Relations between Canada and Portugal are supported by a large Canadian-Portuguese community and thousands of Canadians living in Portugal. Whether you are shipping personal effects, fulfilling e-commerce orders or exporting commercial pallets, Canadian businesses rely on low-cost shipping to Portugal to remain competitive.
Quick answer
The best answer for individuals shipping small parcels from Canada to Portugal is via Canada Post small packet options. Packages that will be imported and delivered locally by CTT. For heaver parcels and commercial shipments, global couriers are usually the best option. Air is cost effective up to around 100 kg. Large bulk orders and palletized freight is benefit from low cost ocean.
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In this shipping guide
Download our accompanying PDF guide.
About 450,000
Canadians of Portuguese origin, concentrated in Toronto and Montreal
CAD 3.24 billion
Two-way merchandise trade between Canada and Portugal in 2024
23 / 22 / 16
Standard VAT rate in percent for mainland Portugal, Madeira and the Azores
Aircraft and parts, oilseeds and cereals lead Canada's exports to Portugal. The lane also carries a steady flow of family parcels and household moves, and a growing number of Canadians relocating to Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve. One practical detail most guides miss: Portugal has three VAT rates depending on the delivery address, so a parcel to Ponta Delgada in the Azores is taxed differently from one to Lisbon.
The best cargo solution depends on the volume of your shipment, the weight and how urgently it needs to arrive.
Ocean freight is ideal for shipping several pallets or large commercial cargo. Transit times generally range from one to two months.
Because ocean shipments come with minimum surcharges, shipping via air is cheaper for door-to-door delivery shipments up to around 100 kilograms.
| Shipment weight | Usually cheapest door to door | Typical transit |
|---|---|---|
| Under 200 kg | Air (courier or air freight) | Days |
| ~100 to ~ 500 kg | Compare both; depends on volume and urgency | Days by air, weeks by ocean |
| Over 500 kg | Ocean (LCL or FCL) | One to two months |
Canada Post is typically the best option for shipping personal goods to Portugal. Shipments are handed over to CTT Correios de Portugal for final delivery. Options include Small Packet International (air, up to 2 kg), Tracked Packet International, International Parcel (air or surface) and Xpresspost International (delivery in about one to two weeks). If VAT has not been prepaid, CTT generally charges its own customs presentation fee on top of the VAT when it clears a parcel.
FedEx and UPS offer highly reliable express delivery from Canada to Portugal. They provide Priority Express Air and Economy Air options, direct or via their partners (get a rate)
With international logistics experience since 1988, Jet Worldwide offers transparency, heavy-weight discounts and cold-chain solutions like dry ice shipping for biomedical or frozen goods.
Jet Worldwide data
On Canada-to-Portugal shipments Jet Worldwide delivers, dimensional weight rather than actual weight applies over 30% of the time.
E-commerce parcels up to €150 no longer enter duty-free. A flat €3 customs duty applies to each distinct category of items in the parcel, based on tariff sub-headings. The measure is temporary and scheduled to apply until 1 July 2028.
A separate EU handling fee per consignment set at EU level is expected to be around €2.
All imports into the European Union are subject to Value Added Tax (VAT). VAT is calculated on the CIF value (the total of cost, insurance and freight) plus any applicable duties.
Portugal's standard rate is 23 percent on the mainland, 22 percent in Madeira and 16 percent in the Azores, with reduced rates of 13 and 6 percent on the mainland.
For e-commerce sellers, registering for the Import One-Stop Shop (IOSS) allows VAT to be collected at checkout so the parcel clears without VAT at the door. Canadian sellers must appoint an EU-established IOSS intermediary to register.
Before shipping commercial goods to a business in Portugal, you must verify their Economic Operators Registration and Identification (EORI) number. This EU identification code is mandatory for European businesses importing goods and is required for customs entry.
Every shipment to a French consumer (a business-to-consumer, or B2C, sale) must include product identifier (PID) information for each item, whatever the shipment's value.
PIDs do not apply to business-to-business (B2B) shipments sent to a VAT-registered business.
The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) allows qualifying Canadian goods to enter Portugal duty-free. Read more about Canada's many free trade agreements.
Simply purchasing an item in Canada and shipping it does not grant "Canadian origin" status. The product must undergo sufficient transformation within Canada. There are two primary methods to determine this:
A separate certificate of origin is not required; a standardized origin declaration can be placed directly on your commercial invoice. It must use the prescribed wording and include your Canada Revenue Agency business number, the place and date, and the name of the person signing.
Many of the Canadians living in Portugal moved there in the last few years. Household goods can enter free of duty and VAT under the EU transfer-of-residence relief if these conditions are met:
Confirm the current documents with the Portuguese Tax and Customs Authority (Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira) before you book.
Enter your package dimensions and actual weight below to estimate your chargeable weight and view a sample shipping price. Note: rates are samples only. Final pricing depends on fuel surcharges, exact dimensions and delivery address. For our lowest spot quote for commercial volumes and heavy parcels over 10 kg, contact our team.
Air carriers bill the greater of actual weight and dimensional weight, which is length x width x height in centimetres divided by 5,000.
A 40 x 30 x 20 cm box weighing 8.5 kg has a dimensional weight of 4.8 kg, so it is billed at 8.5 kg. A light but bulky 60 x 40 x 40 cm box weighing 6 kg has a dimensional weight of 19.2 kg, so it is billed on 19.2 kg, more than three times its actual weight. Most carriers then round up to the next 0.5 kg, which is how the calculator below works.
Generally, shipments under 100 kilograms are more cost-effective via air, while cargo over 500 kilograms is significantly cheaper via ocean. Between those weights, compare both based on volume and urgency.
How much duty does a parcel to Portugal under €150 pay?A flat €3 customs duty for each distinct tariff category in the parcel. Portuguese VAT applies on top.
What VAT rate applies to imports into Portugal?The standard rate is 23 percent on the mainland, 22 percent in Madeira and 16 percent in the Azores. VAT is calculated on the CIF value plus any duties.
Do Canadian goods enter Portugal duty-free?Yes, if they originate in Canada under CETA rules of origin and the commercial invoice carries the prescribed origin declaration. Simply buying a product in Canada and shipping it does not make it Canadian origin.
Can I ship my household goods to Portugal duty-free?Yes, under the EU transfer-of-residence relief, if you lived outside the EU for at least 12 months, owned and used the goods for at least 6 months, and import them within 12 months of establishing residence in Portugal.