Moving to Brazil: customs & MAPA checklist
Receita Federal decides the tax, MAPA's Vigiagro decides what plants, food and animal products get in. Answer five questions to see whether your shipment qualifies for the tax-free mudança (change of residence) treatment under the bagagem desacompanhada regime, then check every item against the official MAPA, ANVISA and ANATEL rules before you pack.
1. Do my goods clear duty-free? (Bagagem desacompanhada — isenção de mudança (Regulamento Aduaneiro, Decreto 6.759/2009, arts. 158 and 162))
Which of these describes you?
Are the goods your own personal and household property, not for sale or business use?
Does your shipment fit the time limits (your arrival and the shipment close together)?
Does the shipment include any of these?
Documents to clear your shipment
- Declaração Simplificada de Importação (DSI) — electronic, registered in Siscomex / Portal Único. You can file it yourself if you hold Siscomex access; otherwise it is transmitted by a customs officer or prepared by a despachante aduaneiro (customs broker) you appoint
- Relação de bens — itemised list with description and approximate value, box by box: number every carton and list its contents ("box 1: 24 books, 2 table lamps"); group similar items together. Prepare it in Portuguese so the inspector can check it against the boxes
- Purchase documentation (invoice or receipt) for every new item, or a written justification for its absence — otherwise Receita Federal may apply a special procedure
- Conhecimento de carga — bill of lading (sea) or air waybill (air) issued in your own name and stating the number of packages; insist the mover issues it this way
- Proof of your arrival date — airline ticket, passport entry stamp or another document showing when you entered Brazil
- Copy of your identity document or passport; foreigners also present the permanent visa document (or follow the admissão temporária procedure for temporary visas) — brokers reference your Polícia Federal RNM / CRNM registration
- Procuração (power of attorney) for the despachante aduaneiro, if you use one, and your CPF (Brazilian taxpayer number) — the DSI service records it and it is also needed for ANAC drone registration; it can be obtained from abroad through a consulate
What is taxed and what is not
- Qualifying mudança goods — furniture and other household goods, tools of your trade (new or used), used personal effects, books and periodicals: no import tax.
- Other goods that still count as baggage (new personal items, gifts, consumables, alcohol, tobacco): Regime de Tributação Especial — a flat 50 % import tax on the value of the goods, with no other federal tax at clearance; payable by DARF when the DSI is registered.
- Goods outside the baggage concept (vehicles and parts, commercial quantities, goods for a company) or a shipment that arrives outside the 3-month/6-month window or not from your country of stay: Regime Comum de Importação — a full Declaração de Importação with ordinary import duty, IPI, PIS/COFINS and state ICMS, plus a 20 % fine on the import tax when the window is missed.
- Fees: the DSI itself is free of charge. Terminal storage, handling and the despachante's fee are yours, and MAPA inspection costs, treatment or destruction of refused agricultural goods are charged to you. Goods left uncleared are treated as abandoned.
2. Can I ship it? — MAPA item checker
MAPA's Vigiagro screens household shipments for anything that is, or came from, a plant, animal, soil or wood — and ANVISA (medicines, food, cosmetics), ANATEL (anything with a radio) and the Army (weapons) add their own consents. Search an item or filter by category. Statuses follow the official MAPA Lista de Bens Agropecuários, Receita Federal's prohibited and restricted list, and the ANVISA, ANATEL and ANAC pages linked below.
Don't ship — Prohibited or assessed separately — leave it outDeclare + clean — Declare, clean/dry it, expect inspection or treatmentDeclare — Declare and list it clearlyNo concern — No specific concern
No match — if it is made of wood, plant or animal material, is food, or has been outdoors, declare it and check with the authority before packing.
Don't ship
Fresh fruit, vegetables, salad, mushrooms (fresh or dried)Only admitted with a phytosanitary certificate from the country of origin — without one it is seized and destroyed. Leave all fresh produce out.
Food
Don't ship
Raw or home-made meat, fish, sausages, cured ham; anything containing pork (except canned, heat-sterilised)Prohibited — raw, vacuum-packed, frozen, home-made or only-smoked meat and fish, and all pork products except heat-sterilised tins.
Food
Declare
Shelf-stable industrial meat and fish — tins, jerky, bresaola, fish paste, stock cubes (no pork)Allowed in intact original packaging with a label showing product, composition, sanitary authority and country — declare and present to Vigiagro.
Food
Declare
Cheese, butter, UHT or powdered milk, yoghurt, dulce de leche (industrial, sealed)Industrial dairy in intact labelled packaging is admitted; raw milk, home-made dairy and raw-milk cow or buffalo cheese from listed countries (incl. France, Italy, Spain, Greece) are prohibited.
Food
Don't ship
Eggs, home-made cakes, biscuits and sweetsRaw eggs and any home-made food containing eggs, dairy or meat are prohibited even if frozen or vacuum-packed.
