Brazil Customs for Household Goods
What trade guides and one law text say about household goods, bonds and cars
A few short questions. Nothing is sent until you check and confirm.
Who is the household goods relief written for?
For foreigners who arrive to live, and for Brazilians coming home. The law repository text we read says that people living abroad who enter Brazil to reside permanently, and Brazilians returning after more than a year away, “poderão ingressar no território aduaneiro os seguintes bens, novos ou usados, isentos de tributos”, the first item being “móveis e outros bens de uso doméstico”: furniture and other household goods.
A foreigner without a permanent visa is covered differently. The same article says that until it is granted, “seus bens poderão ingressar no território aduaneiro sob o regime de admissão temporária”, meaning the goods come in on a temporary basis. The IAM guide describes what that means in practice for work-visa holders, and the bond section below follows it.
That text is the 2010 wording as printed by a legal portal, not a Receita Federal page. The limits section explains why it cannot be treated as today's rule.
Why does the tax number matter so much?
Because the whole file hangs on it. IAM states “A Brazilian CPF (tax ID) is mandatory for all shipments without exception.” It then ties the number to the shipping document: “The CPF number must appear on the bill of lading.”
Addresses matter too. IAM adds that “The address registered in the CPF must match the final destination of the shipment.” So if you register at a temporary address and the container is bound for a different one, expect questions.
Sirva points to a registration step on arrival: “customs clearance process cannot be started if pre-registration (credenciamento) of customer at customs is not completed”. Your destination agent normally handles this, and it is one of the questions to put to them in writing.
What papers do the two guides list?
The lists overlap without matching. For a foreigner with a work visa, IAM lists:
- the original bill of lading or air waybill, weights in kilograms and volume in cubic metres;
- two notarised copies of every passport page, blank ones included;
- the visa, and two notarised copies of the CPF;
- a detailed inventory of new items in Portuguese, plus the packing list;
- an employer's statement accepting responsibility for duties on goods that are not re-exported;
- proof of an address in Brazil, such as a utility bill or tenancy agreement.
Sirva asks for more, or for different things: “Notarized detailed inventories in Portuguese (1 inventory for new and 1 for used items)”, notarised copies of the airline ticket, copies of the foreigner's registration card (RNE) and a guarantee bond. The two lists cannot both be complete, so ask the agent for the checklist they will file.
One formatting rule is easy to miss: “OBL must show weight in kilograms and volume in cubic metres. Pounds and cubic feet are not accepted.” A UK packer who works in cubic feet needs telling before the paperwork is typed.
Does the shipment come in for good or on a bond?
For work-visa holders, on a bond. IAM puts it this way: “Goods are cleared under a bond and imported under temporary admission. All items must be re-exported when the client leaves Brazil.” Sirva repeats the leaving rule, adding that imported items must go back out with the shipper.
The guides then diverge on what has to be guaranteed. IAM says a security guarantee is demanded only “When the suspended taxes for household goods exceed USD 45,000”, payable by cash deposit at Caixa Economica Federal, an insurance policy or a bank letter, and refunded on re-export. Sirva states “Foreigners with a Temporary Visa must sign a Guarantee covering the amount of duties based on 50% of the declared value.”
One account has a threshold and the other has none, so the bond rule is not confirmed. If you expect to stay beyond your visa, ask the agent what happens to a bond at renewal; the guides do not say.
How long do I have, and what does delay cost?
Two clocks run. The first is the arrival window: “Household goods must arrive within 180 days of the owner's arrival in Brazil. However, within 90 days is strongly preferred.” Sirva agrees on 180 days and adds that clearance “should begin within 90 days of the shipper’s arrival; otherwise Customs may seize the shipment”.
The second clock is storage. IAM says that imports pay port or airport storage and demurrage, assessed on the CIF value within two weeks of arrival, and that diplomats are not spared. Presence matters as well: “The client must be in Brazil at the time of customs clearance.” Keep the arrival airline ticket, because customs may ask for it.
What is said about duty on new items?
The headline is generous and the detail is not. IAM: “Both new and used household goods and personal effects may be imported duty-free if for personal use.” The condition follows at once: “Undeclared new items discovered during customs inspection are subject to import duties and a fine.”
Sirva gives the penalty rates and a warning about duplicates: “It is not recommended to bring to Brazil more than 01 identical new item (same brand and model) because the customs might consider resale purpose.” Goods declared as used but found to be new are charged 50 percent duty plus a 50 percent fine plus about 17 percent in further taxes.
