Post Office in Portugal: CTT Services, Shipping and Parcel Delivery

Portugal's postal service is CTT – Correios de Portugal, recognisable by its red logo with a horse and rider. CTT delivers letters and parcels, handles registered mail for official documents, collects customs fees on imports, and even lets you pay bills.

For newcomers, the post office matters more than you might expect: tax letters, residence cards, bank cards and court notifications often arrive by registered mail, and terminating a lease usually requires a registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt.

In short:

• CTT is the national postal operator; you'll find CTT shops (lojas CTT) and postal counters inside other shops (postos de correio).
• For letters, choose Correio Normal (standard), Correio Azul (priority) or Correio Registado (registered).
• For legal notices, use registered mail with acknowledgement of receipt (registado com aviso de receção).
• Parcels go by CTT Expresso or as standard parcels; track everything on ctt.pt.
• Imports from outside the EU pay VAT from the first euro plus a CTT handling fee.
• CTT raised prices by an average of 6.2% in February 2026 – check the current price list before you send.

Where to find a post office

CTT has two kinds of service points:

• CTT shops (lojas CTT) – full post offices with all services, often including Banco CTT and Payshop.
• Postal counters (postos de correio) – inside newsagents, stationery shops or parish councils (juntas de freguesia), with a reduced range of services.

Use the store locator on ctt.pt to find the nearest one and check opening hours.

Typical opening hours: Monday to Friday, about 9:00–18:00. Some shops in city centres and shopping centres open on Saturdays and later in the evening; small-town shops may close at lunchtime. Check ahead around public holidays.

Most CTT shops use a ticket system – take a number for the right service (letters and parcels, collections, financial services) and wait to be called.

Sending letters

Stamps and prices

Prices depend on weight, format and destination, and are reviewed every year under the universal postal service price agreement. A standard domestic letter up to 20 g costs well under €1; priority and registered services cost more. CTT's 2026 update raised prices by an average of 6.2%, with 4 cents added to the standard domestic letter up to 20 g. Check

You can buy stamps (selos) at CTT shops, postal counters, stamp machines and some newsagents. For registered letters, go to the counter.

When to use registered mail with acknowledgement of receipt

Portuguese law and many contracts require written notices sent by carta registada com aviso de receção. Common examples:

• Ending or not renewing a lease – landlords and tenants must give notice this way. See renting a flat in Portugal.
• Cancelling contracts – gym, telecom or insurance, if the contract requires it.
• Formal complaints and communications with your condominium.
• Responding to official notices where an online option isn't available.

Keep the receipt and the returned pink acknowledgement card: they're your proof.

Delivery times (targets)

• Correio Azul: next working day within mainland Portugal (target).
• Correio Normal: a few working days within mainland Portugal.
• Islands (Madeira and Azores) and international mail take longer.

Receiving mail

Your address

Portuguese postal codes have seven digits in the format 1234-567, followed by the town (for example, 1100-148 Lisboa). Put your full name on the letterbox – carriers may not deliver to boxes without a matching name.

Missed deliveries: the "aviso"

If a registered letter or parcel can't be delivered, you'll find a notice (aviso) in your letterbox telling you where and until when you can collect it – usually your nearest CTT shop or a CTT point. Take the notice and your ID (passport, residence card or Cartão de Cidadão). Someone else can collect for you with a signed authorisation and both IDs.

Items not collected in time are returned to the sender. For official letters (FinançasThe everyday name for the Tax and Customs Authority (AT) and its local tax offices (Serviços de Finanças)., courts, AIMAThe public agency that handles residence permits for non-EU nationals. It replaced SEF for these matters in 2023.), not collecting a registered letter can still count as being notified – don't ignore avisos.

Redirecting your mail

When you move house, CTT offers a paid mail redirection service (Reencaminhamento Postal / Mudança de Morada) for a set period, within Portugal or abroad. Update your address with FinançasThe everyday name for the Tax and Customs Authority (AT) and its local tax offices (Serviços de Finanças)., Social Security and your bank as well.

PO boxes

CTT offers post office boxes (apartados) for an annual fee – useful if you live in a rural area or travel often.

Sending parcels

Within Portugal

• CTT Expresso – express parcel service with tracking and delivery options such as next day (Rede 24), 48 hours (Rede 48) and morning delivery (Rede 10 / Rede 13).
• Standard parcels – cheaper and slower, with tracking.
• Correio Verde – prepaid envelopes and boxes sold at CTT shops; postage is included and tracking is available.

International

• Standard and priority international mail for letters and small items.
• International parcels – economy or priority options, with tracking.
• EMS / international express – the fastest option, with full tracking.

For parcels outside the EU you'll need a customs declaration describing the contents and value. Some items are restricted or banned – lithium batteries, liquids, perfumes, aerosols and medicines have special rules.

Packaging

CTT shops sell boxes, padded envelopes and tape. Pack fragile items well – compensation for damage is limited unless you declare a value.

Tracking

Every registered item and parcel has a tracking code. Enter it on ctt.pt or in the CTT app to see its status. You can often reschedule delivery or choose a pickup point online.

Lockers and pickup points

CTT has a growing network of lockers (cacifos) and CTT pickup points in shops, petrol stations and supermarkets, where you can collect or drop off parcels outside post office hours. Many online stores, including Amazon, let you choose one at checkout.

Customs: buying from outside the EU

Since July 2021, all goods imported into the EU pay VAT from the first euro – there's no longer a €22 exemption.

• If the online shop collected VAT at checkout (IOSS), you shouldn't pay again.
• If not, CTT will charge Portuguese VAT (23% on mainland, lower in Madeira and the Azores for most goods), plus a customs handling fee and customs duty if the value exceeds €150. Since 1 July 2026, parcels under €150 also pay a flat EU duty of €3 per item category. Check
• You'll get a notification by SMS or email, or an aviso, with instructions to pay online before delivery.

Keep invoices and order confirmations: customs may ask for proof of value.

Shopping online? See how ordering from Amazon works in Portugal, and pay Portuguese shops with MB WAY without typing in your card number.

Other services at CTT shops

• Payshop – pay utility bills, fines and MultibancoPortugal's national ATM and payments network. Many bills can be paid at a Multibanco machine using a payment reference. payment references.
• Banco CTT – a retail bank with branches inside many CTT shops.
• Postal orders (vales postais) – sending money within Portugal.
• Some public services, such as certain certificates and document requests, at selected shops.

Other parcel carriers in Portugal

CTT isn't the only option. DPD, GLS, DHL, UPS, FedEx and SEUR all operate in Portugal, along with several locker and pickup-point networks used by online marketplaces. Private carriers are often faster for business shipments; CTT remains the reference for letters and registered mail.

This guide is general information. Prices, delivery targets and service names can change: always check ctt.pt before sending.