Customs Regulations for BrazilCustoms


Household Goods and Personal Effects when moving TO Brazil  (download)

Documents Required

  • Original Bill of Lading (OBL) / Air Waybill (AWB)
  • Notarized copies of Passport (including all the blank pages) (2 copies)
  • Temporary Work Visa / Permanent Visa
  • Notarized copies of Brazilian Tax Id Number / Cadastro de Pessoas Fisicas (CPF) (2 copies)
  • Detailed inventories in Portuguese (1 inventory for new and 1 for used items)
  • Notarized copies of airline ticket (2 copies)
  • ISPM-15 Fumigation Certificate, if applicable
  • Notarized Employment Contract (non-Diplomats)
  • Declaration of Residence Abroad (non-Diplomats, returning citizens)
  • Copies of Registro Nacional de Estrangeiros (RNE) (2 copies) (non-Diplomats)
  • Baggage Declaration (non-Diplomats, returning citizens)
  • Guarantee Bond (non-Diplomats)
  • Notarized copies of Declaração Simplificada de Importação (DSI) / Diplomatic Franchise (3 copies) (Diplomats)
  • Authenticated copy of Ministério das Relações Exteriores (MRE) identification (Diplomats)
  • Copies of supplemental form (3 copies) (Diplomats)
  • Certificate of Residence (returning citizens) / Utility bill receipts for the preceding 13 months
  • Proof of residence abroad (minimum of 1 year required) (returning citizens)

Specific Information

  • The shipment should only be sent when all documents are complete and received by the destination agent, inclusive of the CPF (tax id) number. Confirm receipt of documents with the agent and wait for their “green light”.
  • The address registered in the CPF must be the same as the final destination of the shipment (returning citizens).
  • Diplomats must be in Brazil prior to shipment arrival to apply for the required Brazilian documents and may import duty free.
  • Diplomats may import household appliances if in the possession the shipper for 6 months and appropriate to the rest of the shipment.
  • A CPF number is mandatory for all shipments.
  • The Visa must be valid for more than 180 days.
  • Goods can only be imported after the Visa is authorized by the Brazilian authorities and the Residence Permit / Visa is stamped in the Passport by the Brazilian Federal Police; the Shipment will be Customs cleared under a bond, signed by the shipper (non-Diplomats).
  • The OBL must be rated showing the freight cost and Harmonized Code for household goods; it should be consigned to the shipper, not the agent or moving company.
  • The DSI / Diplomatic Franchise are provided by the Ministério das Relações Exteriores (MRE).
  • It takes approximately 15 days to obtain the Diplomatic Franchise (Diplomats).
  • Foreigners with a Temporary Visa must sign a Guarantee covering the amount of duties based on 50% of the declared value.
  • New and used household goods and personal effects may be imported duty free if for personal use and declared and new items are identified on the Packing List.
  • Electrical / electronic items must be declared showing brand name, model, and serial number.
  • The packing list of items must indicate the values of each item in R$ showing quantity per unit with the total value and the brand, model, and serial number of each item must be included. It must be signed and registered at a Brazilian Register Office.
  • Customs clearance can only begin after the arrival of the shipper in Brazil and should begin within 90 days of the shipper’s arrival; otherwise Customs may seize the shipment.
  • Shipments must arrive in Brazil within 180 days after arrival of shipper.
  • Shipments under a Tourist / Business Visa cannot be cleared.
  • Wooden packing material must be fumigated and a fumigation certificate must be sent to the agent with the OBL prior to shipment.
  • Food, beverages or medicines should not be included in the shipment.
  • Items imported will have to be exported when the shipper leaves Brazil (non-Diplomats).
  • Returning citizens or those who possess a permanent Visa must have lived abroad for at least 365 continuous days prior to relocation to Brazil.
    • During this time, citizens or visa holders cannot have been in Brazil for the past 12 months, for more than a period of 45 days.
    • If the stay exceeds 45 days all items included in the move will be subject to the payment of import duties, excluding the following items that are exempt, regardless of the above rule:
      • Clothes
      • Shoes
      • Books
      • Magazines
      • Documents
      • All items that have been “officially” exported from Brazil in the move.
    • If a returning Brazilian citizen who has lived abroad (and proved residence abroad for over 1 year) breaks this rule – exceeding 45 days in total in Brazil the year before his/her actual return to the country with the move – he/she will lose their tax exemption.
  • Returning citizens must prove time spent abroad, such as:
    • A letter issued by the Brazilian Consulate at origin stating that the shipper lived abroad for more than 1 year.
    • A letter of employment on company letterhead stating that the shipper worked for the company for more than 1 year.
  • Returning Brazilians and Permanent Visa holders may import unaccompanied baggage duty-free if the items are properly identified.
    • All new items must be identified in the packing list.
    • If not declared and if they are located during the physical customs inspection of the cargo, shall be subject to the payment of import duties and a fine.
  • Lift vans, air vans, wooden crates, and boxes arriving in containers or single shipments must be fumigated per ISPM 15 rules and visibly marked on at least two opposite sides of the container in permanent black ink.
  • Certain wood packing materials are exempt from regulation; contact agent for specific information. 

    • Before initiating shipping procedures at origin destined for Brazil, the owner of the move must receive confirmation of approval to begin shipping procedures to Brazil.

Motor Vehicles

Documents Required

  • Certificate of Title
  • Pro-forma InvoiceMoving from Brazil:
  • Diplomatic Franchise

Specific Information

  • Only foreign Diplomats or members of international organizations such as UNO, UNESCO, IMF, etc. may import motor vehicles for personal use.
  • If a vehicle is shipped in the same container as household goods, 2 separate OBLs must be produced. If separate OBLs are not submitted, it will not be possible to clear the shipment and may result in charges of up to 3,000 USD.
  • The importation of motor vehicles is prohibited for citizens and foreigners holding Permanent and Temporary Visas.
  • Foreign diplomats or members of international organizations such as UNO, UNESCO, IMF, etc. may import motor vehicles.

Pets

Documents Required

  • Vaccination Record
  • Veterinary Health Certificate

Specific Information

  • Only cats and/or dogs may be imported and will be examined by a veterinarian upon arrival.
  • Certificates must be stamped by the Brazilian consulate at origin.
  • Shippers importing animals other than cats and/or dogs must obtain special authorization by the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture prior to departure from the origin country.

Restricted/Dutiable Items

  • Foodstuffs (subject to import duties of approximately 50% of declared value)
  • Cosmetics (subject to import duties of approximately 50% of declared value)
  • Medications (require a doctor’s prescription)
  • Cigarettes (400), cigars (25), pipe tobacco (250 g)
  • Beverages, wine, and liquor (are subject of import duties of approximately 50% of declared value and require authorization from the Health and Agriculture Ministry)
  • Foreign Diplomats may import alcohol duty free.
  • Persons may enter with no more than a maximum of two liters of alcohol.
  • Arms, ammunitions, and dangerous items (are subject to approval by the Brazilian Army prior to departure from origin)
  • Only small caliber firearms and hunting rifles for personal use are permitted.
  • Dangerous objects and weapons (subject to approval by the Brazilian army)

Prohibited Items

  • Live plants
  • Drugs and narcotics
  • Flammable or corrosive materials
  • Tins
  • Coins of high value
  • Stamp collections
  • Food items

Consignment Instructions

Recommended: Contact the destination agent to ensure all requirements have been met prior to import, especially for differences regarding air / sea shipments.

Helpful Website(s):

Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs - informations

Brazilian customs - Informations for Unaccompanied Bagagge and move to Brazil