Brazil

Occupying half of South America’s land mass, Brazil is the giant of the continent – both in size and in population. It forms a huge triangle on the eastern side of the continent with a 7400-kilometer (4500 mile) coastline along the Atlantic Ocean. It is multiethnic society with a population of 214 million people of many ethnic origins. Brazil’s history is filled with economic turmoil, veering from boom to bust, and its culture is a melting pot that has traditionally welcomed the world. Brazil holds about 1/3^rd of the world’s tropical rainforests, including 60% of the Amazon Rainforest within is borders. Brazil got its name from “Brazilwood” between 1506 and 1509, when the region was referred to as the “Land of the brazil” (Terra do Brasil) by an explorer and in 1516, the king of Portugal delegated a Government of this region, making the first official designation of the country’s name. 

From an expats view, the Brazilian bureaucracy is amazingly helpful and efficient. There a short wait periods for getting a driving license or passport renewals. People here are with an open mind and make you feel welcome. Brazil’s is so vast and amazingly beautiful, your trip will never end and your eyes can’t believe the beauty sometimes. A small bit of advice for travelers, due to the poverty, slums and injustice in Brazil, it’s not always safe. The crime rate is a bit high. Brazil is also famous of violence, kidnapping, thefts, dodgy uber drivers etc.

The Following Factors Speak For An Immigration To Brazil

• Best for Adventure
• Very good Cultural Influence
• Good Heritage
• Very good for Movers
• Very good for Study
• Friendly People

Traveling information

The Federal Republic of Brazil exhorts to exercise increased caution while visiting Brazil, especially land borders due to increase in Crime. Always be aware of the surroundings and follow all securities directives.  Especially be careful while visiting public places like beaches and other crowded tourist places. Snatching mobile phones, cash and jewelry by young children or a group of youngsters are very common. Remember to seek help from a hotel or nearby business not to people who offer to be help as they scam to be good Samaritans but are actually criminals. Remember to book travels with reliable agencies only.

Get the detailed information on areas where travel need to be avoided and other important information, please visit: travel.state.gov

Use of Masks and face coverings are no longer compulsory in most of states in Brazil, however, guidance and requirement may vary from state to state. So, it’s good to check the local restrictions before travel to a particular place.

The State recommends that visitors are being vaccinated in some region against specific type of disease, e.g. Yellow Fever. The Yellow fever is transmitted by mosquitoes which mainly feed between dawn and dusk but may bite in the night also. These mosquitoes are mainly predominantly found in the jungle area. The vaccine is available only at registered Yellow Fever Vaccinated Centers. It is very important to consult an Health professional before getting vaccinated for Yellow Fever as this vaccine is not suitable for all. 

For list of the regions where Yellow Fever Vaccination is recommended, please visit: travelhealthpro.org.uk

How to immigrate to Brazil – Immigration Regulations   

Foreigners from most of the countries require a visa and a passport (valid for the next 6 months) to enter Brazil. Countries like Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay who have bilateral agreements with Brazil are not required to get a Visa to enter Brazil.

Tourists and Business visa are usually issued on arrival in to Brazil for a validity of 90 days.

There are basically four types of Visas for entering Brazil:
1.  Tourist Visa (VITUR)
     – Valid for 90 days from issue. Allows multiple entries.
2.  Business Visa (VITEM-II)
     – Official trips for visiting existing companies in Brazil.
     – People looking to establish contacts in Brazil
     – Attend conferences
     – To investigate investment opportunities in Brazil
3. Work Visa (VITEM-V)
    – Those with secured jobs and has a place to reside in Brazil.
    – Work permit is required by Ministry of Labor & Employment, when you are
       applying for Work Visa
4.  Permanent Visa (VIPER)
     – For those who invest a minimum of $150,000 BRL ($65,000 USD approx..) in Brazil
     – Want to live permanently in Brazil or looking to retire here.

Click here to know all about Portugal Visas- Type of Visas & Process to obtain etc.

People 

Brazilians are very open-minded and out-going people. They are very friendly even towards strangers. They love to have a good time together. You will see the whole cities gathered together during the outlandish festivals (Carnival). You will not stand out alone here by your looks as Brazil is place of racial diversity.  

