Moving from the UK to Portugal
To the Algarve, Lisbon, Porto, the Silver Coast or Madeira: door-to-door removals from anywhere in the UK, customs included.
Popular areas we cover
From United Kingdom
- London and the South East
- the South West
- the Midlands
- the North
- Scotland
To Portugal
- the Algarve (Faro, Lagos, Tavira)
- Lisbon and Cascais
- Porto
- the Silver Coast
- Madeira
How the United Kingdom → Portugal route works
Your belongings cross to the continent by the Channel Tunnel or ferry and travel through France and Spain to Portugal.
We file the UK export and the Portuguese import clearance for you.
Madeira and the Azores are reached by sea from the mainland; transit is longer.
Customs from the UK to Portugal
Your used household goods can enter Portugal free of duty and VAT if you have lived outside the EU for at least 12 consecutive months, owned your belongings for at least 6 months, and are moving your main residence to Portugal.
EU rules allow up to 12 months, but Portuguese customs scrutinises late shipments: ship as soon as possible after settling. Generic inventories ("20 boxes") are rejected.
Checklist for clearance
- Valid passport
- Portuguese tax number (NIF)
- Residence permit or card, and certificate of residence from your parish council
- Proof of your previous UK residence
- Detailed, itemised inventory
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 | Up to 7 days, plus customs clearance |
| Shared load (groupage) | 2 to 4 weeks, plus customs clearance |
| Air freight (small volumes) | 1 to 2 weeks |
How a move to Portugal works
- Free quote. Share your origin, your delivery address in Portugal and roughly how much you are moving. A written quote lands in your inbox 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. Our local team packs, inventories and loads your belongings at your home in Portugal.
- Transport. On the road for a European route, in a sea container across an ocean, or by air for small urgent shipments to Portugal.
- Customs clearance (where required). We handle the clearance into Portugal end to end (Portuguese customs file (NIF, residence certificate, inventory)).
- Delivery and set-up. Delivery to your new home, unpacking and furniture reassembly if included in your quote.
The same coordinator sees your move to Portugal through, from your first email to the keys being handed over.
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 — shared road load, a truck booked only for you, FCL or LCL by sea, or air for very small cargo.
- 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 — declaration fees and port or airport handling, when the route to Portugal crosses a customs border.
- Insurance — a small percentage of the declared value — scalable to what you want covered.
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 |
European road moves get a starting price straight from the estimator; everything else — sea, air, customs — is quoted in writing within 24 hours.
Other routes to Portugal
Other routes from United Kingdom
Read before you move
- 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.
- Moving from the UK to Europe after Brexit: customs, documents and timingSince Brexit, a move from the UK to Spain, Portugal, France or any EU country is an export and an import. What changed, how to bring your belongings duty-free, and how to plan your move.
- 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 pay customs duties when moving from the UK to Portugal?
- Not if you qualify for the transfer of residence exemption: 12 months living outside the EU, belongings owned for at least 6 months, and a genuine move of your main home.
- Do I need a NIF before shipping?
- Yes. Your Portuguese tax number is required for customs clearance, so get it early.
- How soon after arriving should I ship my belongings?
- As soon as possible — ideally within the first few months — as Portuguese customs looks closely at late shipments.
- Can you deliver to Madeira?
- Yes, by sea from the mainland. Transit times are longer than to the Algarve or Lisbon.
- How long does a removal from the UK to Portugal take?
- Up to 7 days by dedicated truck, or 2 to 4 weeks by shared load, plus customs clearance.
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