Just Landed in Brazil? Your First 7 Days

Mobile coverage is good across cities and 5G is now widely available in major metros, with Vivo generally rated best for reliability and Claro and TIM close behind. Prepaid plans (pré-pago) dominate for newcomers and require a CPF to activate, while contract plans (pós-pago) need a bank account and address. Fixed home broadband from Vivo Fibra, Claro/NET or regional fibre providers is fast and cheap by international standards, but installation appointments can take one to two weeks.

Typical cost: Prepaid plans from around R$30 to R$60 per month; home fibre from roughly R$80 to R$150 per month for 300-500 Mbps.

Brazil is largely cashless in cities thanks to Pix and contactless cards, but keep some cash for small vendors, markets and tips. The real is volatile against major currencies, so watch exchange rates when transferring money in and consider services like Wise or Nomad rather than a traditional bank wire, which can carry poor rates and high spreads.

Opening an account: Traditional banks (Itaú, Bradesco, Banco do Brasil, Santander) require a CPF and often proof of residence and a valid visa/CRNM, and branch appointments can be slow. Digital banks Nubank, Inter and C6 Bank are far easier for newcomers and open accounts entirely through the app once you have a CPF, usually within a day or two, with free Pix and contactless cards included.

Cash: Cards and Pix are accepted almost everywhere, but keep small notes for feiras (street markets), some taxis and neighbourhood shops. Many places give a discount for paying by Pix or cash instead of card, and small vendors may add a surcharge for card payments. Contactless (aproximação) is standard in shops and on many transport systems.

Tipping: A 10% service charge (serviço) is usually added to restaurant bills and is customary to pay, though not legally mandatory; extra tipping is not expected. Rounding up for taxis, delivery riders and hairdressers is appreciated but optional, and there is no strong tipping culture in bars or cafés.

If you enter on a residence visa or receive a residence authorisation, you must register with the Federal Police (Polícia Federal) to obtain your CRNM (Carteira de Registro Nacional Migratório, the national migration registration card). This is separate from and additional to the CPF: the CPF makes you a taxpayer, while the CRNM makes your residency official and serves as your Brazilian ID. Registration involves an in-person appointment, biometrics (fingerprints and photo), payment of federal fees (GRU), and submission of your documents. Missing the deadline can trigger fines, so book the appointment early because slots fill up.

Deadline: Within 90 days of entering Brazil (or of receiving your residence authorisation) for most residence-visa holders; confirm the exact term stamped in your passport, as short-stay tourists do not register.

Where: Polícia Federal, via an appointment booked online through the Federal Police (Polícia Federal) website, attended in person at a designated unit.

Big cities have metro, bus and, in São Paulo and Rio, integrated urban rail (CPTM and SuperVia), but coverage is patchy outside central zones and app-based ride-hailing is the default for most newcomers. Distances are large and traffic is heavy, so factor in generous extra time, especially in São Paulo where a cross-town trip can take over an hour. Rechargeable transit cards (Bilhete Único in São Paulo, RioCard in Rio) cover metro and bus and are worth getting early.

From the airport: From São Paulo's Guarulhos (GRU), take the Airport Bus Service or CPTM Line 13-Jade train to Engenheiro Goulart then connect to the metro, or use an Uber/99 to central São Paulo for roughly R$90 to R$150 depending on traffic. From Rio's Galeão (GIG), the premium airport buses (BRT and executive lines) run to the Zona Sul, and a ride-hail to Copacabana or Ipanema costs about R$70 to R$120. Avoid unofficial taxi touts inside terminals; book through an app or use the official taxi desk.

Most newcomers rent through immobiliárias (agencies) or platforms like QuintoAndar, Zap Imóveis, VivaReal and OLX; furnished short-term flats are common in São Paulo and Rio. Traditional leases demand a Brazilian guarantor (fiador), a deposit, or a paid guarantee (seguro-fiança), which digital platforms like QuintoAndar largely sidestep by acting as guarantor themselves, making them the easiest route for foreigners without local ties. Always view a property in person and verify the agency before paying anything.

Typical rent: A one-bedroom flat runs roughly R$1,800 to R$3,500 per month in central São Paulo or Rio, less in smaller cities and the northeast, more in prime Zona Sul or Jardins addresses. Watch for condomínio (building maintenance fee) and IPTU (property tax), which are usually charged on top of headline rent and can add several hundred reais.

Deposit norm: Traditional leases may ask for a deposit (caução) of up to three months' rent, or a fiador or seguro-fiança guarantee instead. Platform rentals often waive the deposit in exchange for a small monthly service fee, and standard contracts run 30 months with rules protecting tenants against early termination penalties.

Brazil has a free universal public system (SUS) available to everyone on its territory, including foreigners, but public hospitals are stretched and non-emergency waits can be long. Most expats and middle-class Brazilians rely on private clinics and hospitals via health insurance (plano de saúde) for faster access, English-speaking doctors in some cases, and better facilities. Pharmacies (Drogasil, Droga Raia, Pacheco) are plentiful, well stocked and can dispense many medicines and give basic advice without an appointment.

How to access it: For SUS, register at your local UBS (Unidade Básica de Saúde) with an ID and proof of address to get a Cartão SUS; emergencies are treated at any UPA or hospital regardless of paperwork or nationality. For private care, book directly with clinics or through your insurer's app, and note that many private hospitals such as Albert Einstein or Sírio-Libanês in São Paulo are excellent but expensive without insurance.

Insurance: Private plans from Amil, Bradesco Saúde, SulAmérica or Hapvida cost roughly R$300 to R$800+ per month depending on age, city and coverage, with older applicants paying considerably more. Many employers include a plano de saúde as a benefit, so check your contract before buying your own.

• Greetings are warm and physical: a handshake or, between women or a man and woman, a kiss on the cheek (one, two or three depending on the region).
• Punctuality is relaxed socially; arriving 15 to 30 minutes late to a party or dinner is normal, though business meetings expect more timeliness and a firm handshake.
• Learn a few Portuguese phrases and never assume Spanish will do; Brazilians appreciate the effort, and even clumsy Portuguese earns goodwill.
• Brazilians are friendly and tactile in conversation, standing closer and touching arms more than northern Europeans or North Americans; do not back away, as it can read as cold.
• Small talk, warmth and personal connection come before business; jumping straight to the deal without pleasantries feels rude.
• Accept food and drink when offered at someone's home, and bring a small gift such as wine, dessert or flowers if invited to dinner.
• Dress with care, as appearance matters socially and professionally; Brazilians tend to be well groomed even in casual settings.

• Do not flash phones, jewellery or laptops in the street, on buses or at traffic lights, especially in São Paulo and Rio.
• Do not speak Spanish expecting to be understood, and avoid confusing Brazilian identity with Argentine, Portuguese or generic 'Latino' stereotypes.
• Avoid walking in unfamiliar or quiet areas at night, and be cautious near favela borders unless you genuinely know the area and are with locals.
• Steer clear of casual jokes about Brazilian politics, corruption or football rivalries until you know your audience, as these can be surprisingly heated.
• Do not make the 'OK' hand sign (thumb and forefinger circle), which is considered offensive in Brazil.