A complete relocation hub for anyone moving to Brazil — whether you are relocating for work, joining family, retiring or moving a household internationally for the first time. Costs, shipping, visas, customs, housing, schools, pets and vehicles in one place.
Brazil clears household goods under the unaccompanied-baggage regime, which needs a consular-legalised inventory prepared before shipping and a CPF tax number. Paperwork errors are the main cause of long and expensive holds at Santos.
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Quick facts
Indicative planning benchmarks for an international household move — not a quotation.
Typical moving cost
from $5,200
Door-to-door benchmark, 20ft container entry point
Typical transit time
5–8 weeks
Ocean freight to Santos, Rio de Janeiro or Itajaí; transit varies by origin, with European sailings typically shorter than transpacific routes
Cost of living
$$
São Paulo is the highest-cost hub
Key visa routes
VITEM V work visa · Family reunion visa
VITEM XIV digital nomad visa · Retirement (pension income) visa · Investor visa
Customs difficulty
Moderate
Receita Federal do Brasil grants relief on Bagagem desacompanhada (unaccompanied baggage) declaration with a consular-legalised inventory, but the paperwork must be complete before arrival.
Major arrival cities
São Paulo · Rio de Janeiro · Brasília
São Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) · Rio de Janeiro (GIG) · Brasília (BSB)
Plan
Overview
How households actually arrive in Brazil: where they move from, how their goods travel, and what customs and tax treatment to expect.
Customs treatment depends on your origin as much as on Brazil — see the origin selector below.
| Household | Volume | Usual shipping option |
|---|---|---|
| Studio / partial load | 3–5 CBM | LCL groupage or luggage express |
| 1-bedroom apartment | 8–12 CBM | LCL consolidated groupage |
| 2-bedroom home | 18–22 CBM | 20ft sole-use container |
| 3-bedroom home | 28–32 CBM | 20ft high-cube or 40ft container |
| 4+ bedroom home | 45–60 CBM | 40ft high-cube container |
Receita Federal do Brasil grants relief on Bagagem desacompanhada (unaccompanied baggage) declaration with a consular-legalised inventory, but the paperwork must be complete before arrival. Required registration: CPF tax number plus your residence registration (RNM).
Brazil does not levy a national import VAT on household goods. Bagagem desacompanhada (unaccompanied baggage) covers the admission of used household effects, declared to Receita Federal do Brasil. New purchases, goods owned for less than the qualifying period, alcohol and vehicles are assessed separately, and any state or local taxes are confirmed by your customs broker.
Shipments arriving from the United States clear customs with Receita Federal do Brasil. Duty-free entry for used household goods normally depends on Bagagem desacompanhada (unaccompanied baggage) declaration with a consular-legalised inventory, evidence that you lived in the United States for the required qualifying period, and an itemised inventory. Documentation issued in the United States (proof of address, visa, ownership records) is what customs will ask for.
| Shipping option | Typical volume | Indicative cost | Transit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ocean LCL (shared container)Partial household moves and apartment shipments | Under 14 CBM | $35 – $90 / CBM ($1,500 minimum) | 3 – 8 weeks |
| Ocean FCL — 20ft container1–3 bedroom full household moves | 14 – 33 CBM | $2,500 – $13,000 per container | 3 – 8 weeks (EU) / 6 – 10 weeks (Oceania) |
| Ocean FCL — 40ft container3–5 bedroom moves plus vehicle transport | 33 – 67 CBM | $4,000 – $19,000 per container | 3 – 8 weeks (EU) / 6 – 10 weeks (Oceania) |
| Air freight (expedited)High-value gear and time-critical relocations | Any — charged by weight | $2.50 – $8.50 / kg | 3 – 7 days |
| Cross-border FTL / LTL (ground)Direct surface moves to Mexico and Canada | Full or partial trailer | $1,200 – $5,500 per trailer | 1 – 5 days |
Price
Households typically budget from $5,200 door-to-door for a container move, with the final figure set by volume, service level and season. Use the estimator for a route-specific range.
Volume in cubic metres is the single largest driver — decluttering before survey is the cheapest saving available.
Port-to-port, partial pack and full door-to-door packing differ by thousands on the same load.
Narrow streets, stairs and permit parking in São Paulo can require a shuttle vehicle and extra crew.
May to September sailings and vans book out first and price highest; shoulder months are materially cheaper.
Terminal handling, Receita Federal do Brasil inspection, quarantine and storage are billed to you and are usually excluded from headline freight rates.
