UK Defence in Germany - Information Notes
Summary
The Germany Enabling Office (GEO) published updated information notes for UK Defence personnel in Germany covering NATO SOFA obligations, immigration, spousal employment, and tax matters. The page was updated on 3 December 2025 with two new documents added: Removal of Entry Exit System EES Record and Personal Imports to the UK. Two expired documents were removed. These information notes support UK military operations under NATO Status of Forces Agreement obligations in Germany.
What changed
The Germany Enabling Office (GEO) updated its public-facing information notes page for UK Defence in Germany with the addition of two new documents and removal of expired ones. The new additions include guidance on the Removal of Entry Exit System (EES) Record and Personal Imports to the UK, both expiring November 2026. Previously published documents on Return of Goods Relief and other topics were removed as they have expired.
UK defence personnel and their families stationed in Germany should continue to access relevant information notes through their National Support Elements (NSEs). The NATO SOFA and Supplementary Agreement remain the governing international legal frameworks for UK military presence in Germany. Personnel should verify current document applicability dates before relying on guidance.
What to do next
- Monitor GEO information notes for updates relevant to stationed personnel
- Access documents via NSE channels for applicable operational guidance
Archived snapshot
Apr 16, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
Guidance
UK Defence in Germany - Information notes
Information notes in support of UK Defence in Germany, produced by the Germany Enabling Office.
From: Ministry of Defence and Strategic Command Published 18 November 2022 Last updated 3 December 2025
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Documents
052022 Control of Aliens and Immigration Germany including Employment
PDF, 244 KB, 3 pages
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2023-9063 NATO SOFA and Spouse Employment (FAQ)
PDF, 159 KB, 3 pages
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
NATO Status of Forces Agreement - identification of status
Spousal employment - NATO Status of Forces Agreement
Updates to this page
Published 18 November 2022 Last updated 3 December 2025 show all updates
1.
3 December 2025
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'.
2.
11 April 2025
Removed '2024-9912 BFBS Direct to Home (DTH)' and '2024-9908 Personal Exports Scheme' as they are no longer extant.
3.
24 February 2025
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.
4.
26 November 2024
Removed: '2023-9605 Personal Imports - expires 24 November 2024'. Added: '2024-10412 Personal Imports - expires 24 November 2025'.
5.
11 June 2024
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.
6.
12 March 2024
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.
7.
12 February 2024
Expired information notes removed.
New information notes introduced.
8.
24 November 2023
All Germany Enabling Office information notes are reviewed annually and either removed or replaced as is appropriate.
Updated: '2023-9605 Personal Imports'.
9.
13 June 2023
Force Information Note 2023-9063 added due to annual expiry of previous edition. Previous version deleted.
10.
29 March 2023
New information note added reference BFBS Direct to Home service.
11.
24 March 2023
022022 BFBS Direct to Home removed (expired 17 March 2023).
12.
10 February 2023
Added: 2023-8557 Return of Goods Relief - Mid-Assignment and 2023-8568 Transfer of Residence and Return of Goods Relief.
13.
9 December 2022
Expired information note removed.
14.
30 November 2022
New information note added in regard to Nationwide Alert Day - Warnung der Bevölkerung in Germany
15.
18 November 2022
First published.
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