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Arrival household goods

6 years ago
Thank you, craigandmiki, for the description and requirements of household shipping. I have a specific question concerning the arrival of household furniture and goods once I am in Portugal. I’ve submitted my application at the nearest consulate and have a lease on an unfurnished apartment in Lisbon. I hope to be approved soon and arrive in Lisbon sometime in early October to continue the process through SEF.
I estimate that I will be shipping over a small amount (around 200 sq. meters, or 216 square feet) of household furniture and goods that I don’t want to purchase in Lisbon. The trouble is, I’ve just heard that my household goods can only arrive in Portugal after I have my Temporary Residency Card. Does that mean I have to wait until SEF processes me in Portugal, which could easily take 4 to 8 months, to receive my goods through customs? What happens to my household goods in the meantime?
I was anticipating a 2 to 3 month wait after arrival, which is bad enough with an empty apartment, but if SEF is delayed in my processing it seems like an extraordinary long time to do without some basic creature comforts. Help! I don’t want to buy everything from scratch. I only know one or two trusted acquaintances over there, but I suppose I could mail a smaller box of convenience items to them, if push came to shove. Any suggestions or workarounds?

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William Russell
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William RussellWilliam Russell

Get a quote for international health insurance from our partner, William Russell.
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Get a quote for international health insurance from our partner, William Russell.
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Get a quote for international health insurance from our partner, William Russell.
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