How to take your belongings to Portugal when relocating?

Last Updated on May 21, 2023 by Maryam Siddiqui

After dreaming for so long, starting a new life in Portugal has become a reality for many expats. However, crossing huge distances and carrying a lot of luggage is often necessary to get here. In this article, we’ll tell you how to take your belongings to Portugal in a unique move. 

Relocation doesn’t have to be complicated if we simply plan ahead. With so many new expats starting their new life in Portugal, it’s clear that the move is well worth the wait. 

Get to know how many shipping methods exist, which one is the cheapest, and what takes the least time. By the end of this article, you’ll know exactly how to get your belongings to your new home and kickstart your dream life. Happy reading!

How to take your belongings to Portugal?

First, you need to know what you plan to take with you.

Generally, when we make the decision to move across countries, we’re looking forward to a new life. And with that, we often want to leave things behind.

But there are some objects and furniture items that we have an emotional attachment to. So, even if they’re not exactly practical or easy to transport, we’d like to take them along. That’s when the need arises to find the best way to take your belongings to Portugal.

You should start by shortlisting what you want to take and what you plan on leaving behind. This way, it’s easier to find the proper method of transport for all of your luggage. Is your furniture equivalent to a three-bedroom house? Or are you relocating alone? 

Let’s get into the best ways to take your belongings to Portugal!

Packing your bags to move to Portugal

Let’s start with the easiest. Moving to another country isn’t a bed of roses, but it needs to start somewhere. It takes a lot of organization and decluttering, but also detachment.

Naturally, if you want to live in another country, you will want to bring clothes and personal items. But, Portugal also has plenty of excellent stores, and you don’t need to take every item you own. You will likely move on a single plane trip and have a baggage weight limit.

The recommended thing is to bring only the essentials in your suitcase and get rid of what is extra. Garage sales and charitable donations can help you resolve the ‘Do I keep it, do I get rid of it?’ situation.

Especially if you’re moving with your family to Portugal, doing this step could save you a ton of money. Depending on the airline and your ticket, hold baggage can be a maximum of 23kg to 32kg (50 pounds to 70 pounds).

As far as clothes are concerned, you’ll find excellent stores no matter which region of Portugal you’re relocating to. Since the weather temperatures are quite different here, you might even need to get rid of most of your wardrobe anyway. So, carry the essentials and come shop here!

• Read Also: Schengen Visa: How Long Can You Stay In Europe?

Shipping your belongings to Portugal

Of course, relocating isn’t just limited to clothes, gadgets, and precious family albums. In many cases, people want to take their furniture along too. A good tip is to recheck your new home’s measurements to avoid taking anything along that won’t fit.

What about bigger objects that don’t fit in a suitcase, like your favorite sofa set or that bed your child has been using since they were young? How can you take them with you to Portugal? 

Let’s find out.

Taking bigger special objects by air freight

Well, it is possible to carry special items on some airlines as hold baggage. If you’re taking things like musical instruments, fishing rods, surfboards, golf, ski, and diving equipment, you can take them with you on your flight.

Prices for transporting these objects range between €80 and €400, depending on their weight and size. It’s a great option if you’re looking for fast and safe transportation, as international travel insurance often covers these expenses.

Just remember to check with the official airline for details in advance.

TAP Air Portugal is the largest airline in Portugal, with the main coverage of flights from the United States. They’re a partly state-owned company with world-renowned quality and offer this service.

In addition to the option of taking objects on the same flight as you, there are companies that are responsible for transporting them on cargo planes. You can get your moving boxes airlifted on specific planes for that purpose. Of course, it’s not as fast as going on the same plane, but it’s cheaper and allows you to take more stuff.

Using sea freight to take your belongings to Portugal

If you’re interested in making a big move, i.e. taking lots of belongings and even furniture and cars, read carefully.

Air freight may not be ideal if you have a spending limit. One of the most common and most sought-after options by expats in this situation is to send their belongings to Portugal on cargo ships that end up in one of the 18 ports of Portugal. 

The 3 main ones are:

• Port of Leixões, near the city of Porto in the north of Portugal;
• The traditional Port of Lisbon, in the city center;
• Port of Sines, to the south of the country, near the Algarve.

Furthermore, to transport your items on ships, you must choose between 20ft and 40ft containers (33m³ and 67m³).

In this case, it’s usually when the need to hire a specialized company to facilitate the entire relocation process arises.

After all, you must take all the boxes and objects into a truck, then to a container, to a ship that crosses the ocean, to another truck, and finally to your new home in Portugal. Phew! A huge path to plan step-by-step.

What type of freight transport is best?

Air freight takes up to 10 days to arrive; however, your luggage can also arrive within 3 days. On the other hand, sea freight may take between 12 to 40 days on average.

