Business Customs

As with any other market, business travelers should be aware of several customs specific to Brazil when doing business in the country. When compared to the United States, the negotiating pace tends to be slower and is heavily based on personal contact. It is rare for important business deals to be concluded by telephone, e-mail, or letter. Many Brazilian executives do not react favorably to quick and infrequent visits by foreign sales representatives, or to changes in the negotiating team. They often prefer a continuous working relationship, ideally involving multiple visits/meetings with the same person or group of people. The Brazilian buyer is also usually interested in receiving after-sales service provided by the exporter.  

Persistent traffic issues in most major Brazilian business centers mean that sufficient time should be scheduled for transportation, as well as other possible delays. It is advisable to be punctual but to avoid showing signs of frustration or impatience with delays, some of which may be attributed to a less formal approach to time. 

During a first visit to a company, it is customary to give a gift, usually promotional items without great material value. Expensive gifts can be misunderstood as bribes and are not welcome. Be aware that business dress is often formal and conservative despite the apparent informality while conducting business.

Travel Advisory

Find more Brazil travel information at the U.S. Department of State and at the CIA’s World Factbook.

Visa requirements

U.S. citizens traveling to Brazil for tourism or business purposes are exempt from visas by the government of Brazil. For current entry and customs requirements for Brazil, travelers may contact the Brazilian Embassy. Travelers can also find out more about Brazilian consulates in the United States.

If you are entering the country with a U.S. diplomatic or official passport you must apply for a Brazilian visa before entering Brazil. Your parent agency should have a designated person to help facilitate this process. U.S. citizens do not need a visa if they are traveling to Brazil for tourism, business, transit, artistic or sport activities, with no intention of establishing residence.  For other types of travel, U.S. citizens may need to apply for a Brazilian visa.

Questions related to visa requirements should be directed to the nearest Brazilian Consulate or Embassy outside of Brazil, or in Brazil, the consular division of the Brazilian Foreign Ministry.  

U.S. companies that require travel of foreign businesspersons to the United States should be advised that visa adjudications take place at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the country where applicants live. Visa applicants should visit the U.S. Department of State Visa website or the U.S. Embassy in Brazil to review the process and should apply for a visa well before planned travel.

Currency

The Brazilian currency is the Real.  Most shops only accept the Real. Foreign currencies can be exchanged or obtained at banks or approved foreign exchange shops.

Most international credit cards such as Mastercard and Visa are widely accepted in many large cities, and at smaller tourist spots. American Express may not be so widely accepted. It is best to advise your bank of any upcoming travel to Brazil and to carry some local currency in case of emergency.

ATMs are extremely common in Brazil, even in small cities. It might be hard, though, to find an ATM that accepts U.S. bank cards.  Most bank agencies in Brazil have ATMs, some inside and some outside. It is recommended to use indoor ATMs and to avoid using ATMs in the evening due to potential crime. It is also advisable to monitor bank and credit card statements since PINs may be stolen at ATMs

To locate the nearest ATM, the main brands have locators, found at Visa, Mastercard (includes Cirrus and Maestro) and American Express. Traveler’s checks are rarely accepted as a form of direct payment in Brazil. They may be cashed in exchange offices, some bank agencies, some travel agencies and hotels, but there may be heavy fees. It is not the most recommended way to exchange currency in Brazil.

An alternative to credit cards and traveler’s checks is to use prepaid travel cards, which are accepted as debit cards and can be used at ATMs for withdrawals. Note: Some small stores and markets in some smaller cities may not accept card payments, so it is important to carry some cash.

Telecommunications/Electronics

Within metropolitan areas, the telecommunications system is robust and reliable.  The major cell phone service providers in Brazil are Vivo (Telefónica from Spain), TIM (Telecom Italia from Italy), Claro (América Móvil from Mexico), and Oi (Brazil). Cell phone penetration in Brazil is about 111 percent, meaning there are more cell phones than there are people in the country.  Wi-Fi can be easily accessed in most hotels and restaurants in major metropolitan areas. 85 percent of households in Brazil have access to internet.  

In Brazil, the type N socket and plug are standard, along with the type C plug but not socket. Most of the Brazilian states use110-vo ltelectricity, but some other states– mainly in the Northeast – use 220volts. However, there is no standard voltage and within some states it may differ. Consult the electrical current information for Brazil before traveling.  You will need an adapter to charge U.S. made electronic products.

