3–5 days by economy road, 1–2 days express — no customs clearance within the EU.
Shipping from Portugal to Germany is straightforward — both countries are EU members, so no customs declarations are required and goods move freely across the border. Economy road services (DPD, GLS) take 3–5 business days via road through Spain and France. Express air services (DHL Express, FedEx) deliver in 1–2 business days. Germany is one of Portugal's top export markets and all major carriers have strong networks connecting the two countries. The route typically goes via Spain (road hub) and into Germany through France or directly via the Iberian corridor.
| Carrier | Economy | Express | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| DHL Express | — | 1–2 days | DHL Express Worldwide. Very frequent service. |
| FedEx | — | 1–2 days | International Priority. Frankfurt hub. |
| UPS | 3–4 days | 1–2 days | Standard road or Express Saver air. |
| DPD | 3–5 days | — | Road service — excellent Germany coverage. |
| GLS | 4–5 days | — | Road service — good Germany network. |
Times are business days. Customs clearance time (if applicable) is additional and variable.
No customs clearance is required for shipments between Portugal and Germany — both are EU member states and part of the EU single market. Goods move freely without customs declarations or duties. However, commercial shipments still require a delivery address and commercial invoice (for B2B VAT purposes). German import VAT (19%) may be due on B2C shipments under the EU OSS VAT scheme — sellers registered for EU OSS collect and remit this automatically.
For non-urgent shipments, DPD and GLS road services offer excellent value to Germany at 3–5 days — significantly cheaper than express.
DHL has an especially strong last-mile network in Germany (DHL is German-headquartered) — expect reliable delivery even to rural areas.
No customs documentation needed for EU shipments — just the address label and a commercial invoice for B2B.
For business-to-business deliveries in Germany, always include the German company's VAT number on the invoice for EU reverse charge VAT.
GLS has extensive ParcelShop coverage in Germany — useful if the recipient is not always available for delivery.
Economy road service (DPD, GLS): 3–5 business days. UPS Standard: 3–4 business days. Express air (DHL Express, FedEx): 1–2 business days. No customs clearance delays as both countries are EU members.
No. Portugal and Germany are both EU member states. There is no customs clearance between EU countries — goods move freely without import declarations, customs duties, or border checks.
DPD and GLS via Cargosender offer the lowest rates for EU road shipments. A 5 kg parcel to Germany typically costs €8–€15 via economy road service (3–5 days). DHL Express for the same parcel costs €20–€35 (1–2 days). Compare live rates on Cargosender.
Yes. Within the EU, food products move freely between member states. No phytosanitary certificates or import permits are required for most food products between Portugal and Germany. Commercial food shipments must comply with EU food labelling regulations.
DHL has the strongest delivery network within Germany and is the most reliable for last-mile delivery, especially outside major cities. For cost-effective economy shipments, DPD and GLS are excellent. For urgent next-day delivery, DHL Express or FedEx International Priority are best.
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