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For everyone, local citizens and immigrant communities alike. Describe what is happening the way you would tell a friend. Plainright explains the law that applies, the steps to take, the deadlines that matter and where to find free help.
Immigration: what you need to know now
Rules changed often in 2025 and 2026. See what changed, pick your situation, or ask about your own case.
Living in or visiting Brazil: the essentials
Brazil by the numbers
- Brazil: 90 days + 90
- Argentina: 90 days + 90
- Colombia: 90 days + 90
Show as a table
| Country | First stay (days) | Extension (days) | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil | 90 | 90 | 90 days; Federal Police extension up to 180 days in 12 months |
| Argentina | 90 | 90 | 90 days; one 90-day extension at Migraciones |
| Colombia | 90 | 90 | 90 days; one extension, 180 days per calendar year |
Sources: Itamaraty and Federal Police (Brazil); Migraciones and Decree 366/2025 (Argentina); Migración Colombia. Checked 8 November 2026. Rules for your passport may differ.
Had an accident? What to do now
Car crashes, rental cars, uninsured drivers, injuries at work, falls and dog bites: the first steps, the deadlines that protect you and who pays.
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Brazil: what to know before and after you arrive
Visas and costs, airports, getting to your hotel, renting a car, the laws that surprise visitors, buying property, getting married, what to avoid and what is important to know. Rules change often; each item links to the Ask tool for a full, current answer.
Brazil compared with the region
- Brazil: 90 days + 90
- Argentina: 90 days + 90
- Colombia: 90 days + 90
Show as a table
| Country | First stay (days) | Extension (days) | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil | 90 | 90 | 90 days; Federal Police extension up to 180 days in 12 months |
| Argentina | 90 | 90 | 90 days; one 90-day extension at Migraciones |
| Colombia | 90 | 90 | 90 days; one extension, 180 days per calendar year |
- Brazil: US$81
- Argentina: Free
- Colombia: Free
Show as a table
| Country | Cost (US$) | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil | 81 | US$80.90 e-visa for U.S., Canadian and Australian citizens; free for EU and UK |
| Argentina | 0 | Free; health insurance required |
| Colombia | 0 | Free; Check-MIG form is free |
Sources: Itamaraty and Federal Police (Brazil); Migraciones and Decree 366/2025 (Argentina); Migración Colombia. Checked 8 November 2026. Rules for your passport may differ.
- Brazil: Urban property open to foreigners; rural land limited
- Argentina: Urban property on the same terms as Argentines
- Colombia: Open to foreigners; register the investment with the Central Bank
Show as a table
| Country | Foreign cap | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil | None | Urban property open to foreigners; rural land limited |
| Argentina | None | Urban property on the same terms as Argentines |
| Colombia | None | Open to foreigners; register the investment with the Central Bank |
Sources: Law 5.709/1971 (Brazil); Civil and Commercial Code (Argentina); foreign-investment rules of the Banco de la República (Colombia). Checked 8 November 2026.
How to spot a scam in Brazil
Scams change every month, but they share the same warning signs. If two or more of these appear together, stop and check before you pay or share anything.
Warning signs
- Pressure to act now: a deadline of minutes or hours, or a threat of arrest, deportation or a frozen account.
- Payment in an unusual way: gift cards, cryptocurrency, a personal bank account, or cash handed to a courier.
- Someone you met online, often recently, who asks for money, an investment or help moving funds.
- A caller or message claiming to be police, immigration, a court, a bank or a delivery company and asking for codes, passwords or a transfer. Real officials never ask for one-time codes.
- Returns that are guaranteed or far above normal, or a 'task' job that pays you first and then asks you to deposit money.
- A link or QR code that leads to a site that looks official but has a slightly different address.
- A request to keep it secret from your family, your bank or the police.
- An offer to 'recover' money you already lost, for an upfront fee. This is a second scam.
Common scams in Brazil
- Phone snatching followed by emptied bank and Pix accounts.
- Fake Pix payment screenshots when selling or renting.
- 'Express kidnapping' to force transfers, especially at night.
- Card skimming and swapped cards at ATMs and shops.
- Look-alike e-visa websites charging extra.
Where to report
If it already happened: the first hour
- Stop paying and stop replying. Do not send 'one last fee'.
- Call your bank or e-wallet at once and ask them to stop or recall the transfer. Speed matters: minutes count.
- Keep the evidence: screenshots, phone numbers, account numbers, links, receipts and dates.
- Report it to the official channel listed on this page and to the police, and keep the report number.
- Change your passwords and turn on two-step verification on email, banking and social media.
- If you are a foreign national, tell your embassy or consulate; they can help with lost passports and contacts.
