Moving to Brazil From US

Full-Service Relocation Support

Moving to Brazil from the US is an exciting step toward a new adventure—but it takes careful planning. Whether you’re relocating for work, family, or lifestyle, Earthrelo makes your international move smooth and stress-free. From handling paperwork and shipping your household goods to guiding you through Brazilian customs, we’re your trusted relocation partner every step of the way.

However, if you are Emigrating / moving To Brazil From US, you need to do thorough homework. Being a top moving company that provides a set of relocation services, here we present you with a comprehensive country profile with visa requirements and the job market of Brazil. Let’s dive into Brazil!

Moving to Brazil from the US offers more than just a change in scenery—it’s an opportunity to embrace a vibrant lifestyle, lower living costs, and unique personal or professional growth. Whether you’re an early retiree, a remote worker, or simply seeking a cultural shift, Brazil continues to attract American expats with its dynamic mix of opportunity and adventure.

Lower Cost of Living

One of the biggest advantages of moving abroad to Brazil is the lower cost of living compared to many cities in the U.S. Everyday expenses like housing, groceries, public transportation, and healthcare are generally more affordable, especially in smaller cities or rural areas. This appeals to retirees and families looking to stretch their budgets without sacrificing quality of life.

Vibrant Culture and Language

From samba to soccer, Brazil’s culture is lively, colorful, and deeply rooted in community. Learning Portuguese not only helps you adapt more easily but also opens doors to building deeper relationships. For those curious about how to move to Brazil, embracing the language and culture is a vital and rewarding part of the experience.

Retirement Opportunities

Brazil has become a growing destination for American retirees looking for tropical weather, relaxed living, and access to natural beauty. With visa options like the retirement visa (for those with passive income), it’s increasingly realistic to make Brazil your long-term home. Many American expats in Brazil enjoy beachfront towns, slower-paced lifestyles, and affordable healthcare services.

Business and Digital Nomad Lifestyle

Brazil’s largest cities—like São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Florianópolis—offer a growing infrastructure for startups, freelancers, and remote workers. Wi-Fi availability, co-working spaces, and an increasingly digital economy make the country an attractive spot for digital nomads moving abroad to Brazil to work while exploring a new continent.

Expats Destination

São Paulo

It is one of the largest Brazilian Cities. By far, São Paulo is the ultimate expat destination in the country. São Paulo is home to around 20 million people. Apart from being the financial and economic center of Brazil, São Paulo has a massive bunch of multinational headquarters.

Rio De Janeiro

This is Brazil’s other popular and notorious metropolitan city. Although it is slightly lagging as compared to São Paulo in popularity, Rio de Janeiro is known as the most visited and loved city in the South. However, it had a low employment facility and opportunity for foreigners. If you settle in this city, you can work in the petrochemical sector or other significant industries, or you can survive by teaching English.

Brasília

Being a capital city, Brasília is a political center. The community here involves journalists, diplomatic staff, and several foreign correspondents. Brasília is quite small as compared to São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro with a mere 2.6 million residents.

Macaé

It is the center of the petroleum industry of Brazil. It holds a huge demand for foreign experts in the industry. If you are English speaking candidate, this city is for you. It mainly consists of English-speaking expats. The infrastructure of expats is amazing as well. It has phenomenal international schools.

Some other excellent expat destinations are coastal cities like Porto Alegre, Fortaleza, and Recife. Please put consideration for the same when moving to Brazil.

When moving to Brazil, if you visit Brazil on a tourist visa, it is valid for 90 days. Although getting a tourist visa is easy, achieving a work visa includes complex processes. It includes a long process and lots of paperwork.
Brazil’s foreign visa differs in 2 categories: short-term visas and long-term/permanent visas. Short-term visas usually comprise business visas and tourist visas, while permanent visas are for expats who intend to move across country and settle in Brazil.

Type of Visas for Moving to Brazil:

Short-term Visa

Business visas are ideal for short-term business trips only. These visas do not allow you to take up or join any work in Brazil.

Long-term Visa

Several types of temporary visas including artist visas, volunteers, exchange students, researchers, artists, and religious missionaries can be issued for an extended period.

Temporary Visa

If you are immigrating / moving to Brazil from US for living and working, you can apply for a V category temporary visa (VITERM) or permanent visa (VIPER). These category V Temporary visas are allowed for those who have signed a temporary contract of employment with a Brazilian organization already. This visa is valid for 2 years. Although, it can be extended once. However, note that temporary work visas are entirely focused, limited, and specified to a particular position. During this phase, the holder cannot switch jobs while staying in the country. Once the employment contract expires, holders cannot remain in the country.

