Everything you need to know — transit times, customs rules, import duties, carrier options and shipping tips for France.
| Carrier | Economy | Express |
|---|---|---|
| DPD Classic | 2–3 days | 1–2 days |
| GLS EuroBusinessParcel | 2–3 days | 1–2 days |
| FedEx International Economy (TNT) | 2–4 days | 1–2 days |
| UPS Standard | 2–3 days | 1–2 days |
| DHL Economy Select | 3–5 days | 1–2 days |
| DHL Express Worldwide | — | 1–2 days |
Business days. EU shipments: no customs delay.
France is an EU member — no customs export declarations or import documents are required for shipments from Portugal. The following documents are only needed for commercial B2B shipments.
Not required for Portugal–France shipments. EU single market — no customs declarations needed for standard goods.
Not legally required for EU intra-community shipments. Useful for multi-item B2B orders.
Certain product categories (electronics, toys, cosmetics) must carry CE marking to be sold in France — this is a product regulation, not a customs requirement.
As part of the EU Single Market, no import duties apply between Portugal and France. VAT rate in France: 20% (standard). For B2C e-commerce over €150, IOSS registration may apply.
| Product Category | Typical Duty Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| All goods (EU intra-community) | 0% | EU single market — no import duties between Portugal and France |
| VAT on B2C e-commerce (>€150) | 20% French VAT | IOSS simplification available for e-commerce platforms selling to French consumers |
| Tobacco and spirits | French excise rates apply | Excise duty applies even for intra-EU shipments — high-volume commercial restricted |
| Wine (commercial quantities) | Excise + transport requirements | Commercial wine shipments within EU require transport documents; personal quantities OK |
Duty rates are indicative. Actual rates depend on the HS code classification of your goods. Consult a customs broker for high-value or complex shipments.
The following items have import restrictions or are prohibited in France. Check carrier guidelines before shipping.
DPD is the French market leader and has unmatched residential delivery coverage in France — including rural areas. For B2C e-commerce to France, DPD is often the best choice.
DPD Predict sends French recipients a 1-hour delivery window SMS the morning of delivery, significantly reducing missed deliveries. Very valuable for French consumer shipments.
FedEx International Economy via TNT (now the same network) is strong for French B2B deliveries — good for business-to-business shipments to French companies.
Corsica adds 2–3 extra days to any road transit time due to sea transport. Budget extra time for Corsican deliveries.
No customs paperwork required — Portugal and France are both EU members. Standard carrier label is all you need.
French recipients are highly familiar with DPD Pickup parcel shops. If the recipient may not be home, choose DPD and enable parcel shop redirect.
Economy road carriers (DPD, GLS) typically deliver from Portugal to mainland France in 2–3 business days. Express services (DHL Express, UPS Express Saver) deliver in 1–2 business days. Corsica adds 2–3 extra days. Compare live rates on Cargosender.
For consumer (B2C) shipments, DPD is widely regarded as the best choice for France — it is the French market leader with excellent residential and rural coverage, and DPD Predict reduces missed deliveries significantly. For B2B business deliveries, GLS and FedEx Economy (TNT) are also strong options. Compare all carriers on Cargosender.
No. Portugal and France are both EU member states. No customs declarations or import forms are required. The only exceptions are commercial quantities of excise goods (tobacco, alcohol) which require EU excise documentation.
Economy road (DPD/GLS) from Portugal to France costs approximately €8–€18 for parcels up to 10 kg. Express starts at €25–€50. DPD is typically the most competitive for France. Compare live rates on Cargosender.
Yes. Corsica is an EU territory and no customs are required. However, Corsica adds 2–3 extra days to standard road transit times because parcels must cross by sea to the island. Budget 5–6 business days for economy road to Corsica. Express carriers can reach Corsica in 3–4 days.
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