Holidays in Germany

You come from a non-EC country (outside the EU) and would like to spend your holidays in Germany. What do you have to consider?

On entry into Germany you must pay attention to the import regulations. These regulations apply to your baggage as well as to your means of transport.

What do you have to pay attention to regarding your baggage?
If you want to spend your holidays in Germany, you will have to keep to national and EC- import regulations for the items you are bringing. As a rule, you may import your baggage into Germany free of import duties and without any customs formalities.

However, you should bear in mind that you

• may import goods you are bringing with you and which are intended to stay in Germany (for example presents for the hosts) free of duty only if they do not exceed the duty and tax- free allowances. Even then, the requirements for using the duty and tax- free allowances must be met.
• may bring for your holidays neither items prohibited in Germany nor goods prohibited entry.
• on entry must submit to Customs a written customs declaration for items subject to restrictions (limitations) and must be in possession of the required certificates.
• in case of goods subject to an import permit, must submit on entry an import permit as well as a written customs declaration. On the site "external law" you may find more details about the external regulations such as the import permit requirement.
• must produce a written customs declaration, e.g. for very valuable effects, if required so by German Customs.

At most German airports a special clearance procedure has been introduced to speed up the clearance of journeys by air. After you have picked up your baggage, you may pass through either a red or green exit (channel).

Which channel you must pass depends on the nature of goods you are bringing. Information boards inform you about customs regulations. You can chose the green exit if all the goods you are carrying are

• free of import duties,
• not subject to prohibitions and restrictions and
• not subject to any formalities according to external law.

Otherwise you will need to use the red exit and declare the relevant goods to Customs.
If you have commercial goods, you will always need to use the red exit and declare the goods, even if the goods are free of duty.

Please note that you may be stopped for checks even in the green channel.

Subsequent to your entry, the personal baggage shall be subject to customs supervision. This also applies when you were waved through on entry or if, in case of journey by air, you used the green exit. Customs supervision shall continue up to the re-exportation of the items.
That is,

• you must not sell, give away or pawn in the inland and
• must export completely

the baggage you brought (for example valuable photo equipment, sport apparatus or jewellery).
If you still leave items of your baggage to third persons, the appropriate import duties must be paid at a customs office.

Baggage sent in advance or reforwarded is subject to the same import regulations as the baggage you accompany. The respective common carrier (e.g. rail company) shall produce the baggage for checks at the frontier customs office on your behalf.

What do I have to pay attention to regarding the means of transport?
Please, do not forget to fasten a nationality sign to your vehicle registered in a third country and, as the case may be, to your trailer, prior to your entry into Germany. The nationality sign must be fastened additionally to the national number plate.

Subsequent to your entry into Germany, your vehicle shall be subject to customs supervision.
That is, you must not

• sell,
• give away,
• pawn or
• use commercially

your vehicle in Germany.

If you still leave your vehicle to third persons or use it commercially, the appropriate import duties must be paid. In that case, please contact the nearest customs office.

Your means of transport registered in a third country may only by yourself be introduced into Germany free of duty and used there. This is stipulated by Customs regulations as well as by motor- tax law. The occasional use of the vehicle by EC residents in your presence is permitted. The commercial use is not permitted. The period of utilisation of these vehicles is limited to six months. Breaking this limitation,

• students and persons on business order from third countries may privately use vehicles free of customs duty and taxes up to the end of their stay;
• employees with permanent residence in third countries and places of working within the EC (so- called commuters) may regularly import and re-export vehicles for temporary importation without any time limit.

© Bundesministerium der Finanzen

How high are the customs tariff rates on the goods most frequently imported by private persons?

Last revised: 1 April 2007 (subject to changes in the Brussels tariff databank "TARIC")
In principle, import turnover tax is levied on goods imported to Germany in addition to customs duty: 19 % or 7 % of the sum on the invoice (free domicile, i.e. including any transport costs) and customs duty.

