Shipping to Greenland: Package costs, customs and Arctic transit times
Why a delivery to the Kingdom of Denmark is still treated as a third-country shipment
Greenland belongs to the Kingdom of Denmark. However, for shipping goods from Germany, that's only half the story. The autonomous island is neither part of the customs territory nor the VAT area of the European Union. Therefore, a shipment to Nuuk, Ilulissat, or Sisimiut is not treated like a normal parcel to Denmark.
- Shipping from Germany to Greenland
- Parcel, express and freight solutions
- No Greenlandic VAT
- International shipment tracking
- Prepare customs information digitally
- Check Greenlandic import duties
- Consider destination and onward transport
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When it comes to Greenland, the destination is more important than the distance.
When making a shipment to Greenland, it's not just the weight and value of the goods that should be checked.
The specific recipient address is equally important.
Nuuk is logistically much easier to reach than a small settlement in northern or eastern Greenland. There is no continuous road network between the individual villages.
Don't book Greenland like Denmark.
Although Greenland belongs to the Kingdom of Denmark, it lies outside the EU customs and VAT area. Therefore, customs information is required for shipments of goods from Germany.
Check import duty by product
Greenland does not levy a flat import tax on all products. Some goods are subject to duty, while others can be imported without paying Greenlandic import duty. The tax administration publishes its own tariffs for these goods.
Plan for onward routing within Greenland
There are no roads between Greenlandic cities. Sea and air transport therefore handle a large part of regional freight and passenger traffic.
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Important information about customs and import duties
DAP or DDP to Greenland: Who pays the import duties?
When shipping to Greenland, it should be clear before booking who will cover any local taxes or duties.
For DAP The seller organizes transport to the agreed destination. The recipient is generally responsible for import clearance and any Greenlandic duties incurred.
The Greenlandic tax administration explicitly confirms that, in principle, the recipient pays the import duty for goods subject to duty.
For DDP In contrast, the seller will cover the agreed import costs.
Whether a carrier offers genuine DDP handling for Greenland should be checked before booking.
This is especially important for goods such as:
- Alcohol
- Tobacco
- certain foods
- vehicles
- other product groups subject to duties
You can find more information about the delivery terms in our guide to DAP and DDP for international shipping.
What are the customs duties in Greenland?
Greenland does not have a classic customs system with a general percentage tariff for all goods.
Instead, the Greenlandic tax administration levies Certain product groups have their own import duties..
Other goods can be imported without such an import duty.
Examples of goods that may be subject to import duties, depending on the product, include:
- certain foods
- alcoholic drinks
- Tobacco products
- Soft drinks
- Vehicles
- other products listed in the Greenlandic duty tariff
The specific rates are updated regularly. The Greenlandic tax administration also provides its own rate overview for this purpose. 2026 ready.
Therefore, a flat customs duty rate should not be expected.
For shipping preparation, the correct Customs tariff number or HS code Still important.
Does Greenland have value-added tax?
No.
Greenland does not levy value added tax.
The Greenlandic tax administration explicitly states that Greenland is one of the few areas worldwide without VAT or value added tax.
This means:
For normal goods, no additional general Greenlandic VAT rate of, for example, 19 or 25 percent is levied upon import.
Instead, special import duties may apply to certain product groups.
For deliveries from Germany, it is also important to note that Greenland is outside the EU VAT area.
A delivery can therefore be treated as an export delivery under the applicable German regulations. The corresponding documentation must be provided for tax exemption.
VAT: none
Greenland belongs to Denmark, but not to the EU customs territory.
This very point repeatedly causes confusion during shipping.
Greenland is:
- autonomous part of the Kingdom of Denmark
- not a member of the European Union
- not part of the EU customs territory
- not part of the EU VAT area
- as an overseas country and territory associated with the EU
The European Commission explicitly lists Greenland as an Overseas Country and Territory associated with the EU, or OCT for short.
However, this association should not be confused with a customs union.
German customs will continue to classify Greenland as an OCT with its own preferential treatment arrangement in 2026. This preferential origin status primarily concerns preferential access to the European Union for products originating in Greenland.
Therefore, it should not be automatically assumed that Greenlandic import duties will not apply to a normal shipment from Germany.
Sending a package to Greenland: Why this shipping destination is unique
Greenland is the largest island on Earth and at the same time one of the most sparsely populated areas worldwide.
Only around 57.000 people live in an area of more than two million square kilometers.
This extreme geography has direct consequences for shipping.
While in Central Europe a package can simply be loaded onto a delivery van after international transport, in Greenland this only works within individual towns.
There are no road connections between the cities.
What documents do I need for Greenland?
Since Greenland is outside the EU customs territory, a shipment of goods requires appropriate customs information.
The following are particularly important when shipping parcels:
- full recipient address
- detailed product description
- cart value
- Quantity
- Country of origin
- Customs tariff number
- Reason for shipment
DHL generally requires a customs declaration CN22 or CN23 for shipments to non-EU countries and EU special territories.
