Shipping Shoes & Fashion Internationally
Portugal is a top-tier fashion manufacturing hub — light, compact and simple to ship internationally.
Portugal is one of Europe's leading fashion and footwear manufacturing hubs, with brands like Fly London, Calçados, and hundreds of independent designers exporting globally. Portuguese footwear exports exceeded €2 billion per year, and clothing and accessories are major export categories to the EU, UK, USA and Brazil. Shoes and fashion are among the easiest products to ship internationally — they are not hazardous, not restricted, not fragile and not heavy. The main considerations are: choosing between rigid boxes (shoes) and poly mailers (soft clothing), declaring customs value accurately, understanding destination duty rates, and managing returns logistics for e-commerce sellers.
Carrier Acceptance
| Carrier | Accepted? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| DHL Express | Yes | Full acceptance — no restrictions on footwear or clothing. DHL Express available to 220+ countries for fashion/footwear exports. |
| FedEx | Yes | Full acceptance. FedEx International Priority and Economy both well-suited for fashion shipments. |
| UPS | Yes | Full acceptance. UPS Standard and Worldwide Express both suitable. UPS has strong fashion logistics partnerships. |
| DPD | Yes | Full acceptance within EU. DPD Predict delivery notifications are popular for fashion e-commerce. Good returns network in EU. |
| GLS | Yes | Full acceptance within EU. GLS FlexDelivery options available for undeliverable parcels at ParcelShops. |
How to Pack Shoes & Fashion for Shipping
Choose box or poly mailer
Shoes: always use a rigid corrugated box (the shoe box alone is not strong enough for courier transit — place the shoe box inside an outer shipping box). Clothing and soft accessories: poly mailers work well and are significantly cheaper and lighter than boxes. Hard accessories (belts with metal buckles, jewellery): use a small rigid box.
Protect shoes in transit
Keep shoes in their original box if possible, then place that box inside a sturdy outer shipping box with bubble wrap or kraft paper fill on all sides. Shoes stuffed with tissue paper hold their shape in transit. Pair shoes together with rubber bands or tissue paper between the soles to prevent scuffing.
Clothing: fold and compress
Fold clothing neatly and place in a clear zip-lock inner bag (protects against moisture), then in a poly mailer bag. For premium garments, add a cardboard stiffener on top and bottom of the poly mailer to prevent deformation. Compression bags can reduce volume for bulky knitwear.
Include a packing slip inside
Always place a packing slip inside the parcel (visible when the parcel is opened) with order details, return address and care instructions. For international shipments, include customs information on the packing slip matching the external commercial invoice.
Label and attach commercial invoice
Attach the commercial invoice to the outside of the parcel in a clear document pouch. The invoice must state: item description (e.g., 'Men's leather shoes — made in Portugal'), quantity, declared value in EUR, country of origin (Portugal), HS code.
Customs & Declarations
Footwear HS codes: 6403 (leather upper shoes); 6404 (textile upper shoes including canvas and sports); 6402 (rubber/plastic upper shoes). Clothing HS codes: 6201–6217 (adults' garments vary by material and type — verify the specific sub-heading). Accessories: 4205 (leather accessories); 7117 (fashion jewellery). For fashion e-commerce, the correct HS code depends on the specific product — check EUR-Lex for EU CN codes. EU destinations: no customs. UK: 0% under UK-EU TCA for goods of Portuguese/EU origin. USA: footwear carries tariffs of 3–37.5% (highest on plastic-sole/leather-upper combinations under HTSUS 6403); clothing tariffs are 12–32%. The de minimis ($800) means most single e-commerce orders are duty-free in the USA. Brazil: clothing and shoes face high Brazilian import taxes (approximately 60% flat tax on personal imports). China: Portuguese fashion is generally accepted without restriction.
Pro Tips
For B2C e-commerce fashion, most orders to the USA are under the $800 de minimis — ship express courier for speed, no US duty concerns for individual orders.
Poly mailers save significant weight vs cardboard boxes for clothing — a 200g shirt in a poly mailer weighs far less than in a 400g cardboard box, reducing shipping cost.
Return labels: include a pre-printed return label inside international fashion parcels — fashion has high return rates and customers are more likely to buy if returns are easy.
For UK shipments post-Brexit: goods of Portuguese/EU origin qualify for 0% UK import duty under the UK-EU TCA. State 'Country of Origin: Portugal (EU)' on the invoice.
For branded fashion (with logo/brand name), ensure the commercial invoice states the brand name correctly — customs authorities flag discrepancies between declared brand and invoice.
Use DPD or GLS for EU economy fashion shipments — both have excellent EU networks for fashion e-commerce with competitive rates on light poly mailer shipments.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest way to ship shoes from Portugal internationally?
For EU destinations (Germany, France, Netherlands), DPD and GLS are the most competitive at €6–€15 for a shoe box (approx 1.5 kg). For UK: DPD is usually €12–€20. For USA: FedEx International Economy is the most competitive at €25–€50 for a 2 kg shoe box. Compare live rates on Cargosender.
Can I ship clothing in a poly mailer internationally?
Yes. Most couriers accept poly mailers for clothing. The minimum recommended wall thickness is 60 microns — standard poly mailer bags from shipping suppliers are usually 80–100 microns. For international shipments, use tamper-evident poly mailers. Poly mailers are not suitable for shoes (need rigid protection) or delicate silk garments (need rigid box protection).
What customs duty rates apply to shoes shipped from Portugal to the USA?
US footwear tariff rates vary by material and type under HTSUS Chapter 64. Leather upper shoes can attract 8.5–15% MFN duty. Synthetic/fabric upper shoes 6–20%. Rubber boots can be up to 37.5%. For individual e-commerce orders under $800 (de minimis), no US duty is charged regardless of tariff rate. For commercial B2B shipments over $800, duty is assessed at the applicable HTSUS rate.
How do I declare the value of fashion items for customs?
Always declare the actual commercial (transaction) value — the price your buyer paid. Do not undervalue to avoid customs duty — this is customs fraud and penalties are severe. For gifts, declare the actual retail replacement value. For multi-item returns, declare the original purchase price on the return customs declaration.
What HS code should I use for shoes made in Portugal?
Shoes with leather uppers: HS 6403 (most common for premium Portuguese footwear). Shoes with textile uppers (canvas, knit): HS 6404. Shoes with rubber/plastic uppers: HS 6402. Sandals with leather uppers: HS 6403.20. Check the specific 10-digit HTSUS code for USA or 10-digit CN code for EU. Portugal's footwear industry association (APICCAPS) provides guidance on correct classification.
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