Type of goods	Tariff rate as % customs value
Clothing made of
- textiles	12 %
- leather	4 %
Shoes with uppers made of
- leather	8 %
- other material	17% %
Gold and silver jewellery	2.5 %
Jewellery	4 %
Cameras	4.2 %
Lenses	6.7 %
Video/digital cameras, depending on technical details	free-14 %
Computers, notebooks, handhelds	free
USB sticks, depending on technical details	free-14 %
Monitors,depending on technical details	free-14 %
GPS equipment	3.7 %
Bicycles	14 %
Sports equipment	2.7-4.7 %
- e.g. golf clubs	2.7 %
- e.g. tennis rackets	4.7 %
Ornaments made of
- wood	free
- plastic	6.5 %
- base metal (e.g. copper)	free
Books, pictures	free (import VAT: 7 %)
Prints, posters, photographs	free
Music cassettes, CDs, videos, DVDs	3.5 %
motor vehicles
- cars	10 %
- quads (four-wheeled motor cycles	10 %
- motor cycles, cubic capacity up to 250 cc	8 %
- motor cycles, cubic capacity over 250 cc	6 %
Furniture	free-5.6 %
Cosmetic products	free-6.5 %
CD players	9.5 %
DVD players	13,9 %
MP3 players depending on technical details	free-14 %

This information is non-binding.

Duty-free documents

Importation of travel souvenirs and gifts free of duty

Travellers may introduce goods free of duty from a third country into Germany on the condition that:

1. the traveller accompanies the relevant goods
   Goods are even considered to be accompanied by the traveller if transported on the same route of travel, e.g. sent in advance or reforwarded by train. However, if the baggage is sent in advance or reforwarded by mail, it is not considered to be accompanied by the traveller.
2. the goods are intended for private use and consumption
   Travel souvenirs and gifts may be exclusively intended for private use and consumption by the traveller, the members of his/her household or as presents. Therefore, bringing goods for others against payment is not possible. Under no circumstances the goods may be intended for commercial purposes.
3. If these two requirements are met, the following quantity and value limits apply:
   1. tobacco products, if the importer is at least 17 years old:
      • 200 cigarettes or
      • 100 cigarillos or
      • 50 cigars or
      • 250 g tobacco for smoking or
      • proportionate amounts of each
   2. alcohol and alcoholic beverages, if the importer is at least 17 years old:
      • 1 litre of spirits with an alcohol content of more than 22 percent by volume or undenaturated ethyl alcohol with an alcohol content of 80 percent by volume or more or
      • 2 litres of spirits, aperitifs of wine or alcohol, taffia, sake or similar drinks with an alcohol content of 22 percent by volume or less or
      • proportionate amounts of each and
      • 4 litres of non sparkling wines and
      • 16 litres of beer
   3. medicine
      • the quantity required for personal use during the trip
   4. engine fuel
      • for each motor vehicle, the quantity contained in the vehicle´s tank and up to 10 litres in a portable container
   5. other goods
      • up to a total value of EUR 300
      • air and/or sea travellers up to a total value of EUR 430
      • travellers under 15 years of age up to a total value of EUR 175

Persons do not count as air and/or sea travellers if they enter the country as passengers on an inland waterways vessel or as owner or hirer of a non-commercial aircraft or water craft. Travellers from Switzerland entering the country via Lake Constance (Bodensee) also do not count as sea travellers.

The precondition for freedom from duty in sea transport is that the last port the vessel left is located outside of the EU or in a region of an EU member state in which Directives 2006/112 EC and 92/12/EEC do not apply.

The duty-free allowances can only be claimed once during any one journey. A journey only ends, for example, on return to your home in Germany or arrival at your holiday destination in Germany. It is therefore not permitted to claim the duty-free allowances several times by repeatedly crossing the border in quick succession.

Example:
A German holidaymaker returns to Germany by car from a holiday in Switzerland. On entering Germany, he only has the permitted amounts of duty-free goods with him. He then parks his car in Germany immediately after crossing the border, returns on foot into Switzerland and goes to the nearest retail outlet. He then returns to Germany with his new purchases.
He is required to pay duty on these purchases as he is not allowed to claim the duty-free allowances a second time in the course of his return journey.

Specific features as to the value limits

• Please note that for certain groups of individuals as for example inhabitants of border regions or commuters across the border (frontier workers) limited regulations as to quantity and value limits apply.
  
  
• For the determination of whether the value limits are met or exceeded, the goods value including the foreign turnover tax shall be important.
  
  Example:
  In Switzerland, a traveller buys a 35 mm camera with a value of EUR 200. This price includes the Switzerland turnover tax in an amount of EUR 44. Thus, the price without turnover tax would be EUR 156. Though, the value limit of EUR 175 is exceeded, as the turnover tax may not be deducted.
  
  
• The value limits of more than one person may not be grouped.
  
