Beamter/Beamtin im gehobenen nichttechnischen Zolldienst

Learning locations include: auditoriums, seminar and practice rooms, and libraries at the Federal University of Applied Sciences for Public Administration (Department of Finance); office spaces and fieldwork (e.g., at airports) at customs administration offices; and home (e.g., preparing for and reviewing courses, completing assignments).

The amendment to the Federal Civil Service Regulations came into force on March 17, 2026. It introduces demand-oriented special access routes to counteract the shortage of skilled workers. A key focus of the reform is the equalization of vocational and academic education. For example, access for individuals with vocational advanced training qualifications such as Bachelor Professional or Master Professional is now also possible in the higher technical administrative service and the higher scientific service.

This is a civil service Ausbildung (vocational training). The training is a Studium (university degree) at the Federal University of Applied Sciences for Public Administration (Department of Finance), with practical study sections in customs administration offices. The degree awarded is a Bachelor and the duration is 3 years. Civil servants in the higher customs service undertake case-processing activities in various areas of customs. They deal with the collection and administration of customs duties and taxes for goods in cross-border traffic, as well as excise duties directly accruing to the federal government. They also ensure compliance with the statutory minimum wage or administer vehicle tax. Furthermore, civil servants can work in areas such as customs investigation, general administration, or combating illegal employment, and can take on leadership roles. Positions in special units are open to them if they meet the corresponding requirements.

3 years

The selection process consists of a written and an oral part. The written part tests general knowledge, language, numerical, and text comprehension, as well as personality traits. The oral part includes simulation exercises and an interview.

The structure of the Bachelor Studium (degree program) in the higher customs service is as follows: The 1st and 2nd semesters consist of specialized studies at the Federal University of Applied Sciences for Public Administration, Department of Finance (12 months). The 3rd and 4th semesters comprise practice-integrated specialized studies, consisting of practical placements at training authorities (practical studies) and specialized theoretical courses from the Department of Finance (transfer events) at the Federal University of Applied Sciences for Public Administration (12 months). The 5th semester involves specialized studies at the Federal University of Applied Sciences for Public Administration (6 months). The 6th semester includes an elective internship at a training authority and the preparation of the Bachelor's thesis (6 months). The total Studium duration is 3 years.

No Studium (university study) fees are charged. Travel costs or costs for learning materials may arise. If accommodation is provided at the educational institutions, costs may also be incurred.

The Studium (university study) content is organized in modules. Specialist studies include, for example, general and special customs law, business administration, digital administration, law on combating undeclared work and illegal employment, excise duty law, traffic tax law, administrative psychology, economic and financial fundamentals, and customs tariff law. Practice-integrated specialist studies convey professional knowledge and experience, for example, in customs administration, cooperation with other customs offices, application of legal and administrative regulations, and working techniques of customs administration.

One should be prepared for the following conditions and requirements: During specialist studies: Attend lectures and seminars in the lecture halls and seminar rooms of the Federal University of Applied Sciences for Public Administration. Independent work: Prepare and review lectures, research in libraries, prepare presentations, write term papers (also during lecture-free periods). Organization: For example, adhere to given submission deadlines for presentations and term papers. During practice-integrated specialist studies: Practical collaboration (under guidance): For example, control import, export, and transit prohibitions. Practice-oriented courses: For example, attend courses on negotiation skills. Key qualifications: For example, expand problem-solving, organizational, and communication skills. Assessments are carried out throughout the entire Studium (university study).

The monthly gross basic salary for candidates is 1,744 Euros. Source: Federal Salary Act (BBesG). Note: In addition to the basic salary, candidate allowances include capital-forming benefits, and possibly family allowances and other surcharges, remunerations, and bonuses.

In-depth knowledge in the following school subjects are good prerequisites for a successful Studium (university study): Economics/Law: For example, to understand legal (including customs tariff law, tax law) and business administration course content. German: For example, to prepare and deliver presentations.

The following alternatives are available for the profession of civil servant in the higher non-technical customs service: Area of Law and Administration: Civil servant in tax administration (higher non-technical service), Civil servant at the Deutsche Bundesbank (higher non-technical service), Civil servant in general internal administration (higher non-technical service), Public Law (undergraduate), State and Administrative Sciences (undergraduate), Law (undergraduate, except for the first legal examination). Commonality: Processing administrative procedures, partly with reference to financial administration. Area of Protection and Security: Police officer in the Federal Police (higher non-technical service), Police officer in the higher non-technical service of the Bundesländer (federal states), Civil servant in the Federal Criminal Police Office (higher service), Civil servant in the State Criminal Police Office (higher service), Civil servant at the Federal Intelligence Service (higher service).

The Bologna Process began in 1999, reforming the European higher education landscape with goals such as creating a unified European Higher Education Area, harmonizing study programs and degrees (introducing Bachelor's and Master's degrees), and improving student and lecturer mobility. In 2016, a new regulation for the preparatory service in the higher non-technical customs service of the Federal Republic came into force, based on a Diploma (Diplom) degree. In 2023, a new regulation for the same preparatory service transitioned to a Bachelor's degree program.

The training in the higher customs service is organized as a preparatory service (Vorbereitungsdienst) and lasts three years. It is structured as a Bachelor's degree program (Studium) and regulated by federal ordinances. The training concludes with the career and Bachelor's examination.

Upon successful completion of the Bachelor's degree program (Studium), the academic degree 'Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.)' is awarded. The career title is 'Civil Servant - Customs Service (Higher Service)'. Note that the responsible authority determines whether the career path is offered as a degree program.

After their studies, civil servants in the higher customs service work in various departments of the customs administration, such as the General Directorate of Customs, main customs offices, and customs (investigation) offices. They can keep their expertise up-to-date through adaptive further training, covering topics from export processing to administrative law. With suitable qualifications, civil servants in the higher customs service have the opportunity to advance to the next higher career path after a successful promotion procedure. Furthermore, pursuing an advanced degree (Studium) can also be considered, for example, obtaining a Master's degree in public administration or political science.

The legal regulations for the training are outlined in the Ordinance on the Preparatory Service for the Higher Non-Technical Customs Service of the Federal Republic (GntZollDVDV) of 19.10.2023 (BGBl. 2023 I Nr. 282), amended by Article 2, Paragraph 33 of the Ordinance of 11.03.2026 (BGBl. 2026 I Nr. 67).

Prerequisites include a Fachhochschulreife (qualification for universities of applied sciences) or allgemeine Hochschulreife (general university entrance qualification), or a comparable educational qualification. For deployment in the water customs, a corresponding nautical or technical certificate of competency and a sports badge of at least bronze level are also required. For admission to the degree program (Studium), the maximum age limit of 49 years must not be exceeded.