How to move to Brazil: full guide for Americans

With a vibrant and diverse culture, jaw dropping natural wonders, fun filled festivals and friendly people, it’s no wonder Brazil is a popular expat destination. Whether you’re moving to boost your career, looking to explore a new city and country, or heading to Brazil for studies, you’re in for an epic adventure.

This guide runs through all you need to know about moving to Brazil from the USA. We’ll cover the practicalities of life in Brazil, the costs of living to prepare for, and where you might choose to live. To help you save money when you live, work or study abroad, we’ll also touch on Wise low cost international transfers — the faster, cheaper and more convenient way to get your money moving.

📑 Table of Contents
Brazil quick facts Moving to Brazil from the USA: can you do it? Cost of living in Brazil Send money to Brazil with a secure Wise transfer What is it like to live in Brazil? The basics Moving to Brazil as an American: immigration requirements Best cities to live in Brazil as an expat São Paulo Florianópolis Curitiba Rio de Janeiro Summary: moving to Brazil from USA

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Brazil quick facts

Capital	Brasília
Language	Portuguese
Population	212 million
Currency	Brazilian Real (BRL or R$)
Government type	Federal republic
Religion	Predominantly Catholic
Weather	Mainly tropical or subtropical, with a temperate area in the south

Things to know before moving to Brazil

Brazil is huge — covering around half of the landmass of South america, and 4 time zones Most people in Brazil are descended from 3 key groups — Amerindians, European settlers and Africans — but there’s a huge diversity of culture to be found São Paulo is considered to be the largest city by population in the Southern Hemisphere Major industries in Brazil include iron and steel, petroleum and chemical processing and automotive assembly Like the US, Brazilians drive on the right About 60% of the Amazon rainforest is in Brazil Brazil has some 4,500 miles of coastline About 30% of the world’s coffee comes from Brazil Brazil has won the soccer World Cup 5 times — the highest total of any country Brazil has the biggest variety of wildlife of any country on earth

Moving to Brazil from the USA: can you do it?

Yes. You can move to Brazil from the US as long as you have the correct visa in place. 

While US citizens don’t need a visa to enter Brazil for tourism or short term business trips, if you intend to establish residence in Brazil you’ll need to get your visa arranged in advance¹. You can do this through your closest Brazilian consulate. Full listings of the types of visa that are available can be found online — we’ll also touch on your options in a little more detail later.

Moving to Brazil with family

Brazil can be a great place to live with your family. In Brazilian culture, families are typically close-knit, with multiple generations living together or relatively close to each other where possible. 

There’s plenty for kids to do, fun travel opportunities, and there are a range of great international schools in the major cities if you’d like your children to follow the US curriculum. The main downside is probably travel time back to the US when you want to visit family and friends back home.

One important point to note about moving to Brazil with family is that under Brazilian law, any children holding a Brazilian passport must have permission from both parents to leave the country. If your child is traveling with only one parent, written permission from the other parent is required. 

These rules don’t technically apply to children holding foreign passports — but there have been cases of families running into delays and complications on the border when trying to travel without both parents present².

Can you move to Brazil with pets?

You can move to Brazil with a cat or dog without needing a specific import permit. Other animals require advance permission to enter the country. Full requirements for all animals include an International Veterinary Certificate or approved Pet Passport and rabies vaccination³.

Cost of living in Brazil

The costs of your life in Brazil will depend a lot on where you choose to call home, how you like to spend your time, and your personal preferences. Overall costs of living in Brazil can be lower than in the USA, with life in smaller towns and rural areas cheaper than in the major cities. Let’s take a look at a few countries' average costs to build a picture. We’ll look at some popular expat destinations in Brazil a little later.

Item/Service	Average cost in Brazil⁴
Meal at an inexpensive restaurant	5.28 USD
3 course meal for 2, mid-range restaurant	25.32 USD
1 month travel pass	45.16 USD
Rent 1 bed apartment in city center	302.86 USD /month
Rent 1 bed apartment outside of city center	198.39 USD/month

How much does it cost to move to Brazil?

Once you’ve established a basic budget for daily life in Brazil, you’ll need to plan for one off costs involved with the more itself. 

The cost of moving to Brazil will vary depending on how you make your arrangements and exactly where you’re coming from. However, some key items to factor in include:

Flight costs Visa and permit fees, which can include legal or translation costs Shipping of household goods Deposit on accommodation Extra charges if you’re moving with family or taking your pets along Temporary accommodation when you first arrive Daily living costs when you first arrive and before your first paycheck

How to move your stuff to Brazil

Moving to Brazil probably means you’ll need to take more than just your suitcase. However, shipping your entire household can be expensive and time consuming. Many people choose to sell or offload a lot of their larger items before making the move, keeping things simple to cut the overall costs.

