Moving from the USA to Portugal
From New York, Florida, California, Texas or anywhere in the US to Lisbon, Porto, the Algarve or Madeira, by sea container.
Popular areas we cover
From United States
- New York and New Jersey
- Massachusetts
- Florida
- California
- Texas
To Portugal
- Lisbon and Cascais
- Porto
- the Algarve
- the Silver Coast
- Madeira
How the United States → Portugal route works
Your belongings are packed at your US home and loaded into your own container (FCL) or a shared one (LCL), from the nearest US port.
Containers arrive in Lisbon or Leixões (Porto), are cleared through Portuguese customs and delivered to your new home.
Many families also send a small air freight shipment with essentials for the first weeks.
Customs from the USA to Portugal
Your used household goods 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. Time spent in another EU country counts against the 12 months.
Portuguese customs looks closely at shipments that arrive long after your move, and rejects vague inventories.
Checklist for clearance
- Valid passport and Portuguese residence visa or permit
- Portuguese tax number (NIF)
- Certificate of residence from your parish council
- Proof of your US residence
- Detailed, itemised inventory in English or Portuguese
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 |
|---|---|
| Own container (FCL) from the East Coast | 6 to 10 weeks |
| Own container (FCL) from the West Coast | 8 to 12 weeks |
| Shared container (LCL) | Add 2 to 4 weeks |
| 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 — from your origin address to your new home in Portugal.
- Transport mode — shared load, dedicated truck, sea container (shared or exclusive) or air freight.
- Services — packing, furniture dismantling and reassembly, fragile item crating, storage, delivery to an island.
- Access — top-floor flats with no lift, narrow lanes, long carries, external hoists when the stairs will not do.
- 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 States
Read before you 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.
- 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.
- Transfer of Residence relief explained: moving your belongings duty-free to Europe and the UKHow to bring your household goods into the EU, the UK, Switzerland or Norway without paying import duty or VAT: conditions, forms and country-by-country rules.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I pay customs duties when moving from the USA to Portugal?
- Not if you qualify for the transfer of residence exemption and move your main home to Portugal.
- Should I ship my American appliances to Portugal?
- Usually not large ones: Portugal uses 230 V and different plugs. Small electronics with dual voltage are fine.
- 20-foot or 40-foot container?
- A 20-foot container suits most 1- to 2-bedroom homes; a 40-foot container suits larger houses. Shared containers suit smaller moves.
- Can I ship my car from the USA to Portugal?
- It is possible, but registration in Portugal involves vehicle tax and EU conformity requirements. Check the cost first; buying locally is often simpler.
- How long does a move from the USA to Portugal take?
- 6 to 10 weeks door to door from the East Coast, 8 to 12 from the West Coast, by sea container.
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Ready to plan your move to Portugal?
Online estimate in two minutes; a detailed written quote within a day.
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