I will send my goods to a country outside Europe. Do I need any extra documents? What are the necessary transport documents?
I’m sending samples. Do I need a special permit?
These doubts and others like them are very common.
Freight transport is a sector that is widely legislated and supervised by different entities at national and international level.
In international shipments, you need to know not only the laws in Portugal, but also the laws in the destination country, regarding customs licenses and fees, among others. And in addition to this: from time to time, laws are changed.
The subject is complex, so we want to remind you that Customer Service is available 24 hours a day at 917 777 100 or here in the chat, to help you prepare your shipment in time and in the right way.
We leave here some important information.
When you have any questions, don’t hesitate: talk to us!
1. Shipping from Portugal to Portugal
Goods in general, not specified as “special goods” in the following point – necessary transport documents:
Special merchandise is at least the cases below:
In these cases and others where you have questions, talk to your Customer Manager or Customer Service (917 777 100 or here in the chat) to ensure that you have access to all documents and they are being filled out correctly.
Remember to call Customer Service (917 777 100) to clarify your specific case.
2. Shipping from Portugal to European Union countries
As of today, the following are considered:
Goods in general, not specified as “special goods” in the following point – necessary transport documents:
Special merchandise is at least the cases below:
In these cases and others where you have questions, talk to your Customer Manager or Customer Service (917 777 100 or here in the chat) to ensure that you have access to all documents and they are being filled out correctly.
Remember to call Customer Service (917 777 100) to clarify your specific case.
3. Shipping from Portugal to non-EU countries
As of today, the following are considered:
All shipments to non-EU countries must be accompanied by the Draft Export Declaration (Word / PDF).
Fill in the details and hand the document to the courier, along with your cargo.
Goods in general, not specified as “special goods” in the following point – necessary transport documents:
Special merchandise is at least the cases below:
In these cases and others where you have questions, talk to your Customer Manager or Customer Service (917 777 100 or here in the chat) to ensure that you have access to all documents and they are being filled out correctly.
Remember to call Customer Service (917 777 100) to clarify your specific case.
Important questions about shipments to non-EU countries
3.1 Benefit from reductions, or even exemptions, in the payment of customs duties for your importer – how to obtain it?
Are you going to make a shipment originating in the European Union and destined for a third country? Be aware that there are some agreements that can benefit importers from third countries (your recipient, therefore). This benefit can be obtained by importers who are in the following countries: Switzerland, Norway, Morocco, Syria, Colombia, Chile and others.
The benefit is reduction or even exemption of customs duties calculated on the value of the goods and freight. However, in order for the importer to have this benefit, the goods being traded must be wholly or partly of Community origin.
For the importer to obtain this benefit, it is necessary for the shipper to have the goods accompanied by the EUR1 document (European Free Trade Agreement 1).
If the country of destination of the goods is Turkey, the document to be applied is ATR1, which represents a specific convention between Turkey and the European Union.
EUR1 and ATR1 documents are not available via the internet. These documents are available in specific forms, available from alfaloc or directly at customs. Its cost is less than €5 per printout.
3.2 When does a deductible apply?
The postage is the amount paid to customs so that the cargo is released, after it has been checked, and the shipment can be completed with delivery to the recipient. Commonly, this amount is paid by the carrier and then charged to the recipient; In this way, the process can be unlocked and the submission completed.
A good is subject to free shipping and without the need for formal customs clearance, when it is sent to a third country by express operator, if it weighs up to 20kg.
3.3 When is formal customs clearance applied?
Goods destined for a third country must be formally cleared (and no postage applies) under the following conditions:
At the destination, and for any non-EU country, the reverse process can happen – import clearance. Criteria similar to those mentioned above are applied and the import duties applied vary from country to country. It is important to note that import taxes are not transport taxes: these values are taxes applied by the State of the country of destination.
The consignee may be required to demonstrate that he has an import license for that type of goods.
If the customs of the destination country decides to check the goods and understands that the value assigned on the invoice is incorrect, the shipper (who makes the shipment) will have to make a new invoice.
4. Other situations
The tips present here are directed to the most frequent types of submissions. For imports and/or other types of shipments, there is also its own documentation.
For such cases, please contact your Customer Manager or Customer Service.
Customer Support: 917 777 100.
5. Frequently Asked Questions About Submission Documents
5.1 Shipping to Portugal (import) – picking up orders at Portuguese customs
When it comes to importing from EU countries, there is no need for an additional document, except for documents that the country of origin deems mandatory to accompany the goods.
The responsibility for accompanying the goods with the necessary documents (invoice, waybill, etc.) lies with the exporter.
In the case of imports from non-EU countries, in addition to the documents that the country of origin deems mandatory to accompany the goods, there is often a need for support for the importer in Portugal.
The importer ( alfaloc customer, if the import service has been requested from alfaloc) must indicate whether he wants customs clearance done by its own broker or by alfaloc, through its partners.
When the importer wants alfaloc to handle the customs clearance, he must sign a declaration giving this authorization. The Law may also define that the cargo, given its value, weight and/or category, may not need import clearance.
5.2 Why is documentation so important?
When making a shipment, you need to take into account the documentation for the goods to leave the country, but also the documentation that is required to enter the other country.
5.3 What can happen if the documentation is incomplete or incorrect?
At alfaloc we always try to prevent this situation. Still, sometimes the customs of the destination country decides to hold the goods until the complete or correct documentation is delivered. In the worst case, the customs decides to return your goods. This can happen if your recipient does not have a wine import license, for example.
You can consult answers to other frequently asked questions about Necessary transport documents on the official page of the Finance Portal.
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