In the case of a commercial sale, a commercial invoice should also be used.
For samples, warranty replacements, or other non-commercial transactions, a pro forma invoice may be useful.
You can find out more at Commercial invoice or pro forma invoice.
How long does it take for a package to arrive in Greenland?
DHL currently estimates a delivery time of [insert value here] for the standard parcel. 9 to 15 working days.
DHL Express Worldwide allows you to reach centrally located destinations significantly faster. The current express delivery table lists, for example... 2 business days.
However, this information should be interpreted with particular caution when it comes to Greenland.
DHL Express transit times refer to central destinations. For remote regions, onward transport may take significantly longer.
Why can the last leg of the journey take so long?
There are no roads between Greenland's cities.
Instead, places are connected by, among other things:
- Vessels
- Aircraft
- Helicopter
- regional boats
This means:
A package may have already reached Greenland without necessarily arriving at the recipient's address the next day.
Weather, ice conditions and regional transport connections can affect the final transport route.
Write the correct address for Greenland
DHL recommends using Latin letters and Arabic numerals for addresses.
An address might look like this, for example:
Sample ApS
Imaneq 24
3900 NUUK
GREENLAND
DHL explicitly requires that the destination country be specified as Greenland or GREENLAND and not just Denmark.
The recipient's phone number and email address should also be provided.
Compare shipping costs to Greenland
Shipping costs depend heavily on size, weight, and destination.
The following are particularly important:
- Weight
- Volumetric weight
- Dimensions
- destination
- Shipping service
- Type of goods
- Carrier
For example, DHL assigns Greenland to international zone 5, not the EU zone, for standard parcel shipping.
Via the <strong>integrated datalog</strong> the measuring values can be stored on the humimeter RH5 paper moisture meter and additional data can be added. You also have the possibility to use the Autolog function. This function automatically saves measuring values in adjustable time intervals. Shipping cost calculator from Paket International Companies can compare available services.
These mistakes happen particularly quickly when shipping to Greenland.
The most common misconception lies practically in the name of nationality:
Greenland is treated like Denmark.
This quickly leads to incorrect tax and customs assumptions.
Typical problems include:
- Greenland mistakenly treated as a normal EU destination
- Customs declaration forgotten
- Specify recipient country only as Denmark
- Do not check import duties for certain goods
- Calculating too short a runtime
- Do not consider destination within Greenland
- incomplete product description
- Do not check regulated or prohibited goods in advance.
The Greenlandic tax authorities also list specific goods whose import is prohibited.
These currently include, among others:
- Motorcycles
- illegal narcotics
- anabolic steroids
- certain raw materials for private alcohol production
- certain CITES goods
What goods are imported into Greenland?
Greenland has a small domestic market and has to import a significant portion of its goods.
Foreign trade statistics show, among other things, a high importance of:
- Machinery and transport equipment
- Building materials and semi-finished products
- chemical products
- food
- Fuels and lubricants
- technical consumer goods
In 2024, machinery and transport equipment, with an import value of more than DKK 1,6 billion, were among the largest import categories. Semi-finished goods and construction products also played a significant role.
Therefore, the following may be of particular interest to German companies:
- Machines and spare parts
- Tools
- Electrical Engineering
- Measurement and testing technology
- Components and building materials
- Medical Technology
- Industrial supplies
You can find more international shipping destinations in our Country overview.
Shipping information: Greenland
Standard or express package to the Arctic?
For less time-critical shipments, a traditional parcel service can be used.
DHL Parcel currently estimates a delivery time of 9 to 15 working days.
For urgently needed spare parts or business shipments, a Express shipping to Greenland be useful.
DHL Express currently estimates around two working days for delivery to key destinations.
For heavy or bulky goods Pallet shipping and individual sea or air freight solutions might be more sensible.
You can find an overview at international shipping methods.
Why ships and airplanes are more important than trucks in Greenland
International transport does not automatically end at the destination in Greenland.
Since no roads connect two cities, a large part of Greenland's internal trade is handled by sea and air.
Royal Arctic Line plays a central role in sea freight.
The Greenlandic state-owned company holds the concession for the transport of goods to, from and between Greenlandic cities and settlements and operates terminals in 13 locations.
Cargo can be fed into the network from Germany, Denmark, and other European ports. Royal Arctic Line, for example, publishes its own booking options for Germany as well as FCL services via Bremerhaven.
For time-critical shipments, air freight is often the faster solution.
For larger or heavier items, you will find further options under international freight shipping.
What import costs might arise in Greenland?
Greenland differs significantly from many classic third countries in this respect.
There are:
- no general VAT
- no flat customs duty rate for all imported goods
- Product-specific import duties on certain goods
- Carrier and handling charges, if applicable
The Greenlandic tax authorities determine which goods are subject to duty.
The current price list for 2026 should therefore always be checked for the specific product.
Vehicles, for example, are subject to their own extensive calculation regulations. There are also special regulations and, in some cases, licensing requirements for alcohol and tobacco.
You can find general basic information in our guide to Customs and import duties.
