Question 1

What exactly does a licensed customs broker do?

Accepted Answer

A licensed customs broker represents your company before the Portuguese Tax and Customs Authority. They classify the goods, calculate the duties and VAT owed, file the customs declaration and are professionally answerable for the content of that declaration. It is a regulated profession carrying its own liability, which is what sets it apart from a purely logistical intermediary.

Question 2

Do I need a broker to import?

Accepted Answer

Legally you may declare on your own behalf, but in practice you need to know the combined nomenclature, the customs procedures and the controls that apply to your product. Most companies conclude that the cost of a broker is lower than the cost of a mistake. If you import regularly, the difference becomes obvious after only a few operations.

Question 3

How much does your service cost?

Accepted Answer

Fees depend on the type of operation, the number of tariff headings involved and whether additional licensing is required. We always send a written estimate before proceeding, with our fees shown separately from the duties and taxes owed to the state. We never start a file before you have accepted the figure.

Question 4

Do you work with small companies or only large groups?

Accepted Answer

Both. We have clients who import one container a year and groups running daily operations across several ports. The process is the same; what changes is the frequency and how much automation is worth setting up.

Question 5

Which documents do I need to gather?

Accepted Answer

For most imports: commercial invoice, packing list, transport document (bill of lading, air waybill or CMR) and, where applicable, a certificate of origin. Depending on the product, health certificates, licences or declarations of conformity may be required. We send you the specific list at first contact.

Question 6

How long does customs clearance take?

Accepted Answer

With complete documentation and a green channel, the declaration can be processed the same day. An orange channel means a documentary check and a red channel means physical inspection, which typically adds one to three working days. What delays files most is not customs, it is missing documentation.

Question 7

What is an EORI number and do I need one?

Accepted Answer

EORI is the number that identifies your company in any customs operation within the European Union. Any entity importing or exporting needs one. If you do not have it yet, we handle the registration for you, usually within a few days.

Question 8

My goods are being held. What do I do?

Accepted Answer

Call us directly rather than using the form. We need to know the customs office, the file number and the reason given. In most cases it is missing documentation or a classification disagreement, and both are resolved faster with immediate intervention.

Question 9

How are customs duties calculated?

Accepted Answer

Duties apply to the customs value of the goods, which is the transaction value adjusted for freight and insurance up to the Union border. The rate depends on the tariff heading of the product and the country of origin. Where a preferential trade agreement and valid proof of origin exist, the rate may be reduced or nil.

Question 10

Do I pay VAT on import?

Accepted Answer

Yes, VAT is assessed at the point of import on the customs value plus duties. Companies with deductible VAT recover it later. There is also the option of reverse charging import VAT, which avoids the immediate cash outlay, and we check whether your company qualifies.

Question 11

Can duty payment be deferred?

Accepted Answer

Yes, through suspensive procedures such as customs warehousing or inward processing. If the goods sit in stock before being sold, or are going to be processed and re exported, these procedures free up a meaningful amount of working capital. We assess case by case whether it is worthwhile.

The questions we are asked most often

Before you start

Documents and timings

Costs and taxes

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