Moving personal items to Brazil

@madrac

    Can I make multiple trips in/out of Brazil to bring items via air?

A single trip.  Save future trips for carry ons.

    If not, I assume I must bring my stuff with me via air on the first entry with the new card.  Correct?

Correct

    If I send by ocean freight, does everything need to be packed/paperwork completed before entering Brazil?

You must.

Bill of Laden, forms, make copies and use those plastic transparent jackets with every shipped item.  Make sure to save the original  purchase invoices if you can. 

On heirloom items, this might be difficult to accomplish.  Specify that is a heirloom piece.  Get an appraiser to do this, if all possible.

Also...

Minimize what you need to bring.  For one thing, your tenure here is not written in stone.  At some point, you might have to ship it all back, if you have a change of heart. 

01/08/23 @ madrac. You get ONE duty-free air shipment and ONE duty-free ocean shipment when you move as a permanent resident. In addition, you can make as many trips into and out of Brazil as you want, and bring as much with you as you want, but they do NOT qualify as your "one air shipment". They will be considered as baggage, and be subject to the usual Customs rules for travelers, i.e., if you're not inspected, you're home free for that trip; if you are inspected, you have an annual duty-free limit that your items are set against, and once you pass it, you pay duty on everything each subsequent time that year that you're inspected.

If it works with your other plans, you could consider doing the storage on the US side. It worked well for me. When I moved, we didn't know whether we were going to live in Manaus or in Belo Horizonte, and I naturally did not want to make an additional internal move in Brazil after the international one. I had everything packed at the end of October and put in storage in the mover's secure, climate-controlled warehouse, which I inspected first. I moved on November 1. That started the clock, and I had until May 1 to get my shipment here.

We finally knew where we'd be living the first week in February, so I started on the Customs paperwork, which has to be complete before the shipment leaves the US, and the mover started looking for a ship to book. On February 20 the Customs Broker picked up the paperwork, and on February 21 my shipment was greenlighted for Brazil. On March 1 the shipment left the mover's warehouse, and departed New York for Manaus on March 10. On April 21 the shipment arrived in the Port of Manaus, so it made the duty-free date. Because of the chronic work-to-rule strikes that occur in Brazilian Customs, it was finally released and delivered on May 18. The Customs labor force issues at the Brazilian port added a lot of demurrage charges, but there's really no way around that.

We had to do it this way because you have to have a Brazilian address before the shipment is allowed, and we didn't on moving day. Still, if our stuff was going to be in storage for four months, I was glad that it was in Chicago and not in the tropics.

@sprealestatebroker @abthree

Thanks for the replies. 

We are most likely going to store alot of stuff here in the US.  At most, we'd bring a 20 foot container although I am pricing 1-2 liftvans. 

We do have an address in Brazil, so that's not an issue. 

@abthree  I was under the impression one had 180 days from receiving the protocol (or perhaps the resident card).  Did you have yours before your move on 1 November? 

As to my one air shipment and one ocean shipment, can I do the air shipment now w/o completing the paper work for the ocean shipment, then come back to the US to arrange the ocean shipment?  Or does this need to happen before going to Brazil?

01/09/23 @abthree I was under the impression one had 180 days from receiving the protocol (or perhaps the resident card). Did you have yours before your move on 1 November?

That's a really good question, and I don't know the answer. Unfortunately, it's such an obscure detail that I can't even think of a place to look it up, or someone you can ask.

I did not have my CIE (predecessor of CRNM) yet when I arrived, but I came just at the end of the VIPER days, so with a VIPER, there was no doubt that the Polícia Federal would approve my card immediately because they had no choice under the rules in effect at the time. I think that you'd be able to make a good case for the protocol date, although if you let too much time pass between your definitive arrival and your request for a CRNM, that may raise some questions that you have to answer with the Receita Federal.

