To ship household goods from India to Germany, you book a mover, get a video survey and written quote, have your goods packed with an inventory, and let the mover handle export clearance, sea or air freight, German customs (Zoll) and delivery to your door.
The points that matter most:
- Time: about 45–65 days door to door for a full container, 55–80 days for a shared (LCL) shipment, and 7–12 days by air.
- Cost: indicative door-to-door prices run from about ₹3 lakh for a 1BHK to about ₹8.5 lakh for a 4BHK or villa. Details are below.
- Duty and VAT: used household goods can be relieved from duty and import VAT if you meet the removal-goods conditions, which depend on your move being a genuine change of residence.
- Timing matters more than most movers tell you. German customs normally expects your residence registration (Anmeldung), so ship to arrive after your registration appointment, or you may pay port storage.
Want a quote for your move? Get a free quote from Pikkol or message us on WhatsApp.
How does shipping to Germany work, step by step?
- Video or in-home survey and written quote. Your coordinator estimates the volume in CBM and gives you a door-to-door quote with every line item shown.
- Customs paperwork. Pikkol prepares Zoll Form 0350, the German customs declaration for removal goods, from your packing inventory.
- Shipment timed to your Anmeldung. Pikkol times your shipment to your registration date, so goods don’t sit at the port.
- Packing, export customs and loading. This takes about 3–7 days. Goods typically leave from Nhava Sheva (JNPT), Mundra or Chennai.
- Ocean or air transit. Sea transit to Hamburg or Bremerhaven (or via Rotterdam or Antwerp) takes about 25–35 days port to port. Your coordinator shares the vessel and ETA once your cargo is booked.
- German customs clearance. Clearance takes about 3–10 days. Pikkol’s German partner handles the Zoll process.
- Delivery. Delivery takes about 2–7 days, including a temporary no-parking zone permit (Halteverbotszone) that your partner arranges. Southern cities such as Munich, Stuttgart and Frankfurt add about 3–7 days.
One move coordinator stays with you from survey to delivery, so you aren’t chasing several people across two countries.
Which shipping method should you choose?
LCL (shared container) suits up to about 13 CBM, such as a studio or 1BHK. You pay for the space you use.
A 20ft container is usually better from about 14 CBM, such as a 2BHK or 3BHK.
A 40ft container suits large homes and villas.
Air freight works for essentials (about 250 kg), and for anything you need within days of landing.
Many families combine two: essentials by air, and the rest by sea. Read our guide to comparing international moving quotes before you choose.
How much does it cost?
These are Pikkol’s indicative door-to-door figures from India to Germany. They exclude duties and taxes, destination exam or inspection fees, storage and insurance, and your survey confirms the real price.
- 1BHK or studio (about 10.3 CBM, LCL): ₹3–4.4 lakh
- 2BHK (about 18.3 CBM, 20ft container): ₹4–6 lakh
- 3BHK (about 27.7 CBM, 20ft container): ₹4–6 lakh
- 4BHK or villa (about 40.3 CBM, 40ft container): ₹6–8.5 lakh
- Air, essentials only (about 250 kg): ₹1.25–2 lakh
Your final price depends mainly on volume. Every item you leave behind lowers your bill, so decide what to ship before you ask for a quote.
What are Germany’s customs and duty rules?
Germany and the EU offer duty and import VAT relief on removal goods (Übersiedlungsgut), if you meet these conditions, as Pikkol’s page describes:
- You have lived outside the EU for at least 12 months.
- You owned and used the goods for at least 6 months.
- You import them within 12 months of moving your residence to Germany.
- You don’t sell, lend or transfer them for 12 months after import.
Some points to know:
- Registration comes first. Customs normally expects your registration certificate, and big-city appointments can take weeks. Plan your shipment to arrive after your Anmeldung appointment.
- New goods are dutiable, and so are alcohol and tobacco above allowances. German import VAT is 19%.
- Rules change, and the officer’s decision at clearance is final.
Read the customs, visa and documentation guide for the paperwork at each end.
Which documents do you need?
- Your passport with your German visa or residence permit
- Your Anmeldebestätigung / Meldebescheinigung (residence registration), issued after you arrive
- Zoll Form 0350, prepared with Pikkol’s help
- A detailed inventory with values, in English or German (Pikkol prepares it at packing)
- Your employment contract or admission letter, and your rental agreement
- The Bill of Lading or Air Waybill
- Proof of 12+ months outside the EU, if asked
Keep copies, both physical and digital, and carry originals in your hand luggage.
What can’t you ship to Germany?
