Transit Time Guide
Shipping from Portugal to India
2–4 days express air — customs required. BCD up to 20% + 18% IGST. Allow extra time for Indian customs clearance.
2–4 days express air — customs required. BCD up to 20% + 18% IGST. Allow extra time for Indian customs clearance.
India is a rapidly growing import market and a significant destination for Portuguese exports including machinery, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and luxury goods. All shipments from Portugal to India require customs clearance through Indian Customs (CBIC — Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs). India applies Basic Customs Duty (BCD) at rates typically ranging from 0% to 20% on most manufactured goods, plus IGST (Integrated Goods and Services Tax) at 18% standard rate — creating a combined effective import tax often exceeding 30% on many categories. There is no EU-India Free Trade Agreement in force (BTIA negotiations were relaunched in 2022 and are ongoing). Indian customs can be slow — even well-documented express shipments can take 1–3 extra days if flagged for examination. DHL Express delivers to Mumbai and Delhi in 2–4 business days.
| Carrier | Economy | Express | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| DHL Express | — | 2–4 days | DHL Express Worldwide. Strong Mumbai and Delhi hubs. Best option for India. |
| FedEx | 5–8 days | 2–4 days | International Priority (2–4 days) or International Economy (5–8 days). |
| UPS | 6–10 days | 3–5 days | UPS Worldwide Express (3–5 days) or Worldwide Expedited (6–10 days). |
| DPD | — | — | DPD does not serve India — EU road network only. Use DHL, FedEx or UPS. |
| GLS | — | — | GLS does not serve India. Use DHL, FedEx or UPS for India. |
Times are business days. Customs clearance time (if applicable) is additional and variable.
India requires customs clearance on all imports. Basic Customs Duty (BCD): 0–20% depending on HS code. High BCD categories: electronics (10–20%), textiles (20%), food products (30%+). IGST (Integrated GST): 18% standard rate on most goods; 12% reduced; 5% super-reduced for essential goods; 28% on luxury goods and sin goods. Total effective import tax = BCD + Social Welfare Surcharge (10% of BCD) + IGST on aggregate value. Example: a machine with 10% BCD and 18% IGST has effective rate of ~30%. No EU-India FTA is in force — EU goods face full MFN rates. Personal import de minimis: INR 10,000 (~€110) duty-free. Commercial imports: all consignments require Import General Manifest (IGM) and Bill of Entry. IEC (Import Export Code): Indian importers must have an IEC number — ensure your B2B customer provides their IEC on the commercial invoice.
Always obtain your Indian customer's IEC (Import Export Code) before shipping — it is required on the Bill of Entry and without it customs clearance cannot proceed.
Indian customs can examine shipments at its discretion — even perfect documentation can lead to 2–5 day delays for physical inspection. Build buffer time for India shipments.
DHL Express is the most reliable for India — excellent Mumbai (BOM) and Delhi (DEL) operations with dedicated customs brokerage teams.
Declare the correct HS code — India has HS code-specific import restrictions, import licensing requirements and anti-dumping duties on certain categories. An incorrect code can cause significant delays.
India has specific labelling requirements for food, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals — Indian labelling must include local importer details, MRP (Maximum Retail Price) and FSSAI licence number for food.
Large shipments (above INR 1,00,000 / ~€1,100): B2B importers can use MOOWR (Manufacture and Other Operations in Warehouse Regulations) for deferred duty payment — a significant cash flow benefit for regular importers.
DHL Express: 2–4 business days to Mumbai and Delhi. FedEx International Priority: 2–4 days; Economy: 5–8 days. UPS Worldwide Express: 3–5 days. Add 1–3 extra days for Indian customs clearance — Indian customs may examine shipments, causing delays even for well-documented parcels. Allow 3–7 days total for B2C and 2–5 days for B2B express.
India applies Basic Customs Duty (BCD) at 0–20% plus IGST at 18% (standard). The combined effective import tax on many EU manufactured goods is 28–42%. There is no EU-India FTA, so EU goods face full MFN rates. High-duty categories: textiles (20% BCD + 12% IGST), electronics (10–20% BCD + 18% IGST), alcohol (150% BCD + 28% IGST). Low-duty: medicines (0% BCD + 5% IGST).
