Britannia Robbins carry out frequent removals to Portugal from Swansea, Cardiff, and locations across South and West Wales. We have decades of experience, the backing of the Britannia Movers network, and specialist BAR Overseas Group accreditation. Our reviews demonstrate our commitment to customer satisfaction, and prove that any move to Portugal is in safe hands with us.
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Removals to Portugal – key facts at a glance
There is a lot of planning and paperwork involved when you’re moving to Portugal, especially since the UK left the EU. Detailed information is listed below, but here are some of the most important things you will need to know:
• It can take anywhere from two days to several weeks to complete a removal to Portugal, depending on the chosen transport method.
• The most cost-effective way of moving smaller consignments is a part load, sometimes known as groupage.
• If you are moving your main residence, it may be possible to import your household goods to Portugal without paying duties or taxes.
• Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve are our most popular destinations for UK expats.
Why do people move to Portugal?
Portugal is very popular with British expats who are either retiring in the sun, relocating for work, or moving to be closer to family.
>As business and cultural hubs, the vibrant cities of Lisbon and Porto are popular with expats looking for work opportunities and great international schools. Alternatively, Albufeira and Portimão in the Algarve region boast thriving expat communities where English is widely spoken.
Portugal has one of the lowest costs of living of all European countries, but wages tend to be lower than in the UK too. It has over 300 days of sunshine each year, with mild winters. It offers a diverse range of landscapes too, from world-famous beaches to stunning mountainous regions in the north.
Useful information for people relocating to Portugal
If you are still at the research stage of your relocation to Portugal, the following resources may be helpful for you.
• The Portuguese Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum (AIMA), which is ultimately responsible for visa and residency applications. Third-country nationals (including people from the UK) need a long-stay visa to remain in Portugal for more than 90 days.
• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has a detailed overview of the different types of visa that are available
• Consulate General of Portugal in London and Consulate General of Portugal in Manchester – you can apply to them for long-stay visas and baggage certificates (see below).
• The UK government’s GOV.UK website has a comprehensive section on living in Portugal.
• If you have held a temporary residence card for 5 years or more, you may be able to apply for permanent residency in Portugal. As well as documentation, this requires proof of basic proficiency in Portuguese. Therefore, learning the local language is essential. Language apps such as Babbel and Duolingo are a fun place to start.
• Our Removals FAQs page can help you to understand the removals process.
• Our European Removals page has more general resources that may help you to plan for your new start in Portugal.
Step-by-step guide to moving to Portugal
Removals can be stressful, and European removals even more so, which is why you need an experienced and professional company on your team. With over 100 years of experience, Britannia Robbins have had plenty of time to perfect the moving process, removing the stress wherever possible. Our experts create a bespoke moving package for every customer, working through the following steps.
1. We carry out a removals survey, either via a home visit or by video call. This allows us to calculate the volume and nature of your shipment and fully understand your requirements.
2. You select either a designated service (perfect for large house moves) or a shared load (better for smaller shipments that aren’t needed urgently).
3. We provide a fully itemised quotation for you. When you are ready, and your move date is confirmed, simply accept the quote, pay the deposit, and we’ll get you booked in the diary.
4. Our team will support you to compile and complete all of the paperwork needed for customs clearance.
5. If you have selected our packing service (highly recommended for removals to Portugal), our team will come to your house with all the materials they need to pack, wrap and secure your goods.
6. If you have selected a part-load, your goods will be stored in our warehouse until they can be consolidated into a full shipment.
7. If you have opted for a designated service without any storage time, our truck and crew will get on the road to your new property in Portugal without delay.
8. We will transport your goods across Europe, handling all customs formalities on your behalf.
9. On arrival at your property in Portugal, our crew will unload, unwrap and position furniture in the correct rooms, and unpack boxes onto a flat surface.
10. We’ll remove the boxes and packing materials for you when we depart.
Documentation and paperwork for Portugal Removals
Transfer of main residence
If you are moving your main residence from the UK to Portugal, you may be eligible to import your household goods without paying duty or taxes. This is usually the case where the following applies.
• You have lived outside of Portugal for at least 12 consecutive months.
• You have owned the goods for at least 6 months before moving.
• You are importing your household goods within 12 months of establishing a residence in Portugal.
• Your goods are non-commercial, and are for personal use only.
• You must declare that your goods will not be sold, rented, or transferred for at least 12 months after their arrival in Portugal.
We will need to receive all of your required documentation prior to shipping your goods. This is for your own protection, since any delays due to incorrect or missing paperwork can be costly. The main documents required for a UK citizen moving their main residence include the following.