According to MoveHub, a company that compares shipping companies around the world, the shipping costs for moving the belongings of a 1-bedroom apartment from various regions of the world to Portugal are, on average:

Estimates are as of May 2023.

Of course, a lot depends on the specific region you come from and where you are going. Furthermore, the weight of transport and urgency influence values. Each case is different, and you will need to have your situation analyzed.

So, depending on your budget and time restrictions, one is worth more than the other.

Taking your car to Portugal

Taking your car along with you to Portugal is possible by sea freight. Shipping prices vary between €2,500 and €12,000 and can take up to 40 days, depending on the case. You must also have been the car’s legal owner for at least 12 months before this move.

Additionally, it’s worth remembering that Portugal highly taxes the cars imported into the country to encourage domestic car consumption. So much so that it’s generally not worth bringing a car from another country. 

Buying a car in Portugal becomes, for better or for worse, the cheapest option, even though cars are a little pricier here. 

In case you’re relocating to Lisbon or Porto, you might not even require your own car. The two cities’ public transport systems are very efficient and allow you to commute almost everywhere. Most people actually prefer not to purchase a car in Lisbon at all. 

• Importing your car can come with a lot of complications. Before you lock in your final decision, check out our guide on How To Import A Car To Portugal: Is It Worth It?

Taking your pet to Portugal

The most common way for expats to take their pets along with them to Portugal is by plane. If your pet weighs up to 8kg, it can be taken along in a cabin. The other option is via the aircraft hold if your pet weighs anything between 8kg to 45kg. 

While they’re a part of your family, unfortunately, some airlines can not accommodate traveling with a pet. There are a few sets of rules you’ll have to comply with if you wish to take your pet along. 

You will require a ticket, international documents, and vaccinations for your pet to move from your home country to Portugal. Furthermore, your pet can not be younger than 12 weeks old as they need to comply with other rules. 

Fees for pets on flights within Europe range between €120 and €230, and on intercontinental flights, the rates range between €230 and €300.

• Interested to know more? Read How To Take Your Pet To Portugal and get detailed information on taking your fur baby along. 

Know the customs rules

Besides paying attention to the number of objects to be transported, cost, and duration; you also need to know what is allowed to take to Portugal. Make sure that nothing on your objects violates Portuguese customs law.

For instance:

• The transport of any drug or narcotic is prohibited;
• The only weapons and ammunition allowed to be brought to Portugal are for sports;
• Meat and milk from countries outside the European Union are prohibited;
• There is a list of plants and animals prohibited from entering the EU;
• Pets must meet a series of prerequisites to be welcome in Portugal.

What option do most expats choose?

Many expats, including those on our Facebook Group – All About Portugal For Expats, have found that taking as much as possible through checked luggage is the best option. 

Most expats choose this course of action because it’s much cheaper and a way to avoid customs interference. You might already know how difficult and extensive it is to deal with customs. You’ll save a lot of time and money this way. However, the situation may be different for everyone.

Another piece of advice is to cut down on appliances and gadgets because of variations in current. For example, American electrical appliances may blow up on a European current without a voltage converter.

Sea freight is an economical option if you’ve decided to take more of your belongings along, such as furniture. Although it’ll take longer than air freight, you’ll also save a lot. 

Despite others’ experiences, we recommend that you do your own research and see what works for you. In the end, you’re the only person that should be deciding how to take your belongings to Portugal.

Finally moving into your new home in Portugal

After you reach Portugal and your belongings have also arrived here, it’s time to set up your new house! Probably the most exciting part of it all, isn’t it?

From the cheapest regions of Portugal to the ones where the rich and famous live, settling down will be relatively easier as long as you have everything planned.

Knowing how to speak Portuguese will prove to be a surprisingly useful skill at this stage, as most people working in relocation services do not speak fluent English.

That being said, hiring a relocation assistance company is still a good idea.

When you arrive at the new home, you’ll likely need to meet the landlord or realtor, pick up the house keys, and even contact the electricity, water, and gas companies. Not to mention the bureaucracy with the parish council and immigration services.

When are you moving to Portugal?

We understand how overwhelming it can be to take your belongings to Portugal, or any new country for that matter. Fortunately, we’ve learned much through our experiences and by helping our clients. So we have all the resources to make your move as seamless as possible.

Viv Europe has already helped several nationalities to live the Portuguese dream. Our immigration advisory services have been essential to expats’ successful relocation journey. And we love seeing people live their best life in Portugal!

If you’d like to connect with expats who’ve gone through similar experiences, join our Facebook Group – All About Portugal For Expats, and meet residents who’d love to help you out. And remember, we’ll be right here whenever you need us.