📄 Documents and customs for shipping in Brazil
Brazil is non-EU with one of the most complex customs in the Americas (Receita Federal). Obligatory documents:
- commercial invoice or proforma in English or Portuguese
- detailed description of the goods
- free export declaration
- CPF of consignee (Cadastro de Pessoas Físicas) - Brazilian tax code, required for customs clearance
- CNPJ for corporate shipments
Brazilian duties and ICMS
Brazil applies a complex tariff structure:
- Imposto de Importação (II)variable customs duty per category, can go up to 60%+
- ICMS (state tax): varies by state, generally 12-18%
- IOF, PIS, COFINSother applicable taxes
De minimis threshold: shipments between private individuals of a value up to 50 USD (approx. €46) are duty-free. Above this threshold, all taxes apply. For commercial shipments the threshold is practically zero.
📮 For low-value personal parcels: Correios may be cheaper
For gifts or personal effects of modest value (e.g. clothing, small items costing less than 50 USD) dispatched between private individuals, the Brazilian postal service (Correios) often benefits from a more favourable customs regime than express couriers: below the de minimis threshold, these consignments may be exempt from import duty, with only the state ICMS payable.
⚠️ With express courier services, however, customs duties are always payable, even for amounts under 50 USD — the “Remessa Conforme” scheme, with its exemptions, applies only to certified e-commerce platforms, not to standard courier deliveries.
Furthermore, the basis for calculating duties is not just the value of the goods: it also includes the postage and any insurance, thereby further increasing the taxable amount.
A real-life example: a children’s dress worth €59 If sent by a private individual, this may result in a customs charge for the recipient in Brazil of approximately 900 R$ (Import tax at rate 60% calculated on the goods + postage + insurance, plus state ICMS and the courier’s clearance fee) — a figure that may be close to or exceed the value of the garment itself.
Express couriers such as those we offer (DHL, UPS, FedEx, TNT) remain the best choice for:
• express deliveries (3–5 days vs. weeks)
• higher-value or bulky parcels
• commercial/business parcels (where the Correios discount does not apply in any case)
• when traceability and dedicated customs support are required
💡 Our tip: If you have a low-value parcel and there’s no rush, do consider using the postal service before booking, and let the recipient know about any potential customs charges — the goods, postage and insurance together form the taxable value. If, on the other hand, the shipment is urgent, bulky or commercial, an express courier remains the most reliable option — and we’re here to help you choose the right service and ensure your paperwork is in order.
📋 What is the TARIC code and how to find it
⚠️ CPF of recipient - mandatory
The CPF (Cadastro de Pessoas Físicas) is the Brazilian tax number — mandatory for customs clearance in Brazil. Without the recipient's CPF the shipment is blocked. Always ask the recipient before booking.
Prohibited or restricted products
🚫 Narcotics, weapons, pornographic material, embargoed products, fresh food without MAPA (Ministério da Agricultura) health certification.
💡 Always use precise descriptions in English or Portuguese. “Men's cotton shirt - 2 pieces - value 60€ - made in Italy” instead of “clothes” or “gift”.