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Shipping your stuff to Portugal

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LtsDoIt
  6/2/2017 10:18 EST

Has anyone "recently" had their household belongings shipped over to Portugal?? If so, can you write about your experience dealing with customs? If my husband and I ever decide to buy a home and bring a 40' container with all of our personal belongings, what troubles are we going to encounter with customs? We constantly ready about people having so much trouble with customs for receiving just a small box or having something small shipped over, plus how they ripped off people by charging so much extra money. I'm starting to get very worried about the thought of being taken advantage of. With the bad economy in Portugal, added to their natural instinct for abusing foreigners coming to live to their country with money, my enthusiasm about moving there is dying little by little. The stories about your different experiences in this matter will be appreciated. Thank you all!

Yesitisme
  6/2/2017 11:03 EST

the process begins when you have been approved for a long stay visa for residence. Then you can begin the process with the appropriate shipper, which you will research. If done correctly one shouldn't be as you have followed the rules for shipping within th efirst year and decided on the shipper who also knows exactly the requirements, assuming you follow his suggestions to you.
As far as customs, there are rules for receiving goods. I assume you're referring to others sending you items and perhaps your ordering items.
If one does there shouldn't be any conscern for being "abused".

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Yesitisme
  6/2/2017 11:15 EST

Your posting is highly offensive to Portugal and the Portuguese people. I've know Portuguese people for over 40 years and never found them to take advantage of me, and have ALWAYS been kind and generous in spirit. they are among the warmest and inviting people I've evr met.
It is not as you say to be "their natutal instinct to be abusing foreigners coming to their country with money".
How insulting to a country and their people.
You should reconsider moving to Portugal, as I'm sure you find everything about it distasteful.
I for one wouldn't want you to breathe the same air as the wonderful Portuguese.
I'm American and you as far as I am concerned meet the defintition of an "Ugly American".

Yesitisme
  6/2/2017 11:18 EST

Your posting is highly offensive to Portugal and the Portuguese people. I've know Portuguese people for over 40 years and never found them to take advantage of me, and have ALWAYS been kind and generous in spirit. they are among the warmest and inviting people I've evr met.
It is not as you say to be "their natutal instinct to be abusing foreigners coming to their country with money".
How insulting to a country and their people.
You should reconsider moving to Portugal, as I'm sure you find everything about it distasteful.
I for one wouldn't want you to breathe the same air as the wonderful Portuguese.
I'm American and you as far as I am concerned meet the defintition of an "Ugly American".

LtsDoIt
  6/2/2017 11:24 EST

Thank you Yesitisme, but I am extremely familiarized with the procedure of moving and shipping furniture and everything else to another country, since I have done it 3 times in my life. The questions in this particular case is addressed to those who have recently (within the past 6 months or so) had their contained received and had to pass customs with all of that. Please note that I'm NOT talking about a little box or a gift. I am clearly talking about the arrival of your 20' or 40' container with all your furniture and boxed personal belongings into Portugal. I must know about the experience with customs in Portugal "today" with this particular issue
Thank you all!.

