Shipping from Portugal to the USA

Express services (DHL Express, FedEx International Priority): 1–3 business days. Economy services (FedEx International Economy, UPS Worldwide Expedited): 5–8 business days. US customs clearance adds 0–2 business days for well-documented shipments.

As of 2026, there is no automatic duty-free threshold — the former $800 de minimis exemption was suspended for all countries (Executive Order 14324, 30 July 2025; CBP rule effective 24 June 2026). Commercial shipments of any declared value are generally subject to US import duties at applicable tariff rates (usually 0–25% depending on the HS code). Portuguese goods are not subject to the Section 301 tariffs that apply to Chinese goods.

You need: (1) commercial invoice with full item description, quantity, USD value, HS code, and country of origin (Portugal/EU), (2) the courier's waybill/airway bill generated at booking. For restricted goods (food, plants, medicines), additional FDA/APHIS documentation may be required.

Wine: each US state has different alcohol import laws — some allow direct-to-consumer wine imports, others prohibit it. Check the destination state's regulations. Food: commercially packaged food is generally accepted. Fresh produce, meat and dairy are subject to USDA APHIS restrictions. Always check FDA and USDA import rules for specific food items.

Price for this route depends mainly on your parcel's weight and dimensions, the service tier chosen (express vs economy), and current fuel surcharges — not a fixed named-carrier rate. Get an instant quote on Cargosender with your exact parcel details for a current price.

Some express services generally offer Saturday delivery in major US cities (New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago), subject to the specific courier assigned to your shipment. Saturday delivery tends to cover most of the continental US — Alaska and Hawaii may differ. Check availability for your booking at quote time.

FedEx and UPS leave packages at the door for residential deliveries that do not require a signature — very common in the US. DHL holds at a Service Point. UPS My Choice and FedEx Delivery Manager allow US recipients to redirect, reschedule and customise delivery. Most US residential shipments are left at the door — the US market has high tolerance for unattended delivery.

Cargosender's own Terms and Conditions (Section 3.3) describe delivery times as estimates rather than guarantees, regardless of which courier handles a shipment — contact Cargosender support if your delivery is delayed to find out what, if anything, applies to your specific booking. US customs clearance (CBP) via ISF (Importer Security Filing) is typically completed before the aircraft lands for express shipments, so delays are rare for well-documented shipments. Economy service tiers typically have service-level targets rather than a guarantee.

Yes — DHL, FedEx and UPS all provide excellent tracking to the USA including last-mile. US domestic tracking is world-class — recipients receive email, SMS and app notifications at every stage. FedEx Delivery Manager and UPS My Choice allow US recipients to redirect, reschedule and customise deliveries. Tracking visibility is unmatched on this route.

DHL Express: 70 kg per parcel, girth 300 cm, single dimension 120 cm. FedEx International Priority: 68 kg, 330 cm combined length + girth. UPS Worldwide Express: 70 kg. US CBP has no additional size restrictions for express courier imports. For oversized freight, air freight forwarding is more appropriate than courier services.

No — transit times are air transport only. US CBP customs clearance via ISF is typically completed before the aircraft lands — most express shipments are pre-cleared and delivered without delays. Since the 2026 suspension of the $800 de minimis exemption, formal or informal entry is now generally required regardless of value, which may add 1–2 business days if a formal Entry Summary is needed and not pre-arranged by the carrier's brokerage team.

Yes — all transatlantic air carriers charge fuel surcharges (typically 15–25% of base rate), adjusted monthly. These are included in Cargosender's quoted prices. The Portugal-USA route benefits from direct Lisbon-JFK, Lisbon-Miami and Lisbon-Boston connections — high flight frequency keeps express shipment times and costs competitive.

US CBP and FAA (for air transport) regulate DG imports strictly. Dangerous goods require IATA-compliant packaging, carrier pre-approval, and may require US-specific EPA or DOT permits for certain categories. Some DG classes are restricted from commercial passenger aircraft. Contact Cargosender for DG guidance before booking any hazardous goods shipment to the USA.

Book on Cargosender.com, which routes your shipment through Eurosender's courier network — get an instant quote for current pricing, choose your service tier, and confirm your pickup date. Declare the value accurately — since the 2026 suspension of the $800 de minimis exemption, import duty generally applies regardless of value. The assigned courier collects from your Portuguese address and handles US customs clearance electronically via ISF pre-filing.

Major express networks generally publish strong on-time performance for the Portugal-USA route, each with their own regional hub strengths. Cargosender books through Eurosender's courier network, which assigns the specific courier and service tier for your shipment — you choose the service tier, not a named carrier brand. Get an instant quote to compare price and transit time for your route.