Moving to Brazil made easy
Moving out of your country and going to live in another one is a process. It is going to be filled with joy, sweat, excitement, tears and occasional doubt. Above all, it is going to represent an opportunity that shouldn’t be missed and a is a giant leap of faith. Circumstances under which people decide to move to a different country are always different. They can represent work opportunities on one hand and can go up to love interest on the other. Naturally, it is important to get familiar with the place that you’re moving to. Let’s take a closer look at what you need to know before embarking on the adventure of moving to Brazil.
Which city are you moving to in Brazil?
Brazil is a very large country whose one aspect is reflected in some of the most amazing natural wonders you’ll find on planet Earth. On the other end of the spectrum, you’ll find Brazilian culture. While Brazilians don’t treat nature differently in any specific way from the rest of the nations on our planet, we could say that they tend to live in a symbiosis with what surrounds them. This means that in coastal areas, people tend to be less formal about their business and attire. On the contrary, should you find yourself in a rural place high up in the mountains you’ll get to experience a different culture of the largest country in South America. Therefore, make sure you prepare your clothes and expectations accordingly.
Moving to Rio de Janeiro
Rio is one of the most famous Brazilian cities and one of the most famous cities in the world. Located on the Atlantic coast of Brazil, life in Rio revolves around its beaches. Still, mountains around it offer nice ideas for escapades and views of the city from above.
The vibe of Rio de Janeiro is probably different than anything you’ve felt so far
However, life in Rio for a foreigner can be filled with challenges. Locals are used to the pace of it and ways of making stuff work or happen. Still, the biggest issue for a foreigner represents the crime rate, which is pretty high throughout the country. Therefore, look for accommodation and school for your children close to your workplace. Choose a good neighborhood to live in when moving to Rio de Janeiro and you will feel as safe as possible.
Living in Sao Paulo
Apart from Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo is also filled with foreigners. As a matter of a fact, Sao Paolo has the biggest economy in the country, while Rio follows closely. Thus, moving to Sao Paulo to work for your company should come as no surprise. Just like Rio’s, Sao Paulo’s issues include mainly crime, poverty, traffic congestion and lack of public services. Still, this is a vibrant and cosmopolitan city that can take time to get used to. Once you do, you’ll feel at home.
Sao Paulo is the biggest city in Brazil
How important is it to learn Portuguese when moving to Brazil?
Depending on the area that you’re moving to, the importance of knowing Portuguese will vary. Now, don’t take this lightly. In large cities, you could manage with English if you’re a tourist. Given the fact that you are relocating to Brazil to live there, you’ll need to know more than that in order to integrate into the society. Our suggestion, as international movers Brazil, is to start learning as soon as possible.
Knowing Portuguese when moving to Brazil is essential for daily chores
Apart from helping you obtain work once you’ve relocated to Brazil, learning local language will make your daily life easier. It will put you in contact will common people giving you insider’s ability to know how Brazilians think. Additionally, don’t expect your mailman, doorman or any government clerk to speak English. You’ll probably be needing governmental services, so get serious about your Portuguese skills.
One of the key skills in living in Brazil is knowing the local language
Career opportunities in Brazil
Brazil is the largest country in South America and moving there for work is a common thing. With its large cities and untamed nature, Brazil has plenty to offer for everyone. However, unless you already have a job offer because of which you are moving to Brazil, there is at least one prerequisite you need to fulfill before you can hope to get employed: you need to learn the Portuguese language. We wouldn’t want to discourage anyone from pursuing their dreams. Job opportunities are there in Brazil, waiting, but minimum requirements need to be met.
Learning Portuguese for work purposes before moving to Brazil
We cannot still haven’t been able to stress enough the importance of knowing the local language when you are moving to Brazil and looking for work. First of all, given its size, the economic market of Brazil is very big. This means that domestic companies don’t necessarily need to export in order to make a profit. Naturally, exporting is hailed because it brings foreign money into the country. Still, it can be difficult to find employment that requires only the use of English or Spanish in Brazil. Therefore, if you’re not highly skilled at what you do, you’d better enroll in language classes before you arrive.
Will Spanish help you make it through moving to Brazil?
Being a couple out of five major Romance languages, Spanish and Portuguese are somewhat similar. Still, don’t expect that knowledge of Spanish will make much difference once you’ve arrived in Brazil. Up to a certain extent yes, you will find the knowledge of Spanish beneficial. However, the major difference between these two languages is in their pronunciation. While natives in Portuguese will probably understand what you want to ask, don’t expect to be able to talk to them in more detail unless you learn Portuguese.