Food
Don't ship
Honey, propolis, royal jelly, beeswax, bee pollenAll bee products are prohibited in travellers' baggage.
Food
Declare
Industrial biscuits, cakes, pastries and confectionery (sealed, labelled)Admitted in intact original packaging with ingredients on the label; pork-filled pastries are prohibited.
Food
Don't ship
Rice, pulses, whole or split grains, flax or chia seeds for eatingUnprocessed grains need a phytosanitary certificate from origin — in a household move, leave them out. Roasted, ground or parboiled grains are fine.
Food
Declare
Olive oil, pickles, jams, dried spices, flour, pasta, roasted coffee and nuts, teaIndustrially processed plant foods are admitted in sealed, labelled original packaging in personal quantities — declare them. Granola, cereal bars and chocolate need no declaration.
Food
Declare
Alcohol — wine, spirits, beerNot covered by the mudança exemption: 50 % import tax on value. MAPA admits only industrial drinks in intact labelled packaging for personal use.
Food
Declare
Tobacco, cigarettes, cigarsTaxed at 50 % of value; cigarettes of a brand not sold in the country of origin are prohibited.
Food
Don't ship
Live plants, seeds, bulbs, cuttings, tubersNeed a prior MAPA import authorisation; plants in soil are prohibited outright.
Garden & plants
Don't ship
Soil, sand, clay, peat, potting mix, growing substrateOnly with a prior MAPA import authorisation — treat as prohibited and clean every item that touched soil.
Garden & plants
Don't ship
Fertiliser, compost, soil improvers, plant inoculantsRequire a prior MAPA import authorisation and respect Receita quantity limits — leave them behind.
Garden & plants
Don't ship
Pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, insecticidesAgrochemicals are prohibited in baggage by both MAPA and Receita Federal.
Garden & plants
Declare + clean
Garden tools, lawnmower, plant pots, outdoor furniture, BBQRemove all soil, plant debris and ash — soil is a controlled agricultural good. Wooden outdoor furniture follows the timber rule (no bark, no untreated raw wood).
Garden & plants
Don't ship
Dried flowers, potpourri, pine cones, dried leaves and branchesFresh or dried plant parts need a phytosanitary certificate — as decor they are refused and destroyed.
Decor & ornaments
Declare
Dogs and catsTravel with you, never in the container. Need the International Veterinary Certificate on MAPA's model (mandatory since 6 September 2025, Portaria MAPA 741/2024) with valid rabies vaccination; compliant animals are not quarantined.
Pets & animals
Declare + clean
Rabbits, ferrets, hamsters, guinea pigs, chinchillasNeed a prior MAPA import authorisation from the Superintendência Federal de Agricultura of your destination state, plus an environmental licence where applicable.
Pets & animals
Don't ship
Birds, reptiles, turtles, amphibians, wild or exotic animalsPrior MAPA authorisation and IBAMA licence required; wild fauna without a licence is on Receita's prohibited list.
Pets & animals
Declare
Pet food, treats, industrial chews (sealed, labelled)Industrial pet food in intact labelled packaging is admitted (opened packs only for the journey). Raw or home-made treats and pork-based chews are prohibited.
Pets & animals
Declare + clean
Veterinary medicines and vaccinesNeed a prior MAPA import authorisation and full labelling (lot, dates, manufacturer); only medicines for an animal under treatment during the journey may be opened.
Pets & animals
Don't ship
Hay, straw, wood shavings, pet bedding, used litter, cages with droppingsForage, bedding and animal waste are prohibited — buy new bedding in Brazil and ship cages spotless.
Pets & animals
Declare + clean
Hunting trophies, taxidermy, antlers, raw hides, skulls, feathersAdmitted only with a prior MAPA import authorisation and sanitary documents and no sign of infestation; otherwise seized and destroyed.
Decor & ornaments
Declare + clean
Solid-wood furniture, antiques, carvings, wooden chestsFinished wood (painted, varnished, stained, heat-treated) and reconstituted wood are accepted; raw untreated wood 6 mm or thicker is prohibited without phytosanitary treatment. No bark, no borer holes or frass.
Wood, cane & bamboo
No concern
Plywood, MDF, chipboard, laminate furniture, flat-pack kitchensReconstituted wood is on MAPA's permitted list — describe it clearly on the packing list.
Wood, cane & bamboo
Don't ship
Raw timber, untreated planks and logs, bark, natural cork stripsUntreated wood 6 mm or thicker and untreated bark or cork are prohibited. Natural cork stoppers are fine.
Wood, cane & bamboo
Declare
Musical instruments of wood — piano, guitar, violin, drumsIndustrially made and processed instruments are admitted; declare them and present to Vigiagro.
