Navigating Vat Refund At Berlin Airport: A Challenging Task

Berlin Airport offers VAT refunds to travellers from outside the EU. To obtain a refund, travellers must present their purchases, invoices, and travel documents to customs and receive confirmation. The refund can then be collected at cash refund offices at Global Blue and Travelex. The process can be completed either before or after checking in baggage, depending on whether the goods are in checked baggage or hand luggage. Travellers can receive their refund in cash or by cheque, and some providers also offer refunds via Alipay, Wechat Pay, or credit card.

Customs check procedure

Berlin's BER Airport has a customs administration that monitors the cross-border transportation of goods and levies customs duties or tax payments. The airport has two terminals.

Travellers residing outside the EU are entitled to a refund of the VAT paid on purchases made in Germany before returning home. To claim this refund, travellers must present their purchases, invoices, and travel documents to customs for confirmation. The refund will be issued at the cash refund offices of Global Blue and Travelex.

• Go to your check-in counter and obtain your baggage labels.
• Proceed to the customs counter at Check-in Island 7 with your labelled baggage. Here, you will receive the export certificate for the goods in your checked baggage.
• If you are carrying the goods in your hand luggage, you can leave your checked baggage at the check-in counter. After passing through the security checkpoint, go directly to the customs hand luggage clearance in the security area.
• Present your purchases, invoices, and travel documents to the customs officer for confirmation. Ensure that your merchandise is unused, unworn, in its original packaging, and with the price tag.
• After confirmation from customs, proceed to the cash refund offices of Global Blue or Travelex to receive your VAT refund in cash or by cheque.

Please note that VAT refunds are only applicable if the merchandise is exported within three months of purchase. It is recommended to inform the retailer of your intention to export the goods before making any purchases in Germany.

Additional Customs Regulations

• Cash or equivalent means of payment (including traveller's cheques, savings accounts, shares, bonds, etc.) exceeding €10,000 must be reported. The type of reporting differs depending on the travel areas.
• For journeys within the EU, oral registration is required, while for travel between the EU and third countries, written registration is necessary.
• Endangered and protected animal species and plants must not be transported, as per the Washington Convention.

VAT refund methods

Berlin Airport (BER) has a straightforward procedure for VAT refunds for travellers residing outside the EU. This applies to travellers from third countries, who can get a refund on the VAT they paid on purchases made in Germany before returning home.

• Customs Check: After checking in, proceed to the customs counter at Check-in Island 7 with your baggage. If you have oversized baggage, go to the customs office in the gallery in the main hall (also in Terminal 1). Present your purchases, invoices, and travel documents for confirmation. An export certificate for the goods in your checked baggage will be issued, and your baggage will be taken away.
• Hand Luggage Clearance: If you are carrying goods in your hand luggage, you can go directly to the customs hand luggage clearance in the security area after passing through the security checkpoint.
• Global Blue Tax-Free Shopping: Global Blue offers a seamless tax-free shopping experience, refunding your VAT after you obtain customs validation. They accept various payment methods, including Alipay, Wechat Pay, credit card, and cash. You can visit their office at Terminal 1, Level E2, Gallery, or their website for more information.
• Refund Methods: You can receive your VAT refund in cash at Global Blue's cash refund office or choose to have it credited to your credit card. Alternatively, they can send you a bank cheque.
• Value Limits: Be mindful of value limits to avoid extra import duties. If the limits are exceeded, additional duties are calculated based on the full value of the product. Certain goods, such as commercial goods, meat, and milk products, may be subject to special regulations and restrictions.
• Cash Reporting: If you are carrying cash or equivalent means of payment (traveller's cheques, savings accounts, shares, etc.) exceeding €10,000, you must report it at the customs counter. The reporting method differs depending on your travel areas. For journeys within the EU, oral reporting is sufficient, while written registration is required when travelling between the EU and a third country.

By following these steps, travellers can conveniently obtain their VAT refunds at Berlin Airport and ensure compliance with customs regulations.

