ANATEL Requirements – Overview

• ANATEL approval is mandatory for all radio and telecom products in Brazil

• Products are classified into categories I–III, which define testing and renewal requirements

• All testing must be done in Brazil; foreign reports are not sufficient, and a local representative is required

• Certified products are subject to market surveillance and must display the ANATEL ID

• Category I and II devices require periodic renewal; Category III is exempt

ANATEL (Agência Nacional de Telecomunicações) is Brazil’s independent regulatory authority for telecommunications. Established in 1997, the agency is responsible for:

• Spectrum allocation and management

• Issuing technical regulations and certification procedures

• Enforcing quality and safety standards for telecom products

Unlike other government bodies, ANATEL operates autonomously, enabling streamlined regulatory decisions. The agency maintains regional offices across Brazil to ensure nationwide enforcement and oversight.

Legal Framework

Product certification in Brazil is based on:

• Brazilian Telecommunications Law (Lei Geral de Telecomunicações – LGT)

• ANATEL Resolution No. 715/2019, which governs conformity assessment and certification procedures

• Normative Acts defining technical requirements for specific product categories (e.g., Wi-Fi, LTE, IoT)

Role of Designated Certification Bodies (OCD)

Conformity assessment is carried out by Organismos de Certificação Designados (OCDs) – certification bodies authorized by ANATEL. Their responsibilities include:

• Reviewing technical documentation

• Coordinating testing with accredited labs

• Issuing conformity certificates based on evaluation results

The OCD acts as the applicant’s interface with both the laboratory and ANATEL. Without a valid OCD-issued certificate, ANATEL approval cannot be granted.

All radio and telecommunications equipment intended for the Brazilian market—whether manufactured locally or imported—must obtain mandatory approval from ANATEL before it can be imported, marketed, or operated.

This obligation is defined under ANATEL’s regulatory mandate and applies regardless of the product’s origin.

Product Scope

ANATEL certification applies to:

• Consumer electronics with integrated wireless functionality (e.g., smartphones, smart speakers, Wi-Fi routers)

• Industrial and M2M modules operating in license-free bands (e.g., LoRaWAN)

• OEM wireless modules used in automotive or embedded systems

Exemptions from approval are rare and limited to specific cases such as:

• Non-commercial prototypes

• Equipment for internal use only

• Situations where no accredited test lab is available

Each exemption requires supporting documentation and confirmation by the certification body.

Certification Objectives

The ANATEL approval process ensures compliance with national standards for:

• Radio spectrum efficiency and frequency usage

• Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC)

• Electrical safety

• Consumer protection and product traceability

Marking and Database Entry

Certified products must display the ANATEL approval identification and be listed in the national certification database (Sistema de Gestão de Certificação e Homologação – SGCH). Without valid certification, products may be blocked at customs or disabled by enforcement programs such as Celular Legal.

Regulatory Update:
Starting in 2025, new ANATEL regulations introduce stricter certification rules for mobile and IoT devices. Only devices supporting 4G or higher technologies will be eligible for approval. Additional requirements for 5G NB-NTN and RedCap will apply under Act No. 2105/2025, effective August 13, 2025.

The certification process for radio equipment in Brazil involves multiple steps and coordination with local partners. All products subject to ANATEL approval must undergo a structured conformity assessment led by a Designated Certification Body (OCD). The process ensures compliance with national technical standards and includes both administrative and technical evaluations.

1. Categorization and Preparation

The process begins by identifying the applicable product category (I, II, or III) in accordance with ANATEL’s classification rules. The selected OCD supports this step by confirming the correct categorization, which defines the certification path and renewal frequency. The applicant must then register the product in ANATEL’s online platform, the Sistema de Gestão de Certificação e Homologação (SGCH).

2. Involvement of an OCD

An ANATEL-designated certification body (OCD) is assigned to handle the conformity assessment process. The OCD evaluates the submitted documentation and defines the required testing scope based on the product type. Required documents typically include:

• Manufacturer and applicant details (including Brazilian CNPJ number)

• Product specifications and user manuals

• Internal and external product photos

• Additional technical references, if available

Note: Foreign test reports (e.g., FCC or CE) are not accepted as part of the official conformity assessment and are usually not submitted.

