Removals UK to Portugal
Move It Removals runs removals UK to Portugal from our base in Essex, moving households from Southend and across the county to Lisbon, Porto, Cascais and the Algarve. It is the longest of our European routes, and one team plans it, packs your belongings and sees them through to your Portuguese address.
UK to Portugal removals, handled properly
Portugal is about as far as a European move goes by road, so the planning matters and, since Brexit, so does the customs side. We have run long European routes since 2003, so we know how the journey down through Europe fits together.
The same team handles the whole job, from the Essex collection to the delivery in Portugal. The UK end runs through our house removals team, and our European removals page shows how we work across the Continent.
How removals UK to Portugal work
The move runs to a set order, from the first visit to unloading in Portugal.
Planning your move to Portugal: route, timings and the ferry option
Portugal sits in the far south-west, so there are two sensible ways to get there. One is the full road route: cross the Channel from Kent, drive down through France and across Spain, then into Portugal. The other, often better for a move this far, is the Bay of Biscay ferry from Portsmouth or Plymouth straight to Santander or Bilbao in northern Spain, which cuts out most of the French drive, then a run across Spain to your Portuguese address.
A few things shape the plan for your move:
- Timing: however we route it, this is a multi-day move. The Biscay crossing alone runs around twenty hours, so we build the schedule around sailings and your dates.
- Access at both ends: Lisbon and Porto have steep, narrow old streets and tram lines, and many Algarve villas sit up unmade lanes, so we flag access early, along with your Essex property.
- The route: for Portugal the Biscay ferry is often the cleaner choice, saving a long haul through France, and we will advise which option suits your move and budget.
- Customs paperwork: Portugal is in the EU, so most people moving their main home bring belongings in free of import duty and VAT under the EU relief for personal effects. Portuguese customs usually also wants a tax number (NIF) and proof of your Portuguese address, and we prepare the inventory and declaration.
Packing and protection for the distance
Portugal is days of travel and, often, a long sea crossing, so your belongings are packed to hold up over the whole route rather than a short hop. Our trained, uniformed team wraps and boxes everything to export standard, with materials and boxes included and extra protection for anything fragile or valuable.
It all goes onto a detailed inventory, which also serves as the customs packing list. Every move is fully insured up to £100,000.
Storage if your dates
do not line up
On a route this long, a gap between your UK move and your Portuguese completion is common, and storage is what bridges it. We can keep your belongings at our own secure Essex facility and send them south once you are ready to receive them.
Our storage service explains how it works, or we can build it into your quote.
Why move to Portugal
with Move It
A move to the far side of the Continent is a lot to place in one company’s hands, which is exactly why we keep it in ours, accountable from your Essex door to your Portuguese one. From a single van in Southend in 2003, we grew on referrals and repeat work into a full team with our own storage and larger vehicles.
We are BAR members working to the Trading Standards approved Code of Practice, every Portugal move is insured to £100,000, and there are no waiting-time charges.
Related European routes
Moving somewhere else in Europe? We also cover:
For destinations beyond Europe, see our overseas and international removals.
Removals UK to Portugal: your questions answered
What affects the cost of a move to Portugal?
Mainly the volume you are shipping, where in Portugal you are headed, whether we go by road or the Bay of Biscay ferry, access at both properties, and whether you want packing or storage. We quote after a survey, with no waiting-time charges.
How long does a move from the UK to Portugal take?
It is our longest European route, so a move usually spans a few days. The ferry to northern Spain alone is around twenty hours, then there is the drive across Spain into Portugal. We give you a realistic schedule after your survey.
Is it better to drive the whole way or take the ferry?
For a move as far as Portugal, the Bay of Biscay ferry to Santander or Bilbao often works out cleaner, as it saves a long drive through France. We will weigh the ferry against the full road route for your dates and destination and advise which suits.
What paperwork do I need to move to Portugal?
Portugal is in the EU, so most main-home moves come in free of import duty and VAT under the EU relief for personal effects. Portuguese customs usually also asks for a tax number (NIF) and proof of your Portuguese address. We prepare the inventory and declaration for you.
Do you pack for moves to Portugal, and are materials included?
Yes. We supply the boxes and materials and pack to export standard, or you can pack yourself. Anything fragile or valuable gets extra wrapping for the distance to Portugal.
Can you store my belongings if my dates do not match?
Yes. We can hold your belongings at our own Essex facility and deliver to Portugal once your new home is ready.
Are my belongings insured on the way to Portugal?
Yes. Your belongings are insured up to £100,000 for the whole route, and we explain what that covers before you book.
Get a removals UK to Portugal quote
Planning a move to Portugal? Call the team on 01702 277420 or fill in the quote form and we will come back with a clear plan and pricing for the route. Prefer to show us what is moving? Book a survey and we will take it from there.