We're building detailed benchmarks for the world's most-used relocation corridors, so you get your move size, recommended shipping method and a realistic door-to-door cost before you request quotes. If your route isn't benchmarked yet, we'll help you with a manual estimate.
Estimated moving cost range
A realistic low-to-high bracket for your route
Recommended shipping method
Shared container, full container or air freight
Typical transit time
How long your belongings are likely to travel
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This is an estimated relocation cost for planning purposes, not a binding quote. Final pricing is confirmed by a vetted international moving partner after a survey.
Plan
High-level educational overview of the residence routes most relocating households use. This is not legal or immigration advice.
Most commonly used by: Professionals, Families, Remote professionals.
Educational information, not legal advice. Immigration rules, thresholds and processing times change frequently and depend on your nationality and circumstances. Confirm current requirements with the Brazil immigration authority or a qualified adviser before you commit to a moving date.
Execute
Rentals are usually unfurnished — often without light fittings or kitchen units — so plan to ship or buy more than you might expect. Leases commonly run 30 months, and landlords require either a guarantor (fiador) or rental insurance in place of it.
Find furnished temporary housing through our AltoVita partnership.
MyExpatGo helps connect you with temporary housing options. Availability is subject to AltoVita and provider inventory — MyExpatGo does not guarantee or book accommodation.
| City | Profile | Cost index |
|---|---|---|
| São Paulo | Corporate centre; apartment buildings with booked service lifts and narrow streets | $$ |
| Rio de Janeiro | Coastal living with hillside access and humidity-sensitive packing | $$ |
| Brasília | Government and diplomatic base; inland leg from Santos after clearance | $$ |
| Florianópolis | Growing remote-work community; deliveries via Itajaí | $ |
Plan
São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Brasília all have long-established international and bilingual schools with IB, American, British, German and French curricula. Fees are high and places are limited, so apply early.
Working language: Portuguese. Apply to schools before you ship — admission dates rarely align with container transit.
Plan
Pet import rules for Brazil are set by the national veterinary authority and typically involve microchipping, rabies vaccination and an official health certificate issued close to travel.
Execute
Brazil does not generally permit private import of used vehicles, and the exceptions are narrow. Plan to buy locally; import taxes on new vehicles are high.
Calculate landed vehicle taxesExecute
Traffic drives on the right in Brazil.
São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro have metro and commuter rail networks plus extensive buses, and both cities have widespread ride-hailing. Elsewhere Brazil is largely car-dependent, and long-distance travel is usually by air. Main international gateways: São Paulo Guarulhos (GRU), Rio de Janeiro (GIG) and Brasília (BSB).
Whether you can drive on your existing licence, for how long, and whether it can be exchanged rather than re-tested depends on the country that issued it and on your residence status in Brazil. Check the national licensing authority before your current entitlement runs out.
Execute
The packing list is presented to a Brazilian consulate in your origin country before shipping. A shipment that arrives without a legalised inventory cannot be cleared as household goods.
Clearance is tied to your CPF tax number and your residence status. Both are usually needed before the vessel arrives, not after.
The regime covers used personal and household effects. New items, goods still in packaging and anything in commercial quantities are taxed and can jeopardise the whole declaration.
A licensed customs broker lodges the declaration. Port storage at Santos is charged from arrival, so align the sailing with your paperwork rather than your flight.
Prove continuous residence outside the destination country for at least 12 consecutive months immediately before the move.
Every shipped item must have been owned and personally used for at least 6 consecutive months before departure. Newly purchased goods are valued and taxed normally.
Goods must arrive within 12 months of the formal residency transfer, and cannot be sold, rented, pledged or transferred for 12 months after import.
Execute
The first-30-days sequence specific to Brazil, in the order most households need it.
Complete local registration
Register your address as required in Brazil — CPF tax number plus your residence registration (RNM).
Confirm customs clearance status
Your mover or broker lodges the import declaration with Receita Federal do Brasil; keep the cleared declaration.
Open a local bank account
Needed for a long-term lease, utilities and salary payments.
Register for healthcare
Enrol in Brazil's health system or activate private cover from day one.
Arrange utilities and connectivity
Electricity, water, internet and a local mobile number for delivery coordination.
Sort driving entitlement
The largest economy in South America, a substantial corporate assignment market, and straightforward family-reunion routes.
Book school places
International and bilingual schools in the main cities admit on waiting lists.
Schedule delivery and unpack
Confirm access, parking and lift booking before the container is released.
Customs step
Your moving company or licensed broker lodges the import declaration with Receita Federal do Brasil.
