Travel Tips Travelling to Brazil

ATMs In Brazil: Credit Cards And Fees

Wise

28.06.18 (updated more than 1 year ago)

Read time 3 minutes

If sunshine and beaches are your jam, a trip to Brazil may very well be in your future. And while credit and debit cards are widely accepted there, you never know if a small shop or restaurant will be unable to take your plastic, so you’ll want to make sure you have some Real in hand. Getting cash in Brazil is as easy as finding an ATM, but there are still some tips and tricks that will make the whole process easier (and cheaper). Read on to learn more.

Where do I find ATMs (Caixa eletrônico) in Brazil?

ATMs are extremely common in Brazil, and have been for a long time. Even the smallest towns will likely have an ATM. The harder part is finding an ATM that will work with your card. Cirrus and PLUS networks are most common. Most banks in Brazil have ATMs, some inside and some outside. It’s generally safer to use the indoor ATMs.

Online ATM locator tools for Brazilian banks are typically in Portuguese, and therefore will be difficult to use if you’re not fluent. However, banks are pretty simple to find, and most of them will have ATMs inside.

You can also use these tools to find ATMs on common networks:

Will my credit or debit card work in Brazil?

US, UK and Australian debit and credit cards generally work in Brazil, as Visa, Mastercard, Cirrus and Maestro are all widely accepted. American Express may not be quite as universally accepted.

Brazilian ATM PINs

To use ATMs in Brazil, you’ll need to have a four-digit PIN. Cards in Brazil have been exclusively chip and PIN for several years now, so you may run into trouble if you’re from a country that hasn’t fully adopted chip and PIN cards, like the US. If you only have a card with a magnetic strip, you should probably ask your bank for a chip and PIN card before you go to Brazil, just to be safe.

Brazilian ATM max cash withdrawal limits

For most Brazilian ATMs, the maximum withdrawal per transaction is 1,000 Real, though for some machines it may be even lower. After 10 p.m., the limit is reduced at many ATMs to only 500 real per withdrawal, so plan ahead if you’re going to need cash late at night.

Give your bank a heads up before you travel to Brazil

You should always let your bank know when you’re going to be travelling internationally, or you risk having your card shut off for suspicious activity. Call your bank before you go to Brazil, and tell them where you’re going, when and for how long. You can also find out if your bank imposes a daily maximum for cash withdrawals on your card, and temporarily increase it if you need to for your trip.

What are the fees at Brazilian ATMs?

So can you avoid ATM fees when withdrawing cash in Brazil? Some tricks might help. Read on to learn more.

Exchange rate fees at ATMs in Brazil (DCC)

Generally, withdrawing cash from an ATM means you get it at the mid-market rate, or the real exchange rate that you see when you Google Real and your home currency. However, some ATMs will give you the option to view the transaction in your home currency rather than in

Real. This “helpful” dynamic currency conversion allows the ATM to set its own exchange rate, which often gets marked up so the ATM owner can profit off what is essentially a hidden fee on your withdrawal. You should always choose to view transactions in the local currency when using a foreign ATM.

Other fees

Bank ATMs in Brazil generally don’t charge withdrawal fees, but this can vary. Commercial ATMs may have per-withdrawal fees, and your home bank may charge a withdrawal fee or foreign transaction fee. It’s important to check with your bank ahead of time to see what fees it charges for using foreign or out-of-network ATMs and pay close attention at the ATM terminal to see if the ATM charges any fees.

Are there any tips to avoiding ATM fees in Brazil?

Your best bet is to get a card that reimburses you for ATM fees and doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees -- that way you’re covered no matter what ATM you use. Otherwise, keep an eye out for in-network ATMs, and avoid ATMs at airports and hotels, as they tend to have higher fees to target tourists. You can also try to make larger and fewer withdrawals to cut down on per-transaction fees.

Check out Wise for a cheap alternative

If you have access to a bank account in Brazil, you can transfer money there ahead of time with Wise, which allows you to move money at the exact mid-market rate, paying nothing but a small transfer fee -- no hidden fees or markups.

Armed with this info, you should have no problem getting cash during your time in Brazil. Safe travels!

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