What can I not bring to Berlin when moving from abroad?

Electronics and appliances: what won't work in Berlin

Germany runs on 230V/50Hz electricity with Type F sockets (Schuko plugs). If you're coming from the US, Canada, Japan, or most of Latin America, your home country uses 110–120V/60Hz. Plugging a 110V appliance directly into a German socket without a voltage converter will damage or destroy it — a travel adapter alone won't fix this.

Items that typically fail or underperform without a proper step-down converter include hair dryers, electric shavers, blenders, rice cookers, and stand mixers. Electric motors in appliances like fans and washing machines run at the wrong speed on 50Hz if they were built for 60Hz, which causes overheating.

Modern laptops, phone chargers, and most camera gear are dual-voltage (check the label for "100–240V") — those only need a plug adapter, not a converter. A good Type F adapter costs around €5–8 at any Berlin Baumarkt (hardware store) or at Media Markt on Alexanderplatz.

Bottom line: check the voltage label on every appliance before packing it. If it says 110V only, leave it. Buying a German equivalent on arrival is almost always cheaper than shipping or converting.

Food items banned or restricted at German customs

BER airport (Berlin Brandenburg) follows EU customs rules. Some food restrictions will surprise people arriving from outside the EU.

If you're arriving from a non-EU country, you cannot bring meat or dairy products in quantities above personal consumption — and in practice, any commercially packaged meat or dairy is likely to be confiscated at the border. This includes cured meats, dried fish, and certain cheeses. The rules exist to prevent the spread of animal diseases and are enforced consistently.

Plant-based food — fruits, vegetables, seeds, and soil — faces restrictions depending on the country of origin. Bringing fresh mangoes from South Asia or citrus from outside the EU risks confiscation and a fine. Processed foods (sealed, commercially labelled) in personal quantities are generally fine.

There is a personal customs allowance of €430 for goods arriving by air. Alcohol limits are 1 litre of spirits over 22% ABV or 2 litres of wine/beer per adult. Tobacco is capped at 200 cigarettes per adult.

If you're unsure about a specific item, the Zollamt (German Customs Authority) publishes an up-to-date list at zoll.de. Declaring something you're uncertain about is always better than having it seized — customs officers at BER can be thorough.

Medications: what requires documentation and what's prohibited

Germany prohibits or restricts a number of medications that are legally prescribed and widely available elsewhere. Common examples include certain ADHD medications (Adderall is not licensed in Germany), codeine-based cough syrups, and some sleeping pills. Cannabis, even for medical use, requires a specific German prescription and cannot simply be imported.

If you rely on a controlled substance (narcotics, strong opioids, benzodiazepines), you must carry a multilingual certificate issued by a licensed physician confirming the diagnosis and dosage. The Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte (BfArM) — the German Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices — governs import permissions for controlled substances.

For stays longer than 30 days, you are allowed to bring a maximum 30-day supply of any controlled medication across the border without prior import authorisation. Beyond that, you need to apply to BfArM before travelling.

Arrange your medical documentation before leaving. Your GP at home can issue an English/German certificate, and your local German embassy can advise on format. Running out of medication in Berlin and trying to source a foreign prescription is slow and stressful — the German healthcare system requires you to register with a Krankenkasse (health insurer) and find a local GP first.

Should you bring your furniture to Berlin?

Practically speaking, no — and not just for logistical reasons.

International shipping of furniture to Berlin is expensive. A standard 20-foot container from the US costs between €3,000 and €6,000 door to door, takes 6–10 weeks, and arrives at a customs warehouse rather than your apartment. You'll then need to arrange a Berlin moving company (Umzugsfirma) to do the final delivery, often at additional cost.

Berlin apartments also have specific realities that make imported furniture impractical. Many older Altbau (pre-war period) buildings in Prenzlauer Berg, Mitte, or Kreuzberg have narrow staircases, small doorways, and no lifts. A sofa that works in a North American or UK home may simply not fit through a typical Berlin Gründerzeit building entrance.

For stays of 3–18 months — the typical range for students and short-term expats — renting furniture makes more financial sense than shipping, storing, and then shipping again. A furnished studio in Neukölln currently rents for roughly €900–€1,100 Warmmiete (rent including utilities) per month. In Friedrichshain, expect €950–€1,200. In Mitte, €1,200–€1,600. If you take an unfurnished flat to save on Kaltmiete (base rent), the cost of equipping it even minimally adds up quickly when you're only staying for a few months.

Services like UniRents deliver furniture, tech, and household essentials to your Berlin address with setup included, and collect everything at the end of your stay — no customs paperwork, no van hire, no leftover IKEA furniture on the pavement outside your building on moving day.

Customs duties on shipped belongings

If you're moving to Berlin permanently or for a long stay, you may qualify for duty-free import of personal belongings under the Übersiedlungsgut (removal goods) exemption. To qualify, you must have lived outside the EU for at least 12 months and have owned the items for at least 6 months. You must apply to the Hauptzollamt (main customs office) in advance.