The easiest way to start once you know where in Brazil you’re moving to, is to get online quotes from several moving companies. You’ll be able to generate estimates based on the size of home you’re moving from, to give you a basic idea of the fees to send all your stuff. As an example, moving from Miami to São Paulo is estimated to cost around 3,500 - 4,000 USD⁵.

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If you’re moving to Brazil you’ll need simple, cheap ways to pay for your shipping, cover a rental deposit, and manage your daily life using reais. Cut the costs of currency exchange and sending money to Brazil with Wise.

Wise international transfers are fast, secure, and could save you 3x compared to sending with your bank.

Transfers always use the mid-market exchange rate, low, transparent fees, and you can get started online or in the Wise app for convenience.

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What is it like to live in Brazil? The basics

Let’s look at some practicalities of moving to Brazil. We’ll dive right into what it’s like to live and work there, and get into the details of some dream destinations in just a moment.

Housing

Housing is always going to be a major budget item, no matter where in the world you choose to live. And like everywhere else, the costs of accommodation in Brazil can vary a lot depending on where you want to live and the type of home you’d prefer. On average, though, accommodation in Brazil is cheaper than in the US, and there’s a good range of options for every price point.

Renting

The costs of renting a place in Brazil can vary enormously based on where you choose to live. The biggest cities and financial hubs — like São Paulo for example — can be pricey compared to smaller cities, and even the capital Brasilia. 

Average rental prices for a one bedroom apartment in the city center in Brasilia are around 375 USD/month — in São Paulo you’ll pay over 500 USD on average⁶. It’s worth noting you can bring down the costs of rent b y looking outside the center, or choosing a smaller city like Curitiba instead.

To get your rental set up you’ll almost always need proof of income. If you’re moving to Brazil for work you’ll probably need to get temporary accommodation set up at first, to give you time to get all the paperwork together to arrange your longer term rental agreement.

Buying property in Brazil as an expat

There are a few restrictions on foreigners buying beachfront and rural properties in Brazil — but outside of these rules, you’ll be free to buy a home in Brazil if you’d like to. 

The only specific requirement is that you’ll need to have a CPF number, which requires you to register with the Brazilian authorities. This is a tax registration number which allows you to legally own the property — you can get a CPF in Brazil or through a Brazilian embassy abroad.

The health care system in Brazil

Brazilian citizens and legal residents can access free public healthcare. However, it’s important to know that services can be underfunded in some areas which may mean delays for treatment. 

It’s very common to have private healthcare cover in addition, to make sure you can always access the care you need when you need it. Private healthcare in Brazil is relatively expensive, but considered to be of very high quality.

Banking and taxation

Brazil has a developed banking system with a good range of accounts available. It’s common to need your CPF number before you can get your account open, which will usually mean you can’t open a Brazilian bank account until you’ve arrived in the country. 

Personal income tax in Brazil is managed on a progressive system, with rates running from 7.5% to 27.5%⁷.

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Education

The school year in Brazil usually runs from February through to December, with main holidays in July and January. Public schools in Brazil are free, but the quality can vary significantly. 

That means that most expats in Brazil send their kids to private or international schools, which may include schools running the US curriculum and exam frameworks.

Transportation

If you’re in a major city in Brazil you’ll usually find there’s a decent public transportation network including buses and often a metro. While many expats do choose to drive — or have a personal driver — congestion in the city centers can be frustrating and lead to long commute times. 

It’s worth considering the journeys you’ll need to make regularly when you choose accommodation — being close to your school or work will always be a bonus.

Quality of life in Brazil

Expats living in Brazil tend to have a good quality of life. However, it’s worth knowing that high levels of income inequality in Brazil does mean that some populations rank poorly on quality of life scores⁸.

Expats who have already made the leap to live in Brazil report enjoying life thanks to friendly locals and an active expat community, great places to travel and explore, vibrant festivals and plenty of cultural activities to get involved in.

Culture and people

Brazil is commonly described as a cultural melting pot, which leads to high levels of diversity with traditional and more recent festivals, celebrations and customs all marked. Modern Brazilian culture has elements derived from Portuguese colonization, with influences from indigenous cultures and multiple waves of migrants over the years.

Generally Brazilian people are considered to be friendly and welcoming. People are sociable and like to spend time together, eating and hanging out.

