Layer 5: Compliance
Anatel Certification for Electronics
Any device that transmits or receives radio signals — Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cellular, NFC — must be certified by Anatel before it can be imported into Brazil.
Anatel (Agência Nacional de Telecomunicações) is Brazil's telecommunications regulator. If your product contains any wireless communication module, it needs Anatel homologation. No homologation = no customs clearance.
Product categories
Category I
2–4 weeksScope: Restricted radiation (no intentional RF)
Examples: LED displays, power supplies, battery chargers, audio equipment without Bluetooth
Process: Declaration of Conformity (DoC)
Category II
4–12 weeksScope: Intentional RF transmitters
Examples: Wi-Fi routers, Bluetooth devices, cellular phones, IoT modules, drones with FPV
Process: Full homologation (Certificate of Conformity)
Category III
8–16 weeksScope: Telecom infrastructure
Examples: Base stations, switches, fiber optic equipment, satellite terminals
Process: Full homologation + network compliance
Homologation process
- Identify your product category — Category I (no intentional RF) only needs a Declaration of Conformity. Category II and III need full homologation with lab testing.
- Testing at an accredited OCD lab — Anatel-accredited Designated Certification Bodies (OCDs) test your device against applicable technical regulations. Testing can be done at foreign labs with MRA (Mutual Recognition Agreement) — but final certification must be issued by a Brazilian OCD.
- Submit to Anatel's MOSAICO system — the OCD submits the test results and documentation through MOSAICO (Anatel's online system). Anatel reviews and issues the homologation certificate.
- Apply the Anatel seal — certified products must display the Anatel compliance mark (logo + certificate number) on the product and packaging.
Key technical regulations
- Resolução 715/2019 — main regulation for certification of telecom products
- Ato 14448/2017 — RF exposure limits (SAR for devices used near the body)
- Wi-Fi 6E / 6 GHz: approved by Anatel in 2021 (Resolução 749)
- 5G NR: frequencies allocated, certification requirements in place
- Bluetooth / BLE: requires Category II homologation
- IoT / LPWAN: LoRa, Sigfox, NB-IoT all require certification
Costs and timeline
| Item | Cost range |
|---|---|
| OCD lab testing (Category II) | R$ 5,000–30,000 |
| Anatel homologation fee (TFI) | R$ 200–500 |
| Brazilian agent/representative | R$ 3,000–10,000/year |
| Product samples for testing | 2–5 units |
| Total typical (single SKU) | R$ 10,000–40,000 |
Module-level certification saves time
If your product uses a pre-certified RF module (e.g., a Wi-Fi/BT module already homologated by the module manufacturer), you may qualify for simplified certification. This can reduce testing time from weeks to days. Check if your module supplier has Brazilian homologation.