Permanent Visa

If you are immigrating / moving to Brazil from US, try applying for a permanent visa. Although it can be difficult, a permanent visa allows you to switch jobs during your stay. Permanent visas are specifically for people who wish to start their business in Brazil. However, they need to have good financial capital.

To get verified for a permanent visa, you need to have a police certificate that shows zero criminal records. Another excellent point is expats who can speak Portuguese can get a permanent visa for 5 years if they invest BRL 150,000 in Brazil. After 5 years, the visa becomes valid for renewal if the holder creates employment for 10 Brazilian citizens.

Healthcare In Brazil Vs. US

One of the few countries that offer free universal access to all medical care in Brazil. It is one of the best healthcare systems in the world. Any resident of Brazil staying legally can completely enjoy exceptional hospital treatment, medical consultations, and surgeries by the Sistema Único de Saude – SUS (public health system) for absolutely zero cost. Although waiting at public hospitals is extremely time-consuming and tiring, it is said that this system is underfunded.

However, the private healthcare system in Brazil has gained a considerable reputation for securing the most expensive healthcare in Latin America. In case your company does not offer any private healthcare insurance, you need to at least pay a good BRL 8000 per year to get this service. Hence, before immigrating / moving to Brazil from US, make sure you own enough private health insurance as the costs are quite high. Although, the best part is, Brazil is known for being home to the best and high-quality healthcare and doctors, especially in the surgical and dental field, at a global level.

Most expats moving to Brazil, purchase a car once they enter Brazil. However, because of high taxes in Brazil, cars are expensive. But, purchasing a new car can be easier as well as cheaper than importing one from your homeland.

This is because you need to pay a considerable import tax as well as shipping costs. Used vehicles are allowed to import on several conditions as well. Some include imports leading from donations, antique cars which have 30 years of age or older for collection purposes, cars imported by diplomats or staff members, or inherited vehicles.

Driving In Brazil

When moving to Brazil as a foreigner, you can drive your vehicle in the country only with a proper driver’s license abroad for up to 6 months. Later, you are required to apply for a local license in Brazil. The exam will be conducted in Portuguese and it will involve psychological as well as a medical examination.

Generally, the speed limit in Brazil are

• 110km/h on national roads,
• 80km/h on open roads
• 60km/h in built-in areas.

You need to be extremely careful if you drink. Brazil has a Dry Law, (Lei Seca). This indicates that the legal blood alcohol limit is quite low with 20mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood(0.02%). In case you get caught, you will be charged a high fine.

The basic and primary level of education in Brazil starts with Educação Infantil. It is a preschool that involves kindergartens and daycare centers for children up to 3 years of age. The preschool belongs to children of 4-6 years age group. Mandatory schooling begins at this stage. Every child attends the elementary and middle school, Ensino Fundamental for the next 9 years.

Public pre-schools do not charge anything. However, they are overcrowded and poorly managed. Expats can only send their children to public preschool if they have enough knowledge of Portuguese. Initially, they are required to crack the adaptação exam conducted by the school. Several private schools are famous as well. They are run by Catholic churches.

After completing this stage of education, students shift to grab Ensino Médio(high school= education for the next 3 years. Maximum expats who can afford it, send their kids to private schools.

Notwithstanding the system, Brazilian students must have 200 days of school every year both in public as well as private. The academic year begins in February until July when it is a holiday month. Gradually, the second term starts in August and ends in December.

Shipping household goods to Brazil is a key part of planning your international relocation. Whether you’re moving a few essentials or a full container’s worth of belongings, understanding the shipping process helps avoid delays, surprises, and extra costs. Earthrelo’s experienced team makes the process smooth, compliant, and stress-free—so your belongings arrive safely and on time.

How Long Does Shipping Take?

The typical shipping time from the U.S. to Brazil is 4 to 8 weeks, depending on factors like:

• Your departure and destination ports
• Whether you’re using consolidated or direct shipping
• Customs clearance timelines

Delays can occur during customs inspections or peak seasons, so early planning is essential.