Wood, cane & bamboo
Declare + clean
Wicker, rattan, bamboo, cane baskets, straw hats, seed necklacesPlant-fibre crafts must be processed (dyed, toasted, impregnated) or carry phytosanitary documents; untreated items with insect signs are destroyed.
Wood, cane & bamboo
Don't ship
Sawdust, wood shavings, straw or hay used as packing fillerUntreated wood waste and forage are prohibited — use paper, bubble wrap and new cartons only.
Packing
Declare + clean
Crafts and ornaments of bone, horn, hoof, teeth, hide, feathers or hairAdmitted if properly processed or with sanitary documents and free of infestation; otherwise seized.
Decor & ornaments
No concern
Leather shoes, bags and belts, wool clothing, feather pillows, horn or bone jewellery (factory-made)Industrially processed animal-origin clothing and accessories are permitted without declaration.
Household
No concern
Cotton, linen, jute or sisal textiles, rugs, curtains, paper and booksIndustrially processed plant-fibre textiles and paper are permitted without MAPA declaration; books are tax-exempt.
Household
Declare
Artworks, antiques, archaeological, numismatic or heritage itemsSubject to IPHAN consent regardless of value — obtain it before the goods reach customs or they are held.
Decor & ornaments
Don't ship
Ivory, raw reptile or amphibian skins, items of endangered speciesIBAMA control; endangered species and raw reptile skins are restricted — leave them out.
Decor & ornaments
Declare
Medicines, supplements, cosmetics, toiletries, medical devicesANVISA control: personal-use quantities only, in identifiable original packaging (unidentifiable products are barred). Keep prescriptions; cannabidiol products need ANVISA consent.
Household
Declare
Routers, Wi-Fi gear, walkie-talkies, radio transmitters, smart-home hubs, baby monitorsTelecom products need ANATEL homologation before use in Brazil — for personal imports via a serial-specific Declaração de Conformidade. Signal jammers are banned and digital receivers are not allowed for individuals.
Household
Declare
Drones (recreational)A hobby drone can clear as baggage; the model must be ANATEL-homologable and, above 250 g, registered in ANAC's SISANT (needs a CPF). Non-recreational use means the ordinary import regime.
Household
Don't ship
Firearms, ammunition, air guns, gun parts; replica or toy gunsControlled by the Army (Exército) — CII / CR documents must be arranged before travel, irregular entry brings administrative and criminal sanctions. Replicas and toy guns are prohibited.
Household
Don't ship
Narcotics, counterfeit or pirated goods, GMO productsOn Receita Federal's prohibited list — forfeiture.
Household
Declare
E-bikes and e-scootersCount as baggage only if pedal-assist up to 1,000 W and a factory top speed of 32 km/h; anything faster is a motor vehicle and goes through the ordinary import regime.
Vehicles & machines
Don't ship
Cars, motorcycles, mopeds, motorhomes, jet skis, boats, aircraft and their partsOutside the baggage concept — never on the DSI. Full Declaração de Importação with duties, and used-vehicle imports are tightly restricted.
Vehicles & machines
Declare + clean
Boxes labelled "misc" or not itemised; goods belonging to friends or relativesReceita Federal wants every box numbered and listed with values; declaring other people's goods as your own baggage is forbidden.
Packing
Don't ship
Second-hand fruit or vegetable cartons, egg boxes, straw-lined cratesPlant residue and forage are agricultural goods — pack in new cartons.
Packing
No concern
Sofas, mattresses, metal furniture, kitchenware, non-radio electronics, clothes, linenNo agricultural concern — tax-free as mudança goods when used (receipts for new items); empty and clean the fridge and food containers.
Household
How to pack so you clear inspection first time
- Number every box and list its contents box by box with approximate values — Receita Federal recommends grouping similar items; this list is what the inspector reads.
- Keep receipts for anything new and pack them with your documents; a new item without purchase proof triggers a special procedure.
- Insist that the mover issues the bill of lading or air waybill in your name showing the number of packages — a shipment not under a conhecimento de carga loses the baggage treatment.
- Time the sailing so the goods arrive between 3 months before and 6 months after you do, shipped from the country you lived in; clearance only starts after you have landed.
- Strip out agricultural goods: no fresh food, honey, pork, home-made food, seeds, plants, soil or pet bedding; sealed industrial food only in labelled original packaging, declared on the list.
- Check all wood and plant fibre: no bark, no untreated raw timber, no sawdust or straw as filler; describe wooden, wicker and animal-origin items clearly so Vigiagro can find and clear them.
Penalties and costs
- Shipment outside the 3-month/6-month window, not from your country of stay or without a bill of lading: no exemption and no 50 % regime — ordinary import duties apply, plus a 20 % fine on the import tax due (IN RFB 1059/2010, art. 44). The fine and loss of exemption are waived only if the delay was beyond your control.
