As of July 1, 2026, the European Union has eliminated the tax exemption for packages valued under €150 originating from outside the EU. This change impacts platforms such as Temu, AliExpress, and Shein.
All products imported from outside the EU, regardless of value up to €150, are now subject to a fixed €3 customs duty per product category. If an order contains items from different categories, a €3 fee will be charged for each. Portuguese VAT will be calculated after this fee is added, increasing the final cost.
E-commerce platforms are now required to collect this duty directly at checkout. The Portuguese postal service (CTT) warns that if the duty is not paid at the time of purchase, recipients will have to pay it along with additional administrative fees for delivery. This measure aims to reduce the volume of cheap imports and address unfair competition, serving as a temporary solution until July 2028, when a more advanced digital system will be implemented.
