocopy of the photo page of the passport

* An application form fully completed and signed by the applicant himself/herself

* 2 recent passport photos (white background)

* Visa fee

* The original copy and one photocopy of the medical insurance certificate that's valid to all Schengen countries and valid for the entire period of stay in the Schengen countries (see Health Insurance Information)

* The original copy of Hukou certificate and the photocopies of all the Hukou information pages (applicable only to Chinese citizens)

* For other application materials required according to the different purposes of stay, visit the website of the embassy.

Schengen Visa Application Fees

Payable in RMB, the specific charges are as follows:

Airport transit visa and Schengen visa (regardless the visa’s validity period)    € 60

Children between 6 and 12 years old                                      € 35

Children under 6 years old                                               Free

Customs

The number "13" and "Friday" are considered unlucky.

In German etiquette, one of the basic principles is the respect for women, which is reflected in "Ladies First" - gentlemen help ladies put on or take off coat, open the door and hold the door for ladies to let ladies go first, or help ladies out of a car.

People tip. Tipping has become an important source of income in the service situations. Tipping is not only a reward, but also a respect for those who have provided services to you. At restaurants (except buffet), diners typically tip 5% -10%. In a tour group, you tip the driver and tour guide.

Embassy and Consulates of Germany in China

Embassy of Germany in China

Add: 17 Dongzhimenwai Avenue, Chaoyang District, Beijing

Website: http://www.china.diplo.de/Vertretung/china/zh/Startseite.html

Consulate General of Germany in Chengdu

Add: 19, Section 4, People's South Road, Chengdu

Postal Code: 610041

Tel: +86-28-85280800

Fax: +86-28-85280865

Consulate General of Germany in Guangzhou

Add: 208 Tianhe Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou

Postal Code: 510620

Tel: +86-20-83130000

Fax: +86-20-85168133, +86-20-85168459

Voltage and Plugs

Click to check

* The above information is for reference only. For more, contact the embassy.

* For more information on visa, head to the Star Alliance website.