Many tourists point out that shopping in Portugal can be interesting and rewarding. In addition, foreign citizens are entitled to a VAT refund, but for this it is necessary to comply with several important conditions.
The VAT rate depends on the territory where the shopping is carried out: mainland - 23%, 13%, 6%, Madera - 22%, Azores - 16%. The established minimum purchase amount that allows you to use tax free in Portugal depends on the amount of VAT.
VAT can be refunded if the purchased goods are transported in the tourist's personal luggage and are packed and sealed. VAT cannot be obtained by purchasing vehicles and spare parts for them.
Stages of VAT refund
Prefer stores with the Global Blue Tax Free Shopping logo. In this case, the possibility of VAT refund must be clarified with the service personnel. Having accumulated the set amount, you can pay for the purchase by asking for a special receipt, which can be white or blue. The receipt must be filled out neatly with the latest information about yourself.
Now you have to go through the procedure for refunding funds at customs. The ideal option would be the airport, since the system in this case is thought out to the smallest nuances. Before checking in for a flight, you should contact the customs officials, presenting your passport, receipts, uniforms and goods.
The next step is to receive funds. To do this, you can contact the employees of the Global Blue office. If you are in a hurry, you can contact an authorized bank in your home country. In addition, you can send documents to the Global Blue processing center with the possibility of receiving funds to the specified credit card number. Giving preference to this option, it is recommended to make copies of documents in order to protect yourself.
Important points
The form, which has been stamped by the customs officer, is valid 150 days from the date it was issued. The form must be stamped in a timely manner at the customs of Portugal or another country of the European Union, depending on where you will be returning from. For this, 90 days are allotted from the time the form was issued.
