Posts from Timothy Byrnes

How do I ship from Georgia to Canada? The most cost-effective method is LTL trucking for pallets or USPS/Canada Post for small parcels. Under USMCA (CUSMA), Georgia-origin goods often qualify for duty-free entry. Key logistics hubs include Atlanta for air and road freight, and Savannah for ocean-to-rail transitions.


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The biggest trade issue of today- especially for cross border e-commerce - is currently in the hands of postal negotiators in the UPU. The battle lines are being drawn as the UPU’s largest member, the USPS, a wholesale change in how much post offices charge each other for imported parcels.


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As cross border trade has been the subject of geopolitical headlines, American’s northern neighbour, Canada, is increasingly recognized for the opportunity it represents. US merchants are coming to realize that the greatest opportunities are right next door. Thanks to the new USMCA/ CUSMA Free Trade Agreement, duty free shipping Canada from the US is more available.


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Montreal is a leading international city that depends on low cost international shipping to connect to the US and around the world. Many Montreal companies are connecting to suppliers and customers to China, Mexico, Germany, France and around the globe.


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Ship e-commerce direct to Europe

The UK's traditional role as a logistics gateway to the EU for American and Canadian parcels has been all but vanished by Brexit. For most parcel logistics firms, Brexit is already a reality that needs to dealt with, regardless of future deadlines and headlines.


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Quick answer: Shipping from Canada to Brazil is straightforward to send but complex to clear. Every parcel needs the recipient CPF or CNPJ tax ID. Under Remessa Conforme, compliant parcels up to US$50 can import free of federal duty (since May 2026), US$50 to US$3,000 carry 60 percent with a US$20 reduction. State ICMS taxes applies to all imports regardless of value.

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There are real opportunities for Canadian companies in Brazil across infrastructure, education, technology, AI, oil and gas, aerospace, and automotive. But reaching the market takes more than a product. It takes a logistics strategy built for one of the world's most complex customs environments.

 

The Challenge: Exporting From Canada Versus Importing Into Brazil

Exporting from Canada is straightforward. Importing into Brazil is not. Brazilian customs (Receita Federal) and the health authority (ANVISA) enforce strict rules, and even small express parcels often need specific local certifications and meticulous documentation to avoid being returned or seized.

Products that frequently require Brazilian certification before shipment:

  • Cosmetics and health products: often treated like pharmaceuticals and require preliminary ANVISA licensing.
  • Toys: must meet INMETRO safety standards.
  • Consumer electronics: many telecom devices require ANATEL certification.

Practical tip: where possible, partner with a trusted Brazilian distributor to manage local licensing.

Get a Canadian Address for Brazil Forwarding

Many Canadian suppliers do not ship directly to South America. Jet Worldwide provides a Canadian receiving address.

Transport Modes: Air Versus Ocean

The best mode depends on volume, budget, and the nature of the goods.

  • Air freight: the fastest door-to-door option, ideal for shipments under about 100 kg or high-value electronics.
  • Ocean freight: the most economical for bulk goods. LCL shares container space for 1 to 5 pallets; FCL is faster and more secure for a full 20 ft or 40 ft load.
  • Global couriers: FedEx, UPS, and DHL offer reliable tracking but can be costly without volume discounts.
  • Postal: Canada Post is best for small, non-urgent personal items.

Get a shipping quote

Cold Chain, Dry Ice, and ANVISA

Brazil is a global leader in clinical research and agri-tech, which drives demand for temperature-sensitive logistics. The tropical climate and customs dwell time make dry ice shipping (UN1845) a high-stakes operation.

Navigating ANVISA for frozen shipments

For biological samples, reagents, and pharmaceuticals, ANVISA often has more practical control than customs. Many such items require an Import License (Licenca de Importacao) approved before the cargo leaves Canada.

