Everything you need to know — transit times, customs rules, import duties, carrier options and shipping tips for Switzerland.
| Carrier | Economy | Express |
|---|---|---|
| DHL Express | — | 1–2 days |
| FedEx International Priority | — | 1–2 days |
| UPS Express Saver | — | 2–3 days |
| DPD (Economy road) | 3–5 days | 2–3 days |
| GLS (Economy road) | 4–6 days | — |
Business days. Customs clearance time not included — allow 1–5 extra days depending on the goods.
Every shipment to Switzerland must include the correct documentation or it will be held at customs.
Must include: shipper and consignee full details, HS codes, exact description of goods, value in CHF or EUR, country of origin. Swiss customs require country of origin for bilateral agreement eligibility.
Required to claim 0% preferential duty under Switzerland-EU bilateral agreements. EUR.1 is issued by customs/post office or an approved exporter. REX (Registered Exporter) declaration applies for approved exporters. Without this, MFN (non-preferential) rates apply — can be significantly higher for some goods.
Detailed itemised list of contents, quantities and weights. Required for all non-document shipments.
Purchase invoice or bank transfer confirmation may be requested by Swiss customs for high-value shipments. Customs can request additional evidence if declared value seems inconsistent with goods type.
Import duties and taxes apply to all shipments to Switzerland. Duty-free de minimis threshold: CHF 5 duty waiver (duties below CHF 5 not collected — but declaration always required). VAT/local tax: 8.1% MwSt/TVA/IVA.
| Product Category | Typical Duty Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial goods (EU origin with EUR.1) | 0% | Under Switzerland-EU bilateral agreements, most industrial goods of EU origin pay 0% import duty with proof of origin (EUR.1 or REX). |
| Industrial goods (no proof of origin) | MFN rate (varies) | Without EUR.1 or REX declaration, standard WTO MFN rates apply — can range from 0–10% for most industrial goods, higher for some categories. |
| Food & Agricultural products | Variable (often 5–40%) | Agricultural goods are NOT fully covered by Switzerland-EU bilateral agreements. Duties can be high — check Swiss Federal Customs Administration (BAZG) tariff database for specific HS codes. |
| Clothing & Textiles | 0% (EU origin with EUR.1) | Clothing of EU origin qualifies for 0% under bilateral agreement. |
| Electronics | 0% | Switzerland is an ITA (Information Technology Agreement) signatory — electronics are 0% duty regardless of origin. |
| Pharmaceuticals | 0% | Pharmaceutical products 0% duty under WTO pharmaceutical agreement. |
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 Switzerland. Check carrier guidelines before shipping.
Always obtain and attach a EUR.1 Movement Certificate or REX origin declaration to claim 0% duty on EU-manufactured goods — without it, MFN rates apply automatically
Switzerland is NOT in the EU VAT area — all shipments require a commercial invoice with correct HS codes, even for low-value goods
Swiss customs processing is efficient — DHL Express and FedEx typically clear in under 24 hours for straightforward shipments
CHF 5 duty waiver: if calculated duties are below CHF 5, they are not collected — but the customs declaration is still mandatory for all packages
For regular B2B exports to Switzerland, consider applying for Approved Exporter status which allows you to self-certify origin on invoices (replacing EUR.1)
Swiss recipients are highly accustomed to import duties — B2B: always ship DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) for cleanest experience. B2C: confirm with recipient whether they prefer DAP (they pay) or DDP
Declare MwSt (VAT) numbers for B2B shipments to help Swiss consignees with input VAT recovery
GLS and DPD economy road services cross into Switzerland via land border — reliable for non-urgent B2B
Yes — Switzerland is not an EU member, so all shipments from Portugal (EU) to Switzerland cross a customs border and require a customs declaration with a commercial invoice. However, for goods of EU origin, you can claim 0% preferential import duty under the Switzerland-EU bilateral trade agreements by attaching a EUR.1 Movement Certificate or REX origin declaration. Swiss MwSt/VAT (8.1%) always applies to imports regardless of origin. Customs processing in Switzerland is generally fast — DHL and FedEx typically clear in 24 hours.
A EUR.1 Movement Certificate is a document that proves goods are of EU preferential origin, allowing the Swiss importer to claim 0% import duty under Switzerland-EU bilateral agreements instead of standard WTO MFN rates. To obtain a EUR.1: bring your completed commercial invoice and proof of EU manufacture (materials, production records) to a Portuguese customs office (AT — Autoridade Tributária). The certificate is stamped and must accompany the shipment. If you ship to Switzerland regularly, consider applying for Approved Exporter status — which allows you to print a simplified origin declaration directly on invoices without needing a EUR.1 for each shipment.
Switzerland charges MwSt (German), TVA (French) or IVA (Italian) at 8.1% standard rate (raised from 7.7% in January 2023) on all imported goods. A reduced rate of 2.6% applies to certain food, books, newspapers and medicines. VAT is calculated on the customs value (CIF — cost + insurance + freight). Swiss VAT is paid by the consignee on import. For B2B shipments, Swiss VAT-registered businesses can reclaim import VAT as input tax. Note: overseas online sellers with annual Swiss sales >CHF 100,000 must register for Swiss VAT and charge it at point of sale.
Express carriers (DHL Express, FedEx, UPS) deliver from Portugal to Switzerland in 1–2 business days. Road economy services (DPD, GLS) take 3–6 business days. Swiss customs is efficient — for straightforward shipments with complete documentation, customs delays are rare with express carriers. Incomplete documentation or missing EUR.1 certificates can cause delays. For urgent shipments, DHL Express and FedEx both have strong Lisbon-Zurich/Geneva connections. Compare live rates for your specific parcel on Cargosender.
Yes, but food products shipped from Portugal to Switzerland may face import duties — agricultural goods are NOT covered by the Switzerland-EU free trade agreement. Import duties on food vary widely: some food categories (processed goods, wine) are covered under specific bilateral agreements with reduced rates; others (raw agricultural products, dairy, fresh produce) face standard Swiss tariffs which can be substantial (5–40%+). Check the specific HS code for your product on the Swiss BAZG tariff database (tares.ch). All food imports must also meet Swiss food safety regulations — similar to EU standards but not automatically accepted.
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