Moving to a new country can be an exciting but also overwhelming experience. There are so many things to think about and organize, and one of those things is how to handle your mail.
Here are some things you should know about mail in Germany:
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Postal addresses in Germany are formatted differently than in some other countries.
The format is: Name of recipient, street name and house number, postal code, city or town. For example:
Herr Max Mustermann
Musterstraße 123
12345 Musterstadt
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Postal codes in Germany are made up of five digits. The first two digits represent the city or region, and the last three represent the delivery area within that city or region.
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Germany has a comprehensive and efficient postal system, and mail delivery is generally reliable. However, it is not uncommon for mail to be delayed, especially around holidays.
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If you are moving from Germany and want your mail forwarded to your new address, you can fill out a form at the post office or online to have your mail forwarded for a period of time. This service is called "Nachsendeauftrag" in German.
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If you rent a place in Germany, you may need to provide a copy of your rental contract to the post office to receive mail at your new address.
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If you live in a shared apartment or house, you must have everyone's last name listed on the mailbox for each individual or family living there.
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It is also a good idea to inform your bank, employer, and any other important contacts of your new address in Germany so that you can receive important mail and documents without delay.
Moving to a new country can be daunting, but with some planning and organization, you can make the transition as smooth as possible. Don't forget to take care of your mail, as it is an important aspect of settling into your new home.
Mail Forwarding
Completing an online form only takes a few minutes to forward your mail to your new address. However, keep in mind that it may take longer for mail to reach you from another country and that there may be customs fees or other charges associated with receiving mail from abroad.
Below you will find the steps to forward your mail from the USA to Germany and from Germany to anywhere else in the world.
Mail Forwarding from the USA
The United States Postal Service (USPS) offers a mail forwarding service for individuals moving or temporarily changing their mailing address. Mail forwarding begins within three business days of your submitted request, but it can take up to 2 weeks. Mail will be forwarded as USPS receives it. Do not forget to complete a change of address form when leaving for your CMR.
Types of Mail Forwarded for Free
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First-Class™ mail forwarded for 12 months
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Periodicals (newsletters and magazines) forwarded for 6 months
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Premium shipping services (Priority Mail®, Priority Mail Express®, First-Class Package®) forwarded for 12 months
Types of Mail Forwarded for the Cost of Shipping
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Media Mail® and USPS Retail Ground® forwarded for 12 months
Types of Mail Not Forwarded
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USPS Marketing Mail® is not forwarded unless specifically requested.
How to Change Your USA Address
Forward Your Mail to an International Address
To Forward your mail to an international address, you must visit the post office in person and complete a PS Form 3575.
Forward Your Mail To or From an APO/FPO
To change your address to or from an APO/FPO, start by visiting the USPS Change of Address site. At this time, you can also update your voter registration.
Mail Forwarding from Germany
Deutsche Post offers a mail forwarding service for individuals moving or temporarily changing their mailing address. Submit your request five business days before mail forwarding should start. After that, Deutsche Post forwards all mail for 12 months.
How to Send a Registered Letter via Deutsche Post
All cancelation letters must be sent via registered mail.
Deutsche Post is the national postal service of Germany, and it offers a variety of mail and package delivery services, including registered mail. Registered mail is a service that provides additional security and tracking for important or valuable mail items. When you send a letter or package using registered mail, it is given a unique identification number and is recorded in a database. This allows you to track the progress of your mail item and provides proof of delivery.
To send a letter or package using registered mail through Deutsche Post, you can visit a post office and request the service or arrange for registered mail delivery online.
Once your mail item has been processed and sent, you can track its progress through the Deutsche Post tracking system.
APO
An APO address is a military address used for sending mail to military personnel stationed overseas or in areas where standard USPS delivery is unavailable. APO stands for "Army Post Office," and all branches of the military use this type of address.
One of the main benefits of having an APO address is that it allows military personnel to receive mail and packages from the United States while stationed abroad.
Are you confused about what you can ship to and from your APO? Have questions about Amazon shipping to an APO? Need help filling out a customs form?
You can find the answers to these questions and more below.
APO Addresses & Amazon
There seems to be much confusion regarding how to use Amazon with an APO.
An APO is a USA Address
Use Amazon.com to order something to be sent to your APO address.
Use Amazon.de to have something sent directly to your house. However, if you use Amazon.de to have something sent to your APO, it will be first sent to the USA and then back to Germany, and you may have to pay tariffs on the item.
It has been said that there are some problems when ordering from Amazon.de and shipping to your home address on the base. So instead of sending it to your home, the easiest solution is to send it to a pick-up location.
To ship to pick-up locations, the items must be dispatched or fulfilled by Amazon.de.
Amazon Pick-Up Locations Closest to Base Housing
Kelley
Pick-Up Times
Monday-Sunday--24 Hours
Patch
Pick-Up Times
Monday-Sunday--24 Hours
Panzer
Pick-Up Times
Monday-Friday--0800-1800
Saturday--0800-1200
Robinson
Pick-Up Times
Monday-Saturday--0700-2359
Customs Forms
USPS on base will no longer accept handwritten customs forms. Instead, you can print your postage and customs forms at home, making the process faster at the post office.
Weigh your packages using your kitchen or bathroom scale for a large box.
If you don't have a printer, you can complete the customs form using the computer at the post office.
