Customs Clearance in Brazil
Import entries into Brazil are administered by Receita Federal do Brasil. Cargo typically sits 7–15 days at the gateway before release, and most of that window is documentation rather than physical inspection. We handle the entry itself — classification, valuation, duty and tax settlement, and the release — either as part of a delivered duty-paid movement or as a standalone brokerage service on cargo somebody else is shipping.
Clearance profile — Brazil
| Customs authority | Receita Federal do Brasil |
|---|---|
| Duty and tax | Import duty 10–35% plus IPI, PIS/COFINS and state ICMS — the compounded effective rate frequently exceeds 60% |
| De-minimis | USD 50 for consignments between individuals only |
| Certification | ANATEL homologation for telecom and radio devices; INMETRO certification for a wide range of consumer goods |
| Typical port dwell | 7–15 days |
| Sea gateways | Santos, Paranaguá, Itajaí, Navegantes |
| Air gateways | GRU (São Paulo), VCP (Campinas), GIG (Rio de Janeiro) |
Compiled from the destination customs authority and port operators as a buyer-planning reference. It is not a customs ruling — the binding position depends on your HS heading and the consignee's status.
What we do on the entry
- Classification. We agree the HS heading before the cargo sails, not after it lands. A heading argued at the border costs storage every day it runs.
- Valuation. We build the customs value the way Brazil expects it — including or excluding freight and insurance according to the local rule, with the supporting evidence attached.
- Entry filing and duty settlement. Lodged in the consignee's name or, where the market allows it, under our own importer arrangement.
- Release and onward delivery. Terminal release, any inspection attendance, and delivery to the door if you want the movement quoted duty-paid.
What actually holds shipments here
ANATEL homologation is mandatory for anything that transmits, and takes months to obtain — start before production. INMETRO certification covers many consumer categories. Import licensing applies to a substantial list of goods and must be granted before shipment.
None of that is unusual, but all of it is easier to resolve before the container sails than after it arrives.
How the lane behaves
Brazil is the most complex tax jurisdiction in the Americas. Federal duty is only the starting point — IPI, PIS/COFINS and state-level ICMS compound on top, and ICMS differs by state, so the same goods cost different amounts landed in São Paulo and Manaus. The Manaus Free Trade Zone is a genuine alternative structure for electronics assembly inputs.
Documents we will ask for
- Commercial invoice and packing list matching the goods exactly
- Bill of lading or air waybill
- Certificate of origin where a preference is claimed
- Consignee registration or tax identifier for the market
- Product certification, permits or licences where the commodity requires them
Mismatches between the invoice and the transport document are the single most common reason an entry is queried. We check them before filing rather than after a query lands.
Clearing agents in Brazil
Our entries in Brazil are filed by licensed local brokers, not sub-contracted blind. If you hold a customs broker licence or AEO authorisation here, we are open to adding capacity — we send referred volume from an ocean freight book that already discharges at your gateways.
The network is vetted rather than open: licence verification with the issuing authority, insurance, two contactable references and supervised trial entries before any unsupervised volume.
Apply to become our Brazil clearance partner →Freight rates into Brazil
Clearance is quoted alongside the freight. These are the priced lanes we currently run into this market.
- Yantian to Rio de Janeiro FCL Ocean Freight Rates | 20GP & 40HQ
- Ningbo to Itapoa FCL Ocean Freight Rates | 20GP & 40HQ
- Yantian to Santos FCL Ocean Freight Rates | 20GP & 40HQ
- Ningbo to Navegantes Container Shipping — 40HQ Rates
- Yantian–Navegantes Sea Freight: Container Rates and Schedule
- Ningbo to Suape FCL Ocean Freight Rates | 20GP & 40HQ
- Yantian–Suape Sea Freight: Container Rates and Schedule
- Qingdao–Santos Sea Freight: Container Rates and Schedule
Destination guide
Gateways, inland legs, port behaviour and seasonal pressure for Brazil — the background this clearance page assumes.
Brazil destination guide →Common questions
Who administers customs clearance in Brazil?
Import entries are administered by Receita Federal do Brasil.
How long does clearance take in Brazil?
Cargo typically sits 7–15 days at the gateway. Complete paperwork lodged before arrival is what keeps a shipment at the short end of that range.
What duty and tax applies in Brazil?
Import duty 10–35% plus IPI, PIS/COFINS and state ICMS — the compounded effective rate frequently exceeds 60% The rate that applies to your shipment depends on the HS heading — send the specification for a firm figure.
Can you clear cargo in Brazil that you did not ship?
Yes. Brokerage is available as a standalone service on cargo moved by another forwarder, as well as bundled into a duty-paid movement we carry ourselves.
Do you work with local brokers in Brazil?
Yes — our clearance network is built on vetted local licence holders. Brokers in this market can apply to join through our partner programme.