Moving to Portugal

The Republic of Portugal (Republica Portuguesa) is an economically developed European country. The country attracts tourists from all over the world with its warm climate, excellent service and a variety of opportunities for excellent recreation. Emigrants come here for a decent standard of living, high wages and professional medical care
If you have decided to move to Portugal do not rush to pack your bags just yet. Do your research and understand how to move to Portugal and what household goods you can bring along. In this article, we discuss the ways in which items can be shipped to Portugal and important customs information that will help you to avoid troubles at the borders.
Moving to Portugal by Sea Freight
If you wonder what is the most affordable way to move to Portugal, without s doubt, the answer is shipping your household goods via sea freight. Moving to Portugal by sea freight is a secure and the most cost-effective method to ship overseas.
Depending on the volume of your cargo, choose one of the following container shipments:
Moving to Portugal by Air Freight
The fastest way to move household goods to Portugal is via Air Freight. Whether you need to have items immediately or simply do not wish to wait weeks for the valuables to arrive, use air freight cargo shipment and items will arrive in a matter of days.
Sole use container, also referred to as FCL (Full Container Load) is used for big volume cargo that is enough to fill up a full container. The sender/customer will be provided with an individual container exclusively accessible by him. There are three different container sizes available when moving to Portugal with HMC:
It is known that the fastest way to move from one place to another is by plane. Therefore, shipping your household goods by air freight is a convenient way to move to Portugal if you need your items quickly and with minimum wait time. Your cargo will arrive in Portugal in a matter of days. Choose one of the following shipment sizes when moving to Portugal:

Door to Port vs. Door to Door Moving
When moving to Portugal there are 2 service options that international moving companies provide:
Door-to-port refers to a moving service that allows the customer/shipper to have more control over the shipment when moving to Portugal. The international moving company will pack and deliver your items to be shipped to one of the ports/airports so you can personally collect them upon arrival.
Door-to-door refers to a moving service when the international moving company provides full relocation service with disassembling, packing, shipping, delivering and assembling your household goods at your new home in Portugal. It is most convenient for those, who can not collect the shipment themselves or do not want to work with another local moving company.
Moving household goods to Portugal
Customs Regulations
- Shipment must arrive no later than 6 months from the day of the owner’s arrival
- For duty-free import of interesting items, a certified copy of the death certificate and the will are required
- Household items will be imported duty-free if have been in the owner’s use for more than 6 months and are not intended for sale
- Transferees must be present for customs clearance
- The non-residence must provide a valid for no less than 12 months proof of residency as an identity card, a certificate issued by the Portuguese Consulate or an employment contract from the country of origin.
Required documents:
- Original passport
- An Atestado De Residência ( for those who move to Portugal for no more than 4 months)
- Certificado de Bagagem
- A detailed list of imported items