German · Retoure / Zoll
The parcel is held up at customs: what to say in German
A parcel has been held up at customs.
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How it's done. Parcels from outside the EU are sometimes held up by customs (Zoll): you may have to pay duty or submit documents; a notice comes by letter or from the carrier.Prepared by the Movko team, November 2026. This is language help, not legal or medical advice: check the rules with the office itself.
Cheat sheet for your visit
The first phrase is open: tap ▶ to listen, or “Show” to show it to the other person. The rest of the dialogue is in the course in the app.
1
YOU START
Guten Tag, meine Sendung ist beim Zoll. Was muss ich tun?
GOO-tayn tahk, MIGH-neh ZAYN-doong eest bighm tsol. Vahs moos eekh toon?
Good day, my shipment is at customs. What do I have to do?
Or say:Guten Tag, ich habe eine Benachrichtigung vom Zoll. Was bedeutet das?
GOO-tayn tahk, eekh KHAH-beh IGH-neh beh-NAHKH-reekh-tee-goong fom tsol. Vahs beh-DOY-tet dahs?
THEY SAY
Sie müssen die Zollgebühren zahlen. Das steht in dem Brief.Zee MYOO-sayn dee TSOL-geh-byoo-rayn TSAH-layn. Dahs shtet een dem breef.
You have to pay the customs fees. That is in the letter.
They might also say:
Das Paket kommt aus einem Land außerhalb der EU. Sie müssen Zoll zahlen.
Dahs puh-KET komt ows IGH-nem lahnt OW-sehr-khuhlp dehr eh-oo. Zee MYOO-sayn tsol TSAH-layn.
The parcel comes from a country outside the EU. You have to pay duty.
2
YOU FINISH
Wie kann ich das bezahlen?
Vee kahn eekh dahs beh-TSAH-layn?
How can I pay it?
THEY SAY
Das können Sie online oder beim Zollamt tun.Dahs KYOH-nayn zee OHN-lighn OH-duh bighm TSOH-luhmt toon.
You can do that online or at the customs office.
The course is in the app
This dialogue is part of the course “German for life in Germany”: 416 situations with audio, a pronunciation guide and spaced review.
On the website the first dialogue, the 112 category, the rescue phrases and the “Basics” are fully open.
Words worth knowing
Guten
GOO-tayn
adjective
good (in greetings)
Tag
tahk
noun
day
Sendung
ZAYN-doong
noun
shipment
ist
eest
verb
is
Zoll
tsol
noun
customs
muss
moos
verb
must, has to
22 more words, with explanations, base forms and tap-a-word help, are in the app.
If you did not understand
Können Sie das bitte wiederholen?
KYOH-nayn zee dahs BEE-teh vee-dehr-KHOH-layn?
Can you repeat that, please?
Können Sie bitte langsamer sprechen?
KYOH-nayn zee BEE-teh LAHNG-zuh-muh SHPREH-khayn?
Can you speak more slowly, please?
Können Sie das bitte aufschreiben?
KYOH-nayn zee dahs BEE-teh OWFSH-righ-bayn?
Can you write it down, please?
Was bedeutet das?
Vahs beh-DOY-tet dahs?
What does this mean?
Similar situations
You return an online order at a drop-off point with a QR codeRetoure / Zoll · A2 in the app
→The item went back to the seller but your money has still not arrivedRetoure / Zoll · A2 in the app
→You were sent the wrong item and you write to the sellerRetoure / Zoll · A2 in the app
→You want to return an orderRetoure / Zoll · A2 in the app
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