If you don't qualify — or if you're shipping items bought specifically for the move — customs duties apply. Electronics face a standard EU import duty of around 14%, and clothing around 12%. VAT (Mehrwertsteuer) at 19% is added on top of the customs value. A laptop worth €1,200 shipped separately from outside the EU could trigger a €190+ import bill.

Shipping personal items as gifts or labelling them as "used" to avoid duty is a common mistake. German customs can and do inspect packages, and undervaluing goods is treated as fraud. The fine is typically 10–100% of the correct duty owed.

Berlin rental rules on large items and appliances

Once you're in your Berlin flat, a few practical rules apply that many new arrivals don't expect.

Portable air conditioning units are technically allowed in most rentals, but many Mietvertrag (rental contract) clauses prohibit drilling holes through walls for exhaust hoses. A freestanding AC unit that vents through a window is usually permissible, but check your contract. In Altbau buildings, some landlords prohibit them entirely citing building fabric concerns.

Washing machines in German flats connect via a standardised cold-water inlet and a 230V outlet. If your flat comes with a Waschmaschinenanschluss (washing machine connection), your machine must match German fittings — most machines sold outside Germany use different connector types.

Large furniture that requires wall-mounting (shelving, certain bed frames) generally requires landlord permission and must be removed without damage at the end of the tenancy. The Kaution (security deposit) — capped at three months' Kaltmiete under German law — can be withheld to cover repair costs if you leave holes in walls. Document the condition of your flat on arrival with dated photographs.

Germany's Kündigungsschutz (tenant protection from eviction) laws are strong once you're registered — but note that Anmeldung (residence registration) at your local Bürgeramt (citizens' office) is legally required within 14 days of moving in and is also a prerequisite for opening a German bank account, registering with a Krankenkasse, and completing a Wohnungsbewerbung (rental application) for a permanent flat.

What to watch out for

• Furnished flat scams: Listings on Facebook Marketplace and some classifieds sites ask for a Kaution transfer before a viewing. No legitimate Berlin landlord asks for payment before you've signed a Mietvertrag and seen the property. If someone claims to be abroad and wants you to wire money first, it's a scam.
• Nebenkosten surprises: The advertised Kaltmiete often excludes Nebenkosten (additional costs) — heating, water, building maintenance — which typically add €150–€250/month in Berlin. Always ask for the Warmmiete figure before budgeting.
• Customs delays at BER: Shipping parcels to your Berlin address before you arrive can result in items sitting in a customs warehouse while you're still in transit. You'll need to be present in Germany with your passport to release them. Ship to arrive after you do.
• Missing the Anmeldung window: Failing to register at a Bürgeramt within 14 days of moving in is technically a fineable offence. Appointments (Termine) at Berlin Bürgerämter are in short supply — book online the moment you know your address.
• Schufa (credit check) gaps: If you're applying for a longer-term unfurnished rental, landlords will request a Schufa report and Einkommensnachweise (proof of income). As a new arrival, you have no German credit history. Some landlords accept a letter of employment or university enrolment plus a guarantor, but this takes time to arrange — start before you arrive.

Common questions

Can I bring my US plug appliances to Berlin?

You can physically bring them, but most US appliances are built for 110V and will be damaged by Germany's 230V supply. You need a step-down voltage converter, not just a plug adapter. For most people, it's easier to sell or leave behind high-wattage appliances and buy replacements in Berlin.

What documents do I need to rent an apartment in Berlin as a foreigner?

Most landlords ask for a copy of your passport, a recent Schufa report, Einkommensnachweise (proof of income or a university offer letter), and sometimes a Mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung (rental debt clearance certificate) from a previous landlord. As a new arrival with no German credit history, a letter from your employer or university and three months of bank statements is usually the practical alternative.

How much is a security deposit in Germany?

The Kaution is legally capped at three months' Kaltmiete. For a typical Berlin flat with a €1,000 Kaltmiete, that means a maximum €3,000 deposit. It must be held in a separate account and returned — with interest — within a reasonable period after you move out, typically 3–6 months, once any damage claims are settled.

What is Anmeldung and when do I need to do it in Berlin?

Anmeldung is the mandatory registration of your address at a Berlin Bürgeramt (citizens' office). You must complete it within 14 days of moving into your flat. You'll need your passport, your signed rental contract, and a Wohnungsgeberbestätigung — a form your landlord completes confirming you live at the address. The Anmeldung confirmation document (Meldebescheinigung) is then required for almost everything else: bank accounts, health insurance, and mobile phone contracts.

Is it cheaper to ship furniture to Berlin or rent it when I arrive?

For stays under 18 months, renting on arrival is almost always cheaper. International furniture shipping costs €3,000–€6,000 for a container, takes 6–10 weeks, and you still need local delivery at the Berlin end. Renting furniture through a service that delivers and collects removes customs paperwork, storage, and the problem of disposing of items when you leave.