3. Laboratory Testing

Testing must be conducted at an accredited laboratory recognized by ANATEL. Depending on the product type, tests may include:

• Radio frequency and spectrum usage (e.g., output power, bandwidth)

• Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC)

• Electrical safety and surge resistance

• Specific Absorption Rate (SAR), if applicable

The number of required test samples varies by product complexity (e.g., 1 unit for basic devices, 4–6 for smartphones, up to 54 for lithium batteries).

4. Certificate Issuance

Based on successful test results, the OCD issues the appropriate certificate of conformity. The certificate format depends on the product category:

• Full conformity certificate (with or without quality system assessment)

• Type certification (with or without periodic reassessment)

5. ANATEL Homologation

In the final phase, the OCD submits the certificate and supporting documents to ANATEL via the SGCH system on behalf of the applicant. Upon submission, the product is assigned a unique ANATEL ID, which is linked to the application. Once the homologation is approved, the product may be legally imported, marketed, and used in Brazil.

To obtain ANATEL certification, applicants must submit a complete set of technical and administrative documents at two stages: first to the Designated Certification Body (OCD) and then to ANATEL. The applicant must be a legal entity registered in Brazil with a valid CNPJ (Cadastro Nacional da Pessoa Jurídica).

The OCD is responsible for the initial conformity assessment. Applicants must provide:

• Company and applicant information

  • Legal company documents

  • Details of the Brazilian representative with CNPJ

• Product documentation

  • Technical specifications

  • Internal and external photographs

  • User manuals and service information

  • Block diagrams and label artwork, if required for the product type

• Test samples and reports

  • Sample units as defined by the OCD

  • Existing FCC/CE reports may be provided as reference,
    but do not replace mandatory in-country testing in accredited Brazilian labs

  • ISO 9001 certificate is mandatory for Category I products
    or when production occurs at multiple sites

All documents must be in Portuguese or accompanied by a certified translation. For consumer-facing products, user manuals must be fully localized in Brazilian Portuguese. For industrial or professional equipment, the OCD may accept partial translation depending on the intended use and user profile.Submission to ANATEL (Homologation)

After the OCD issues the Certificate of Technical Conformity, the applicant must submit the homologation request to ANATEL via the SGCH system. Required documents include:

• OCD-issued conformity certificate

• Company and applicant information (with valid CNPJ)

• Proof of GS1 registration (for barcode assignment, especially for first-time applicants)

• Warranty and guarantee terms (Portuguese only)

• Final label with ANATEL identification

• User manual in Portuguese

• Completed ANATEL homologation form (including technical data, OCD details, and EAN codes)

A processing fee—typically R$ 200 per device—must be paid via boleto bancário. This amount covers only ANATEL’s administrative handling. Additional costs for testing, OCD services, and certified translations are not included. Once approved, ANATEL assigns a unique homologation number, and the product is listed in the national certification database.

Once ANATEL certification is granted, manufacturers and importers must ensure ongoing compliance through correct product labeling, timely renewals, and responsiveness to market surveillance activities.

Product Marking

All certified products must be labeled with the ANATEL homologation number. This identifier is usually included on a barcode sticker (etiqueta) provided by ANATEL. Depending on the product’s size and design, the label can be placed:

• Directly on the product housing (e.g., back side or battery compartment)

• Inside the user manual, if physical marking is impractical (e.g., for very small devices)

The label format and placement must match the documentation submitted during certification. Any change in location or appearance of the label must be reviewed by the certification body (OCD).

Market Surveillance

ANATEL performs random market surveillance to verify compliance with certification terms. Inspections may include:

• Functional testing of retail samples

• Verification of label placement and product markings

• Review of user documentation and production consistency

If non-conformities are detected, possible consequences include:

• Suspension or cancellation of the homologation

• Mandatory product recalls

• Blocking of future imports

• Fines or legal action against the certificate holder

It is the responsibility of manufacturers and importers to ensure that all distributed units match the certified version of the product and comply with ANATEL requirements.