  Example:
  A married couple is coming from Switzerland where they have bought four antique chairs. Each chair is EUR 120.
  Within the value limit of EUR 300 they may import 2 chairs each (EUR 240) without paying duty.
  Another married couple is also coming from Switzerland, where they have bought an old restored rustic cupboard valued at EUR 320. As the cupboard cannot be divided neither the value may be split up. Therefore, the cupboard shall be considered to belong to the husband or the wife. Its value of EUR 320 exceeds the duty- free allowance of EUR 300. Therefore, import duties must be paid for this cupboard.
  
  
• If in case of indivisible goods the duty- and tax- free allowances for travellers are exceeded, import duties shall be levied on thetotal value of goods and not only on the part of value exceeding the allowance. That is, in the a.m. example the cupboard issubject to customs duty in the total value of EUR 320.

家居风水之室内布局

摘要：

对于一所住宅来说，如果把其外部环境称作“大风水”，那么住宅内部就是“小风水”了，也可以叫做居室的“外环境”和“内环境”。若从能量强弱的角度来比较，内环境可能不如外环境强烈，但当我们入住到居室内，却要与内环境的场朝夕相伴。尤其在我们全不设防而安然入睡的时候，与我们最切近的内环境场就会非常集中地对我们产生影响，这种近距离的影响力量是很大的，所以调整出一个和谐顺畅的内环境风水场是非常重要的。

一、关于门、主、灶

《阳宅三要》是古代一部著名的风水著作，他主要从大门（门）、主房（主）、灶间［灶］三个组成要素上来论述一所住宅的吉凶。这三个要素对应到城市住宅中就是住宅门的方位朝向、主卧室的方位、厨房的方位以及三者之间的关系。具体说，不同的人对三者方位的要求是不一样的。为了让大家弄清你所适宜的住宅及居室内部门、主、灶三要素的设置，首先教大家一个古代数码的小常识，掌握了这个小常识再读下面的文字就很轻松了，否则会不知所云。

1）、数字编码
我们以住宅中心为中点，把周围空间分成八等份，形成八个不同的方位（古称八卦）。为了区别上的方便，分别给每个方位编上数码序号：1为北、2为西南、3为东、4为东南、6为西北、7为西、8为东北、9为南。我们把这八个数字及对应的方位分成两大组，1、9、3、4为A组；2、6、7、8为B组。大家千万不要小看这八个数字，每个数字都是一种能量的代号，运用得当，就会大大受益，相反不会运用就会反受其害。

2）、每个人的幸运代码
我们这里给你计算出来的“幸运代码”是为了配合风水上的表述，现实中并不具有什么特别含义，若以此搏彩，后果自负哦。要想知道你的幸运代码，只要按下面的公式计算即可。
男性用“100”减去出生年的后两位数，得出的差再除以“9”，余数及余数所在的数码组中的数字就是此人的幸运代码。女性则以出生年后两位数减去“4”，得出的差再除以“9”，余数及余数所在的数码组中的数字就是此人的幸运代码。公式如下：
男：（100 －出生年份）÷9
女：（出生年份－4）÷9
另外需要说明的两点是：
(1)如果按照计算公式能够整除，则以“9”及所在数码组中的数字为幸运代码。
(2)如果余数为“5”，则男性视为“2”，女性视为“8”，对应到数码组中去，找幸运代码。

3）、宅门
(1)宅门朝向
古人根据宅门的朝向，把住宅分为八类。每类住宅都有“坐”和“向”的区别，“坐”和“向”是由门的朝向决定的。比如门朝南的住宅就坐北，俗称坐北朝南，门朝西北的住宅就坐东南，称为坐东南朝西北（若以八卦术语来说就叫做坐巽向乾）。住宅的“坐”和“向”方向永远是相反的。坐在什么方位，此住宅就称什么宅，如坐北朝南的住宅称为坎（八卦中坎代表北）宅。
我们在用以上的方法计算出自己的幸运代码后，就可以按照代码所指示的方位来选择住宅了。具体方法是，代码为A组的，就选择门朝向为B组代码方位的住宅，代码为B组的就选择门朝向为A组代码方位的住宅。由于整个住宅的场性特征是由上述的“坐”来表现的。而“坐”的方位又正好与“向”相反，所以我们选择的住宅门朝向正好不在自己的幸运数码方位之中。
(2)宅门朝向喜忌
宅门的主要功能为“纳气”，所以其门外所面对的环境喜欢洁净、愉快和温馨。如果有垃圾、公厕、下水道等则会纳入污垢之气，不利于房主运气。此外，宅门正对建筑的正门、后门、窗户、墙角或者电线杆、烟囱等也是风水中所忌讳的。当然，如果上述诸物离得较远或有宽阔的道路相隔又不为所忌。

