Destination Guide
Shipping to United States from Portugal
Everything you need to know — transit times, customs rules, import duties, carrier options and shipping tips for United States.
Everything you need to know — transit times, customs rules, import duties, carrier options and shipping tips for United States.
Cargosender books this route through Eurosender's courier network, which assigns the courier and service tier for a given shipment — so a single fixed number of days per carrier can't be stated reliably here. Actual transit time depends on the service tier you choose (economy road/sea vs express air), customs clearance (additional and variable — allow 1–5 extra days depending on the goods and documentation), and the specific courier assigned to your booking.
Get an instant quote to see the current price and estimated transit time for your exact parcel and route — transit times are estimates subject to service conditions, not a guaranteed arrival date.
Every shipment to United States must include the correct documentation or it will be held at customs.
Required for all commercial shipments to the USA. Must include: exporter/importer details, complete description of goods, HS code (Schedule B for USA), country of origin, declared value in USD, quantity and unit of measurement.
The USA uses the Harmonised Tariff Schedule (HTS), a US-specific extension of the international HS system. You need the US HTS code (10 digits) to calculate duties. Find your code at the US Census Bureau Schedule B Search tool.
All goods must declare their country of origin. 'Made in Portugal' or 'Made in EU' must be accurate. For goods with complex supply chains, the country of origin is where the last substantial transformation occurred.
All food, beverages and dietary supplements entering the USA require FDA Prior Notice — a pre-arrival notification to the FDA. File via FDA's Prior Notice System Interface (PNSI) before shipment departure.
Since the 2026 suspension of the $800 de minimis exemption, commercial shipments of any value generally require a US Importer of Record — typically the US buyer/recipient with a US EIN or SSN. For B2C shipments, the recipient acts as IOR. Higher-value shipments requiring formal entry (traditionally above $2,500) need a US import bond.
Import duties and taxes apply to all shipments to United States. Duty-free de minimis threshold: Suspended (2026) — see below. VAT/local tax: No federal VAT (sales tax varies by state).
| Product Category | Typical Duty Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| De minimis exemption — suspended | No automatic duty-free treatment | Executive Order 14324 (30 July 2025) suspended the $800 Section 321 exemption for all countries; a CBP rule made this indefinite for courier/express shipments effective 24 June 2026, with a companion rule for postal shipments. Commercial shipments of any value now generally require formal or informal customs entry and are subject to duty. Only bona fide gifts (a much lower cap, historically around $100) and travelers' personal effects remain exempt. Source: Federal Register, 91 FR 37789 (24 June 2026). |
| Clothing and textiles | 5–32% | One of the highest US duty categories — varies significantly by material and HS code |
| Electronics and computers | 0–3.5% | Most electronics: 0% under Information Technology Agreement |
| Footwear | 8–37.5% | Very high US duties on footwear — significant cost for Portuguese shoe exporters |
| Wine | 0% (most EU wines) | Most European wines enter the USA at 0% duty under various trade agreements |
| Food and beverages | 0–20%+ | Highly variable; FDA compliance is often more challenging than the duty rate itself |
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 United States. Check carrier guidelines before shipping.
As of 2026, the US Section 321 de minimis exemption is suspended for all countries and all transport modes (Executive Order 14324; CBP interim final rule effective 24 June 2026) — there is no automatic duty-free threshold anymore for commercial shipments, so budget for formal or informal customs entry and applicable duty regardless of declared value.
Always include the correct US HTS code. Incorrect classification is the most common cause of US customs delays and can result in reclassification at a higher duty rate.
For food, supplements and cosmetics: FDA compliance is often more complex than customs duties. FDA Prior Notice is required for all food shipments — file via the FDA PNSI at least a few hours before departure.
Major express carriers publish slightly different transit-time strengths by US region (e.g. hub proximity to the East or West Coast) — but which courier actually handles your shipment is assigned by Eurosender's network at booking, not chosen by you.
US recipients receiving commercial shipments over $2,500 may need a formal entry through a US customs broker — your carrier's customs team can handle this for express shipments, but pre-agree with the recipient.
No federal VAT in the USA — but state sales taxes vary from 0% to 10.25%. This is collected domestically and is the seller/platform's responsibility for US sales tax nexus.
All commercial shipments to the USA require: a commercial invoice (with full description, HS code, value in USD, country of origin), and the correct US HTS (Harmonised Tariff Schedule) code. Food, supplements and cosmetics additionally require FDA Prior Notice. Since the 2026 suspension of the $800 de minimis exemption, commercial shipments of any value require formal or informal customs entry (formal entry traditionally applies above $2,500) — your express carrier generally handles this as part of the service.
Express services (DHL Express, FedEx International Priority, UPS Express Saver) take 2–3 days for the flight, then 1–3 days for US customs clearance. Total elapsed time: 3–5 days for well-documented shipments. Economy services (FedEx International Economy, UPS Worldwide Expedited) take 5–7 days flight time, then customs clearance.
There is no longer a general duty-free threshold. The US Section 321 de minimis exemption (formerly $800) was suspended for all countries by Executive Order 14324 (30 July 2025); CBP made this indefinite for courier/express shipments effective 24 June 2026, with a companion rule for postal shipments (Federal Register, 91 FR 37789). Commercial shipments of any declared value now generally require formal or informal customs entry and are subject to US HTS duty rates (0% to 37.5% depending on the product). The only remaining exemptions are for bona fide gifts (a much lower value cap, historically around $100) and travelers' personal effects.
Both are well-regarded global express networks for Portugal–USA shipments in general. Cargosender books through Eurosender's courier network, which assigns the specific courier and service tier for your shipment — you don't pick a named carrier directly. Get an instant quote to see the current price and estimated transit time for your parcel.