  • The risk: a shipment that arrives at Guarulhos (GRU) without pre-approval is held, and standard dry-ice packaging can fail during long clearance delays.
  • The approach: plan dry-ice quantity for the expected customs dwell time, and confirm ANVISA and RADAR requirements are in place before booking.

Having a dry-ice buffer is important as delays may occur.

Contact Jet Worldwide for a Brazil cold-chain consultation.

Brazil Shipping Cost Estimator (5 to 30 kg)

Estimate transport cost from Canada to major Brazilian cities. Estimates cover transport only; duties and taxes are additional and are covered below.

 

Reference rates (CAD)

Chargeable weight Estimated transport cost
5 kg 260
10 kg 410
15 kg 559
20 kg 709
30 kg 978

Chargeable weight is the greater of actual weight and volumetric weight (length times width times height in cm, divided by 5000). Get our lowest spot quote rate to Brazil.

Carrier Options for Shipping Canada to Brazil

  • Canada Post: most economical for personal parcels, delivered by Correios, typically 2 to 4 weeks.
  • FedEx, UPS, DHL: best for commercial shipments needing visibility and speed, about 3 to 7 business days.
  • Jet Worldwide: handles high-value, DDP, and cold-chain shipments that standard carriers often decline.

The Golden Rule of Brazil Shipping: Tax IDs

Your shipment is refused entry without the recipient tax ID on the commercial invoice and waybill:

Recipient Tax ID Format
Individual CPF 11 digits
Company CNPJ 14 digits

Both are issued by the Receita Federal. When a compliance team asks for the "Brazil VAT number," the CNPJ is the practical equivalent for a company.

Canadian Export Declaration (CERS)

If your shipment is valued at CA$2,000 or more, you must file a Canadian export declaration in CERS, the Canadian Export Reporting System that replaced the former B13A form. Restricted goods require a declaration regardless of value, and failure to file can result in penalties from the CBSA.

Import Duties, ICMS, and the Remessa Conforme Rules

Brazil calculates import tax on the CIF value (cost plus insurance plus freight), so your shipping charge is part of the taxable base. Low-value e-commerce runs through the Programa Remessa Conforme (PRC), Brazil's compliance program for international parcels. Registered platforms and carriers get streamlined clearance and the favourable duty tiers, and taxes are disclosed and collected at purchase. Non-registered shipments do not get the low-value treatment and face the standard 60 percent duty.

Remessa Conforme federal import-duty tiers (compliant parcels)
CIF value (US$) Federal import duty Plus
Up to 50 0 percent (since 13 May 2026) State ICMS
50.01 to 3,000 60 percent, with a US$20 reduction State ICMS
Over 3,000 Formal customs clearance, standard tariffs ICMS, IPI, PIS/COFINS

ICMS is a state tax, commonly 17 to 20 percent, and it is calculated "por dentro," meaning its base includes the ICMS itself, so the effective burden is higher than the headline rate.

Worked example: a US$120 order (compliant PRC parcel)

CIF value US$120.00
Federal import duty (60 percent, less US$20) US$52.00
Subtotal before ICMS US$172.00
ICMS at 17 percent, grossed up (÷ 0.83) US$35.23
Landed tax-inclusive total US$207.23

Illustrative, at a 17 percent ICMS state rate. The gross-up (dividing the pre-ICMS total by 1 minus the rate) is what makes the real ICMS cost higher than a flat 17 percent of the goods value.

Brazil Shipment Pre-Flight Checklist

  • Recipient CPF (11 digits) or CNPJ (14 digits) on the invoice and waybill.
  • Commercial invoice with clear description, HS code, and CIF value including freight.
  • Product certification confirmed where required: ANVISA, INMETRO, or ANATEL.
  • Import License (L.I.) and RADAR status confirmed for controlled or biological goods before booking.
  • Remessa Conforme routing confirmed with your platform or carrier for low-value parcels.
  • Canadian export declaration filed in CERS if the shipment is CA$2,000 or more.
  • Incoterm agreed: DDP recommended for business shipments so the buyer avoids surprise fees.

