Customs and Import of Precious Metals
Also: Precious Metal Import, Gold Import, Customs Duty Precious Metals
When transporting precious metals across borders, EU declaration requirements apply from EUR 10,000 in value, along with import VAT and customs rules when entering from third countries.
Anyone transporting gold, silver, platinum, or palladium across national borders is operating within a tightly woven framework of customs, tax, and anti-money-laundering law. The key rules at a glance – not a substitute for individual legal or tax advice.
Within the EU: Declaration Requirement from EUR 10,000
Within the EU single market, no import duties apply. Nevertheless, the EU Cash Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2018/1672) applies: cash and equivalent value assets – including investment coins and bars – with a value of EUR 10,000 or more must be declared when crossing a border (including within the Schengen Area when subject to controls). Failure to declare may result in the precious metals being temporarily seized and a fine being imposed.
Import from Third Countries
When entering from a non-EU country (e.g. Switzerland, USA, United Kingdom), two additional layers apply:
| Regulatory Level | What Applies? |
|---|---|
| Customs duty | Gold bars and coins with recognised fineness: duty rate 0% (tariff heading 7108). Silver, platinum, palladium: also generally 0%, check individual cases. |
| Import VAT (EUSt) | Corresponds to the standard VAT rate (DE: 19%). Investment gold is exempt under § 25c UStG – so no import VAT on gold bars ≥ 995/1000 and on investment coins on the EU list. Silver, platinum, palladium are subject to import VAT (19%). |
| Declaration requirement | From EUR 10,000 market value, mandatory declaration with customs. |
You can determine the current market value of your precious metals in euros at any time using the Melt Value Calculator or the live pages for gold price and silver price.
Investment Gold – The Special Case
Investment gold (bars with fineness ≥ 995/1000 and certain coins with ≥ 900/1000) is exempt from VAT throughout the EU. When importing from third countries, therefore, no import VAT applies. Whether a specific coin qualifies as investment gold is determined by the annually updated list of the European Commission. The Tax Estimator provides an initial indication of the tax classification.
Anti-Money-Laundering Obligations
Independently of customs law, the Anti-Money-Laundering Act (GwG) requires an identity check (KYC) for cash payments of EUR 2,000 or more. Precious metal dealers and refineries are obliged to report suspicious transactions. Anyone bringing larger quantities across the border should have proof of purchase and documentation of origin readily available.
In Brief
Investment gold travels within the EU free of customs duties and without VAT; from a value of EUR 10,000 a declaration is required. Silver, platinum, and palladium are subject to import VAT (19%) when imported from third countries. Proof of purchase and documentation of origin protect against delays at the border.