IEC (Import Export Code) is India's mandatory registration for all commercial importers and exporters — a 10-digit code issued by DGFT (Directorate General of Foreign Trade). Your Indian B2B customer must have an IEC to import goods commercially. Always request the IEC from your Indian buyer and include it on the commercial invoice. Without IEC, goods cannot be cleared through Indian customs for commercial import.
IGST (Integrated Goods and Services Tax) rates for imports: 28% on luxury goods, automobiles, tobacco; 18% standard for most manufactured goods; 12% on processed food, some machinery; 5% on essential items, medicines; 0% on some food grains, medical items. IGST is charged on the assessable value (CIF + BCD + surcharges) — so IGST is effectively a tax on tax when high BCD applies.
Not yet — EU-India BTIA (Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement) negotiations were originally launched in 2007, stalled for nearly a decade, and were formally relaunched in June 2022. As of 2026, negotiations are ongoing across goods, services, investment and intellectual property chapters. Until the BTIA is concluded and ratified, EU goods — including Portuguese exports — face India's full MFN tariff rates.
DHL Express offers Saturday delivery in Mumbai and Delhi for express shipments. FedEx has limited Saturday options in major Indian metros (Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad). Saturday delivery in secondary Indian cities is not guaranteed. Check availability at Cargosender checkout before booking a Saturday collection.
DHL and FedEx make two delivery attempts and contact the recipient by phone — a working Indian mobile number is essential for all India shipments. After failed attempts, parcels are held at the carrier's local depot for collection. Indian couriers routinely call ahead to coordinate delivery time, especially for B2B addresses with restricted access.
DHL Express guarantees the 2–4 day air transit to Mumbai and Delhi. However, Indian CBIC customs clearance is outside carrier control and can add 1–5 days even for well-documented shipments. No carrier guarantees total door-to-door delivery time to India — build buffer time into all India shipping commitments.
Yes — DHL, FedEx and UPS all provide tracking to India including the customs clearance phase and last-mile delivery. DHL MyDHL+ and FedEx Delivery Manager are widely used in India. Once a parcel clears Indian customs, domestic delivery tracking in major cities (Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru) is reliable.
DHL Express: 70 kg per parcel, girth 300 cm, single dimension 120 cm. FedEx and UPS: similar limits (68–70 kg). India also has weight and size limits affecting which customs channel applies — very large parcels may require a formal Bill of Entry rather than simplified courier clearance. Confirm limits with Cargosender for your specific shipment.
No — transit times are air transport only. Indian CBIC customs clearance adds 1–5 business days for most shipments. High-value goods, food, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals may be held 5–15 business days for physical examination. Always build buffer time when promising delivery dates to Indian customers.
Yes — all international air carriers charge fuel surcharges (typically 15–25% of base rate), adjusted monthly. These are included in Cargosender's quoted prices. The Portugal-India route typically transits via Dubai — high flight frequency via Dubai keeps rates competitive.
India has strict import controls on DG materials. Dangerous goods require IATA-compliant packaging, carrier pre-approval, and may require permits from Indian DGCA, CDSCO (pharmaceuticals) or MoEF (chemicals). Lithium batteries require separate DG declaration. Contact Cargosender before booking any DG shipment to India.
Book at Cargosender.com — compare DHL Express, FedEx and UPS rates for your parcel weight. Before booking, collect the recipient's IEC number and prepare a complete commercial invoice with HS codes and accurate values. The carrier collects from your Portuguese address and handles all air logistics and customs brokerage to India.
DHL Express has the strongest on-time performance for India — dedicated Mumbai (BOM) and Delhi (DEL) operations with specialist India customs brokerage teams. FedEx International Priority is comparable for major Indian metros. UPS Worldwide Express is reliable for B2B shipments. Compare rates and transit options at Cargosender.
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