Get the Baggage Certificate for Your Portugal Move
In short
The baggage certificate is a crucial document for expatriates who want to transport their personal belongings without paying extra fees. It can help them save time and money.
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When you plan a move to Portugal, the logistics are rarely just about packing. If you are shipping household goods to Portugal (especially from outside the EU), Portuguese customs will usually expect you to prove that the shipment is part of a genuine change of residence, and that the items are personal effects, not commercial imports.
That is where the baggage certificate Portugal process comes in. Often called the Certificado de Bagagem, it is a consular certificate issued by a Portuguese embassy/consulate that identifies your personal belongings and supports your customs clearance when your shipment arrives. In practice, it is most relevant for “unaccompanied baggage” (a container or cargo shipment) and for people who want to apply for relief that may reduce or eliminate import charges under the rules for transferring residence.
Importantly, the certificate is not a “blanket waiver” for fees. The duty/VAT relief is tied to eligibility conditions set out in the legal framework for importing personal goods when transferring normal residence to Portugal (including Portugal’s Decree-Law on VAT exemption for these imports).
This is also why expat communities consistently flag timing as critical: people report that movers and customs brokers often ask for the Certificado de Bagagem before the shipment lands, because it is part of the documentation used during customs formalities.
In this article we will cover the basic and essentials for you to apply for you certificate hen mvoing to Portugal.
Table of contents8
- What is a baggage certificate?
- Where can I obtain a baggage certificate?
- What are the rules for the baggage certificate?
- How can I apply for a baggage certificate?
- How can my items qualify for a baggage certificate?
- What documents must I present to Customs authorities?
- What are the requirements for baggage certificate?
- Should I hire a third-party company to move my items to Portugal?
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What is a baggage certificate?
The baggage certificate or luggage certificate (’Certificado de Bagagem’) is a document that provides information about the luggage carried by a passenger during their journey.
Consular authorities issue it. It allows you to bring your personal belongings and appliances across borders without having to pay import taxes or duties on them. This document certifies the non-commercial nature of the items in question.
Why is it used?
This certificate is a guarantee for everyone involved in the moving process that the items being transported are not intended for sale or trade but rather for personal and/or domestic use.
A customs document is a form that assists with customs procedures, typically allowing you to bring personal belongings without having to pay taxes.
The document is mainly used by expats whose household items are coming to Portugal through a different route (e.g.: expat coming by train and items coming in a container).
How does it assist in obtaining a fee exemption?
Expatriates can avoid paying import taxes on their personal belongings by showing the baggage certificate to customs officials.
This means that individuals will not be required to pay taxes on items they bring along for their personal use.
Where can I obtain a baggage certificate?
You can only obtain it from a Portuguese embassy or consulate in your home country. Typically, the authorities will require you to fill out a form and provide a detailed list of the items you intend to transport.
It's important to keep in mind that the requirements and procedures for getting the certificate can differ depending on the country and its specific regulations.
Typically, you need to have this document stamped or approved by the consulate before your belongings can be brought into Portugal.
What are the rules for the baggage certificate?
- The certificate, known as "Certificado de Bagagem," should indicate that all the items are used and have been owned by the goods' owner for over 6 months. It should not include any information about the values of the items;
- It needs to indicate that the person who owns the items has been residing in the country of origin for over 12 months;
- Household goods that have been owned by the owner for at least 6 months and are not intended for sale after the shipment is released are exempt from duty;
- The goods need to be delivered within 6 months after the owner of the goods arrives in the destination country. To qualify for duty-free import, inheritance requires a certified copy of the death certificate and the will;
- If the person who owns the goods is not a citizen of the country where the goods come from, they need to provide proof that they have been living there for at least 12 months. This can be shown by providing a photocopy of their identity card, a certificate issued by the Portuguese Consulate, or an employment contract from the country of origin.
How can I apply for a baggage certificate?
Each consulate or embassy has its own rules on how you should apply for a luggage certificate. Some have the service available only via email; others require an in-person submission. To apply, you must visit your jurisdiction's consular website. You must submit the application with:
- Application for the Luggage Certificate, completed and signed;
- Photocopy of a legal identity card or citizen card;
- List of personal goods to be imported (used for at least 6 months) in triplicate, dated, and signed;
- Documents verifying the last year of residency (for example, rent receipts, water, electricity, gas, telephone, wage receipts, or tax/pension statement);
- Fill out and sign the Money Order Declaration;
- Fee payment.
You must request your certificate, regardless of your nationality, in the 90-day period before the anticipated transfer of residence.
Luggage certificate will be available at the website of the Portuguese Embassy or Consulate of your jurisdiction. The document changes according to the location.
Which items are forbidden for a baggage certificate?
