Because you’re moving overseas, you’ll need to use an international moving company or an international shipping company. There are strict rules on shipping stuff overseas these days, so the folks who handle the moving will also need to be the ones who pack the items.

A few rules of thumb:

* Shipping stuff internationally is expensive, so get a quote for how much it will cost, and then determine whether it’s a better idea to just get rid of what you have and buy in Brazil.

* All the customs arrangements will be handled by the shipping company, but know beforehand what’s allowed and what isn’t.

* When you arrange for shipping your items, ask the company what you’ll need to pick them up – ID, etc. They should know the rules for all international companies.

For more information on moving to Brazil, check out www.moving2brazil.net, especially the section on Brazilian customs and visa requirements.