Shipping to Brazil
Are you in the process of planning a move to Brazil but are not sure how to go about shipping your personal belongings? You’ll want to know that your personal belongings are being handled with the utmost care and that their delivery is carefully and precisely planned out.
Moving to a new city is never easy, let alone a new country where there are linguistic and cultural hurdles to overcome. White & Company have been relocating people to Brazil and destinations worldwide for 145 years. Let us take the stress out of your move by making use of our extensive door-to-door shipping and freight services.
Whether you are moving from Southampton to São Paulo, or Birmingham to Belo Horizonte, White & Company can ensure that your personal effects are handled with care from collection in the UK right through to delivery at your new home in Brazil.
Survey
Our experienced surveyor will visit your home to conduct a pre-move survey to ascertain the volume of effects being shipped.
This involves a surveyor walking through the property room by room noting what items are to be exported and recording it on their electronic tablet.
A written quotation will follow within 48 hours.
Storage
White & Company has storage facilities at 19 storage locations throughout the UK all providing secure containerised storage in personal dedicated storage containers.
Our trusted partners in Brazil are also able to offer storage should you require it. All our warehouses are clean, dry, secure and accredited to European standard BS EN 14873.
Packing
When our quotation has been accepted and a move date has been secured, the vehicle and removal team will arrive at residence.
The removal team will proceed to pack and wrap all items being shipped and load onto vehicle for delivery to our closest depot or for full loads, directly onward to your new home in Brazil.
Shipping
Upon arrival at your local depot, all effects are transferred to the export warehouse to await loading into a 20ft or 40ft container.
The container is booked with the shipping line onto the first available vessel destined to the closest port of entry to your final destination in Brazil.
Moving to Brazil? Get a Quick Quote
Why Move to Brazil?
Having recently been thrusted into the spotlight following the hosting of the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games, Brazil has cast aside its image as just a football loving exotic beach destination to emerge on the world stage as an economic powerhouse. Rich not only in wealth and resources but culture and innovation.
As the largest country in South America with a population over 200 million, Brazil is the seventh largest economy worldwide and is one of the four BRIC emerging economies. As such many expats are choosing to relocate to Brazil for employment reasons. Brits have flocked to the big cities of Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Brasilia, the capital city, attracted to the many working opportunities for English speakers, low cost of living and exciting lifestyle on offer.
With a coastline stretching 7,491 kilometres, Brazil boasts over 2000 beautiful beaches such as Arpoador in Rio de Janeiro, Caraiva in Bahia and Praia da Fazenda in São Paulo State. This culturally and geographically vast country encompasses six climatic regions: tropical rainforest, tropical wet and dry, tropical monsoon, semi-arid, humid subtropical and subtropical highland. From the Amazon Jungle to mountain top rainfalls and exuberant metropolitan cities, Brazil is an endless passage of discovery.
Brazil is often depicted as a never-ending party, famous for its vibrant nightlife, carnival atmosphere and the emphasis it places on family life. Renowned for its friendly population many expats are heartened by the generosity and hospitality shown towards them by the Brazilians who are infectiously curious and sincere people.
While Brazil is certainly an exciting city to live and work it is not without its issues. A gulf has emerged between working and living wages and there are some very impoverished areas which have resulted in high crime rates in its larger cities. However, those who can secure employment in Brazil can expect to find a country rich in opportunities and an exciting and fun-loving culture like no other.
Customs Information
Importing personal effects into Brazil is a straightforward process however, being aware of Brazil’s customs regulations is imperative if you want a hassle-free import experience. Problems can lead to lengthy delays as well as incurring demurrage fees and port charges.
You must be in Brazil at time of Customs clearance. You must keep a copy of your arrival airline ticket for presentation to Customs Authority. Household goods and personal effects must arrive within 180 days of your arrival into Brazil. However, within 90 days is preferred. Both new and used household goods and personal effects can be imported duty free. New items must be declared as new and stated as such on the inventory to be included as duty-free.
You will be required to produce a number of documents to the authorities before customs clearance can proceed.
Certain items are strictly prohibited for import, including:
Pornography
Weapons of any kind without approval
Gas grills & propane tanks & batteries of all kinds
Flammable, corrosive & combustible materials – including shoe/furniture polish, paint, flares
Narcotics & medicine without prescriptions
Food and beverages including canned goods
High value coins or stamp collections, jewellery & currency
Vehicles/motorcycles/recreational vehicles – unless one has diplomatic status
For a list of the documents required for import of house hold effects and a comprehensive explanation of the process visit the following web sites:
http://webportal.atlasintl.com/Customs%20Docs/brazil.pdf
https://brazil.visahq.com/customs/
http://www.mondaq.com/brazil
Working in Brazil
Brazil’s economy is growing at one of the fastest rates in the world. This can be seen in the vast improvements to infrastructure that are currently taking place, and in the upscaling of both residential and commercial properties. These infrastructure upgrades have led to plenty of working opportunities in the manufacturing, construction and engineering industries, particularly with regards to the advent of a high-speed rail network.