Real cases
A visitor's unlocked phone was snatched on Copacabana and the thieves emptied his bank account through Pix within an hour.
How to avoid it: Lock banking apps with a separate PIN, set Pix night limits and keep the phone away from the kerb.
A host handed over apartment keys after a 'payment receipt' screenshot that was fake.
How to avoid it: Check the money in your own bank app before handing over goods or keys.
A traveller paid three times the official e-visa fee on a look-alike website.
How to avoid it: Use only the official portal linked from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Visas and costs
- E-visa US$80.90 for U.S., Canadian and Australian citizens (U.S.: valid up to 10 years, multiple entry).
- Visa-free 90 days for EU, UK and most of Latin America.
- Extensions at the Federal Police; maximum 180 days in any 12 months.
- Overstay: R$100 per day, up to 100 days.
Airports
- São Paulo – Guarulhos (GRU) is the main international hub; Viracopos (VCP) serves Campinas.
- Rio de Janeiro – Galeão (GIG); Santos Dumont (SDU) is mainly domestic.
- Other gateways: Brasília (BSB), Salvador (SSA), Recife (REC), Fortaleza (FOR), Florianópolis (FLN), Foz do Iguaçu (IGU).
From the airport to your hotel
- Use app rides (Uber, 99) from the official pick-up points or the airport taxi counters.
- In São Paulo, the airport bus and train link to the city are cheap but slow at rush hour.
- Keep your phone out of sight at the kerb; phone snatching is common.
Renting a car or motorbike
- Driving is on the right.
- A foreign licence is accepted for up to 180 days with an International Driving Permit or sworn translation.
- Zero alcohol tolerance: any alcohol in the blood means fines and licence suspension (Lei Seca).
- Avoid driving at night in unfamiliar areas; ask your host about safe routes.
Laws and what to know
- Racism and racial insults are serious crimes.
- Drugs: trafficking carries 5 to 15 years.
- Carry a copy of your passport and entry record.
- Topless sunbathing is not generally accepted on public beaches.
Buying property
- Foreigners can buy urban property; you need a CPF.
- Check the registry certificate (matrícula) and the seller's debts before paying.
- The deed (escritura) is signed at a notary and must be registered at the Property Registry.
- Pay the property transfer tax (ITBI) to the city.
Getting married
- Foreigners marry at the civil registry office (cartório de registro civil).
- Expect an apostilled birth certificate, proof of single status and sworn translations into Portuguese.
- Banns are posted for about 15 days before the wedding.
- A stable union (união estável) registered at a notary gives similar rights.
What to avoid
- Unofficial e-visa websites that charge extra.
- Showing phones and jewellery on beaches and busy streets.
- Releasing goods or keys on the strength of a Pix screenshot.
- Unlicensed 'guides' offering favela tours.
Important to know
- Emergency: 190 police, 192 ambulance, 193 fire.
- Tourist police stations (DEAT) operate in Rio de Janeiro and other cities.
- File police reports online in most states (delegacia online).
Key local laws
- Federal Constitution of 1988 — fundamental rights and habeas corpus.
- Migration Law 13.445/2017 — visas, residence and overstays.
- Consumer Defence Code, Law 8.078/1990 — 7-day withdrawal for online purchases.
- Tenancy Law 8.245/1991 — rental guarantees and evictions.
- CLT, Decree-Law 5.452/1943 — employment.
- Brazilian Traffic Code, Law 9.503/1997 — zero alcohol tolerance.
- LGPD, Law 13.709/2018 and Marco Civil da Internet, Law 12.965/2014.
- Civil Code, Law 10.406/2002 — family, property and inheritance.
City guides
Airports, immigration offices, hospitals and local rules in the places foreigners go most.
Rio de Janeiro
- Airport
- Galeão (GIG) for international flights; Santos Dumont (SDU) for domestic.
- Immigration
- Federal Police at Galeão airport and in the city centre for extensions.
- Hospitals
- Private hospitals such as Copa D'Or and Samaritano; public emergency units (UPA).
- Police
- 190; tourist police station (DEAT) in Leblon.
- Know this
- Phone snatching on beaches and at traffic lights is common.
São Paulo
- Airport
- Guarulhos (GRU), about an hour from the centre.
- Immigration
- Federal Police offices at Lapa and at the airport.
- Hospitals
- Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, Sírio-Libanês.
- Know this
- Use app rides at night; avoid the Cracolândia area in the centre.
Salvador and the Northeast
- Airport
- Salvador (SSA), Recife (REC), Fortaleza (FOR), Natal (NAT).
- Know this
- Beach theft and card skimming are common; use bank ATMs inside shopping centres.
Legal topics in depth
Property, marriage, children, inheritance, work, business, taxes and arrest.