You may end up speaking Portunhol in the beginning after moving to Brazil
In case you speak Spanish, Portunhol could be one of the phases that you’ll go through in your learning process. Portunhol represents a mixture of Portuguese and Spanish languages and can often be heard on bordering regions. Don’t be afraid of it. Teachers usually encourage their students to interchange words between two languages in case they don’t know a word in the language they want to learn. Therefore, should you find yourself in a situation when you’re missing a noun or a verb in Portuguese, don’t hesitate to use its Spanish version. It is just a word and locals might just understand you.
Securing housing in Brazil
Finding housing in a good neighborhood can be difficult
Securing housing before you start moving to Brazil is obviously very important. In the beginning, you may stay in a hotel while you look around for a flat. Bear in mind that hotels can be expensive and, depending on the luggage you’re taking with you, it could prove to be impractical for you to stay in one for long.
Our suggestion would be to come to Brazil prior to the move and have a look at neighborhoods that you find interesting to live in. Whenever you decide to go looking for a flat, you should google information about particular neighborhoods since crime represents a serious issue in Brazil.
Housing costs
Housing is significantly cheaper in Brazil than in the USA. Now, depending on one’s age, housing preferences may be different. Still, you can count on rents to be half of their price in the US, to say the least. In case you’re a young person not looking for extravagant accommodation, living in a small, cost-friendly apartment may be the right choice for you. If you would like to arrive prepared, you can take a look online at what kind of flats are offered in Brazil. This way, once you arrive, you can start visiting them as soon as you land.
Brazil is generally cheaper than the USA
Bear in mind that, just like in the US, you’ll probably need to pay first and last month’s rents up front and leave a deposit. Given the fact that you’re a foreigner and a fresh one, make sure you sign a contract with the landlord to protect yourself and your money.
Moving to Brazil made easy
No move is going to be a piece of cake, but it can be simplified. Here are a few tips on how to make your moving to Brazil as easy as possible.
Create a To-do list
Just like any other relocation process, it is good to have a To-do list that you can check when you’re moving to Brazil. Depending on how much time you have to prepare for the move, your to-do list should be divided into segments.
Moving to Brazil for work purposes
Your passport must be valid for more than 6 months prior to you entering the country
In case you already have a job and are moving to Brazil to work for your current company, we’re guessing that your employer will take care of all the paperwork and visa issues. Because of that, we’ll take it for granted that you’ve provided your employer with your passport information. Make sure your passport is not expiring in less than 6 months. If it is, then apply for a new one, otherwise, you may have visa issues.
If you’re moving to Brazil without having a secured job, make sure to read the upper part of this text and start polishing your Portuguese talking skills. Once you’ve done that, define where exactly you want to move to. Afterward, go online and try looking for jobs in the area of your expertise. It would be best if you could set up a couple of interviews before you arrive so you don’t spend too much money before securing any income.
Still, one of the key elements to finding a job in Brazil is knowing people. In case you don’t manage to get your foot in the door before you arrive there, try to meet locals and tell them your story. You just might come across someone-who-knows-someone who could use your help.
Obtaining a visa
Securing a job will allow applying for a work visa. This should be done as soon as possible since your application can take time to process. More often than not the outcome is negative and the whole process can take a month to complete. Hence, applying for a visa sooner rather than later is of utmost importance. One of the crucial documents you’re going to need is CPF or Individual Taxpayer Registration. Make sure you have everything you need to apply for it. Also, check other documents you need to apply for different types of visa.
Patience is key when living in Brazil
In a certain sense, lifestyle in Brazil can be compared to the Mediterranean one. People are pretty laid back and especially so in the sense of time. Don’t expect Brazilians to show up on time. Also, don’t expect to get stuff done in public administration quickly. Therefore, having all the patience of the world will be your greatest ally at the beginning of your new life. Later, you’ll get a hang of it. Eventually, you will learn when you should show up if a date is set for 8 pm.
Get health insurance before moving to Brazil
Healthcare in Brazil is free for all residents. Nevertheless, health care quality is still low, so we’d suggest you get international health insurance. This way, if you end up needing to see a doctor, you’d be able to get better and quicker care in private practices than at government hospitals.
Contract a reliable moving company to help you relocate
A reliable moving company is the key to easy moving to Brazil
The key to easy moving to Brazil is having professionals take care of your stuff. Since you’re probably going to be moving continents, you’ll surely go to take a lot of your belongings with you. You might as well bring your car over. Therefore, open your eyes and choose the best moving company there is.
With all the integration into the society, looking for job, school, and accommodation for your kids, if you’re bringing any with you, you’ll need a piece of mind to get you through the process of relocation. Now, let us give you last piece of advice: choosing a reliable partner to guide you through the process of moving to Brazil will be the most and the best help you will get.
