When entering or leaving Portugal, travellers must comply with customs rules and allowance limits. These rules determine what goods you may carry and which items must be declared or are subject to duties and taxes.
When you arrive at a Portuguese airport, you must choose one of two customs channels.
Customs channels:
1. Green channel – Nothing to declare
Use the green channel if you meet all of the following conditions:
- you have no luggage, or
- your luggage is within customs duty and allowance limits, and
- you are carrying goods whose circulation is not prohibited or restricted.
2. Red channel – Goods to declare
Use the red channel if:
- you do not meet the conditions of the green channel;
- you are unsure whether you must declare goods (when in doubt, choose the red channel);
- you are a crew or staff member.
Luggage checks
Customs authorities may inspect the goods carried in travellers' luggage.
Selection for inspection is made at random. Travellers must present their luggage and its contents whenever requested by Customs officers.
Prohibited and restricted goods
The importation of certain goods is prohibited or restricted, including:
- drugs and drug precursors;
- radioactive materials;
- offensive weapons, firearms, explosives, and ammunition;
- counterfeit goods;
- protected species of plants and animals, and their parts or derivatives;
- foodstuffs and products of animal origin;
- plant products, fruits, and seeds;
- pets of no commercial value and animal feed.
Exempt from Customs duties and further taxes for travellers
There is a maximum quantity of goods that travellers may carry in their personal luggage exempt from customs duties and other taxes.
These allowances apply to goods intended for personal or family use and not for commercial purposes.
Tobacco and alcoholic beverages
When travelling from another European Union country, you may carry certain maximum quantities of tobacco products and alcoholic beverages for personal or family use, provided that:
- the excise duty has been paid in the country of purchase; and
- the quantities carried do not exceed the established limits.
In these cases, no additional excise duty is due in Portugal.
Cash
If you enter or leave the European Union (EU) with 10,000 € or more, or the equivalent amount in another currency, you must declare the cash to Customs.
For more information about cash declaration, please consult the Declare cash when entering or leaving the EU page.
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