- Meat and milk, along with any products made from them, that come from countries outside of the European Union are generally not allowed. However, there are some exceptions for limited amounts of meat and milk from Andorra, Croatia, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, and small quantities of certain products from other countries;
- Species that are protected by the Washington Convention (CITES) and any products made from them;
- Pornographic material or objects;
- Alcohol and spirits;
- Firearms and weapons;
- Drugs;
- Food.
Which items can be taxed or restricted in a baggage certificate?
- Wine and tobacco;
- New items still in packaging;
- Essences for regional wine counterfeit;
- Systems for copying mail stamping systems;
- Fish if it is disemboweled (cannot exceed 20 kg);
- Medicines and foodstuffs harmful to national health and drugs;
- Powdered milk for babies, food for children and special medical food (including pet food) may be allowed if not requiring refrigeration and with original, unbroken seal (unless in use at the time);
- Quantity must not exceed the weight of 10 kg originating from Croatia, Faroe Islands, Greenland and Iceland, and of 2 kg if originating in other countries;
- Coats, fur and leather shoes made of protected animals (special authorization required);
- Hunting and civilian guns only (guns needs a property title and also need to be mentioned on the Consulate certificate);
- Firearms, cut and thrust weapons, and any instrument without specific application.
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How can my items qualify for a baggage certificate?
They must be under your possession for the previous six months.
Cars also qualify.
What documents should I present to obtain the certificate?
- An inventory list with all the household items to be transfered to Portugal;
- Certificate of baggage application filled and signed;
- Copy of Valid ID;
- Proof of residence covering the past 12 months.
Certificate of baggage and inventory list will be available at the website of the Portuguese Embassy or Consulate of your jurisdiction. The document changes according to the location.
How much will it be?
Around 75 euros, excluding mail fees.
Where can I apply for a baggage certificate?
At the Portuguese Embassy or Consulate responsible for your residency area, where it will have jurisdiction.
You must check your local Portuguese Embassy or Consulate website to confirm wether the submition should be made online or in-person.
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What documents must I present to Customs authorities?
- ‘Certificado de Bagagem’ provided by the Portuguese Consulate at the origin, along with a full inventory list in Portuguese, stating that all products are used and have been in the Owner's possession for more than 12 months (values are not shown);
- The owner's original passport (valid and showing their location of stay abroad);
- Certificate showing that the owner has resided abroad for more than a year and is canceling his residence at home;
- Domicile certificate (Atestado de residencia) issued by the "Junta de Freguesia" at their residence in Portugal, indicating that they will be living there starting from the date of arrival or return, a rental lease or property purchasing contract may be helpful as well;
- Date of arrival in Portugal;
- Portuguese NIF of the declarant;
- Your AIMA residence permit;
- Photocopy of the work contract (if applicable).
Typically, when moving household items, it is recommended to import everything in one shipment from a single location. However, in certain situations, it is possible to get permission from the General Customs Board to import household goods in multiple shipments. This requires providing evidence and an explanation before the move.
It is important to create a detailed inventory with the first shipment, clearly indicating which items are being imported in that shipment and which ones belong to the second shipment. The 'Certificado' should confirm that the client has lived at the same address for at least 12 consecutive months.
When packing and working your certificate keep in mind that your items will only be available AFTER you present your AIMA residence permit. So be ready to wait months for your goods.
What are the requirements for baggage certificate?
To obtain the it and successfully retrieve your shipment, you should expect to provide:
- Valid Identification (passport/ID copy and residence permit to retrieve it), per consulate instructions.
- Proof of your move / legal status (Residence permit/card depending on current rules and consulate).
- Proof of residence abroad / transfer of residence evidence, as requested by the consulate (often framed as prior residence abroad for a period).
- Proof of address/residence in Portugal (commonly an Atestado de Residência from the freguesia, used in practice by expats).
- Inventory / packing list (manifest) of the personal items being shipped, often signed, sometimes in multiple copies, and frequently required to be stamped/attached to the certificate.
- Shipment identifiers that link the cargo to you (e.g., bill of lading / air waybill reference, mover documentation), because that is what customs and the shipping company use to match and release the shipment.
Should I hire a third-party company to move my items to Portugal?
While not mandatory, it comes highly recommended.
Several immigrants recommend using a third-party company to manage your move with customs authorities in Portugal and your home country, even though you can handle the process by yourself. This is due mainly to the bureaucracy of customs offices and the language barrier.
- Despite the high number of English speakers in Portugal, filling out the documents in Portuguese may pose some difficulties during the process.
Final thoughts
The baggage certificate is a crucial document for expatriates who want to transport their personal belongings without paying extra fees. It can help them save time and money.
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