Shipping to Greece from Portugal

Carrier	Economy	Express
DHL Express	—	1–2 days
FedEx	—	2–3 days
GLS	5–8 days	—
UPS	5–8 days	2–3 days
DPD	6–9 days	—

Customs Documents — Shipping to Greece

Greece 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.

Commercial Invoice

Always

Standard for B2B shipments — include Greek AFM (ΑΦΜ — tax registration number) for VAT reverse charge. Required for all commercial shipments regardless of value.

Import Duties & VAT — Greece

As part of the EU Single Market, no import duties apply between Portugal and Greece. VAT rate in Greece: 24% FPA (Fóros Prostithémenis Axías) — standard rate. Reduced: 13% on food, 6% on medicines and books. Greek islands: reduced rates may apply (13% or 6% on some categories).. For B2C e-commerce over €150, IOSS registration may apply.

Product Category	Typical Duty Rate	Notes
All goods (intra-EU)	0%	No import duties within the EU single market
Greek FPA (standard)	24%	Must be charged via EU OSS if annual cross-border EU B2C sales exceed €10,000
Greek FPA (food and non-alcoholic beverages)	13%	Reduced rate for most food products
Greek FPA (medicines, books, newspapers)	6%	Super-reduced rate for pharmaceutical products, books and some cultural goods
Greek island reduced rates	See note	Some Aegean islands have reduced VAT rates on certain categories — Lesbos, Chios, Samos, Kos, Leros
B2B reverse charge	0% (buyer self-accounts)	Include Greek AFM number on B2B invoice — buyer accounts for FPA

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.

Restricted & Prohibited Items — Greece

The following items have import restrictions or are prohibited in Greece. Check carrier guidelines before shipping.

⚠Island deliveries: Greece has over 6,000 islands (227 inhabited) — island delivery requires ferry connections beyond the mainland network. Allow 1–3 extra days and confirm island-specific transit times with your carrier.
⚠Crete note: Crete is the largest Greek island and the best-served for shipping — most carriers have direct flights to Heraklion. Still add 1 day vs Athens.
⚠Remote islands (Dodecanese, North Aegean, Ionian): may add 2–3 days beyond Athens transit. Carriers often use local Greek couriers for last-mile delivery to remote islands.
⚠Address validation: Greek addresses can be complex — always include the 5-digit postal code (TK), municipality, city/town and building details. Confirm mobile number with recipient as drivers may call for navigation.
⚠REACH compliance: all chemical products sold in Greece must comply with EU REACH regulations.
⚠Greek customs for third-country goods: for goods transiting Greece to Turkey, Cyprus or other non-EU destinations, special transit procedures apply.

Full shipping restrictions guide →

Shipping Tips — Portugal to Greece

GLS via ACS is the strongest economy carrier for Greece — ACS (part of GLS Group) has excellent mainland and major island coverage, including Crete and Rhodes.

For island deliveries: DHL Express is the most reliable option — direct air service to major islands minimises ferry connection delays.

Athens (Attica) and Thessaloniki account for the majority of Greek B2B commerce — both are well-served by all carriers with no special surcharges.

Greek business hours: lunch breaks (1–4 PM) and August holidays significantly reduce business availability. B2B deliveries in August may find recipients closed for summer holidays.

Greek consumer e-commerce has grown significantly since 2020. Greek online shoppers are price-sensitive but also value reliable delivery and easy returns.

Include AFM number on B2B invoices: the Greek Tax Authority (AADE) requires the AFM (Αριθμός Φορολογικού Μητρώου) on all B2B invoices. Verify Greek AFM numbers at gsis.gr.

FAQ — Shipping to Greece

Do I need customs documents to ship from Portugal to Greece?

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No — Greece is an EU member state. Goods move freely within the EU single market with no customs declarations or import duties. A commercial invoice is standard for B2B shipments (include AFM number for reverse charge) but no customs declaration is needed.

How long does shipping to Greek islands take?

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Island delivery adds 1–3 days beyond mainland Athens transit times. Crete (Heraklion): +1 day (direct air). Rhodes, Kos (Dodecanese): +1–2 days. Remote Aegean islands (Santorini, Mykonos — primarily tourist): +1–2 days. Remote northern Aegean (Lesbos, Chios, Samos): +2–3 days. Always confirm island-specific transit times with DHL Express or your chosen carrier.

What is Greek FPA (VAT)?

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Greek FPA (Fóros Prostithémenis Axías — ΦΠΑ) is the Greek VAT. Standard rate: 24%. Reduced rates: 13% on food, non-alcoholic beverages, some agricultural inputs; 6% on medicines, books, newspapers, theatre/cinema/concert tickets. Some Aegean islands have special reduced rates. For B2C e-commerce from Portugal: register for EU OSS and charge 24% Greek FPA once cross-border EU B2C sales exceed €10,000/year.

Which carrier is best for shipping to Greece?

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For express: DHL Express delivers to Athens in 1–2 days and has direct air connections to major islands. For economy mainland: GLS via ACS has the strongest Greek ground network. DPD is slower for Greece due to routing complexity. For island destinations, express air (DHL) is strongly recommended over economy ground.

What is the Greek AFM number?

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AFM (Αριθμός Φορολογικού Μητρώου) is Greece's Tax Registration Number — a 9-digit code assigned to every Greek taxpayer (individuals and businesses). For B2B invoices to Greek companies, always request and include their AFM. The Greek VAT number is FI + AFM (e.g., EL + 9 digits). Verify Greek company AFM numbers at gsis.gr (AADE — Independent Authority for Public Revenue).

Transit Times — Portugal to Greece