Information gain, from Jet Worldwide lane data: across the Canada-to-Brazil shipments Jet has handled in the last 12 months, about [JET-PROPRIETARY-PERCENT]% of holds at GRU traced to a missing or invalid CPF/CNPJ or an absent product certification rather than to the duty calculation itself. (Placeholder: insert a real Jet Worldwide operational figure before publishing.)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cheapest way to ship to Brazil from Canada?

For small personal items under around 5 kg, Canada Post is usually the cheapest option. Canada Post shipment are delivered in Brazil by Correios. For commercial shipments, economy air through global carriers or a third-party logistics provider such as Jet Worldwide is usually the most cost-effective.

Do I need a CPF or CNPJ number to ship to Brazil?

Yes. Brazilian customs requires the recipient tax ID on the commercial invoice and waybill: an 11-digit CPF for individuals or a 14-digit CNPJ for companies. Without it, the shipment is refused entry.

How high are import taxes in Brazil in 2026?

Under the Programa Remessa Conforme, compliant-platform parcels up to US$50 CIF carry 0 percent federal import duty since 13 May 2026, with state ICMS still applying. Parcels from US$50.01 to US$3,000 carry a 60 percent federal import duty with a fixed US$20 reduction, plus ICMS. Over US$3,000 requires formal customs clearance. ICMS is a state tax, commonly 17 to 20 percent, calculated on a base that includes itself.

What is the Programa Remessa Conforme?

Remessa Conforme is Brazil's compliance program for low-value e-commerce imports. Registered platforms and carriers get streamlined clearance and the favourable duty tiers, and taxes are disclosed and collected at purchase. Non-registered shipments do not get the low-value treatment and face the standard 60 percent duty.

Do I need a Canadian export declaration to ship to Brazil?

Yes. For non-US exports valued at CA$2,000 or more, you must file a Canadian export declaration in CERS.

Can I ship dry ice and biological samples to Brazil?

Yes, but ANVISA, the health authority, often controls biological samples, reagents, and pharmaceuticals more tightly than customs, and many require an Import License approved before the cargo leaves Canada. Plan dry-ice quantity for customs dwell time, and confirm ANVISA and RADAR requirements before booking.

About the author

Timothy Byrnes has led Jet Worldwide, a Montreal-based international logistics firm, since 1988, specializing in cross-border shipping and trade compliance.

Disclaimer: Jet Worldwide content is for general information only, and does not constitute customs or tax advice. Brazilian import rules change frequently and vary by state and shipment type. Confirm current rates with Receita Federal, ANVISA, and your customs broker before shipping.


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As the capital of a country that depends on international trade, international shipments from Ottawa- Gatineau to the US and overseas are seeing incredible growth. Along with the government sector, technology companies (led by Shopify) will contribute the most to export parcels to the United States, Europe and around the world. Companies based in Ottawa-Gatineau rely on low cost parcel shipping solutions for delivery to the US.


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The general public has been awakened to a fact that parcel logistics professionals have known for decades: Cross border e-commerce parcels are delivered for far less than local businesses pay for domestic delivery. The economies of cross border e-commerce has been largely made possible by “subsidized / below cost postal deliveries” but this has changed since new Universal Postal Union rules.


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Shipping Options from Canada to South Korea: The Complete Guide

Trade between Canada and South Korea (ROK) is flourishing, driven by the Korea-Canada Free Trade Agreement (CKFTA). This agreement eliminates virtually all duties on Canadian goods, making it easier than ever for businesses to export technology, agri-food, and bio-pharma products. Whether you are shipping commercial pallets or e-commerce parcels, understanding the logistics landscape is key to saving costs.


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The Trump administration announced a new round of trade restrictions: Imports from Turkey and India will no longer be given preferential duty free entry on thousands of goods under the US GSP rules.

Although shipments from Turkey and India will no longer benefit from preferential duty free entry to the USA, incredible e-commerce opportunities remain .


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