All items weighing over 16 ounces must have customs forms. This includes returned items.
Packages from an APO to an APO/FPO/DPO must have a customs form, including packages shipped to another APO/FPO/DPO.
How to Complete a Customs Form
The following steps are based on sending a gift or documents, not items being sold.
Step 1
Enter Sender's Information
Fill out your name and address.
Step 2
Enter Recipients's Information
Fill out the recipient's name & address.
Step 3
Enter Weight of Package
Include the weight of the box. Only enter the dimensions of your package if over 12."
No preprinted USPS Priority boxes measure over 12".
Step 4
Select Mailing Service
Shipping to an APO/FPO from an APO, you still must select the package type, but you need not purchase postage.
Step 5
Select Non-Delivery Option
The best choice is to return it to the sender. Your package will be returned to you if the package is undeliverable.
Step 6
Enter Package Information
Select an option under contents, usually gift or documents.
Under Contents Description, type in the word Gift or Documents.
The rest you can leave blank.
Step 7
Enter Item Information
Each item you send needs to have all information entered unless the same type.
Enter Detailed Description
Enter a short description of the item.
Example: Candy
Enter Item Value
Do not add the value if sending multiples of the same item. This automatically calculates.
According to the post office clerks in Stuttgart, food cannot have value. I cannot find anywhere in the USPS regulations food may not have a value. You can't leave the value blank. I usually enter $0.10- $0.25 per food item.
Enter Quanity
How many of this item are you shipping?
Enter Weight
Enter the individual weight of the item. This will automatically calculate for multiple same-type items.
Tarif Number & Country of Origin
Leave both of these fields blank.
Complete
After all information is entered click add item(s).
Step 8
Select Export Information
Select package value is less than $2500
Step 9
Restrictions & Prohibitions
Select Next: Review and Print
By selecting the next step, you agree you are not sending any restricted or prohibited materials.
Example of Completed Customs Form
The following example is based on sending this gift in a large flat-rate box.
This customs form is, for example, only.
Ensure you follow the rules of the country you are shipping from and to.
Prohibited Items
Many items are prohibited from being sent internationally through the mail or other shipping methods. These restrictions are placed for various reasons, including safety, security, and cultural sensitivity.
Prohibited Items From being Shipped Internationally
Simply put, do not mail anything that can explode or rot.
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Aerosols
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Air Bags
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Alcoholic Beverages
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Ammunition
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Cigarettes
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Marijuana (medical or otherwise)
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Nail Polish
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Perfumes (containing alcohol)
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Poisons
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Dry Ice
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Explosives
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Fresh Fruits
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Fresh Vegetables
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Gasoline
No Hazardous Materials
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Explosives
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Gases
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Flammable & combustible liquids
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Flammable solids
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Organic substances
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Organic peroxides
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Toxic substances
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Infectious substances
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Radioactive material
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Corrosives
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Miscellaneous
No Restricted Materials
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Intoxicating liquors
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Firearms
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Knives & sharp instruments
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Liquids, powders, & odor-producing materials
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Motor vehicle master keys
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Locksmithing devices
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Controlled substances & drugs
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Unsolicited promotional samples
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Instruments for use in animal fighting ventures
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Cigarettes & smokeless tobacco
No Perishable Matter
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Animals
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Fresh foods
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Eggs
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Meats & meat products
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Plants
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Nonmailable plant pests, injurious animals
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Illegally taken fish or wildlife
Specific Items Prohibited to Mail Into Germany
Melatonin
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Absinthe
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Arms and weapons, including firearms, parts of arms, ammunition, & imitation arms
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Articles bearing political or religious notations on the address side
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Human remains
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Lithium cells & batteries, including items containing lithium cells and batteries
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Live plants and animals
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Melatonin
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Perishable infectious biological substances
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Playing cards, except in complete decks properly wrapped
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Pulverized coca beans
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Radioactive materials
Items Prohibited to Be Mailed Into & Out of USAG Stuttgart
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Cigarettes and other tobacco products, including tobacco leaves, chewing & pipe tobacco, snuff, & cigars
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Coffee
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Medications, Vitamins & Supplements for humans or animals, exceptions for designated pharmacies, etc.
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Replica weapons and inert explosive devices & weapons parts
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Meats, including preserved meats, bones, skin, hair, feathers, horns or hoofs of hoofed animals, & wool samples, whether hermetically sealed or not
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Fruits, vegetables, live animals, & live plants
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All alcoholic beverages
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Synthetic cannabinoids
The complete explanations of the restrictions can be found in USPS Postal Bulletin 25 February 2021.
Find the restrictions for other APO/FPO/DPO zip codes here.
Translations
English
Address
Box
Certified
City
Customer
Envelope
First Name
Forwarding
Last Name
Letter
Mail
Mail Box
Move
Package
Pick up
Postage Stamp
Purchase
Receive
Send
Small Package
State
Tape
Zip Code
German
Adresse
Box
Einschreiben
Stadt
Kunde(in)
Briefumschlag
Vorname
Weiterleitung
Nachname
Brief
Post
Briefkasten
Umzug
Paket
abholen
Briefmarke
kaufen
erhalten
schicken
Päckchen
Land
Klebeband
Postleitzahl
*Text coloring indicates the article's gender
der/die/das/die