Buying property
- Get a CPF first; it is needed for the deed and taxes.
- Ask for the property registry certificate (matrícula) and the seller's negative debt certificates.
- Sign the deed at a notary and register it; until registered, you are not the owner.
- Rural land and land near borders have extra limits for foreigners.
Marriage and stable union
- Civil marriage at a registry office (cartório) with banns posted for about 15 days.
- A stable union registered at a notary gives similar rights and can support residence.
- Choose a property regime (comunhão parcial is the default) before marriage.
Work and remote work
- Paid work for a Brazilian company needs a work residence permit.
- The digital nomad visa covers remote work for foreign employers.
- Freelancing for Brazilian clients on a tourist entry is not allowed.
Taxes
- Staying more than 183 days in 12 months can make you tax resident.
- Residents are taxed on worldwide income; file the annual income tax return (IRPF).
- Check your country's tax treaty or totalisation agreement.
Arrest and police
- You have the right to remain silent and to a lawyer; a public defender is available if you cannot pay.
- Ask that your consulate be told.
- A custody hearing (audiência de custódia) must take place within 24 hours.
Consumer rights
- Seven days to cancel online purchases (art. 49, Consumer Defence Code).
- Complain to PROCON in your state or on consumidor.gov.br.
- Keep receipts (nota fiscal) for refunds.
Step by step
Office, time, cost, documents and each step for the most common procedures.
Extend a visitor stay
Bring
- Passport
- Entry record
- Onward ticket
- Proof of funds
Steps
- Book an appointment online
- Pay the GRU fee
- Attend with documents before day 90
- Keep the extension record
Get a CPF
Bring
- Passport
- Address
Steps
- Apply on the Receita Federal website
- Save the CPF number and proof
- Use it for rentals, banks and contracts
Register a residence visa
Bring
- Passport with visa
- Birth certificate (apostilled)
- Proof of address
- Photos
Steps
- Book within 90 days of arrival
- Attend for fingerprints
- Receive the protocol, then the CRNM card
Real cases and scams
What actually happens to foreigners, and how to avoid it.
A visitor's unlocked phone was snatched on Copacabana and the thieves emptied his bank account through Pix within an hour.
How to avoid it: Lock banking apps with a separate PIN, set Pix night limits and keep the phone away from the kerb.
A host handed over apartment keys after a 'payment receipt' screenshot that was fake.
How to avoid it: Check the money in your own bank app before handing over goods or keys.
A traveller paid three times the official e-visa fee on a look-alike website.
How to avoid it: Use only the official portal linked from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
A traveller who forgot his extension paid daily overstay fines before boarding.
How to avoid it: Count your 90 days from entry and apply for the extension early.
Fees, offices and procedures in Brazil change often. Confirm with the office or a licensed lawyer before you rely on them.
Visas and staying legal in Brazil
The e-visa for U.S., Canadian and Australian citizens, 90-day stays, Federal Police extensions, the digital nomad visa, residence and overstays. Rules change often; this page was last checked on .
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Forms finder
| Document | What it is for | Who needs it |
|---|
Deadlines you cannot miss
| What | When | Source |
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How the law works
The building blocks behind every answer: where law comes from, how common law and precedent work, how courts are organized, and the core ideas of contracts, torts and property.
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Statutes of limitations. Exceptions exist, so confirm your deadline.
| Type of claim | Deadline | Source |
|---|
Key court system facts
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Read the law yourself. These free, reliable libraries hold the statutes, regulations and court decisions that Plainright cites, for Brazil.
What changed in the law
The latest visa, immigration and legal updates in Brazil that affect visitors and residents, in plain words, with who is affected and a link to the source. Updated every week; last update .
Lawyers and free help near me
When your situation is serious, urgent or involves a court deadline, speak with a licensed attorney or a nonprofit legal service. Press one button and Plainright lists three to six highly rated law offices and the immigration help centers and legal aid offices near you, anywhere in Brazil.
Talk to a lawyer licensed in Brazil
Only a lawyer licensed in Brazil can represent you in its courts and agencies. Use the finder below for highly rated law offices and free legal help, or open the map to see lawyers near you.
Connect with a licensed lawyer in Brazil
Tell us briefly what happened. The Plainright desk checks each lawyer on the official register (Ordem dos Advogados do Brasil (OAB)) and introduces you to up to three licensed lawyers who handle your kind of case. The connection is free for you. You decide whether to hire anyone, and you agree fees directly with the lawyer.
These official registers let you check, free, that a lawyer is licensed in Brazil. Always check before you pay anyone.
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- All of Brazil: every state.
Listings and ratings come from Google; office websites are checked automatically. Always confirm a lawyer's licence with the Ordem dos Advogados do Brasil (OAB) before hiring.
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