Non-Resident entering Brasil (customs question)?

Question

I will be arriving to Brasil soon (from the USA by airplane) and I have been assuming that I can bring $500 USD worth of gifts with me. However, upon doing some further reading on this topic, I am confused. Does the $500 USD limit also include items I am bringing into Brasil and taking back with me? For example, am I in trouble if I bring in $450 worth of gifts (family/friends) and have a $1,000 computer that is mine??? The guidelines I see on the official consular website makes me think that the $500 limit applies to EVERYTHING I am bringing with me. Is the website wrong or am I reading it wrong? I always assumed the $500 was only for things I was bringing in... and leaving. Also, are their forms I have to fill out for my laptop, etc? (For items I am not leaving). Thanks!

Answer 1

I've taken several gift.. and toys .. for my little cousins..  and last year  some family members paid to in advance so

i could buy them  some electronics from the US.. since its 3X more expensive in Brazil..

last time I took 2 digital cameras..  1 video camera..  nintendo ds..  lol ... and some other things and man they were WELL over $500

I just lie on the form and say i have my own camera..    and maybe an ipod or something.. then i go under DO NOT DECLARE..             the guards .. or whatever u wanna call them will ramdomly pick out people to search..   they dont check every single person.. they may pic... maybe every 30 people to check..  or maybe every 10 .. or   maybe they're too lazy to do their job that day.   So another words.. they just take your word for it..    that you dont have anything in your bad except for your ipod and camera.  

now if you dont want to take that risk..  you can admit that you have all those things ... but you have to pay them so much money per item you have..   how much ? i dont know..   but not worth it.. and i would rather take the risk.      I just hold my breath and quickly walk through the DO NOT DECLARE..and not look at anyone...  lol



NOW .. if you do get picked for a search..  then you would owe them more then what you would have paid if you told the truth

anywayz.. they do the declare and do not declair .. b/c theres some people who would try to bring in like..  20 ipods to sell in brazil and make a profit..    they're just trying to catch those guys..

good luck

and Boa Sorte

PS .. you wont get finger printed as an american citizen

Answer 2

I took a new laptop to Brazil in April, 2001 and May, 2002, and had no problems ... not with Customs, anyway.  Took the wrong electrical adapter.  Luckily, my host had one that did the trick; who needs that third, grounding plug anyway?  A converter wasn't necesssary, either.  But I did have a surge protector, which I guess is a good idea, and was especially so that year, because of a somewhat iffy power grid there.

I don't recall any forms other than the ones you'll receive on the airplane.  Really, they were laid back.

Answer 3

By what I read from the information from the consulate's website posted here, I think you read it wrong. It is clear to me that the limit of $500 does not include EVERYTHING you are bringing, but only the gifts.

Answer 4

I just came from Brazil 1 month ago, and I am also from the USA.  It's no big deal you just have to declare your valuables.  They'll give you a little sheet of paper on the airplane.  So you just document them i,e,  cell phone $75, didgetal camera  $100 and laptop $500.  When you come back just document all the gifts as souviners.  Thats what we did. We put souvineres $300.  Also consider what you paid for your electronics may not be what their worth.  So I paid $250 for my cell phone, but that was a year ago, so it's depreciated.

Answer 5

Baggage of Non-Residents

Upon arrival, all travelers must present to Customs the form Declaração de Bagagem Acompanhada - DBA (it translates as “Accompanied Baggage Declaration”) duly filled in; the flight attendants always distribute copies of the form during flight. In the Customs area, the traveler must go to the “Goods to Declare” desk whenever his or her baggage includes:

animals, plants, seeds, foodstuff and medication subject to health inspection, weapons and ammunition;

other goods, when the traveler wishes get proof of their admittance into Brazil;

goods subject to the regime of temporary admittance, only when their listing on the DBA is required (for instance, goods worth over US$ 3,000.00);

goods not considered by Brazilian law as baggage (such as goods brought for commercial or industrial purposes);

valuables (cash, checks or traveler’s checks) worth over R$ 10,000.00 (or equivalent in foreign currency).

The baggage of a non-resident traveler is admitted into Brazil under the regime of temporary admittance. Under this regime, the traveler’s baggage is exempt from customs duties for a determined period of time, provided that the goods are withdrawn from Brazil before the term of this period. This period of time is set by the customs officer in accordance with the traveler’s period of regular stay in Brazil. Brazilians claiming non-resident status must produce a permanent visa granted by the country he or she lives in.

Nevertheless, goods destined for consumption included in the traveler’s baggage (including gifts to be offered in Brazil) are subject to an overall limit of US$ 500.00 (when the traveler enters Brazil by air or sea) or US$ 150.00 (when the traveler enters Brazil by land, river or lake) per person; the goods in excess of the stipulated amount shall be subject to customs duties, calculated at the rate of 50% of their value; in this case, the traveler must go to the “Goods to Declare” desk at Customs. Books, leaflets, periodicals, as well as clothes and other garment articles, toilet articles and footwear intended for the traveler’s personal use are exempt from customs duties.

Goods purchased at a duty free shop in Brazil upon arrival are exempt from customs duties up to an overall limit of US$ 500.00 per person.

Back to top.

Answer 6

Well, 1st of all, let split my answer:

- You can bring your things that worth more than $500 (for example, your notebook), they must be personal use things (perfums, watches, shoes, clothes and alike). This limit is for the gifts and things like. Remember, food and biospecimens are not alowed to enter from foreingn country.

- This paper you must return is like the I-something form that the brazilians receive and must return to your country as well. Is the proof that you left the country in the time limit issued to you. This form is given to you by the airline crew, inside the plane, just before you arrive in Brazil.

I hope that I've explained your doubt.

Answer 7

Don't worry about it.  You can bring your computer and all your personal items and take them back or do whatever you want with them.  Regarding gifts, it's the same, for example if you are bringing perfumes, as long as you bring few, regardless of the price no one cares, but if you bring 100, even if each cost 1 US$, it's obvious that it's not for gift.  

You have to fill 2 forms, one for immigration which they give you a copy that you have to keep with you until you leave, and the other form is for customs which mainly asks if you have plants or food and the amount of money you are bringing.  About the money, up to 10'000 US$ in cash you don't need to declare and if you have more and you declare, nothing happens, it's just for statistics.

As an American citizen, you might be fingerprinted.