As to my one air shipment and one ocean shipment, can I do the air shipment now w/o completing the paper work for the ocean shipment, then come back to the US to arrange the ocean shipment? Or does this need to happen before going to Brazil?
-@madrac

I didn't do an air shipment, so I can't speak from personal experience, but my assumption would be that the "ONE air shipment" permitted under the Receita Federal regs requires exactly the same kind of documentation and paperwork as the "ONE ocean shipment" allowed by the same regulation; the regs just don't make sense otherwise. One of the documents that you need to provide to the Customs Broker for Customs clearance is an authenticated copy of your CRNM, and no mover with Brazil experience will ship a duty-free shipment to Brazil without approval from a Customs Broker that the paperwork is complete and in order, so you'll need to already have your CRNM unless the mover tells you otherwise. A shipment that arrives at the Customs warehouse with incomplete docs will be impounded until the documentation is corrected or until Hell freezes over, whichever comes first.

In principle, there's no problem with staggering the ship dates between the Air and Ocean shipments, as long as you plan for the fact that you need to be at your Brazilian address personally to accept them when they're delivered. If you think that won't be possible, ask your mover whether someone can receive them for you with a Procuração. Remember that you'll be paying demurrage for every day your shipment sits in the Customs warehouse until it's cleared for delivery, and that's not cheap.

BTW, you don't need to lose a lot of sleep over the complete inventory translated into Portuguese, even though that's one of the most important documents. If you're working with a mover who has Brazil experience, the mover should draft that as they pack you, and you'll just have to make sure that their list is complete. Their Brazilian partner will do the translation; that service is included in your moving charge. They know the key words that work with the Receita Federal and don't set off alarms, and they'll use them. You won't save time by doing your own inventory and if you do, they probably won't use much of the wording you struggle to get just right. Their inventory will probably look very spare and undescriptive to you, but it's what works.

Thanks, abthree.

I'm going to go to the Brazilian consulate today to confirm.  As to the air shipment, it is planned to be checked baggage with us as we go down (so, need to check if I need to file paperwork or just go through the declare line and sort it out at GIG).  My wife (Brazilian citizen) does have a letter stating she's lived out of Brazil for more than 1 year - she actually had 2 - one for air/one for boat and used the first before; however, I don't see any details as to shipment method.  However, if we do ship a 20' container, I may forego taking extra stuff on the plane and add it to the container - I'm not even sure we'll fill the container.

I do plan on being in Brazil to accept the shipment, at least by ocean.  Hopefully, I'll be able to file my US taxes before hand (or at least have all the documents).  We also need to be in Brazil by late March/early April for my wife to file taxes there.

I already have my CRNM card.  Did my protocol in October, got the permanent card in December when we were down over Thanksgiving/Christmas checking on our house remodel.

I have brought in all kinds of things through checked baggage on a tourist visa.

One time I brought an oversized plywood box that I built myself, containing about 1000 square feet of wood veneer, most of it exotic, and even including several sheets of Ipe.  No one stopped me to look at it.

Another time I brought in a "salt rifle", it looks kinda like a big plastic toy but its deadly on flies.

Another time I brought in several yards of exotic Nigerian material for making dresses.

Various new electronic devices.

The only time I've been stopped was when I brought my tenor saxophone, but again, as I've said here before, once I could show them that I an play it and told them that its mine and showed them that its used, they let me bring it in.

but, also, as I've said before, I'm kinda cute and likeable and deferential......

01/09/23 @madrac.  Sounds like a good plan. 

I've written elsewhere about things you need to bring because you can't get here.  The general answer is:  Not Much.  There are a few exceptions, though.

1. A drainboard.  Not the drying rack, the flat, sloping piece that goes under it and takes the water that drains off the dishes back to the sink.  Here, people put a towel under the rack, an obviously suboptimal solution.  The drainboard we have costs $15.99 on Amazon -- and an eyepopping $65.61, mostly taxes, to ship to Brazil!  Buy one and throw it into one of your boxes.
2. Lamps.  If you have nice lamps, bring them.  Good table lamps are hard to come by here, good floor lamps next to impossible.  If you don't mind overhead lighting (I hate it, but that's me), never mind.
3. Kitchen gadgets in Brazil have improved a lot in the past five years, but still, if you have anything special that you use a lot, bring it along.

For what it's worth, I want to share my brand new experience with shipping personal items. I have an application for a retirement visa in the works. I don't anticipate it will be finalized for at least another month. I arrived in Rio on 30 Dec 2022 with four pieces of luggage, paying the airline for one overweight piece and two additional (one of which the kind gate agent comped for me.)