4）、卧室
卧室在整个居室的方位要安排在自己的幸运方位上，而且若以卧室为单位来说（把卧室看成一个小住宅），如果门和床都处在卧室幸运方位上就更好了。除此之外，以下问题也是不容忽视的：
(1)卧室门不可对大门，大门是家人、朋友进出的必经之路，信息场比较复杂，这种气场冲门而入是很不利于卧室风水的。卧室为休息之所，以安静、隐密为尚。有大门对冲不仅气场不佳，人员过往所带来的声音也不利睡眠。
(2)卧室门不可正对厕所，厕所为排污纳垢之所，充满了污浊气和秽气。这样的气场直冲卧室门会直接影响房主人的运气。另外其湿冷之气也会对人的健康构成威协。现在城市内的住宅有相当一部分设计成了厕、卧直冲的格局，久居必然生害，需要根据能量的转化原理进行处理。
(3)卧室门不可正对厨房或跟厨房相邻。厨房为燥热之所，如果用古人的话说，厕所为纯阴之地，厨房为纯阳之地，都是阴阳不调合的地方。所以卧室门不宜与它们正对。厨房与卧室紧邻也会不利卧室的风水场，要是床头再冲着厨房就更加糟糕了。
(4)卧室形状宜方整。有些人为了追求视觉上的新奇，把卧室装修成斜边，凸角的形式，岂不知，不平正的形状本身就是一种动态的能量，这与卧室要求静谥、安详的主旨是冲突的，简洁、方正、平稳、安静才是适宜卧室的基调。
(5)卧室门不可正对镜子。镜子在风水师那里常被当成“化煞解灾”（消除恶性能量）的道具，也是可以参与环境能量转化的东西。正对卧室门便如瞪视着的一双眼睛，其场与卧室不和。其实正对着床的地方也是不能安放镜子的，甚至落地窗也不能对着床。我们若用现代科学的立场来解释这个原理可能颇为麻烦，所以古人也很省事地把这样一类能量叫做“镜煞”，并郑重指出：卧室不宜。
(6)卧室不宜摆放过多植物。古人认为卧室里的植物容易聚集“阴气”（于人不利的能量）。现代科学研究也表明置于卧室的植物晚间会吸收氧气，释放二氧化碳，久之不利身体健康。所以卧室里不要摆放过多植物，是有充分理论依据的。
(7)床头不宜横梁压顶。横梁在风水中也是一种煞气（恶性能量）。它有一种向下冲射和逼压的能量，如果横梁正好处于床头的位置，也就是压住房主的头部尤为不吉，会使房主睡眠不好，做恶梦、头晕、头痛等。
(8)床头忌不靠墙。稳定、平和是卧室风水的主调，床头靠墙就是求得稳定，就象获得了靠山一样，自然稳定无虞。如果没有靠山，那么床头外必然会留出空间，有空间就会产生流动性的能量场，大家知道动态的场是卧室风水所忌的。
(9)卧室用色宜柔。诸如大红大绿之类的艳色，其能量场强烈而有动感，淡雅的颜色比较柔和静谥。大家在明白了我们以上所说的卧室能量喜忌之后，自然会得出卧室用色宜淡不宜艳的结论。具体到每个人来说，如果能事先知道自己的幸运颜色运用起来就更合宜了。

5）、厨房风水
(1)宜处吉方。古人云“食者，禄也”，民以食为天，厨房是一家人一日三餐的加工场所，或者可以说是人们的养命之源。这么重要的物事当然应该处于房主的幸运方位了，这样便避免了不吉之气“病从口入”的隐患。
(2)厨房门不可与大门和厕门相对。大门、厨房门、厕所门所具有的能量都比较强烈，它们之间最好是井水不犯河水，不相互冲撞才好。而且它们各自的能量场都分别与房主人的生命信息相关，如果这几种能量之间相战，其不利的信息便会同息地移嫁到房主身上，从而导致运气多磔。
(3)厨房忌风。厨房内的能量信息在风水上属火，是阳亢之所，风在五行上属木，木能生火本来是好事，可是在古人的智慧中是充满辩证色彩的，古人认为，厨房本为阳亢之所，或者可以说阳之极矣，这种时候再有木来生就过度了。过犹不及，使事物走向了它的反面。《《乾》》卦爻辞中说的“亢龙有悔”就是指的这种不合度的状态。我们既使以现代科学的角度来看，厨房中风大也不利安全啊。
(4)其他宜忌。由于厨房是个非常重要的部位，古人在它的宜忌上是颇费心思和笔墨的，开列了好多条条和框框。简单归纳一下不外乎诸如：炉灶不可置于横梁下，灶后不宜空旷，灶不可冲门等，有些与卧室喜忌相似，原理虽不尽相同，但大家可以比较着卧室喜忌参悟就可以了。