Safety

The State Department warns that crime — including violent crime — rates in Brazil are high in most big cities in Brazil. 

That means you need to exercise caution and remain aware of your surroundings at all times. There are also some areas which the State Department advises against traveling to, including favelas, border regions and rural areas after dark⁹. 

Most people traveling to Brazil have a completely trouble free time — but as with anywhere, there are risks which you’ll want to be aware of. Read up on recent travel advice before you move to Brazil, and get to know which areas are safe in your local area. 

Moving to Brazil as an American: immigration requirements

As a US citizen you won’t need a visa to enter Brazil for a short trip. However, if you intend to establish residency you’ll need to apply for a visa based on your intended activities. The relevant visas are likely to be VITEM type visas, which cover work, study, investment, volunteering and other activities you might get involved with in Brazil. 

Each visa type has its own requirements — as an example, if you’re applying for the VITEM V Visa which covers people who want to work in Brazil you’ll need to have a job lined up before you get started. Your employer will have to apply for your residence permit through the Ministry of Labor, and once this has been approved you can submit your application to the Brazilian consulate closest to your home. 

🎯 You’ll need to provide¹⁰
Your passport Completed application form Passport photos Proof of fee payment Birth certificate FBI background check Pre-paid return envelope

Permanent residency and Brazilian citizenship

There are a number of different routes to get Brazilian permanent residency (known as a permanent visa — VIPER for short). You may be eligible if¹¹:

• An immediate family member is a Brazilian citizen
• You’ll be working as a manager or executive in Brazil
• You’ve invested in Brazil
• You're retiring to Brazil
• You’re considered to be a person of extraordinary ability in your field

Permanent residency based on family ties may be arranged before you move to Brazil. However, for all other reasons you’ll usually need to have lived in Brazil for a year before you can make your application.

Best cities to live in Brazil as an expat

Hopefully you’re getting excited about moving to Brazil from the US now — let’s take a closer look at a few popular expat destinations.

São Paulo

São Paulo is the financial capital of Brazil, and a great place for people moving to Brazil for work. As well as some great career opportunities, it’s a fun city with great entertainment, places to eat and drink, and decent infrastructure. 

It’s also one of the most expensive places in the country. Renting a one bed apartment will cost on average about 500 USD a month in the city center with significantly higher costs for some places, although you can cut the costs to around 300 USD a month by looking outside of the center.

Florianópolis

Beaches, watersports and great weather are what bring many tourists to Florianópolis — and something you’ll get to experience plenty of if you choose to live there permanently. The opportunities for time outdoors and fun activities make this a popular pick for people moving to Brazil with family especially.

Curitiba

Curitiba is known as a city of the arts, with venues like the Botanical Garden and the Oscar Niemeyer Museum — which hosts a variety of national and international art exhibits. It’s a relatively small city by Brazilian standards, making it a fairly easy place to live and navigate. 

Rental prices in Curitiba are much lower than in some other major cities — you’ll pay around 300 USD a month for a one bed apartment in the center, compared to 400 USD a month in Florianópolis for example¹².

Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro is another top pick — especially for people moving to Brazil for work. It’s a colorful place with a very rich and diverse culture, great beaches and facilities for outdoor activities. 

 As a large city there are plenty of choices for accommodation and schools, making it easy to settle in — but be warned, it can be expensive!

Summary: moving to Brazil from USA

Moving to Brazil from the USA is a big decision. However, if you’re looking for an adventure you’ll love the chance to learn about a new place, meet friendly people, and explore a different culture. Remember these key steps to make sure everything goes smoothly — and good luck!

• Find a job in Brazil and get your visa and residence permit lined up
• Set a budget for your day to day life, as well as for the move
• Open a Wise multi-currency account before you leave the US, to make it easier to manage your money across currencies
• Arrange temporary accommodation in Brazil while you look for a permanent home
• Get to know expats in Brazil through social media and your personal network — find friends and learn more about how your new life in Brazil might look!

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Sources:

1. Itamaraty - Applying for a visa
2. US State Travel - Brazil
3. BR Government - Sanidade animal e vegetal
4. Numbeo - Cost of living in Brazil
5. Move Hub - Moving to Brazil
6. Numbeo - Cost of living comparison: São Paulo and Brasília
7. Tax Summaries - Brazil
8. OECD - How’s life in Brazil?
9. Travel State - Brazil travel advisory
10. Itamaraty - VITEM
11. Itamaraty - Permanent visa
12. Numbeo - Cost of living comparison: Curitiba and Florianópolis

Sources checked on 03.28.2022