Moving from Germany to Portugal
From Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Hamburg or Cologne to Lisbon, Porto, the Algarve or the Silver Coast — door to door.
Popular areas we cover
From Germany
- Berlin
- Munich
- Frankfurt
- Hamburg
- Cologne and Düsseldorf
- Stuttgart
To Portugal
- Lisbon and Cascais
- Porto
- the Algarve
- the Silver Coast
- Madeira
How the Germany → Portugal route works
Your belongings travel by road through France and Spain to Portugal, with no border formalities.
Madeira and the Azores are reached by sea from the mainland; transit is longer.
Paperwork from Germany to Portugal
Germany and Portugal are both in the EU: your household goods travel freely, with no customs declaration and no import duty.
What you do need are the administrative steps on each side.
Checklist for clearance
- Abmeldung at your German registration office (from 7 days before to 2 weeks after moving out)
- Cancellation of the Rundfunkbeitrag with your Abmeldung confirmation
- Portuguese tax number (NIF)
- Certificate of residence from your parish council (Junta de Freguesia)
- EU registration certificate for stays over three months
Transport options and transit times
Door-to-door transit times are indicative and depend on the season, the exact addresses and, where required, customs clearance.
| Mode | Typical door-to-door time |
|---|---|
| Dedicated truck | 4 to 7 days |
| Shared load (groupage) | 2 to 4 weeks |
| Air freight (small volumes) | 1 to 2 weeks |
How a move to Portugal works
- Free quote. Tell us your origin, destination in Portugal and approximate volume. You receive an online estimate and a detailed quote within 24 hours.
- Survey and planning. Your coordinator rechecks the volume, locks the transport mode and lists the customs rules you fall under on your way to Portugal.
- Packing and collection. We bring the packing materials to your home, inventory each piece and load everything on moving day.
- Transport. Your belongings travel by the mode that fits your route to Portugal: dedicated truck or shared load within Europe, sea container or air freight otherwise.
- Customs clearance (where required). Customs paperwork for Portugal is prepared and filed on your behalf (Portuguese customs file (NIF, residence certificate, inventory)).
- Delivery and set-up. We deliver at your new address and, if you asked for it on the quote, unpack boxes and reassemble furniture.
A single point of contact handles your move to Portugal from estimate to delivery.
How the price of your move to Portugal is calculated
Like every international mover, we build your price to Portugal from a few concrete factors:
- Volume — in cubic metres: it drives most of the price. Use our room-by-room calculator for an accurate figure.
- Distance and route — the actual door-to-door distance to Portugal, not a bird-flight shortcut.
- Transport mode — groupage, your own truck, shared or full container, air for urgent small shipments.
- Services — packing, furniture dismantling and reassembly, fragile item crating, storage, delivery to an island.
- Access — floors without a lift, narrow streets, long carry distances or the need for an external lift.
- Customs — clearance fees and port handling charges, where required by your route to Portugal.
- Insurance — priced as a percentage of what you tell us your belongings are worth.
Typical volumes, as a guide:
| Home | Typical volume |
|---|---|
| Studio | 10 to 15 m³ |
| 1-bedroom flat | 15 to 25 m³ |
| 2-bedroom home | 25 to 40 m³ |
| 3-bedroom home | 40 to 60 m³ |
| 4-bedroom house or larger | 60 m³ and more |
For road moves inside Europe, the estimator returns a starting price in two minutes. Sea freight, air freight and any move that crosses a customs border go through a written quote, delivered within 24 hours.
Other routes to Portugal
Other routes from Germany
Read before you move
- Cross-border moving in Europe: how a European move worksHow cross-border moves work in Europe: transport options, transit times, when customs applies and how to choose a European moving company.
- Moving to Portugal: NIF, residency and your belongingsMoving to Portugal from the UK, the USA or elsewhere in Europe: NIF, residence permits and AIMA, registration, your car and how to ship your belongings.
- How to choose the best international moving companyWhat separates the best international movers from the rest: quotes, customs, insurance, red flags and the questions to ask before you book.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need customs paperwork to move from Germany to Portugal?
- No. Both countries are in the EU, so your household goods travel freely with no customs declaration.
- Do I need a NIF before moving to Portugal?
- It is strongly recommended: the Portuguese tax number is needed for renting, utilities, banking and most formalities.
- Can I bring my German car to Portugal?
- Yes. Once resident, you register it in Portugal; an exemption from vehicle tax (ISV) may apply on transfer of residence, under conditions.
- Can you deliver to Madeira?
- Yes, by sea from the mainland. Transit takes longer than to Lisbon or the Algarve.
- How long does a move from Germany to Portugal take?
- 4 to 7 days by dedicated truck, or 2 to 4 weeks by shared load.
Explore more
Ready to plan your move to Portugal?
Two minutes to an online estimate, 24 hours to a written quote.
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