Countga
  6/2/2017 11:57 EST

Hello, First of all, allow me to assure you that no matter where you move you will run across unscrupulous people, both in the US and abroad. My goods were in storage in FL for almost 2 years. When I gave them the order to move them to Portugal in October last year they magically came up with a $2900 charge for pick up & transfer to Miami. That figure had never been presented before! So, I went looking for different movers. I decided on a company called International Movers Network out of NY. They shipped in December. The goods didn't arrive until the end of January. I had bought a "Baggage Certificate" from the PT Embassy in DC. It expired the end of December & they refused several times to renew or extend it. They said I should have moved immediately and refused to comprehend the hurdle I faced in October. So, I supplied my inventory & value of every box to my agent in Lisbon & to Customs. It was for a total of 4762 euros. Customs totally ignored that and came up with their own value of more than twice that value without opening one box! Thus, I had to pay over 2200 euros in VAT based on what was in their heads. I also note that the agents in Lisbon paid for fees and duties out of their pocket & then charge you additional fee for that privilege. So, if you are going to move goods, make sure you do it well in advance of your 1 year deadline. Be sure also, to get complete estimates for all fees & costs for both the shipper or mover in the States and the agent in Lisbon. I would suggest you also get references for both the mover & the receiving agent and that you check the BBB, the Department of Transportation or Interstate Commerce Commission for complaints or problems with the USA mover. I had a 20 foot container & it was not full. I had 155 boxes in total of which more than 1/2 were the "small" shipping box found at Lowe's or Home Depot. I refer to them as book boxes. I hope my experience is of assistance. One simply has to do their homework and check and double check. I have moved internationally at least 6 times and each time has been an experience. LOL! Good luck!
countga

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LtsDoIt
  6/2/2017 12:28 EST

Finally, the information I was waiting to hear. Thank you Countga!! This is not at all a surprise. In fact, I wouldn't be VERY SURPRISED had you told me that things worked like clock work. I am now understanding that we're going to have to deal with a typical mentality of "abusers". My husband and I an entire home in storage (boxes & furniture and so on), since the past year and a half. It's all packed'n ready for shipment as we were planning on moving to Argentina. Most of the shipping companies quoted us $10.000 for bringing all in but boy, that doesn't include the cost of the vultures awaiting for us at that other end without repeating any rules or regulations. Forget about the "baggage certificate" given at the Argentine consulate. I think you can all imagine what they do with that paper. Between the abuse from the agents at customs, your attorneys and the trucker who'll transport your stuff to your doorstep, you'll be lucky if you have any money left in your bank account. For EVERYTHING I've been reading this past two months since I signed into this forum, it sounds to me like Portugal is EXACTLY ALIKE!! Bottom line, in their eyes and mind, we are americans coming to live cheaply to their country and have money, so, let's take it and they'll have no choice. Once you are right there at customs, with your 20' or 40' container in front of you, there make their own laws and you are at their total mercy. What are you doing to do? Are you going to give anyone the order to put it back in a ship and send it back? They know they got you by the "nuts" (excuse my language of impatience), and you either pay or they'll keep all your stuff. What do you do then? Who speaks for you? An attorney? Sure!! Give him 2k to 5k and he'll fix the problem. He'll go into the customs office alone, speak their language, split your money around and voilà!! My husband does stock trading and has one of those huge computers with 4 enormous monitors and another desktop to bring in. I can see the Portuguese customs will charge him 2 to 3 times over the value of this computer "just for the simple hell of it", not to mention everything else we bring with. Everybody buckle up because you'll be going thru a hell of a ride "AGAIN' when it comes to bringing your good in. Did you read what's happening in Ireland?? Expats are moving there, and after they're settled and have a house and everything looks just perfect, they receive a letter saying "you have 7 days to go". How about that? How do you sell your house, pack your stuff and get organize in seven day?? Others talked about the same experience but were only given 10 days. They'll keep all of those people's money and investment. Can you imagine going thru that?? I have the strong feeling Portugal is not going to be any better. Nothing I ready gives me much hope. Things may have been fantastic 5 years ago, may be even 1 year ago, but things are changing and fast. I am not exaggerating, I am going by what everyone has been posting since weeks and tying all ends together. Some have been "lucky", but we won't all be. And you know what's the worse part of it? No one will make justice for us. You can talk to someone at your Portuguese Consulate before you leave the US, but when you get to Portugal, you're on your own! They don't care who you spoke to, at what consulate or who they are. You are here now, and "give me el dinero!!

