If you are subject to a customs inspection, you are obliged to inform the customs officer about the provenance, the economic beneficiary and the intended use of any cash or equivalent means of payment you are carrying, even if the total amount does not exceed the 10,000 euros threshold.

Customs in Germany follows the standard European Union "Red Channel / Green Channel" system. After you collect your checked baggage, you will walk through a dedicated customs area. If you have nothing to declare (meaning your goods are within the personal allowance limits and you aren't carrying restricted items), you take the Green Exit. If you are carrying commercial goods, more than €10,000 in cash, or items exceeding the duty-free limits (such as large amounts of tobacco or alcohol from outside the EU), you must take the Red Exit to speak with a customs officer. It is important to know that German customs is particularly strict about the "import" of high-value electronics or jewelry bought abroad; if the value exceeds €430 (for air travelers), you may owe VAT and duties. Officers also perform random "spot checks" in the green channel, so it is vital to be honest. If you are a non-EU resident, you can also visit the customs desk before checking your bags to get your "Tax-Free" forms stamped for VAT refunds on your German purchases.