- Perdimento (forfeiture) of the goods for prohibited items, concealed goods, falsified documents, and goods in commercial quantities not declared before inspection; commercial-quantity baggage also attracts a fine of 50 % of the import tax (Decreto 6.759/2009, arts. 689 and 702).
- Goods cleared tax-free as mudança may not be sold or transferred without paying the tax: transfer to a third party means forfeiture or a 50 % fine on the tax (arts. 165, 689 XIII and 702 III).
- Agricultural goods that are prohibited or do not meet MAPA's requirements are seized and destroyed at your cost (return to origin only by road); animals may be sent back or subjected to veterinary measures, and the traveller faces the penalties of art. 27 of Lei 14.515/2022.
Fees and penalty amounts are revised regularly — confirm current figures on the official pages below before you ship.
FAQ
Do my furniture and household goods have to be 12 months old?
No. Brazil sets no minimum ownership period: furniture, other household goods and the tools of your trade qualify new or used under the mudança exemption. Only personal-use items (clothing, toiletries, personal gadgets) must be used, and every new item needs a purchase receipt or a written justification.
Can I ship before my visa or Polícia Federal registration is done?
You can ship up to 3 months before you arrive, but the goods are only cleared after you have entered Brazil, and a foreigner must present the permanent visa document (or use the admissão temporária regime on a temporary visa). Receita Federal's own guidance is to settle residence status first — a tourist entry does not qualify.
I'm Brazilian — do trips home during my year abroad break the one-year rule?
Not if they total 45 days or less in the year. Days beyond 45 are simply not counted towards the year abroad, so you need to stay away longer to make them up. Receita Federal publishes a worked example: 5 years abroad with 150 days of visits still leaves 1,720 qualifying days.
Can I bring my car in the container?
No. Motor vehicles, motorcycles, mopeds, motorhomes, jet skis, boats, aircraft and their parts are outside the baggage concept and need a full Declaração de Importação with ordinary duties; Brazil also restricts definitive imports of used vehicles to narrow exceptions. Most movers sell before leaving.
What happens to my wine, cheese and the dog?
Wine is taxed at 50 % of its value (it is not a household good) and must be in intact labelled packaging. Industrial cheese in sealed original packaging is admitted after declaration; raw-milk cheese from countries such as France, Italy and Spain is not. The dog flies with you with the International Veterinary Certificate on MAPA's model and a valid rabies vaccination — no quarantine if compliant.
Will Flyto handle the DSI and MAPA paperwork?
Yes. Our door-to-door service to Brazil includes a box-by-box relação de bens with values, timing of the sailing to your 3-month/6-month window and the DSI filing through our Brazilian customs-broker partner, with the inventory pre-screened against MAPA's list before packing.
Read next
- Moving to São Paulo from Abroad (2026): Complete Relocation Guide
- Moving from the UK to Brazil (2026): Complete Guide
- Moving from Germany to Brazil (2026): Complete Guide
- Moving Guides — Brazil
- Moving volume calculator — how many m³ is your move?
- Keep, sell or ship? — is it worth moving your furniture abroad?
- Moving inventory list template (PDF, Word, Excel)
Official sources
- Receita Federal — Bagagem desacompanhada e mudança para o Brasil
- Receita Federal — Bens do Viajante (baggage concept, excluded goods, unaccompanied baggage)
- Receita Federal — Proibições e Restrições (prohibited and restricted goods, controlling agencies)
- Receita Federal — Bens a Declarar, Regime de Tributação Especial (50 %) and Regime Comum
- Receita Federal — Veículos e Equipamentos de Mobilidade
- Receita Federal — Guia do Viajante: Perguntas e Respostas
- gov.br — Registrar bagagem desacompanhada (DSI service, documents)
- Planalto — Decreto nº 6.759/2009, Regulamento Aduaneiro (arts. 101, 155–168, 689, 702)
- MAPA / Vigiagro — Lista de Bens Agropecuários Proibidos e Permitidos de Ingressar no Brasil como Bagagem de Viajantes
- MAPA — Portaria MAPA nº 872/2025: Regulamento para Ingresso de Bens Agropecuários Transportados como Bagagem (PDF)
- MAPA — Viajar com animais de estimação: Entrar no Brasil (CVI, Portaria MAPA 741/2024)
- ANVISA — Bagagem acompanhada e bagagem desacompanhada (RDC 81/2008 requirements)
- ANATEL — Declaração de Conformidade para uso próprio (homologation of personal telecom imports)
- ANAC — FAQ Drones (SISANT registration above 250 g; ANAC does not license imports)
This checker summarises public rules as at the review date for planning purposes. Customs and biosecurity decisions are made by the officers on arrival; your Flyto coordinator confirms the current conditions for your visa and shipment.
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