以上我们从门、主、灶这三个要点阐述了它们各自的喜忌。而且还引入了幸运代码和方位。读者不免会有一个疑问：如果一家人的幸运代码和方位各不相同又如何呢？答曰：大布局以一家之主为标准设置，每人的卧室书房可以参照自己的幸运代码和方位。

二、客厅风水

客厅风水的布置比较复杂，首先是因为客厅容量大，要放置好多家具和设备，如客桌、茶几、家用电器、、柜子、壁架等；其次，如果按照严格的风水布局方法，不同的人和家庭对上述物品的摆放是有不同要求的，所以在这里很难分门别类地一一讲清。只好仅就一些较常规和通用的方面给大家作个泛泛而谈了。

1）、客厅喜回旋，忌直冲
这是就客厅与宅门的关系来讲的，古代的“理气”派风水最讲究气场的回荡、曲折，环抱有情，认为这样的气场对人有滋养和荫庇的作用。如果从宅门到客厅，中间有缓冲带或通道就正好满足了这个要求。如果宅门直对客厅，在门和客厅之间设置屏风，矮柜之类的东西遮挡一下，就把这个“冲”给化掉了。

2）、客厅风水首重光线充足，所以阳台上一般不要放太多遮挡光线的东西，墙壁颜色也不可太深太暗。

3）、客厅不宜有梁横跨
古人认为，客厅上方若有横梁是不吉利的，因为横梁对下面的人具有压抑特性的能量辐射，使人精神紧张，运气不振。这个情况很好处理，只要用天花板或装饰物把横梁遮掩履盖起来就可以了。

4）、客厅用色
客厅用色不宜太杂太花，应该统一在一个基调之中。风水学中根据不同朝向的住宅设计了不同的用色格调，简述如下：
门朝向为东南的住宅：客厅追求明亮，可多用白色系。
门朝东的住宅：客厅要求采光适宜，不可过亮，白色调不超过总用色面积的四分之一，三面开有大窗也不吉利。
门朝西南的住宅：客厅设计不要太宽阔，用色以白、土黄和咖啡色为宜。
门朝北的住宅：客厅不要留出过多的无用空间，因为这样的房子如果客厅内无用空间太大，就会有容易引发火灾的不利信息。
门朝南的住宅：客厅可采用冷色调，不要太鲜艳。
门朝东北的住宅：客厅家具宜厚重风格，用色喜黄色，原木色，空间喜宽绰。
门朝西北的住宅：客厅宜宽敞，用色宜淡绿、淡蓝。

5）、客厅宜多用圆形饰物
圆形物品所产生的能量为圆和、融洽、活泼，有助于人与人之间的沟通交流、和睦相处，能引导出温馨、热闹的气氛，使亲朋相聚时形成和谐共振的良性场。

6）、客厅应设在住宅的最前方
由于客厅是会见客人的地方，人杂场乱，这样的场与卧室、厨房等所需要的场是很不融洽的，所以要把它设在住宅最前方，使客厅的场尽量与卧室、厨房等远隔才好。这个道理很简单，卧室宜静，厨房宜净，都不喜欢客厅的信息场。

三、书房风水

书房是大人和孩子看书学习的地方，除了需要雅静明亮之外，还须注意以下几点：

1）、书桌不宜放中宫
书桌居中，则四面无靠，有虚无实，孤立无援，易使人精神涣散，想入非非。

2）、书桌宜向门
门为气口，可纳灵气，书桌这样摆，可以使人头脑清醒、聪明。但需要切记一点，书桌不能直冲门。

3）、书桌不宜背门背窗
书桌座后最好有墙壁作为靠山（古称乐山）。如果座后为门为窗，谓之后无靠山，主不得上司、老师赏识，事业、学业迟滞。

由于室内风水与我们的日常生活最为切近，所以对我们的影响也是强烈而持久的。从这个意义上来说，一个吉祥温馨的室肉风水对我们的事业、学业、健康等各方面都大有裨益。