- Meat, dairy and many animal products from outside the EU
- Plants, seeds and soil without phytosanitary certificates
- Counterfeit goods and pirated media
- Firearms and weapons without a German permit
- Medicines beyond a personal supply, and some need a doctor’s certificate
- Hazardous goods, such as aerosols, fuel, gas cylinders and paint
Will your appliances work, and what should you ship?
Germany uses 230V/50Hz, so most Indian appliances work with a Type C or F adapter. Many German rentals don’t come with a fitted kitchen, so shipping some appliances can make sense. But older apartment buildings (Altbau) often lack a lift and have narrow stairs, so check the new flat’s kitchen, lift and storage before you decide.
Good candidates to ship: clothes, bedding, kitchenware, books, sentimental items, children’s items and furniture you love that fits. See the high-value move guide for art and valuables.
Can you bring your car?
Rarely worth it. Importing a car needs EU conformity approval and a TÜV inspection, and right-hand-drive cars are impractical and costly to adapt. See vehicle shifting, and check the rules before you decide.
Can you bring your pet?
Yes, but plan well ahead. Pikkol’s page says India is not EU-listed for rabies, so pets need:
- A microchip
- A rabies vaccination
- A titre test at an EU-approved lab
- A three-month wait from the blood draw before entry
- An EU health certificate
Start at least 4 months ahead. See pet relocation, and Pikkol’s guide to international pet relocation. Pet rules change, so confirm them with the official authority.
What if your German home isn’t ready?
If your goods arrive before you can move in, you can hold them in storage in India before you ship. Storage is a separate service and isn’t included in the shipping quote. Ask for access, delivery and insurance terms in writing.
What should you do, and when?
- 3–4 months before you fly: get quotes, book a video survey, and decide what to ship, sell or leave. Start pet paperwork if you have a pet.
- 2–3 months before: apply for your visa early, since processing can take several weeks. Book temporary accommodation.
- 6–8 weeks before: confirm your Anmeldung timing, and agree a shipping date with your coordinator.
- 2–4 weeks before: declutter, label boxes and gather documents.
- Packing week: supervise packing, check the inventory, and keep documents, medicines and valuables with you.
- After sailing: track your shipment and keep your Bill of Lading.
- On arrival: register at your Bürgeramt, then confirm delivery with your partner, and check your goods against the inventory.
Pikkol’s own guide to relocating from India to Germany covers the wider move, including visas, accommodation and banking.
Why do families choose Pikkol for Germany?
- Free video survey and a written, itemised quote before you pay
- Form 0350 prepared for you from your packing inventory
- Shipping timed to your Anmeldung, which helps avoid port storage
- A German partner that handles Zoll clearance, the no-parking permit and delivery
- One move coordinator from survey to delivery
- Options beyond the shipment: storage, pet relocation, vehicle shifting and settling-in services
- Experience: more than 1,00,000 moves since 2015
Learn more about Pikkol, browse the FAQs, or read the settling-in guide and risk guide.
Ready to ship your home to Germany? Book a free survey and quote or chat on WhatsApp. Tell us your city, your German city, home size and date, and we’ll come back with a written plan.
Frequently asked questions
How do I ship household goods from India to Germany?
Book a video survey, get a written quote, pack with an inventory, and have your mover handle export clearance, freight, German customs and delivery.
How long does shipping to Germany take?
About 45–65 days door to door for a full container, 55–80 days for LCL, and 7–12 days by air. Sea transit is about 25–35 days port to port.
How much does it cost to ship from India to Germany?
Pikkol’s indicative door-to-door range runs from about ₹3–4.4 lakh for a 1BHK by LCL to ₹6–8.5 lakh for a 4BHK or villa in a 40ft container. Duties, destination fees, storage and insurance are extra.
What is Form 0350?
The German customs declaration for removal goods. Pikkol prepares it from your packing inventory.
Do I pay duty on my household goods?
Duty and import VAT relief can apply if you’ve lived outside the EU for at least 12 months, owned and used the goods for at least 6 months, and import them within 12 months of moving. New goods are dutiable.
When should my goods arrive?
After your Anmeldung (residence registration), because customs normally expects your registration certificate. Goods arriving earlier can incur port storage.
Can I bring my appliances?
Germany uses 230V/50Hz, so most work with a Type C or F adapter. Check the kitchen and space in your new home first.
What can’t I bring to Germany?
Meat, dairy and many animal products, plants and seeds without certificates, counterfeit goods, weapons without a permit, medicines beyond a personal supply and hazardous goods.
Can I bring my car or pet?
Cars are rarely worth it. Pets need a microchip, rabies vaccination, a titre test, a three-month wait and an EU health certificate, so start at least 4 months ahead.
Can I ship just a few boxes?
Yes. Use LCL, air freight or the international parcel service.