Tax-free shopping

Berlin Brandenburg Airport has a wide range of shops, cafes, and restaurants, and offers tax-free shopping for travellers from outside the EU. This means that if you reside outside the EU, you are entitled to a refund of the VAT paid on purchases made in Germany before you return home.

To get a VAT refund, you must first go through the customs check process. Present your purchases, invoices, and travel documents to the customs counter at check-in island 7. If you are carrying the goods in your hand luggage, you can go directly to the customs hand luggage clearance in the security area after passing through the security checkpoint. If you have oversized baggage, go to the customs office in the gallery in the main hall after checking in, and then check in your baggage at the oversized baggage counter.

After receiving your export certificate at the customs counter, you can get your VAT refund in cash at Global Blue's cash refund office, or have the money sent to your credit card or as a bank cheque. Global Blue offers a seamless Tax-Free Shopping experience, accepting Alipay, Wechat Pay, Credit Card, and Cash, among other payment methods.

Please note that many holiday destinations offer products that appear to be bargains from big-name manufacturers, but are actually poor-quality illegal copies. Such goods can only be for personal use in small quantities; otherwise, they will be seized and confiscated.

Qualifying criteria

To qualify for a VAT refund at Berlin Airport, you must meet the following criteria:

Firstly, you must be a resident of a country outside the European Union (EU). This is a key requirement, as the VAT refund scheme is specifically designed for travellers residing outside the EU.

Secondly, the merchandise or goods must be purchased and exported from Germany to your home country outside the EU. It is important to inform the retailer about your intention to export the goods before making the purchase. This ensures that you receive the necessary export documentation.

Thirdly, there are specific time constraints for the export of merchandise. To qualify for a VAT refund, the goods must be exported within three months of purchase. This means that you need to plan your purchases and travel accordingly to meet this requirement.

Additionally, when leaving the EU through Germany, you must present the required documentation to the Customs Service at the airport. This includes the export papers or a Tax Free Shopping Check, the original receipt from the store, the purchased goods in their original packaging with price tags, and your passport, which confirms your residence outside the EU. It is important to ensure that all these documents are in order to facilitate a smooth VAT refund process.

Furthermore, the goods being exported should be unused and unworn. This is a standard requirement for VAT refund processes and ensures that the merchandise is in the same condition as when it was purchased.

Required documents

To claim a VAT refund at Berlin Airport, non-EU residents must present several documents at the customs desk. Here is a list of the required documents:

• Original receipts: Keep all your original receipts from purchases, as they are crucial for claiming your VAT refund. Ensure that each receipt clearly states the transaction details, such as the date of purchase, a description of the items, the price, and the VAT amount. It is advisable to organise your receipts in a safe and easily accessible place to avoid misplacing them during your trip.
• Export papers or Tax-Free Forms: Before purchasing goods in Germany, inform the retailer that you intend to export them to your home country (outside the EU). You will then receive either the "Ausfuhrbescheinigung" (export papers) or a Tax-Free Form/Tax Free Shopping Check. The Tax-Free Form must be completed with your personal information, including your name, address, passport number, and home address.
• Passport: Present your passport, which should indicate residence outside the EU, to the salesperson for verification.
• Goods: The purchased goods must be presented to customs and must be unused, unworn, in their original packaging, and with the price tag still attached.
• Stamped invoice: After obtaining the necessary stamps on your Tax-Free Form or export papers from customs, you will need to send the stamped invoice back to the store in Germany where the merchandise was purchased after returning to your home country.

Once you have obtained the necessary stamps on your Tax-Free Form or export papers from customs, you can claim your VAT refund. You may receive your refund in cash at the counters run by the tax-free service provider or one of its partners, such as Global Blue or Travelex. Alternatively, you can have the amount credited to your credit card or choose a bank transfer, depending on the tax refund company. Please note that the tax-free service provider may deduct a service fee and a cash disbursement fee.

Frequently asked questions