Brazilians love Soccer, its not a sport here but a way of life. Brazil has participated in every world cup competition ever held. They often refer to their country as “the country of football” (o País do Futebol). World’s most prominent players in football come from Brazil, including Pelé, Garrincha, Cafu, Roberto Carlos, Romário, Rivaldo, Ronaldo,Ronaldinho, Kaká, Neymar and Marta. 

People mostly practice different denominations of Christianity, some 64% of the population are Roman Catholics and 22% are protestants.

Job offers in Brazil  

For English Speaking candidates there are lots of job offers here. Learning a Portuguese skill is a great way to further your career in Brazil. Doing research for jobs on Google and social networking is a good way to start looking for work. Salaries are good in larger urban cities like Rio de Janiero and Sao Paulo, however the cost of living will be high as well. Unless you get a highly skilled field, you will not be pay your monthly expenses or return home with a good saving. So good research and planning is needed for a job hunt. 

Teaching English is something you can do on a tourist Visa and Language Schools hire teachers like this. Though technically this is not legal, and it does come up with some risk. Many Brazilians are interested to learn English so they can do business internationally and often need to practice their language skills.  TEFL academy offers programs on English teaching offers guidance and jobs in this field. 

Hospitality jobs are popular here especially in cities like Rio de Janeiro. Many Multinational companies are based in Brazil’s largest city, Sau Paulo, where there is a greater scope of Jobs.  Highly skilled workers in the engineering and energy fields also have great opportunities here. Jobs in the engineering field are long-term commitments. Speaking Portuguese isn’t always a requirement for these jobs, but knowing it to some extent will surely be of advantage.

Sports is another unlikely job field that you could ever think of job. Data Journalist for Sports Events, Stadium Reporter etc.

Unemployment rate 

The average unemployment rate among Brazil’s population is 13.67% approximately. It was 14.60% in May 2021 which dropped from the previous month figure of 14.70%. The unemployment rate was the highest during the coronavirus period when some 4.9 million people had to leave workforce pushing the labor force participation to an all-time low. 

Recent improvement in the unemployment rate in Brazil was the due to the economic growth and it is expected to decrease annually. It is said that product, inflation and exports cause the level of unemployment in Brazil. Inflation takes precedence at level 1% while exports has a significance of 5%. 

Economy  

Brazil has a stable and growing economy, however inflation and disruptions caused by the Russia-Ukraine war have placed Brazil on an uneasy economic tide. Brazil is member of the so-called BRIC countries who has a fast-growing economy. During the past it has maintained one of the highest levels of productivity globally, having to produce billions of dollars in goods and services and therefore placed itself as one of the largest economies not only in the Americas but also in the world. 

Brazil’s debt-to-GDP ratio is roughly 60% (ideal for a developing country) and substantially improved over the past several years, basically due to the increase in the country’s GDP. In 2020 the GDP of Brazil was approx. 1.45 trillion US dollars. It ranked 2^nd among India, Russia & China in that year. 

Read on the latest economic situations in Brazil on www2.deloitte.com

Renting and buying of real estates for foreigners

In spite of the high cost of living in large cities, expats want to live in Rio de Janeiro or Sau Paulo. However, expats are now occupying in smaller cities like Belem and Manaus where the cost of living is comparatively low than large cities. For example, an average apartment in Rio de Janeiro will cost R$2690 whereas in Belem it will cost R$1410

Renting:     

There are options that you can choose from:

1. Private Rentals – directly from the owner
2. Assisted Private Rentals – help from an agent / short term rental through a company. 

People prefer Private Rentals as owners are very flexible than agents and companies. For long term rentals, two- or three-months rents has to be paid as deposits when signing a contract. Interestingly by law, the landlord or the owner is required to put the deposit money is a separate savings account and at the end of the contracts returns the money along with the interest earned to you.

For a short-term rental, only monthly payments are required. A form of Guarantee (co-signor or a large deposit) is also required as per law. The contract also requires to be notarized in Brazil.  The rent does not include electricity and water charges. However, there are apartments (Condo) which covers the cost of basic amenities like electricity, water, cleaning & maintenance of common spaces. Tax is also paid on rentals, which is usually paid by the landlord or the owner and included in the rental cost.

