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Importing Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling-stock, and parts and accessories thereof from Brazil into Australia (2026)

Vehicles and automotive parts imported from Brazil attract full MFN tariff rates with no FTA concession available, and all road vehicles must have a valid RVCA approval or a RAW/Concessional RAV entry in place before Australian Customs will release the goods. Used vehicles from Brazil are particularly high-risk for DAFF biosecurity intervention given tropical soil and organic contamination, and must meet the clean, dry and free of contamination standard prior to shipment.

No FTA — MFN rates applyHS Chapter 87

Compliance requirements

  • Confirm RVCA registration or secure RAW/Concessional RAV approval before the vessel departs Brazil.
  • Pre-clean all used vehicles in Brazil to DAFF standard to avoid costly mandatory treatment on arrival in Australia.
  • Declare Brazil as origin on the commercial invoice to ensure correct MFN duty rate classification at the Australian border.
  • All road vehicles must comply with the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 2018 (MVSA) — vehicles not on the Road Vehicle Certificate of Approval (RVCA) register require a RAW (Registered Automotive Workshop) or Concessional RAV entry approval before import clearance
  • New and used vehicles are subject to DAFF biosecurity inspection for soil, plant material and pests — used vehicles and machinery must be cleaned to 'clean, dry and free of contamination' standard or face mandatory treatment costs at the border
  • Anti-dumping measures apply to certain steel road wheels from China (Case 2014/1) — importers of steel wheels must check the Anti-Dumping Commission register and may be liable for dumping duty in addition to customs duty
  • Electric vehicles and e-bikes with lithium-ion batteries must comply with the Australian Consumer Law and relevant Australian Standards (AS/NZS 62133 for batteries) — ACMA type approval is required for any wireless components such as keyless entry or Bluetooth systems
  • Personal imports of vehicles over 25 years old via the Enthusiast, Left Hand Drive or other concessional pathways require a Vehicle Import Approval (VIA) from the Department of Infrastructure before shipment departs — this is a pre-import requirement, not a post-arrival fix
  • No FTA exists between Australia and Brazil, meaning MFN (general) tariff rates apply to all goods; a commercial invoice and packing list must accurately declare origin as Brazil for correct tariff classification
  • Biosecurity requirements are strict for organic materials including leather (Chapter 41), timber and wood products (Chapter 44), coffee (Chapter 09), and sugar (Chapter 17) - DAFF biosecurity declarations and possible treatment or inspection on arrival are mandatory
  • Anti-dumping and countervailing duty measures administered by the Anti-Dumping Commission may apply to certain Brazilian steel and iron products (Chapter 72) - importers should check the measures register on the ABF website prior to shipment
  • Food and beverage imports including coffee, sugar and fruit juices must comply with the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code and may require FSANZ assessment; imported food inspection fees apply under the Imported Food Control Act 1992

Key documents required

  • Vehicle Import Approval (VIA) issued by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications — mandatory for most vehicle imports
  • Certificate of Conformity or Compliance Plate documentation confirming compliance with ADRs (Australian Design Rules) under the MVSA
  • Foreign registration certificate or title document (for used vehicles) to establish year of manufacture and ownership history
  • Commercial invoice with full VIN, engine number, make, model, year, engine capacity and FOB value — incomplete invoices are the leading cause of ABF delays for this chapter
  • Biosecurity declaration and evidence of pre-export cleaning or fumigation treatment (DAFF-approved treatment certificate where applicable)

Import tip

Always lodge the Vehicle Import Approval (VIA) application before the vessel departs the origin port — the Department of Infrastructure does not issue retrospective approvals and ABF will not release the vehicle without one, meaning demurrage and storage costs accumulate rapidly while you wait.

Calculate the total landed cost for Chapter 87 goods from Brazil — duty, GST, IPC, and biosecurity included.

Other product categories imported from Brazil