1–2 days express, 3–5 days economy road — customs required as Switzerland is not EU, but clearance is fast with complete documentation.
Switzerland is not an EU member — it is an EFTA member with comprehensive bilateral agreements with the EU. All shipments from Portugal to Switzerland require a customs declaration and commercial invoice. Despite the customs requirement, Swiss customs (BAZG) is highly efficient — well-documented shipments clear within hours, not days. EU-origin goods can benefit from 0% preferential import duty under Switzerland-EU bilateral agreements by providing a EUR.1 Movement Certificate or REX origin declaration. Swiss MwSt (VAT) at 8.1% applies to all imports. Switzerland is geographically central in Europe — DHL and FedEx deliver express shipments in 1–2 business days; economy road services take 3–5 days.
| Carrier | Economy | Express | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| DHL Express | — | 1–2 days | DHL Express Worldwide. Very strong Swiss network (Zurich, Geneva, Basel hubs). Best option. |
| FedEx | — | 1–2 days | FedEx International Priority. Excellent for Geneva and Zurich. |
| UPS | 3–5 days | 2–3 days | UPS Standard road (3–5 days) with customs or Express Saver (2–3 days). |
| DPD | 3–5 days | — | Economy road via France or Germany. DPD completes customs brokerage for Swiss shipments. |
| GLS | 4–6 days | — | GLS economy road. Swiss customs adds 1 day vs comparable EU routes. |
Times are business days. Customs clearance time (if applicable) is additional and variable.
Switzerland is NOT an EU member — customs clearance is required. Required documents: commercial invoice with HS code, full declared value in CHF or EUR, country of origin, and consignee details. EUR.1 Movement Certificate or REX declaration recommended for goods of EU/Portuguese origin to claim 0% preferential duty under Switzerland-EU bilateral agreements (without it, MFN rates apply). Swiss MwSt at 8.1% (standard) applies to all imports. De minimis: duties below CHF 5 are waived but a declaration is still required for every shipment. Swiss customs (BAZG) is among Europe's most efficient — same-day clearance is common for complete documentation. Carriers with good Swiss operations (DHL, FedEx) handle customs brokerage as part of the service.
Obtain a EUR.1 Movement Certificate before shipping EU-manufactured goods — this gives your Swiss customer 0% import duty. Without it they pay full MFN rates which vary by product.
Swiss customs is fast but strict about documentation — incomplete invoices are the main cause of delays. Include HS code, declared value, country of origin and your EORI number on every invoice.
DHL Express is the strongest carrier for Switzerland — massive Swiss operations across Zurich, Geneva and Basel.
Switzerland is a premium market — goods often have high declared values. Ensure accurate value declaration and consider Cargosender's declared value insurance for high-value items.
Swiss recipients (especially B2B in Zurich and Geneva) are accustomed to customs charges. Provide a clear DDP vs DAP arrangement on your invoice — DDP (you pay duties) gives the best buyer experience.
Economy road carriers (DPD, GLS) cross the Swiss border and clear customs in 1 day — effective total transit is only 1 day longer than comparable EU destinations.
Switzerland is not an EU member — customs clearance is required for all shipments. However, EU-origin goods can achieve 0% import duty by providing a EUR.1 Movement Certificate or REX origin declaration. Swiss MwSt (VAT) at 8.1% applies regardless of origin. Swiss customs is efficient — complete documentation clears same-day in most cases.
DHL Express and FedEx: 1–2 business days. UPS Express Saver: 2–3 days. Economy road (DPD, GLS, UPS Standard): 3–5 days including Swiss customs clearance. Switzerland is geographically central — road transit is fast, with only 1 extra day vs comparable EU destinations due to customs processing.
A EUR.1 Movement Certificate proves your goods are of EU preferential origin, allowing the Swiss importer to claim 0% import duty under Switzerland-EU bilateral agreements. Without it, standard MFN tariff rates apply. For regular exporters to Switzerland, consider applying for Approved Exporter status — this lets you self-certify origin on invoices without obtaining a EUR.1 for each shipment.
Swiss MwSt (Mehrwertsteuer/TVA/IVA) is 8.1% standard rate. A reduced rate of 2.6% applies to food, medicines and books. VAT is charged on the customs value (CIF — cost + insurance + freight) and paid by the Swiss consignee on import. B2B importers can reclaim VAT as input tax.
DHL Express is the strongest option for Switzerland — excellent Swiss network, fast customs clearance and 1–2 day delivery. FedEx is equally good for Zurich and Geneva specifically. For economy road, DPD and UPS Standard are the most competitive with 3–5 day transit including customs.
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