Transportation

Brazil has numerous international and domestic airports. American Airlines, Azul, Delta, Gol, Latam and United Airlines offer direct flights between Brazil and the United States.   During most of the COVID pandemic, flights were greatly reduced, and not all flights have returned.  The country’s taxi services run very well, although U.S. citizens are recommended, for safety reasons, to meet one at a taxi stand, to call a radio-dispatched taxi, or to request a ride on an app instead of hailing a taxi on the street. Uber is widely used in Brazil and relatively easy to access in urban areas. Public transportation, such as buses and subways, are also available in metro areas but caution is advised. 

There are several mobile apps available to hire taxis and personal drivers for transportation inside metropolitan areas, using credit cards (including international), cash or PayPal as methods of payment.  

It is important to note that foreign visitors may face difficulties when using their international credit cards to pay for taxi and transportation services (Uber, 99Taxi, Cabify) in mobile apps. It is recommended to have cash as an alternative in case any issue is encountered.

Language

While the proficiency of English varies among people across the country, business meetings are often held in Portuguese, the national language. CS Brazil recommends an interpreter for a business visit, and we are happy to facilitate contracting one. Personal space standards in Brazil are different than those in the United States. You may find that the environment allows more intimate space to others for speaking, touching, greetings and salutations.   

Despite the difference in personal space, it is better to act more formal rather than less during an initial meeting. Conversations may occur simultaneously with frequent interruptions, a sign of interest in the subject rather than of disrespect.  

Brazilians are very proud of their country, language, and unique culture. To that end, it is better to refrain from making cultural references or comparisons to other countries and cultures in Latin America.

Health

The U.S. government does not pay medical bills and U.S. Medicare does not apply overseas. Make sure your health insurance plan provides coverage overseas. Most care providers overseas only accept cash payments. Supplemental insurance to cover medical evacuation is strongly recommended. If traveling with prescription medication, check to ensure the medication is legal in Brazil. Carry your prescription medication in original packaging with your doctor’s prescription.

The following diseases are prevalent

The most common mosquito and other animal and insect-borne diseases include chagas, chikungunya, dengue, zika, visceral leishmaniasis, and rabies. Other more common ailments include:

• Traveler’s diarrhea 
• Tuberculosis 
• Schistosomiasis 

In recent years, outbreaks of these diseases have also been detected in certain areas of Brazil: 

• Yellow fever 
• Measles 
• Polio 

Although Brazil has many elective/cosmetic surgery facilities that are on par with those found in the United States, the quality of care varies widely. If you plan to undergo surgery in Brazil, make sure that emergency medical facilities are available. Some “boutique” plastic surgery operations offer luxurious facilities but are not hospitals and are unable to handle emergencies.  U.S. citizens have died while seeking medical care from non-traditional “healers” and practitioners. Ensure you have access to proper medical care if seeking such services. Be up to date on all vaccinations recommended by the CDC and the World Health Organization. 

Though not required to enter Brazil, travelers wishing to be vaccinated should consider receiving the yellow fever vaccine prior to travel to Brazil, as local supplies are limited. Please note: the yellow fever vaccine should be administered 10 days prior to travel for it to be effective. Also note, while the yellow fever vaccine is not required to enter Brazil, some neighboring countries do require travelers with recent entries in Brazil to show proof of yellow fever vaccination or be denied entry.

As of October 2022, most places do not require a COVID vaccine card, or a mask, but it is recommended to have a Covid-19 vaccine card (or a photo of it on your phone) with you in case it is requested.

Find more health information for travelers, including COVID updates for Brazil, visit the CDC website.

Local Time, Business Hours, and Holidays

Time in the country is usually noted using the 24-hour clock convention, i.e., 21:00 instead of 9:00 p.m. Brazil has four standard time zones: Brasilia (BRT), Amazon (AMT), Fernando de Noronha Archipelago (FNT), and Acre (ACT). Most cities visited by foreign tourists in the country are in the Brasilia time zone, which is three hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT-3). The country does not observe daylight saving time.

While office hours in Brazil are generally 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., decision-makers begin work later in the morning and stay later in the evening. The best times for calls with Brazilian executives are between 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. as well as 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., except for the city of Sao Paulo where appointments are common throughout most of the day. Business lunches often last from one to two hours.

January, February, and July are difficult months to schedule business meetings with high-level decision-makers, as schools are on holiday, and many families choose this time to take vacation. 

Below is a list of all national holidays that the U.S. Mission in Brazil will observe for the calendar year of 2023:

 

Temporary Entry of Materials and Personal Belongings: For more information on the temporary admission of goods into Brazil, please access the Brazilian Department of Federal Revenue website.