Customs in Brazil: How to Bring Video and Photo Equipment

Understanding Customs Procedures for Bringing Video and Photo Equipment to Brazil

If you plan to film in Brazil and intend to bring your own equipment, it’s important to understand the customs process. Since January 2022, Brazil is no longer a signatory to the ATA Carnet as an acceptable document for customs clearance. The only document accepted at Brazilian Customs is the EDBV (Eletronic Declaration of Goods for Travelers). Below, we’ll guide you through the steps to register and issue the EDBV, or you can contact us for full support, including assistance at the airport if needed.

Registering Your Equipment Before Traveling to Brazil

To avoid complications upon arrival, it’s crucial to register all your video and electronic equipment in advance through the EDBV - Traveller’s Electronic Declaration of Goods hosted on the website of Receita Federal do Brasil (Brazilian Federal Revenue), which is equivalent to the IRS in the United States.

Screenshot of the Brazilian Federal Revenue website - EDBV section

Entering Brazil with Your Equipment

After registering your equipment online, print out the EDBV and bring it with you when traveling to Brazil. Upon arrival at any international airport in Brazil, follow these steps:

Look for the “Goods to Declare” area at customs.
Present your equipment along with the printed EDBV.
Brazilian customs agents will verify that all items listed on the declaration match the equipment you’ve brought into the country.
If everything is in order, your EDBV will be stamped and signed by the customs agents.

Note: In some cases, especially when bringing in a large amount of equipment, customs agents may ask for proof of your production’s Ancine registration. Ancine registration is a mandatory requirement for all foreign productions, according to the Brazilian Film Agency (Ancine), with the only exception being journalistic works. Having the Ancine registration details on hand can help streamline the process and avoid issue. Read about it here.

Leaving Brazil with Your Equipment

When leaving Brazil, you must present the same stamped EDBV at customs. The agents will verify that all the equipment listed on the declaration is leaving the country. Once the inspection is complete, you can proceed to check your baggage with the airline.

Need Help? We’re Here to Assist with Customs in Brazil

Navigating customs procedures in Brazil can be complex, especially considering the language barriers and the specific details required for the temporary importation of all your equipment. If you find this process overwhelming, count on our expertise to support you. We can provide:

Remote support to help you complete the EDBV registration on the Brazilian Revenue website.
On-site assistance at the airport.

Let us handle the production details in Brazil, so you can focus on your story. Contact us today to learn more about how we can assist you!

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Clients reviews of this service:

"Brazil Base Productions just helped us to produce a commercial in São Paulo, and were fantastic, transparent, affordable and helped us with everything, from casting to locations, and equipment sourcing. You can find just about everything you need but we traveled with our a cam package, and they helped us getting the customs forms taken care of as well."

Andrew Masi - Swng Productions | USA