• A Baggage Certificate – this can be requested from the Consulate General of Portugal in London
• A Residence Certificate, which can be obtained in Portugal from your local parish council, or ‘Junta de Freguesia’.
• Your Portuguese tax identification number, or NIF.
• A copy of the photo page of your passport.
• Your visa or work permit, where applicable.
• A detailed inventory of your goods, including estimated weights and values, written in Portuguese.
Consignments where duties and taxes will be payable
If you are moving goods to a second home, shipping commercial goods, have not owned your belongings for 6 months, or cannot meet any of the other criteria above, you should expect to pay duties and taxes. Tax is currently 23%, and duty is calculated as a percentage of the value of the import.
It’s worth noting that the process of clearing customs in Portugal can be long-winded and bureaucratic, and sometimes creates delays. This can generate extra charges for the mover. These are outside of our control. Therefore, if your shipment is small or has a low value, you may prefer to simply budget for the payment of taxes and duties from the outset.
Our Services
Britannia Robbins are accredited experts in international removals, and successfully move hundreds of people to Europe each year. Our comprehensive service offering allows us to create bespoke removals packages, precisely designed to meet the needs of each customer.
• Expert packing – we can do everything in your house, or just the fragile items. For European removals, we strongly recommend that you take our professional packing service. This will allow us to complete the detailed inventory paperwork and advise you on any items that can’t be transported.
• Furniture dismantling and rebuilding – typically needed for tables, wardrobes, and sideboards to ensure safe transport and efficient vehicle loading.
• Specialist handling for pianos, fine art and antiques. From piano shoes and acid-free tissue to bespoke crates, we have the skills and materials to ensure your most precious possessions travel safely.
• Transport – with a range of vehicle sizes and the option of designated or part loads, depending on your preference. We can provide a full door-to-door service, or simply deliver your goods to a storage provider in Portugal – whatever you need.
• Any size shipment – we handle large house moves and small consignments with equal care.
• Vehicle shipping – Taking your car to Portugal but don’t want to drive it? We can load it into a truck or a shipping container. We can also help you with the paperwork.
• Full support with customs and documentation procedures from our highly-trained move coordinators.
• Storage – we have self-storage and traditional warehouse storage options in Wales, and can also organise storage in Portugal via a trusted partner company.
• Marine Insurance – we are authorised to arrange marine insurance to cover your goods on their journey across Europe. Varied cover levels to suit all budgets.
• Our trusted partners at IFX Payments can support you with currency exchange. Personal account managers will watch the market for you and advise on the optimum timing to transfer your pounds into euros, potentially saving you thousands.
• Our long-time colleagues at PetAir UK can support you with moving your pets to Portugal. They offer everything from vaccinations and documentation support, to custom crating and travel bookings.
• For those clients travelling in the opposite direction, we also offer removals from Portugal back to the UK.
Removals to Portugal – FAQs
How much does a removal to Portugal cost?
The cost of a removal from the UK to Portugal varies depending on the volume of goods being transported, your final destination, and the method of transport chosen. For smaller consignments that aren’t needed urgently, a part-load or groupage shipment is typically the most cost-effective option.
How long does a move to Portugal take?
A removal to Portugal can take a few days or several weeks depending on the service you choose. There are a variety of operational reasons we must consider when planning itineraries. Our trucks are speed-limited, and we have to observe strict working hours for our staff. Additionally, commercial travel is prohibited on certain days in parts of Europe. All of these factors will be planned into our schedule.
Is there anything I can’t take to Portugal?
It is prohibited to bring alcoholic beverages, narcotics, drugs, and foodstuffs into Portugal as part of a household move. Additionally, the following items are restricted, so we advise you not to include them in your shipment.
• Pornographic objects
• Systems for copying Portuguese mail stamps
• Essences for regional wine counterfeit
• Drugs
• Firearms and weapons
• Roulette or any other game of hazard
• Gold bars
• Apes and monkeys
Should I pack my clothes in suitcases?
When moving abroad, just pack what you need and our removals operatives can pack the rest. We use wardrobe cartons to prevent creasing for suits, dresses, and delicate fabrics, and large boxes for other items. Some chests of drawers can even be wrapped with clothes inside them, so it’s worth checking this during your survey.
Can you move my plants?
It is possible to move plants to Portugal, but EU law requires you to provide a phytosanitary certificate. This proves that the plants are free of pests and disease. In most cases, the fees for the laboratory testing for this certificate render it unworkable. Carrying plants across borders also increases the risk of delays at border crossings, so we advise against it.
Documentation and Forms
- Download a pdf of our Moving to Portugal Brochure
- Download a pdf of the Moving to Portugal Checklist
If you would like to arrange a free survey, please call us today on 01792584229 or get in touch via our contact form.