The following two online sites will help you to get the best rental apartment:

OLX  and Vivanuncios

Buying: 

There are no restrictions for foreigners to buy a land in Brazil. Any types of land like the beachfront properties, houses or Condos can be purchased. They have the same rights as the Brazilians. There are however, restrictions on buying large piece of lands in rural regions for agriculture purpose.   

Buying a real estate in Brazil requires a good, competent Lawyer. It is necessary to make an offer and come to a particular term agreed upon. A tax card known as the “CPF” giving the tax ID must be made. A title insurance is a must to buy land in different country where there are unfamiliar legal requirements. Usually the agent can obtain it Free of cost as a part of the transaction. The contract is made by the agent/attorney in Portuguese language. It is good to get it translated into English for you, so you are aware of all the terms. The contract must be signed by the seller and is executed in the presence of document notary and then payment is made as per the contract. Registration is done with a property notary. The payment of the land is directly transferred to the seller. Transfer tax of 2% of the value of the property is also charged.

Climate 

Brazil is huge extended over a large region and therefore experiences different climate in different regions, like equatorial, tropical and sub-tropical (Mediterranean) climate. Brazil is located in the southern hemisphere, so the seasons are the opposite as in the northern hemisphere. December to March is summer and May to September is Winter. 

Northern and Central Brazil experiences equatorial and tropical climates with frequent rainfall and higher temperatures. Southern Brazil has a humid subtropical climate. Northeast Brazil has a semi-arid climate which receives rain less than 700 mm per year.   

To find out the climate and temperatures in the major cities of Brazil, please visit: www.climatestotravel.com

Languages 

Portuguese is the official language of Brazil which is spoken by 97.9% population. German is the second most widely spoken language in Brazil. The Germans immigrants who arrived in Brazil in the 1940s brought German language since then and have maintained the language till now and about 1.9% population speak German. 

English and Spanish are the other two major languages that are spoken here. Italian, French and German are also spoken mainly in the tourist areas. 

There are number of indigenous languages spoken in Brazil. It is estimated that more than 200 indigenous languages are spoken here mostly in the northern regions spoken by some 40,000 natives. Nheengatu is one of them, which is an official language in São Gabriel da Cachoeira. The Portuguese language spoken in Portugal and in Brazil have some colloquial differences. In Brazil each state has a different accent of the language. From the north to the south, there are  variations which are Brazilian dialects. 

To know about some of the Dialects around Brazil, please visit: www.babbel.com

Traffic 

Congestion and Lengthy transit time are the two things experienced in Brazils major cities. For example, Rio de Janeiro is ranked as the third most congested city. If you plan to drive in Brazil, the International Driving Permit (IDP) is legally required. Make sure you keep a navigation or a Map to guide you. Some city roads are well-maintained, however the further you travel in the city the terrain become difficult. Always make sure if in remote areas the roads are accessible by motor vehicle, if not you will be fined for breaking the rules. Always remember to keep the windows closed to keep yourself safe from criminals. Keep emergency phone numbers local authorities’ numbers handy. The fastest way to get assistance in case of accidents or emergency anywhere in the country is to dial “193”.

In Brazil it’s a crime to run out of gas, so make sure your motor car has gas filled in the tank. Traffic offenses have severe penalties, e.g. in case of accidents that results in death or injury, you may be charged with criminal penalties along with fine.

For more information on Brazil’s traffic, please visit: www.angloinfo.com

Currency

Real, is the official currency of Brazil.  Each real (plural:reais) is divided into 100 centavos. The currency is available in Banknotes and coins which are issued by the Central Bank of Brazil. The symbol is R$ and the ISO code is BRL.