dfh4jesus
  6/2/2017 13:12 EST

I will not condemn the poster because i do not know what observations, personal experiences or anecdotes shaped their opinion of the Portuguese people; however, i must say that during my three-month stay in Portugal earlier this year, i found the Portuguese--overwhelmingly--to be patient, congenial and honest.
I had an unpleasant, somewhat heated exchange with a taxi driver that ended with us shaking hands in reconciliation over a misunderstanding and thanking each other.
Generalizations are inherently and hopelessly inaccurate when categorizing an entire group and probably should be avoided unless they are positive.
Have a splendid weekend everyone; best wishes on the fulfillment of your Portugal-related planning, and God bless you,

LtsDoIt
  6/2/2017 13:48 EST

Yesitstime, just cool off and concentrate here, all right? You very well know what I'm exactly talking about. I know that people are nice in Portugal as they are nice in Argentina and Uruguay, and Austria, South Africa, England, Italy, Spain, Germany, Suitzerland, Greece and many more countries I've been to that you haven't. We are very well taking about customs, immigration, attorneys and all those who come up with their own laws and take advantage of the vulnerable ones. You probably live in the US and shoot your mouth off without knowing a thing. If you don't like the realities and facts that people are writing about their sufferings trying to enter that country, then shut your computer and turn on your tv. People MUST be informed and warned about the heartache they "are going thru" and will in future. Moving from one country to another is one of the most storming experiences in anyone's life whether is for better or for worse. I am asking people to talk about this to prepare them for what is to come. Do you think I don't know Portuguese people??? What makes you think I don't?? Or do you want to lie to americans and sweep everything under the carpet. After all, that's what this forum is all about. So do, have a drink, take a nap and either keep of sharing valuable information to the ones planing to move there or stay off!!

unitedwego
  6/2/2017 17:34 EST

lets dolt
Perhaps you need to follow your own advise, take a break, take a nap.
Who are you to tell a member to stay off?
I also didn't care for your original post and your following posts.

I've been a long time lurker on this forum, and have read posting from members who have spoken as if they were in grade school.
When you told yesitisme to take a nap, you are of course referring to her age? I find that offensive, as most of us on this forum are her age if not close to it.
To tell her to take a drink, do you need some one to drink with?
No one can read minds, we read what is posted.
Mark

kawazaki
  6/3/2017 02:49 EST

I moved to Portugal in Nov 2016 and shipped my goods about 2 weeks before I left. The most difficult part for me was deciding what to ship, what to eliminate, and what to buy. I had less than a 40' container. Mine was palletized on 4 pallets and shrink wrapped with a detailed inventory list on each box. I had my baggage certificate from the consulate. I lived in Long Beach, CA and had 3 shipping companies quote my move and chose one that seemed the best. They took care of everything and made the move easy. It took about 4 months for the shipment and a customs broker in Munich emailed me for some info and they took care of the transport from Bremerhaven to here. There was no customs inspection and no customs fees for me. There are many disaster stories here but it does not have to be that way. Do your research and be patient.

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kawazaki
  6/3/2017 05:01 EST

I need to add a little more info why my shipment was easier than some. I moved in with a Portugal citizen and she had all of the household stuff and I did not have to search for an apartment,etc. I did not ship any furniture, bicycles, car, etc. Hope this helps.

Lovelyjules
  3/22/2018 20:27 EST

Are you a Portuguese citizen or an American?

mpatton21
  3/23/2018 19:23 EST

Travel lighter, how much stuff do you need?

SummerFest
  3/28/2018 03:42 EST

After reading these stories I am a bit nervous about moving my stuff from NA as my 1-year settlement limit in Portugal has passed. I mostly have clothes and memorabilias. 20ft container for sure. I don’t know what to expect from Portuguese customs in terms of fees. Will call today to find out.
As to crooks in PT. There are many. Lawyers, real estate agents, contractors ... just for a start. Simple non-business Portuguese are the friendliest and most honest people on earth.

Tess49
  5/26/2018 14:25 EST

...natural instinct..? I will make this short and ask you a question. Why are you going to Portugal with all those ideas in your head? If they are that bad, why would you go there?

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