A 50 percent special rate appears in the law repository text for baggage above the allowances, and a 2018 news item repeats it for travellers. Whether it applies to a household load is not stated anywhere we read. Keep purchase invoices for new things and mark every carton the same way; Sirva says “Do not mark the boxes with different label colors or names” because customs may think they belong to someone else.
What cannot go in the container?
More than you would expect. Sirva's prohibited list includes food, live plants, building materials, drones, boats of every kind and gas grills with propane tanks. It also says “Food, beverages or medicines should not be included in the shipment.”
Wooden crates and pallets need fumigation or heat treatment to the ISPM 15 standard, and IAM wants the certificate with the shipping papers. Sirva goes further and recommends “completely refrain from using wood for packing purposes in all shipments to Brazil”. Ask your packer which route they follow.
Electronics are a particular concern. IAM wants brand, model and serial number for every item, and Sirva advises that “it is not recommended sending personal electronic devices such as photo cameras, notebooks” by sea, which means carrying laptops and phones with you.
Can I bring a car?
Probably not, and the sources are not in line. IAM says “Vehicle import is extremely restricted in Brazil.” and that duties and taxes “can total 80-100%+ of the vehicle's CIF value”. Sirva is firmer: “The importation of motor vehicles is prohibited for citizens and foreigners holding Permanent and Temporary Visas.”
The law text helps with one point. Its definition of baggage leaves out “veículos automotores em geral, motocicletas, motonetas, bicicletas com motor”, so a car cannot ride on the household goods relief. Sirva adds a practical warning: where a vehicle shares a container, two separate bills of lading are required.
Because one source says restricted and another says prohibited, the car rule is not confirmed. Our car shipping guide covers the British end if you still want to ask.
Does anything differ for Brazilians coming home?
Yes, and one rule has probably moved. IAM warns returning Brazilians: “If a returning Brazilian citizen spent more than 45 cumulative days in Brazil in the year before their actual return with the move, they lose the tax exemption.”
A Brazilian news item from 2018 describes a change to that rule. It says the minimum is one year abroad, and that the amended wording lets the traveller prove “bastando o viajante comprovar a permanência total de 1 ano no exterior” without being tied to the twelve months before return, while 45 days remains the ceiling for visits. Both versions are secondary, so a returning citizen should have the current text read by a Brazilian adviser.
What do we know about pets?
Little that is settled. IAM says “Multiple 2026 sources (pet transport specialists) now confirm an import permit applied for through the SISCOMEX system is required for dogs and cats”, and notes that this contradicts the official agriculture ministry PDF it also links, which still says no permit is needed.
Because the trade body itself reports a conflict, we state no rule. Ask the destination agent for the current permit position before you book a vet appointment, and see the pet moving guide for the British side.
What could we not confirm?
The official core. The Receita Federal English page loaded, but it led to no travellers' goods page, so no current customs instruction is quoted here. The law text is a 2010 version from a legal portal, and the 2018 item shows that the rules around it were amended.
IAM's guide is marked as last updated in June 2026 and Sirva's sheet in July 2025. They differ on the bond threshold, the duty rule for new goods, the paperwork lists and the car rule. We treat both as trade summaries. Your destination agent, the consulate in London or a Brazilian customs broker is the next step.
The Brazil removals guide lists the other pages we hold. The UK to Brazil page sets out the visa and the order of events, and the São Paulo page covers the Santos end of a sea shipment.
Questions about Brazil customs and household goods
Do I need a CPF to ship household goods to Brazil?
Yes, according to the IAM guide: the tax number is mandatory for every shipment and must appear on the bill of lading.
No official Receita Federal page confirmed this.
Can I ship my car to Brazil?
IAM calls vehicle import extremely restricted, with taxes that can reach 80 to 100 percent.
Sirva says it is prohibited for visa holders. The rule is not confirmed.
Is new furniture duty free?
IAM says new goods for personal use are, if declared as new.
Sirva says new items must not be excessive or repeated. Keep invoices and declare them.
What is the bond for?
Work-visa goods come in on temporary admission.
IAM says a security guarantee applies above 45,000 US dollars in suspended taxes; Sirva gives a different basis.
Tell us about your Brazil shipment
Share your departure postcode, arrival month, the visa you will hold, the destination address and whether a car, pet or new purchases are travelling.
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