CTT Ends Registered Parcel Service Abroad: What Portugal Senders Need to Know

Portuguese residents who spent the festive season mailing gifts abroad woke up this week to a new reality: the familiar green-and-white CTT registered international slip no longer accepts parcels, only paperwork. The shift, triggered by a global rulebook overhaul, forces senders of mobile phones, sweatshirts or hand-knitted scarves to choose a different label — and often a different price tag — if they want their items to cross borders.

At a Glance

• Registered international mail is now document-only; packages are banned.

• Correio Azul Internacional and Encomenda Postal become the CTT options for goods.

• Prices rose on average 6.2 % across CTT services on 2 February.

• Private couriers such as UPS, FedEx and DHL remain in play for time-critical or high-value items.

Why was the change imposed?

A United Nations agency little known outside postal circles — the Universal Postal Union (UPU) — has redrawn the global framework that defines what services national operators may offer. The new rule, effective 1 January 2026, splits the product portfolio into two neat buckets: "documents" that carry no market value and "goods" that do. Lisbon had no opt-out clause; CTT officials say the company "simply aligned with mandatory international law". The UPU claims the overhaul will make customs clearance faster and security checks more consistent as cross-border e-commerce mushrooms.

What still counts as a "document"?

Under the tighter definition, only contents that are paper-based or digital media with no commercial value qualify:

• handwritten letters, birth certificates, university transcripts

• pen-sketched architectural blueprints

• USB sticks holding a tax return PDF

• greeting cards and debit cards that are already activatedAnything that can be resold — from smartwatches to vintage vinyl — is a good, even if it weighs less than 100 g.

Shipping goods: your new menu

For sweaters and smartphones, CTT proposes two public-postal alternatives:

Correio Azul Internacional – Priority processing, end-to-end tracking in most destinations and delivery in roughly 3 working days within Europe. Insurance is modest, so fragile or pricey items may need extra cover.

Encomenda Postal – The classic parcel service, now handling boxes up to 30 kg, with mandatory electronic customs data (EAD) for destinations outside the EU.

Private carriers — DHL, UPS, FedEx, Rangel — can be faster but often costlier. They handle customs internally and may offer higher liability ceilings, which seduces small online shops shipping electronics worth several hundred euros.

How much more will it cost?

CTT raised tariffs across the board by 6.2 % on 2 February. A 500 g parcel to France that cost €10.30 in December is now €10.95, and the removal of the registered option means senders who relied on the cheaper barcode-only security will either accept lower coverage with Correio Azul or pay the parcel surcharge. Industry groups warn that micro-sellers could see shipping take up "nearly a quarter of retail price" on low-margin items.

Fallout for e-commerce and side hustles

Portuguese Etsy crafters and OLX power-sellers say they fear higher cart-abandon rates abroad. One Porto-based ceramicist reported that "clients in Berlin loved the tracking and signature" that registered letter-parcel hybrid provided for under €6; the closest substitute now is €12 plus box weight. Larger platforms, however, have long favoured courier contracts and will feel less pain.

Five tips to stay ahead

• Classify contents correctly – Mis-labelling a phone as a document can lead to seizure.

• Use the online customs portal – EAD forms are obligatory for goods leaving the EU.

• Compare couriers on price vs. insurance – A €20 sweater needs different coverage than a €1 000 laptop.

• Batch orders – Sending two small parcels together in an Encomenda often beats two individual Azul labels.

• Factor delivery time into returns policy – Correio Azul promises speed, but customs delays still apply.

Could the framework shift again?

Postal insiders hint that the UPU will review the rule in 2028 once data on security and efficiency roll in. For now, the safest bet is to assume registered international mail equals paper only. Anyone planning to post a birthday gift abroad should budget extra euros — or scout for coupons from the growing fleet of private couriers serving Portugal.