Yes, but with significant compliance requirements. Wine exports from Portugal require: EU export licence for wine over certain quantities, US TTB (Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau) import permit for the US importer, and compliance with US state-by-state alcohol import laws (some states prohibit direct-to-consumer wine imports). Most Portuguese wine exporters use specialist freight forwarders rather than standard parcel carriers for commercial wine shipments.
Major express carriers generally accept parcels up to 68–70 kg per piece internationally, with maximum dimensions typically around 270–330 cm (longest side / girth) depending on the service. US customs has no parcel-specific size restrictions beyond carrier limits. Cargosender's own maximum for a given booking depends on the specific service assigned by Eurosender — check the limit shown at quote time for your parcel. For commercial shipments over $2,500, a formal Customs Entry is required, which express services generally handle electronically. For heavier freight (over 70 kg), air freight forwarding is more appropriate than parcel courier services.
US address format: Recipient Name / [Company if applicable] / House Number + Street Name (+ Apt/Suite) / City, State Abbreviation Zip Code / USA. Example: John Smith / Acme Corp / 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW / Washington, DC 20500 / USA. Key points: US ZIP codes are 5 digits (optionally +4 digits, e.g. 20500-0001). Always use the 2-letter state abbreviation (CA = California, NY = New York, TX = Texas, FL = Florida, IL = Illinois, MA = Massachusetts). For apartments, add 'Apt' or 'Suite' before the number. FedEx and UPS require a complete street address — PO Box only is not accepted for express services.
CBP uses an Automated Targeting System (ATS) for risk scoring. If held: the express carrier (DHL, FedEx, UPS) notifies you and/or the US recipient. CBP may request: additional documentation (invoice, permits, FDA registration proof), a formal entry bond, or physical examination. US customs holds for express shipments typically resolve within 2–5 business days with correct documentation. FDA holds for food/supplement/cosmetics shipments can take 2–3 weeks. Formal detention (when goods are seized as prohibited) requires legal representation in the US. Always provide complete, accurate documentation to minimise hold risk.
CBP prohibits or restricts: Cuban-origin goods (US embargo, though relaxations apply); goods made with forced labour; certain knives and martial arts weapons; narcotics and controlled substances; trademarked goods that infringe US IP (including grey-market goods); live plants, soil and some seeds without USDA-APHIS phytosanitary permit; fresh fruits and vegetables without USDA inspection; and goods that violate US consumer safety standards (CPSC). Portuguese cork products are welcome; genuine Portuguese wine requires TTB compliance for commercial import. Counterfeit goods: CBP is very active in seizing counterfeits.
Add declared value insurance at checkout on Cargosender for all USA-bound shipments over €200. Standard IATA carrier liability (approximately €22/kg) is inadequate for most commercial shipments. The USA is a very high-volume shipping destination with generally low loss/damage rates via DHL, FedEx and UPS express services. For high-value goods (luxury, electronics, fashion, industrial parts), insure at full declared value. US CBP customs delays can result in incidental damage — insurance covers transport damage, not regulatory seizure. File claims within the carrier's specified window — 7–21 days from delivery.
DHL Express, FedEx and UPS provide best-in-class tracking for US deliveries. FedEx provides real-time tracking including US customs clearance status — FedEx Delivery Manager allows US recipients to redirect, reschedule or request safe delivery instructions. UPS My Choice is very popular in the USA for delivery management. DHL MyDelivery USA allows delivery preferences. All three carriers provide email and SMS notifications. USPS (US Postal Service) is used by some economy services for last-mile — track at usps.com. Always include the US recipient's email for shipping notifications.
Returns from the USA to Portugal require US customs export documentation and EU import customs clearance at Portugal. US export: for commercial returns, the US sender files export information in AES (Automated Export System) for shipments over $2,500. EU reimport: goods of EU/Portuguese origin returning qualify for EU reimport duty relief under Regulation 1186/2009 — no EU customs duty (but VAT may apply). Express return from the USA costs €80–€300+ per parcel. FedEx International Priority and DHL Express are the most reliable carriers for USA-to-Portugal returns with multiple daily departures from US east and west coast hubs.
Yes — the USA has extensive parcel collection options. FedEx Office locations: over 2,200 stores across the USA for pickup and drop-off. UPS Stores: over 5,000 The UPS Store locations nationwide. Amazon Locker: tens of thousands of lockers at Whole Foods, Amazon Fresh and other retail partners. USPS Post Offices: over 31,000 locations. Walgreens and other pharmacy chains act as FedEx/UPS pickup points. US recipients can redirect express parcels to a FedEx Office or UPS Store via the carrier app for secure collection — useful for residential addresses with theft risk or when nobody is home.
Yes — the USA has extensive remote area surcharges. Rural Alaska and Hawaii: very high surcharges (€30–€100+ per parcel) and extended transit (add 2–5 days for Alaska, 1–3 for Hawaii). Puerto Rico, Guam and US Virgin Islands: surcharges and custom-specific entry rules. Remote continental US addresses (rural Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, rural Alaska): minor-to-moderate surcharges. Major US metro areas (New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Miami, Boston) have no remote surcharges. When booking on Cargosender, enter the full US ZIP code — all applicable surcharges are displayed in the quote before you book.
US business deliveries to commercial addresses (offices, warehouses) have high first-attempt success rates. Residential deliveries attract a residential delivery surcharge from all carriers — typically $4–$6 per parcel for FedEx and UPS (included in Cargosender quotes). DHL Express, FedEx and UPS all offer signature-required options for high-value residential deliveries. Package theft ('porch piracy') is a concern in some US cities — FedEx Delivery Manager and UPS My Choice allow recipients to redirect to a locker or retail pickup point. For US B2C shipments, offering delivery to an Amazon Locker or FedEx Office gives recipients a secure alternative to residential doorstep delivery.
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