Shipping to United States from Portugal

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. Shipments over $800 require a formal entry — your express carrier handles this automatically for express shipments.

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.

The USA Section 321 de minimis threshold is $800 per recipient per day. Shipments with a declared value of $800 or less per day to the same recipient enter the USA duty-free and with minimal paperwork — one of the most generous thresholds in the world. Shipments over $800 are subject to US HTS duty rates, which range from 0% to 37.5% depending on the product.

Both are excellent for Portugal–USA express. FedEx International Priority has a slight advantage for East Coast USA cities (New York, Miami, Boston) due to FedEx's Memphis hub. DHL Express performs similarly and is often slightly stronger for international connecting routes. Compare live rates and current transit times on Cargosender — the fastest option varies by week depending on flight schedules.

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.

DHL Express, FedEx and UPS accept parcels up to 70 kg per piece to the USA. Maximum dimensions: 274 cm on the longest side and 330 cm girth for DHL and FedEx. For economy services (FedEx International Economy, UPS Worldwide Expedited): 68 kg and 330 cm girth. US customs has no parcel-specific size restrictions beyond carrier limits. For commercial shipments over $2,500, a formal Customs Entry is required — express carriers handle this electronically. For heavier freight (over 70 kg), use air freight forwarding.

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.