There are plenty of jobs available in Brazil’s major cities of Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Brasilia and Porto Alegre for highly skilled English speakers, as well as many volunteer programs. Most commonly, expats moving to Brazil are employed as specialists in Brazil’s petrochemical sector and other important industries such as hydroelectric power, agriculture, and environmental management.
Others make use of the demand to learn English by teaching or tutoring. Brazil is also the only country in South America which speaks Portuguese as opposed to Spanish and so prior knowledge and proficiency in the language will put candidates in good stead when applying for positions.
Visas
Depending on your circumstances, there are seven categories of application for a permanent visa to live and work in Brazil. These include marriage and family unification categories, as well as categories covering business executives and entrepreneurs, high level specialists, investors and retired people.
Those intending to work in Brazil must obtain a work card from the Labour Department and a tax identification card from the Ministry of Finance.
For more detailed information on work permit applications just visit the following web site:
Property
Buying a property in the country is relatively easy, generally reasonably priced and is seen as a good financial investment.
It is a good idea to choose a vetted agent or broker to help you in your search. The best way to identify one is by ensuring that they have an ID card issued by the government agency that deals in regulating the real estate agencies. This certifying body is known as the Conselhos Regionais de Corretores de Imóveis (CRECI). Alternatively, you can contact your closest embassy.
As a guide to prices, a three bedroomed apartment in the city currently costs R$ 7102 per square metre (£1460). On the outskirts of the city this drops to R$4913 (£1010). For those who are unfamiliar with their chosen town or city, it is a good idea to rent before you buy. Renting is very cheap and there are plenty of rental properties available. You can expect to pay around R$2513 (£516) per month for a three bedroomed property in the city and R$1792 (£368) on the outskirts.
Schools
Brazil uses a mix of public and private school systems. Schooling is mandatory for children between the ages of six and 14. The system consists of traditional primary, secondary, tertiary and technical schools. However, standards are generally lower than what westerners are accustom to and often classes are overcrowded.
The majority of expats send their children to International Schools. All of Brazil’s major cities have numerous English-language international schools servicing the diplomatic, expat and immigrant populations. Due to the higher standard of education offered at international schools in Brazil, many wealthy Brazilians also choose to educate their children at these institutions. Many international schools have a multicultural student body with children from all over the world.
For a list of the best international schools in Brazil, fees and curriculums
Travel
Brazil has the largest road network in Latin America, which makes car travel a viable option. Car ownership is therefore a good idea for expats living on the outskirts of cities, or those wanting to explore the countryside.
Foreigners that have an international driver’s license issued abroad can drive in Brazil for six months from the date of arrival in the country. After this period, they must apply for a driver’s license for foreigners at the local traffic authority (DETRAN). This license is temporary (valid for one year), but you have the possibility to extend it.
Long-distance buses, trains and boats also keep the country connected. Within cities there are generally extensive bus services and a range of bus companies to choose from. Some public transport services within cities tend to be underdeveloped, chaotic, and overcrowded during rush hours. Major cities, such as Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Brasilia, all have efficient metro trains spanning their areas.
Healthcare
Brazil offers both public and private healthcare and if you have permanent residency, it is free. The standard of care is low compared to the UK standards however. It is vitally important therefore to ensure you have adequate healthcare cover. For this reason, most expats choose to go private but be warned, Brazil has earned the reputation of being the most expensive in Latin America.
There are plenty of pharmacies and they are generally open from early morning to well into the evening, and some pharmacies in the larger cities are open 24 hours a day.
The following web sites offer further information about healthcare provision in Brazil:
Storage Provision
You may find you need to store some or all of your possessions for a period of time prior to moving abroad. White & Company have storage facilities at all our branch depots across the UK. Each of our depots offer secure containerised storage in personal dedicated storage containers and all of our warehouses are clean, dry, secure and accredited to European standard BS EN 14873.
Our partners in Brazil can also offer you storage. You may be renting for a while and may not need all of your effects to be delivered immediately. You can arrange for certain items to be delivered and once settled in your new home, the rest can follow. Please note that storage rates may apply.
White & Company
Providing International Removals to Brazil since 1871
We recommend a visit from one of our Surveyors for all International moves, so that we can assess your requirements, and the volume of goods to be moved.
Popular Places to Live in Brazil
- Belo Horizonte
- Brasilia
- Fortaleza
- Manaus
- Porto Alegre
- Recife
- Rio de Janeiro
- Salvador
- Sao Paulo
What Others Say…
Wayne Middleton and Brian Witherford were professional and extremely helpful. Did a brilliant job. Would recommend Whites to anyone. Thanks very much.
Have used this company regularly for 5 years including my time in the armed forces. They are professional and efficient. Will use them again on our next move.
The move went very smoothly and they were very polite.
A very smooth move by White and Co. The team worked very hard and were polite, professional and helpful.