How much does a package to Greenland cost?
In the case of Greenland, a general country price is particularly meaningless.
Sending a small package to Nuuk differs significantly logistically from a delivery to a remote settlement in the north or east.
The price is primarily influenced by:
- Weight
- Volumetric weight
- Dimensions
- destination
- Transport route
- Type of goods
- Carrier
Possible onward transport by ship or air may also be relevant.
Current offers can be viewed via the Shipping cost calculator be compared.
Online trade to Greenland: no EU distance selling
For German online retailers, one point is particularly important:
Greenland is not a normal EU shipping destination for VAT purposes.
The territory lies outside the EU VAT area. Therefore, the European OSS rules for classic intra-Community distance sales cannot be applied as easily as for a delivery to Denmark.
A shipment of goods from Germany to Greenland can be exempt from VAT as an export shipment, provided the legal requirements are met. The corresponding export documentation is required for this.
There is no general VAT in Greenland itself.
Nevertheless, the buyer may incur costs if the ordered goods are subject to a Greenlandic import duty.
Online retailers should therefore state transparently:
- who pays local import duties
- how long delivery will take approximately
- whether the destination is regularly served
- whether additional handling costs may arise
You can find more information about the delivery terms at DAP and DDP.
No roads between cities: Logistics works differently in Greenland.
The most unusual feature of the shipping destination has absolutely nothing to do with customs.
There are no road connections between Greenland's cities.
This means:
A shipment of goods can still be sent via the following method after its international arrival:
- Ship
- Airplane
- Helicopter
- regional boat
to be transported further.
Royal Arctic Line has a special supply function for the regular transport of goods to, from and between Greenlandic cities and settlements and operates a network of 13 terminals.
For businesses, the exact postal code is therefore particularly important.
A theoretical runtime for "Greenland" says little about when a replacement part will actually arrive in a smaller settlement.
The time of year can also play a role.
Weather, ice conditions and regional transport connections can affect onward transport.
Therefore, for time-critical broadcasts, one should not only consider the main international race.
Especially for remote destinations, it is worth checking the specific carrier transit time to the recipient's postal code.
Which carrier is suitable the for Greenland?
The choice of shipping provider depends more on the destination when shipping to Greenland than in many other countries.
The following should be compared:
- actual served postcode
- Shipping price
- Runtime
- Customs service
- Weight limits
- maximum dimensions
- Tracking
- regional onward transport
DHL Parcel currently states 9 to 15 working days as a general guideline.
Express shipping can be significantly faster for central destinations. However, for remote locations, onward regional transport may still be necessary even after the international express service.
Sea and freight solutions play an important role for large quantities of goods.
Paket International allows companies to compare the available services for their specific shipment.
Frequently Asked Questions about Shipping
Does Greenland belong to the European Union?
No. Greenland belongs to the Kingdom of Denmark, but is not itself part of the European Union. It is associated with the EU as an overseas country and territory.
Is Greenland part of the EU customs territory?
No. The European Commission explicitly lists Greenland outside the EU customs territory. Therefore, shipments of goods from Germany require appropriate customs information.
How long does it take for a package to arrive in Greenland?
DHL Parcel currently estimates delivery times of 9 to 15 business days. DHL Express can reach central destinations in approximately two business days, according to the general delivery time table. For remote locations, the actual delivery time may be longer.
Does Greenland have value-added tax?
No. Greenland does not levy a general VAT or value-added tax. Instead, it has its own import duties for certain goods.
Do I have to pay customs duties for goods destined for Greenland?
Not all goods are subject to import duties. Greenland levies import duties on certain product groups, while other goods are exempt. The applicable rates are published by the Greenlandic tax administration.
Do I need customs documents for Greenland?
Yes. Greenland is outside the EU customs territory. Therefore, parcels and goods shipments require appropriate customs information or a customs declaration.
Why isn't Greenland treated like Denmark?
Although Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, it is neither part of the customs territory nor the VAT area of the European Union. Therefore, separate rules apply to the movement of goods.
Who pays the import duty in Greenland?
For goods subject to duties, the recipient is generally responsible for the import duty according to the rules of the Greenlandic tax administration. With a DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) arrangement, the cost coverage can be organized differently.
Can I ship DDP to Greenland?
This depends on the carrier, the type of goods, and the specific import situation. Before booking, it should be clarified whether the shipping provider can settle the Greenlandic import duties on behalf of the sender.
Which goods are problematic when imported into Greenland?
Certain foods, alcohol, tobacco, and vehicles are subject to special taxes or permits. Among the prohibited items are motorcycles, illegal narcotics, anabolic steroids, and certain CITES-listed goods.
Are there roads connecting Greenland's cities?
No. There are generally no road connections between Greenland's towns and settlements. Therefore, transport is primarily by ship, plane, and helicopter.
How should I address a package to Greenland?
The address should be written in Latin letters and Arabic numerals. The destination country should be explicitly stated as "GREENLAND / GREENLAND". Providing the recipient's telephone number and email address will further facilitate delivery.
