Portuguese Postal Codes and Postal Services

Information about how to find Portuguese post codes, how to mail a letter or package and the mailing options for domestic and international mail. Also, information about the other services provided by the CTT (Correios e Telecomunicaçõ)...

CTT (Correios e Telecomunicações) is the national state-owned Portuguese postal service.

There are over 1,000 post offices (correios) in Portugal with varying opening hours. In main towns and tourist areas post offices are open on weekdays from 08:30-18:00 (some are closed for lunch) and on Saturday mornings until 12:30. In some rural areas delivery services are fairly infrequent and people often find it more convenient to rent a post office box (apartado) and collect their mail themselves from the nearest post office.

For information on CTT products and services:

  • CTT
    Tel: 210 471 616

    Open: Monday – Saturday 08:30-19:30

Portuguese Postal Codes

Portuguese postal codes (código postal) are written as a sequence of seven digits, for example 1002-345. (This replaces the old system of P-1234.)

  1. The first digit represents one of the nine postal regions, followed by two digits for the postal distribution centres.
  2. If the post code is for a capital of a municipality the fourth digit is a zero, if not it is a five. In the case of a designated address it is any other digit.
  3. The last three numbers of Portuguese postal codes sort designated addresses and buildings.

Find a Portuguese address or post code

Sending Domestic Mail and Parcels

When sending mail in Portugal, the standard envelope shape is a rectangle. Different shapes may cost more to send.

A standard envelope should not exceed 5mm in thickness and should be sealed without the use of staples or clips.

Addressing mail and parcels

All envelopes and parcels should be addressed using an ink pen or pre-printed white label.

The sender's address should be included on the front of the envelope or parcel in the upper left-hand corner. The recipient's address must be written on the front in the centre of the envelope.

The addresses should be written in capital letters, with a maximum of six lines per address and should be written in the following style:

  • NAME OR COMPANY
    STREET NAME, BUILDING NAME (if applicable), NUMBER
    FLOOR NUMBER OR FLAT LOCATION (front, left, A, B)
    POSTBOX NUMBER/CCI (if applicable)
    POST CODE, CITY

For example:

  • JOHN SMITH
    AVENIDA DA LIBERDADE 100
    1269-121 LISBOA

If the address is for an apartment or an office the first line will look like this

  • JOHN SMITH
    AVENIDA DA LIBERDADE 100-3° DIR
    1269-121 LISBOA

This means that the apartment or office is on the third floor of number 100 Avenida da Liberdade, and that it is on the right (Dir, or D, is short for direita).

Weight limits

The maximum weight limit for correspondence is 2 Kg, for books it's 5 Kg and for parcels, 20 Kg.

Postage and delivery times

Regular and Priority Mail letters can be sent using postage-paid envelopes, stamps or franking machines located at post offices.

Domestic postage-paid envelopes are available for:

  • Regular mail
  • Priority mail - green and blue
  • Registered mail
  • Express mail

Regular mail: Letters and parcels sent within Portugal via ordinary service should be delivered within three business days in mainland Portugal and within five business days to Madeira.

Priority mail: Letters and parcels sent using the Priority Mail service will be delivered within one business day on mainland Portugal.

Registered mail: Various options

Express Mail: Offers same-day delivery within Portugal and Spain. Longer delivery times to other parts of Europe


Sending International Mail and Parcels

When sending mail from Portugal, the standard envelope shape is a rectangle. Different shapes may cost more to send.

A standard envelope should not exceed 5mm in thickness and should be sealed without the use of staples or clips.

Addressing mail and parcels

All envelopes and parcels should be addressed using an ink pen or pre-printed white label.

The sender's address should be included on the front of the envelope or parcel in the upper left-hand corner. The recipient's address must be written on the front in the centre of the envelope.

Weight limits

The maximum weight limit for correspondence is 2 Kg, for books it's 5 Kg and for parcels it's 20 Kg.

Postage and delivery times

Items sent via ordinary mail to Europe should arrive within 10 business days. Mail to the rest of the world can take 7 to 20 business days.

International letters can be sent using postage-paid envelopes, stamps or franking machines located at post offices.

If sending a parcel to a country outside of the EU/EEA, a customs declaration is necessary. Obtain this form, which will be attached to the parcel, at the post office.

International postage-paid envelopes are available for:

  • Ordinary mail
  • Priority mail

Receiving International Mail and Parcels

Items subject to customs control entering Portugal

All postal items entering the country from non-EU countries are subject to customs control. This includes items from the following countries:

Buesingen, located on the German-Swiss border; the Canary Islands; the Spanish territories of Ceuta and Melilla; Andorra; the French Territories of Martinique, French Guiana, Guadeloupe and Réunion; the Greek Territory of Mount Athos; the Italian Territories of San Marino and the Vatican; the United Kingdom Channel Islands and the United Kingdom Territories of the Isle of Man and Gibraltar.

Internet ordering

When ordering items via the Internet for delivery into Portugal it is important to always have proof of purchase value. It is also important to be aware of the country of origin of the shipment and not the country of buying. For example, an item may be purchased via a site in Germany, but if the origin of the shipment is the USA or another non-EU country, the item will be subject to customs control.

Banned articles

Banned items, when received by customs, will be held.  If conditions cannot be met for approved import, the item(s) will be seized, destroyed or returned to origin.

Importing drugs and medications for personal use

When importing drugs for personal consumption, some procedures must be followed.

Troubleshooting

If a package has not arrived within a specified amount of time, call CTT Customer Service: 707 26 26 26 (€0.10 per minute)

Other Services Available at the Post Office

Post offices provide a mail collection (Poste Restante) service to visitors and newcomers not yet registered or settled with an address. Proof of identity must be provided when collecting mail and there is a fee payable per item.

Faxes

Many Portuguese post offices offer a fax service for sending and receiving faxes. Faxes can be sent to individuals who do not have a fax machine, in care of the recipient's local post office. There are several options for delivery:

  • The fax can be picked up at the post office by the recipient
  • The fax can be delivered via mail for next day delivery
  • The fax can be delivered by hand to the recipient's home/office on the same day (for faxes received before 16:00)

CTT also has agreements with some foreign post offices to offer similar services for recipients who are abroad.

Pricing for the fax service varies depending on the number of pages sent and the delivery location and method.

Photocopy certification

Certification of photocopies, to attest that the photocopy is the same as the original, can be done at post offices.

Glossary of Postal Terms

English Portuguese
Post office box Apartado
Post office Correio
Express postal service Correio azul
Ordinary postal service Correio normal
On the right Dir (direita)
On the left Esq (esquerda)
Ground floor R/c (rés-do-chão)
Stamp Selo
Postal code Código postal