Portugal

Specific Information

Normally, household removals should be imported in a single shipment from one place of origin. In special circumstances, and with prior submission of proof and explanation to the Customs Main Office before the removal, permission may be obtained to import in two or more shipments. A full inventory must accompany the first consignment, clearly indicating which goods are in the first shipment and which are to follow.

All documents must be with the agent before the goods arrive. If documents are not available on arrival, it will be impossible to organise customs clearance in time.

Note on SEF replacement: The Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras (SEF) was replaced in October 2023 by AIMA -- the Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo (Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum). All residence permit applications for non-EU nationals are now processed through AIMA. As of April 2025, AIMA only accepts fully complete applications; no exceptions are made for missing documents at the time of submission.

Goods qualify for duty-free TNR entry if: the owner has been habitually resident outside the EU for at least 12 months prior to transfer of residence; goods are used and have been in the owner's possession for at least 6 months; goods arrive within 6 months of the owner's own arrival in Portugal; and goods are not for sale after release.

Although duty-free entry applies to qualifying shipments, customs broker fees are always required. These are calculated on an ad valorem basis. Port handling charges and warehouse fees may be included and can be expensive -- estimates should be requested from the agent before the shipment departs.

If all required documents are not available at the time of customs clearance, duties and taxes will be assessed on the declared value.

Transferees must be present for customs clearance and must provide the exact date of their arrival in Portugal.

Antiques imported as part of a removal shipment are duty-free and require no additional documentation, but it is strongly recommended to declare them to customs at the time of entry to avoid complications on future export.

ISPM 15: Portugal enforces EU-wide requirements for heat-treated wood packaging materials (pallets, crates, dunnage) on shipments from non-EU countries. All wooden packing materials must carry the ISPM 15 mark.

Duties & Taxes

Portugal is an EU member state. Shipments originating within the EU move under EU free movement principles and are not subject to customs duties or formal clearance. Shipments from outside the EU are subject to Portuguese customs controls administered by the Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira (AT -- Tax and Customs Authority). The primary duty-free route is the Transfer of Normal Residence (TNR) exemption under EU Regulation 1186/2009.

Prohibited & Restricted Items

Importing a Used Personal Vehicle

Required Documents

• Full vehicle registration certificate and title of property
• International driving licence
• Insurance documents
• Declaration from the Portuguese Embassy confirming the owner lived abroad for more than 12 months
• Purchase invoice

Specific Information

A vehicle may be temporarily imported duty-free for a period of 12 months, during which definitive legalisation (registration and payment of duties/taxes) must be completed. If definitive importation is not completed within this period, the vehicle must leave Portugal.

The vehicle must have been owned by the transferee for at least 12 months prior to the owner's arrival in Portugal.

Costs of duties and taxes for definitive importation depend on the vehicle's assessed value in Portugal. The consignee should obtain a Portuguese licence plate number; payment of duties and taxes is dealt with directly by the client with a customs broker or with the ACP (Automóvel Clube de Portugal). Provide vehicle details (brand, model, VIN, engine specifications) to the destination agent in advance.

Only one vehicle per person qualifies for the duty-free temporary import provision. Additional vehicles are subject to full duties.

Caravans are subject to the same duty regime as motorcars and require an invoice, registration certificate, and title of property.

Boats for definitive import are subject to duties and require a registration certificate and import licence. Definitive importation of boats is very difficult and is usually only permitted in special circumstances. Boats may be temporarily imported duty-free with only a registration certificate; special permission from the Customs Main Office is required for exhibition or racing purposes.

Bicycles are duty-free as long as they are listed on the inventory.

Pets

• EU Pet Passport, issued by an authorised veterinarian, containing valid microchip and rabies vaccination records From EU Member States
• Microchip documentation (ISO 11784/11785 standard) From Non-EU Countries
• Official health certificate issued by a government veterinarian From Non-EU Countries
• Vaccination certificate, including current rabies vaccination From Non-EU Countries
• Owner's passport From Non-EU Countries

Portugal is an EU member state and follows EU pet travel regulations for cats, dogs, and ferrets.

All pets must be identifiable by ISO-standard microchip or, for animals microchipped before 3 July 2011, a clearly visible tattoo. The rabies vaccination must have been administered after microchipping and at least 21 days before travel, and must remain valid on arrival.

All pets must undergo a medical examination before being cleared through customs.

Horses require a certificate of foal registration, a veterinary certificate, and an import licence. No horses should be sent without prior customs approval.

For other animals, requirements vary by species and country of origin; consult the destination agent before shipping. CITES-listed species cannot be imported without valid CITES permits.