In addition, I shipped three large boxes, about 1 1/2 x the size of a camp trunk each, by UPS to arrive after my arrival. Two boxes contained clothing and shoes. The other boxes contained personal effects, including a computer keyboard and office supplies, but mostly memorabilia.  The boxes were shipped as "unaccompanied luggage."

Everything went very smoothly. I rolled all my suitcases out of GIG without a problem. For the boxes, I used a company called Cool Parcel to assist in the logistics. Its agent Jakub was very knowledgeable and patient with me. His instructions for filling out the paperwork were clear, concise and complete. The boxes arrived in Rio last week, and were presented to customs for inspection around last Thursday, 6 Janeiro. 

Upon arrival, I was notified by UPS who provided me with a Formulario to fill out. I returned it with an itemized invoice of all of the contents. The Excel template for the invoice was provided to me by Cool Parcel. I also provided UPS with a copy of my boarding pass and my passport. That was all I needed.

In light of this, I can happily recommend Cool Parcel. They gave me the best price of the many I received quotes from, which was negligibly higher than shipping by sea, and in some cases significantly cheaper.

I thought that I would have to apply for a suspension of duties until my visa is approved, but I did not. All three boxes were delivered to me today, 9 Janeiro. No duties, taxes, penalties or fines! 🤞The boxes were clearly opened for inspection without anything being out of place or missing. I am a happy camper!

01/09/23 @ibdegen.  Thanks for all the detail -- I'm glad that it went well for you.  I hope that the retirement visa does, too.  You shouldn't have too much trouble. 👍🏻

Thanks, everyone. 

I did go to the consulate today but the person who handles it was out sick.  The fill-in wasn't familiar with my questions so suggested I go tomorrow as they expected her back. 

Got a hold of this. 

This link is aimed at Brazilians who are returning and need to send back a container with their personal items.

It may apply to non Brazilians as well. 

http://www.portalconsular.itamaraty.gov … -alfandega

01/13/23  ot a hold of this.
This link is aimed at Brazilians who are returning and need to send back a container with their personal items.

It may apply to non Brazilians as well.


http://www.portalconsular.itamaraty.gov … -alfandega
-@sprealestatebroker

Unfortunately, this appears to be a dead link. 😕

@abthree

Hi:

i did not realize that there are two duty free moves allowed- ocean freight and air freight.

Do you know the time limit for a duty free moved once one has established residency in Brazil?

Thanks

01/25/23 @abthree
Hi:
i did not realize that there are two duty free moves allowed- ocean freight and air freight.
Do you know the time limit for a duty free moved once one has established residency in Brazil?
Thanks
-@BrasilNY

My understanding is that the move has to take place within six months of the person's arrival in Brazil to qualify as duty-free.

01/13/23 ot a hold of this.
This link is aimed at Brazilians who are returning and need to send back a container with their personal items.

It may apply to non Brazilians as well.


http://www.portalconsular.itamaraty.gov … -alfandega
-@sprealestatebroker

Unfortunately, this appears to be a dead link. 😕
-@abthree

Well then, the Admin needs to make a provision so that we can post these documents in the portal.

I have the original saved, just in case.    or maybe PM me.    I put it on the cloud.

@ibdegen can you share an email/phone for Cool Parcel please? many thanks

@Sculler coolparcel.com

@ibdegen

out of curiosity, how large is a ”camp trunk”?

Many thanks!

Oh, and by the way....

Before the internet, eBay, Amazon, and all of e-commerce. we used to have a monthly rag that you could purchase at the newsstands.   It might be still around. Those and some posted ad on the local dailies used to headline the ad as such....

"Familia Americana se mudando" ( American Family Moving Back to the US ).

Which then, was a surefire way to bring in droves of people trying to score a bargain. 

I had piles of National Geographic Prints going back to the 50's my late Grand Uncle used to collect ( he hailed from Fall River, MA ) .   Posted in one week, next one is all gone through a single buyer.

So whatever precious you have bringing in back, you will end up selling at steep discount on your way out.

Bring only the essentials you can't replace here. Everything else, you might just not need in the first place.

If you have a Kitchen Aid mixer, a Sub Zero Fridge ( even risking the compressor going bust here ), a Viking range/stove, your golf clubs, yes bring them in.  Only knowing you will need to sell them on your way back.