International shipping transit times depend on the origin, destination, carrier, service level, and whether customs clearance causes delays. The times below are based on standard express and economy courier services from a Western European origin such as Portugal, Spain, or France.
Within Europe (EU Countries)
Most EU-to-EU parcel shipments by road courier (GLS, DPD, DHL Parcel) take two to four business days for neighbouring countries and three to six business days for more distant destinations. No customs clearance is required within the EU, which removes a significant source of delay. Express services (DHL Express, FedEx) deliver in one to two business days across most European routes.
United Kingdom
Since Brexit, UK-bound shipments from the EU require customs documentation — a commercial invoice with accurate commodity codes and declared values. Standard courier services take three to five business days. Express services take one to two business days. Customs clearance adds 24 to 48 hours in some cases, particularly for commercial shipments or those with incomplete documentation.
United States
Express services (DHL Express, FedEx International Priority, UPS Worldwide Express) deliver from Europe to the USA in two to three business days. Economy services take five to ten business days. US customs clearance for shipments under $800 in value is typically automatic and adds less than 24 hours. Commercial shipments above this threshold require a formal entry and may take one to three additional days.
United Arab Emirates and Middle East
DHL Express and FedEx deliver from Europe to Dubai and major UAE cities in one to three business days. Customs in the UAE is efficient for commercial shipments, but personal goods may require additional documentation. Other Middle Eastern destinations vary — Saudi Arabia typically takes two to four business days, with customs adding one to two days for some categories of goods.
Australia and New Zealand
Express courier services deliver from Europe to major Australian cities (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane) in three to six business days. Economy air mail takes ten to twenty business days. Australian customs (Border Force) requires biosecurity declarations for food, plant materials, and certain animal products — non-compliant items are detained or destroyed.
China and East Asia
DHL Express, FedEx, and UPS deliver to major Chinese cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen) in two to four business days from Europe. Japanese customs clearance is efficient for most goods, with Tokyo deliveries typically taking two to four business days. South Korea is two to four business days.
India
Express services deliver to major Indian cities in two to four business days. Indian customs is one of the more complex to navigate for commercial shipments — incorrect documentation is a frequent cause of delays of three to ten additional business days. Personal goods and gifts under a certain value threshold clear faster.
Brazil and South America
Brazilian customs is notoriously slow for imported goods. Even express shipments routinely take seven to fifteen business days total due to customs processing. Argentina and Colombia typically take five to ten business days. Chile is among the faster South American markets at three to six business days.
