What is RADAR in Brazil?
In Brazil, "radar" most commonly refers to the Brazilian Foreign Trade Operating License (RADAR), which is the registration and tracking system for customs intervention entities. It is issued by the Brazilian Federal Tax Authority and is a necessary prerequisite authorization for enterprises to conduct customs declaration, tax payment, and goods pick-up operations in the Brazilian Customs Integrated System SISCOMEX. In simple terms, it is the "import and export pass" for Brazilian importers. Without a valid RADAR, goods arriving at the port cannot submit customs declaration forms and can only be detained at the port, incurring high storage fees.
1. The core role and binding rules of RADAR
RADAR is directly linked to the CNPJ (company tax number) or CPF (individual tax number) of Brazilian local enterprises. Only registered enterprises can use the SISCOMEX system to complete import declaration, tax payment, and goods extraction. For cross-border e-commerce sellers without local Brazilian import qualifications, there are usually two solutions: one is to use the dual-clearance and tax-sharing channel of the logistics company, where the logistics company clears customs on behalf of the seller with its own RADAR qualifications; the other is to borrow the tax number and qualifications of a local Brazilian partner for import.
2. The classification and quota limits of RADAR (as of 2026)
RADAR is classified into three categories based on enterprise size and financial capacity. The quota is calculated on a rolling basis every six months based on the CIF import amount. Before shipment, the remaining quota of the importer must be verified; otherwise, if the CIF value exceeds the limit, the system will be locked and unable to declare:
Expressa (Fast)
: Suitable for small and micro enterprises or new importers, with a cumulative import quota limit of $50,000 per six months, with no export restrictions.
Limitada (Limited)
: Suitable for medium-sized enterprises, divided into the basic level (low tax record enterprises, quota of $50,000) and the advanced level (medium financial capacity enterprises, quota of $150,000), with no export restrictions. Applying for the advanced level usually requires the bank account balance to be maintained above $150,000.
Ilimitada (Unlimited)
: Suitable for large enterprises, with no upper limit on import and export quotas, requiring strong financial capabilities, usually with a registered capital of over 640,000 reais, and at least 5 years of good tax compliance records.
In addition, if there are no import or export operations for six consecutive months, the RADAR qualification will be suspended or invalidated, and cannot be directly activated; it is necessary to reapply.
3. Core conditions for applying for RADAR
Applying for RADAR must meet the following requirements, and the approval period is usually 2-6 months:
Have a locally registered company with an effective CNPJ tax number.
Designate a legal representative with a Brazilian CPF tax number and residing in Brazil.
The company and the legal representative have no tax arrears or bad records.
Provide lease or property documents for the business premises and the operation proof for the past three months (such as rent, electricity bill, bank statement, etc.).
Provide a bank credit certificate for the company, and for the unlimited category, additional proof of strong financial capabilities is required.
4. The relationship between RADAR and the Brazilian import model
Brazil has three main import models, and the usage rules of RADAR are different:
Direct import
: Enterprises use their own RADAR and CNPJ for declaration, bearing all costs and risks, suitable for enterprises with a long-term presence in the Brazilian market.
Conta e Ordem (Trust Import)
: Both the consignor and the trading company need to hold RADAR, and the trading company declares on behalf of the consignor, with taxes paid by the consignor, suitable for enterprises with a local Brazilian entity.
Por Encomenda (Purchase and Resale)
: The trading company imports the goods through its own RADAR and then resells them to designated customers. It is suitable for enterprises without RADAR, but an additional domestic sales tax needs to be paid.
V. Important Changes Related to RADAR in 2026
Quota Reassignment
: New basic and advanced tiers have been added to the quota classification. The quota is calculated on a rolling basis and gradually released after import.
Digitalized Supervision Strengthened
: Starting from July 2026, the Brazilian customs will fully adopt the new DUIMP declaration system instead of the traditional DI. All imported packages must be fully entered with the certification code. The RADAR qualification and the "digital ID" of the product are mandatory to be associated. Higher requirements are imposed on the compliance of the documents.
AI Automatic Price Comparison System Launched
: The customs has added an AI automatic price comparison system. If the declared price is lower than the average level of the same period, it will directly enter the gray channel. The compliance records of the RADAR entity will directly affect the probability of subsequent inspections.
In summary, RADAR is the core threshold for import clearance in Brazil. For Chinese exporters, if they do not have a local entity in Brazil, the most reliable way is to choose a dual-clearance logistics service provider that has its own self-clearance team and valid RADAR qualifications. Before shipping, it is necessary to verify the qualifications, quota, and compliance records of the service provider to avoid cargo detention or return due to qualification issues.