The Real is available in banknotes in the following denominations:
R$2, R$5, R$10, R$20, R$50 & R$100 

The Real is available in coins in the following denominations:
1 centavo, 5 centavos, 10 centavos, 25 centavos, 50 centavos & R$1

To get more information on the Brazilian Real and the exchange value, please visit: www.globalexchange.es

Payment Transaction 

The payment through the following methods are accepted in Brazil: 

• Visa
• Mastercard
• Boleto Bancário
• American Express
• ELO
• Hipercard 

Major payment transactions are made by Credit Cards in Brazil. People in Brazil prefer to use credit cards for all online payments. The local card ELO is also becoming popular and is third in market share following Visa and Mastercard. The ELO is a local Brazilian prepaid credit/debit payment card issued by member banks. It can be used at ATM’s & outlets across Brazil.

Boleto Bancário payment methods is becoming more popular in Brazil. It works similar to that of wire transfer or cash payment methods. A boleto literally means “a Ticket”. Customers use the Boleto Bancário payment slip given by the bank for any payments at ATMs, any banks, or Post office, Lottery Agent stores, Supermarkets, and via a mobile app. 

Read more on the payment methods of Brazil, please visit: rioandlearn.com

Cost of living in Brazil  

The cost of living in Brazil is lower than most of the first world countries. Food and common utilities are much cheaper and half of what they cost in the US to compare. Seafood, Fresh fruits and meats are readily and reasonably available in all parts of the country. Groceries are inexpensive and your bill can remain small if you buy local produce and not imported goods. A 1.5 litre bottle of water will be around 60 cents. Alcohol is very cheap here and is available in the grocery shop. A half litre of local beer will cost $1 and a imported beer can go upto $2.50. 

Cost of living largely depends on whether you rent a high-rise apartment in Rio or a basic home in the country-side. 

The rent of a Shared home will be $250 whereas the rent of large apartment will be $900 and luxury apartment will be $1500.  A private apartment will be approximately $700. Since public transport usually becomes crowded, many prefer Taxi Ride or Rent a Car or Scooter. A Taxi ride from the Airport to the city will be $10. Scooter(50cc) Rent per month will be $950.

For the latest cost of items and products in Brazil, please visit: www.numbeo.com

Taxes   

The tax rate is high in Brazil. The local residents are taxed on their worldwide income and the non-residents are taxed at source on their Brazilian sourced income. The tax rate for foreign nationals is 25% on earned income and 15% on unearned income. They do not have to file and annual tax return.  The personal or individual income tax rate is progressive from 0% to 27.5% shared into three brackets, based on monthly income on a yearly basis.

There are several types of reductions available for taxpayers in Brazil depending on the regime of the declaration and whether it is simplified or complete:

• Payments made to educational expenses, up to an annual limit of BRL2,198 ($1,266)
• Brazilian Private Pension Plan contributions, up to 12% of gross income
• Social security rates
• Donations, certain school fees, medical expenses, etc. (20% maximum of the global annual income)

Corporate, social security, tax on rental, capital gains, Inheritance/Wealth tax, VAT/Excise Tax and Municipal/local tax are other types of taxes that are levied in Brazil.

To know more in details about the Taxes in Brazil, please visit: www2.deloitte.com

Health Insurance  

Brazil provides free health services for foreigners, especially tourists. You can dial the Mobile emergency Medical Services Toll-free number 192 in case you are involved in an accident or fall sick and need urgent medical assistance.  

Private medical costs are quite high; however, the healthcare insurance is affordable and provides good coverage. There are many insurance companies in Brazil to choose from. There are basically four principal types of medical plans to choose from:

Private health insurance
Prepaid group practice
Medical cooperatives
Company health plans

Summary

Brazil is the largest Portuguese speaking nation in the world. It has the largest population and area in South America and the Latin American region. Brazil is a founding member of the United Nations and a member of the G20. It is a member of BRIC group, made up of the four fastest growing major economies: Brazil, Russia, India and China.  Brazil has the best beaches in the world. Fortaleza, the capital city with beautiful in-city beaches has attracted a lot of tourism, which has jumped 25% in less than 2 years. Joao Pessoa, is the easternmost city in the western hemisphere, is known as the city “where the sun rises first” and is also the world’s second greenest, cleanest and safest city, which covers almost 1300 acres of Atlantic Rainforest within the city’s limit. Rio de Janeiro, most popular tourist destination in Brazil, not the safest place to live in but does provide plenty of job opportunities.