Customs regulations for your trip to Portugal

Last modified: July 25, 2023
You are here:
Estimated reading time: 4 min

Customs regulations

Used Household Goods and Personal Effects

Documents Required                                          

  • Original passport (in color)
  • Copy of visa
  • Inventory list
  • TAX card copy
  • Baggage certificate
  • Residence certificate
  • Declaration as per European Union regulations
  • Original bill of lading (OBL) / air waybill (AWB)
  • Photocopy of air ticket or declaration
  • Photocopy of work contract (if applicable)
  • Proof of application for residence permit
  • Copy of identity card (diplomats)

Specific Information

  • The original passport must state the place of residence abroad.
  • Photocopy of air ticket or declaration must include details (date of arrival, etc.).
  • The baggage certificate, “Certificado de Bagagem,” must state that all the items are used and have been in the owner of the goods’ possession for more than 6 months (do not show values).
  • The baggage certificate must state that the owner of the goods has been living in the origin country for more than 12 months.
  • Residence certificate “Atestado de Residencia” can be obtained in the Parish Council by the owner of the goods’ residence area in Portugal; it must state that the owner of the goods is living at the new address for no longer than 4 months.
  • Portuguese nationals are not required to provide proof of application for a residence permit.
  • If the owner of the goods is not a citizen of the origin country, proof of residency for a period of at least 12 months is required; this can be proven through a photocopy of identity card, certificate issued by the Portuguese Consulate or employment contract from the origin country.
  • Transferees must be present for Customs clearance and must provide an exact date of arrival in Portugal.
  • Although normal goods are duty free, Custom’s broker fees are generally required and are based ad valorem.
  • Port handling charges and warehouse fees may be included in Custom’s broker fees but can be expensive; estimates should be requested from agent prior to import.
  • Used household goods are considered duty-free if they have been in the owner of the goods’ possession for a period of at least 6 months and are not for sale after the shipment has been released.
  • Goods must arrive within 6 months of owner of the goods’ arrival in the destination country.
  • Inheritance requires a certified copy of the death certificate as well as the will, to allow for duty free import.

Local laws and customs

If you are caught taking or in possession of drugs for personal use, you may be subject to a fine or another sanction (including the seizure of personal belongings). Selling or trafficking drugs is a criminal offence and subject to severe penalties.

You must show some form of identification if asked by the police or judicial authorities.  In most cases, it should be sufficient to carry a photocopy of the data page of your passport, but you may be asked to produce the original document.

Gambling is only legal in establishments properly licensed by the government, like official casinos. Games of chance, including bingo, are illegal if they’re held on unlicensed premises. The police may act on reports of illegal gambling in unauthorised premises without warning. Organisers, participants and anyone on the premises may be arrested, charged with a criminal offence and fined or imprisoned. If in doubt, you should ask whether the establishment you’re entering is legally licensed.

Taking food and drink into the EU

You cannot take meat, milk or products containing them into EU countries. There are some exceptions for medical reasons, for example certain amounts of powdered infant milk, infant food, or pet food required for medical reasons. Check the rules about taking food and drink into the EU on the European Commission website.

Restricted/Dutiable Items

  • Wine
  • Tobacco
  • New items still in packaging
  • Essences for regional wine counterfeit
  • Systems for copying mail stamping systems
  • Fish if it is disemboweled (cannot exceed 20 kg)
  • Medicines and foodstuffs harmful to national health and drugs
  • Powdered milk for babies, food for children and special medical food (including pet food) may be allowed if not requiring refrigeration and with original, unbroken seal (unless in use at the time),
  • Quantity must not exceed the weight of 10 kg originating from Croatia, Faroe Islands, Greenland and Iceland, and of 2 kg if originating in other countries
  • Coats, fur and leather shoes made of protected animals (special authorization required)
  • Hunting and civilian guns only (guns needs a property title and also need to be mentioned on the Consulate certificate)
  • Firearms, cut and thrust weapons, and any instrument without specific application

Prohibited Items

  • Meat and milk, and any by-products thereof, from non-European Union countries, with the exception of limited amounts from Andorra, Croatia, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland and small amounts of specific products from other countries;
  • Check with agent for details.
  • Protected species and products thereof as listed by the Washington Convention (CITES).
  • For example, ivory, tortoise shells, coral, reptile skins, and wood from Amazonian forests.
  • Pornographic material / objects
  • Alcohol / spirits
  • Firearms / weapons
  • Drugs
  • Food

Miscellaneous (Pets, Motors, and others.)

Motor Vehicles

Documents Required

  • Registration certificate
  • Original title
  • International driver’s license
  • Insurance documents
  • Import license
  • Purchase invoice
  • Inspection records

Specific Information

  • Duty-free entry for temporary import period of 6 months, during which definitive importation of the car must occur.
  • Costs of duties and taxes depend on value of the motor vehicle in Portugal.
  • If no definitive importation is performed, the motor vehicle must leave the country before a period of 6 months.
  • Boats are subject to the payment of duties.
  • Only 1 car allowed.
    • Other cars will incur duties.

Pets

Documents Required

  • Vaccination certificate
  • Veterinary health certificate
  • Owner of the goods’ passport

Specific Information

  • Pets must be identifiable with a tattoo or an electronic identification system and vaccinated against rabies.
  • The vaccination certificate must include rabies vaccination information.

Arms and Ammunition regulations:

Only sport ammunition is allowed however it can only be transported as hold baggage or cargo.

Prohibited: It is not allowed to import arms and ammunition from Russian Fed. and Syria. For more information see Sanctions map

Export regulations:

Prohibited: jewelry, unless declared on arrival.

Pets:

Cats and dogs entering Portugal (incl. Madeira and Azores isl.) are subject to Regulation (EC) No. 998/2003 and Regulation (EU) 576/2013 . For detailed information please contact DSCV – Direccao Geral Veterinaria: Largo da Academia Nacional de Belas Artes, 2 – 1249 -105 Lisbon, Portugal.
Tel: 351 21 323 9500. Fax: 351 21 323 9679 or 351 21 346 3518.
Email: [email protected] and [email protected].
Web: www.dgv.min-agricultura.pt

Pets arriving at Faro Airport (FAO) from countries outside Europe:
the airport authorities must be informed 2-3 days before the arrival of pets, to ensure that a Veterinarian will be present at the airport and that the pets can be cleared.

Baggage Clearance regulations:

Portugal and Madeira: baggage is cleared at the airport of final destination.
Azores: baggage is cleared at Sao Miguel island (PDL), Terceira island (TER) and at Santa Maria island (SMA). Passengers traveling to other islands must clear their baggage at the first airport of entry in Portugal.

Currency

Currency Import regulations:

Import of local currency (Euro-EUR) and foreign currencies without restrictions. However, amounts exceeding the equivalent of EUR 4,987.98 must be declared upon arrival in order to avoid possible difficulties when leaving Portugal.

Currency Export regulations:

Local currency (Euro – EUR) and foreign currencies: no restrictions if arriving from or traveling to another EU Member State .
If arriving directly from or traveling to a country outside the EU: amounts exceeding EUR 10,000.- or more or the equivalent in another currency (incl. banker’s draft and cheques of any kind) must be declared.

Was this article helpful?
Dislike 0
Views: 1099
Previous: Traveller’s info card for Portugal
Next: Portugal Travel Information
0 replies

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

© Copyright - World Baggage Network