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.
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.
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$2,000 or more, you must file a Canadian export declaration in CERS, the Canadian Export Reporting System that replaced the former B13A form. Restricted goods require a declaration regardless of value, and failure to file can result in penalties from the CBSA.
Import Duties, ICMS, and the Remessa Conforme Rules
Brazil calculates import tax on the CIF value (cost plus insurance plus freight), so your shipping charge is part of the taxable base. Low-value e-commerce runs through the Programa Remessa Conforme (PRC), Brazil's compliance program for international parcels. Registered platforms and carriers get streamlined clearance and the favourable duty tiers, and taxes are disclosed and collected at purchase. Non-registered shipments do not get the low-value treatment and face the standard 60 percent duty.
| CIF value (US$) | 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.
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.
