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Guidance

UK Defence in Germany - Information notes

Information notes in support of UK Defence in Germany, produced by the Germany Enabling Office.

Updates to this page

From:
Ministry of Defence and Strategic Command
Published:
18 November 2022
Last updated:
17 September 2026
Show all updates

  1. 2023-9063 NATO SOFA and Spouse Employment (FAQ) has been withdrawn and replaced by an updated version. The current document is 2026-11000 Supplementary Agreement Germany and Spousal Employment (FAQ).

  2. Added: 'Removal of Entry Exit System EES Record' and 'Personal Imports to the UK'. Removed: '2024-10412 Personal Imports - expires 24 November 2025' and '2024-10120 MOD Commercial Vehicle Insurance - Switzerland - expires 11 Jun 2025'.

  3. Removed '2024-9912 BFBS Direct to Home (DTH)' and '2024-9908 Personal Exports Scheme' as they are no longer extant.

  4. The following have expired and been removed: 2024-9735 Return of Goods Relief - expires 11 February 2025; 2024-9737 Return of Goods Relief (RGR) – mid assignment - expires 11 February 2025. A new information note has been added: 2025–10523 Private Vehicle Tax Exempt Fuel Card – Administrative Charges - expires 23 February 2026.

  5. Removed: '2023-9605 Personal Imports - expires 24 November 2024'. Added: '2024-10412 Personal Imports - expires 24 November 2025'.

  6. New information note 2024-10120 added supporting UK defence white fleet transport operations in Switzerland and the removal of the requirement for third-party commercial liability insurance.

  7. Updated: BFBS Direct to Home (DTH). Added: Personal Exports Scheme. Added: link to ‘Spousal employment - NATO Status of Forces Agreement’. Added: information about the NATO Status of Forces Agreement and Supplementary Agreement in Germany; who the Germany Enabling Office is responsible to.

  8. Expired information notes removed. New information notes introduced.

  9. All Germany Enabling Office information notes are reviewed annually and either removed or replaced as is appropriate. Updated: '2023-9605 Personal Imports'.

  10. Force Information Note 2023-9063 added due to annual expiry of previous edition. Previous version deleted.

  11. New information note added reference BFBS Direct to Home service.

  12. 022022 BFBS Direct to Home removed (expired 17 March 2023).

  13. Added: 2023-8557 Return of Goods Relief - Mid-Assignment and 2023-8568 Transfer of Residence and Return of Goods Relief.

  14. Expired information note removed.

  15. New information note added in regard to Nationwide Alert Day - Warnung der Bevölkerung in Germany

  16. First published.

Documents

052022 Control of Aliens and Immigration Germany including Employment

PDF, 244 KB, 3 pages

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If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email ddc-modinternet@mod.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

2026-11000 Supplementary Agreement Germany and Spousal Employment (FAQ)

PDF, 268 KB, 5 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email ddc-modinternet@mod.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Removal of Entry Exit System EES Record (expires November 2026)

PDF, 289 KB, 4 pages

Personal Imports to the UK (expires November 2026)

PDF, 287 KB, 4 pages

2025–10523 Private Vehicle Tax Exempt Fuel Card – Administrative Charges - expires 23 February 2026

PDF, 225 KB, 4 pages

Details

The Germany Enabling Office (GEO) is the United Kingdom’s military mission in Germany and the responsible authority for enabling, monitoring and assuring the conduct of United Kingdom defence in Germany under the United Kingdom’s obligations to the NATO Status of Forces Agreement (NATO SOFA) and the Supplementary Agreement (SA) in Germany.

The NATO SOFA and the SA are the international legal agreements enabling the military of the United Kingdom to operate in Germany.

Our engagement with UK defence personnel in Germany, and where applicable broader Europe, is routinely through the customer-facing UK National Support Elements (UK NSE).

Though the GEO is not directly customer facing you will receive communication from us via your NSE. Our routine official communications with those NSE are in the form of information notes.

Where possible those information notes will be made available on this webpage.

Related content

Germany Enabling Office (GEO)

NATO Status of Forces Agreement - identification of status

Spousal employment - NATO Status of Forces Agreement

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