Full Container Load (FCL) vs. Less than Container Load (LCL)

Earthrelo offers flexible shipping options based on your needs and budget:

• FCL (Full Container Load): Ideal if you’re moving an entire household. You’ll have exclusive use of a 20- or 40-foot container, offering faster transit and minimal handling.
• LCL (Less than Container Load): Best for smaller shipments. Your items share container space with other shipments, which is more cost-effective but may take slightly longer.

Not sure which is right for you? Earthrelo’s team can guide you based on your inventory, timeline, and destination.

Packing Tips for Brazil’s Climate

Brazil’s climate varies from tropical to temperate, so it’s important to pack accordingly:

• Use moisture-resistant materials to prevent mold and mildew in humid regions.
• Avoid using cardboard for long-term storage unless reinforced.
• Label boxes clearly in both English and Portuguese if possible.
• Use sealed plastic bins for electronics and documents.

Earthrelo also offers professional packing services to ensure everything is secured, inventoried, and customs-ready.

Restricted and Prohibited Items in Brazil

Brazil has strict regulations on what can and cannot be imported. Common restricted or prohibited items include:

• Firearms and ammunition
• Fresh food, seeds, and plants
• Medications without prescriptions
• Used tires or auto parts
• Certain electronics without proper certification

Before shipping household goods to Brazil, our relocation specialists will review your inventory to flag any issues and help prepare the required documentation for Brazilian customs.

Understanding the cost of moving to Brazil from the US is a critical part of planning your international relocation. While prices vary widely depending on your situation, having a clear idea of what affects costs—and how to manage them—can help you budget smarter and avoid unnecessary expenses.

What Affects the Cost?

Several key factors influence your total moving cost:

• Distance Between Cities: Shipping from New York to Rio de Janeiro may cost less than from Los Angeles to São Paulo due to port proximity and routes.
• Shipment Size and Weight: A full household move in a 40-foot container will cost more than a partial shipment using shared space (LCL).
• Type of Service: Full-service moves with packing, unpacking, and door-to-door delivery cost more than port-to-port or self-packed options.
• Customs and Import Fees: Brazil has strict import regulations and may apply duties depending on your visa type and shipment contents.
• Time of Year: Peak seasons (usually summer months) can raise prices due to demand and container availability.

At Earthrelo, we tailor every quote to your exact needs—ensuring no surprise charges.

Cost-Saving Tips

Looking to reduce your cost of moving to Brazil without cutting corners? Try these smart strategies:

• Consolidate Your Shipment: Share a container (LCL) with other clients if you’re moving fewer items.
• Declutter Before You Move: Reducing volume lowers weight-based and space-based shipping fees.
• Choose Off-Peak Seasons: Avoid summer and end-of-year holidays for lower rates and quicker availability.
• Pack Yourself (If Safe): Self-packing can reduce labor costs, though it may not be advisable for fragile or high-value items.
• Work With a Trusted International Mover: A company like Earthrelo helps you avoid unexpected customs delays and fees, saving money in the long run.

Planning your relocation can feel overwhelming, but having a clear plan makes everything easier. This Move to Brazil checklist highlights the essential steps to take before, during, and after your move. Following it will help you stay organized, reduce stress, and make your transition to life in Brazil smoother.

Key Steps Before You Move

• Gather Required Documents: Ensure your passport is valid, apply for the correct visa, and collect important records such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, and school transcripts.
• Research Brazilian Customs Rules: Familiarize yourself with import restrictions, prohibited items, and duties to avoid delays or unexpected fees.
• Book an International Moving Company: Secure a reliable partner like Earthrelo to handle shipping, packing, and customs clearance.
• Notify Banks and Schools: Inform financial institutions of your move, transfer school records for children, and update subscriptions or memberships.
• Arrange Housing in Brazil: Whether renting or buying, confirm your new address before shipping belongings to ensure smooth delivery.

Additional To-Do Items

• Cancel or transfer U.S. utilities and services.
• Update your mailing address with the postal service.
• Research healthcare options in Brazil and ensure insurance coverage.
• Learn basic Portuguese phrases for daily communication.
• Set up an international phone plan or research Brazilian mobile providers.

Being a perfect destination for expats, relocating from US to Brazil has never been easier. With our reliable, cost-effective, and array of relocation services, our phenomenal team of experts is all set to get your relocation going. Providing the best reliable and professional packing, moving, and organizing services, our team of advisors guides you when you plan to move across country. Connect with us today to kickstart your excellent expat adventure thereby saving your time, money, and stress!