Customs step
Ports of entry commonly used: Santos, Rio de Janeiro, Itajaí, Paranaguá.
Plan
Brazil operates a publicly funded health system alongside a private sector. Access for new arrivals normally depends on your residence status and local registration, so check what you qualify for before you travel. Many households keep international or travel medical cover in place for the gap between departure and local enrolment. This is general information, not medical or insurance advice — confirm cover for your own circumstances before you move.
Moving to Brazil? Before you leave, review how you'll handle healthcare and international coverage in your new country — and make sure you understand what is and isn't covered for your situation. SafetyWing offers two Nomad Insurance options to explore; check current pricing, eligibility and full policy details directly with SafetyWing.
Coverage, eligibility, pricing and exclusions vary. Review the current policy details before purchasing.
Partner recommendation · MYEXPATGO may earn a commission from qualifying purchases.
Compare
Accredited international moving companies in our network with proven capability on this destination. MyExpatGo is an independent platform — we are not a moving company.
🇺🇸 Miami Gardens, FL, United States · since 2004
Family-run, FAIM-certified US mover with East Coast hubs in Miami, Atlanta and Maryland.
🇭🇰 Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR · since 1968
Asia's leading relocation group with 14 country offices across the region's primary commercial centres.
🇦🇪 Dubai, United Arab Emirates · since 2011
UAE-based international removals specialist serving the GCC and worldwide destinations.
🇮🇳 Chennai, India · since 2010
India-based global relocation specialist offering fine art and pet relocation services.
🇮🇳 Bangalore, India · since 1971
India's longest-established international mover, with a door-to-door network spanning 180+ countries.
🇲🇾 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia · since 1996
Malaysia corporate-relocation specialist and UniGroup Worldwide UTS partner with a 1,200-office network.
Partner availability on any specific corridor is confirmed when you request quotes. How we vet our partners.
Plan
Small things that make the first months easier — and the ones people most often leave too late.
Resources
There is no single country-wide price: the cost depends on where you are moving from, how much you ship, the service level and the season. Households moving a container to Brazil typically budget from $5,200 door-to-door as a planning benchmark. Use the MyExpatGo estimator for a route-specific range, or request quotes from vetted movers for a real price.
Plan for around 5–8 weeks door-to-door on a typical lane. Ocean freight to Santos, Rio de Janeiro or Itajaí; transit varies by origin, with European sailings typically shorter than transpacific routes. Customs clearance, destination handling and delivery access all sit on top of the sailing time, so confirm the schedule with your mover for your specific route.
Used household goods and personal effects are the normal shipment. Relief from duty is applied for through Bagagem desacompanhada (unaccompanied baggage) declaration with a consular-legalised inventory with Receita Federal do Brasil, subject to eligibility. New purchases, alcohol, tobacco, vehicles and any restricted items are assessed separately — check the current rules with Receita Federal do Brasil before you pack.
Visa requirements depend on your nationality, purpose of stay and intended length of residence. Routes commonly used by relocating households include VITEM V work visa, Family reunion visa, VITEM XIV digital nomad visa. Confirm current requirements with the Brazil immigration authority or a qualified adviser.
São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasília are the main arrival cities for international households. Most people rent first, often using temporary or serviced accommodation for the first weeks while they view long-term homes and wait for their shipment to clear.
Brazil operates a publicly funded health system alongside a private sector. Access for new arrivals normally depends on your residence status and local registration, so check what you qualify for before you travel. Many households keep international or travel medical cover in place for the gap between departure and local enrolment. This is general information, not medical or insurance advice — confirm cover for your own circumstances before you move.
We rate it moderate. Receita Federal do Brasil grants relief on Bagagem desacompanhada (unaccompanied baggage) declaration with a consular-legalised inventory, but the paperwork must be complete before arrival. Complete, accurate paperwork filed before arrival is the single biggest factor in avoiding storage and demurrage charges.
Confirm your visa or residence route, get a moving cost benchmark, compare quotes from accredited movers, file your customs relief paperwork, arrange temporary accommodation, and plan pets, vehicles and school places well ahead of your shipping date.
Start with an independent cost benchmark for your route, then compare quotes from vetted movers who work this destination.
This Brazil guide is published for general education and planning. It is not legal, tax, immigration or customs advice, and it is not a quotation. Always confirm current requirements with Receita Federal do Brasil, your visa authority or a qualified professional before shipping. Costs and transit times are indicative benchmarks.
Regulatory and customs content last reviewed 2 September 2026.
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