New members of the Brazil forum, introduce yourselves here - 2025

Hi all, just relocated to Sao Paulo from London with work. Will be here for a couple of years. Looking forward to exploring and enjoying this huge country!

06/21/25 Welcome, @RobMac.  São Paulo is a great city, I hope that you'll be able to take advantage of all it has to offer.  Any questions,  we're here to help.

Hello Cheryl,

Sorry but working and living in Brazil is a great wish for me indeed.

I only visited once Brazil some years ago and have worked many years with super fruits from the country.

I would have loved to share my experience, but for now I am looking for any opportunities to be expat in Brazil and be able to work and live there!

Thanks a lot and let me know if you could help me in my research.

Muito Obrigado,

Florent

***

Hello Florent,

Welcome to Expat.com 😀

Thank you for sharing your interest in moving to Brazil.

Our forum is quite active, so I encourage you to first take a look at our guide (link below). If afterward you would like more details on a specific topic, do not hesitate to start a new thread in the Brazil forum, the community will be happy to help.

Living in Brazil: the ultimate expat guide

Cheers,

Cheryl

Expat.com team

08/27/25 @Florent Paul Lamotte.  Welcome!  Working and living in Brazil is difficult without either a family connection or a reasonably substantial investment (which can include investment in real estate), and we have threads that can give you good information on that, as well as on retirement.

We also have a French-language Brazil Forum that is much less active than this one, but may still be of interest to you.  You can find it here:  https://www.expat.com/fr/forum/amerique-du-sud/bresil/

Hallo everyone!

i am Domenico Oliverio, I have 51 years old and in Italy i am a civil lawyer.

i have many connections in Brasil and I was there last time last May.

At this point of my life I need a big change and I am in love with Sao Paolo and some people very important for me that live there.

I am in love with the country, with the people and the culture.

So I fell ready to move and restart in Sao Paolo!

I don’t want to be necessary involved in legal stuff or be a lawyer, I am ready to change and do something pretty new and really I don’t care about making so much money because I want to have a simply life also enjoying my time.

i would love to work in an Italian community or in some human rights associations.

Here in Italy I am a volounterr for young refugees and I found an association.

Waiting for suggest, advices and informations, I am ready to change everything!!

@Domenico

Welcome to the Brazilian Expat forum. You're sure to find many answers here. I'm sure that you already know that there are many large Italian communities here. Bixiga, Mooca & Brás are all neighborhoods of São Paulo with some strong Italian connections. Then there are regions in southern Brazil where the impact of the Italian culture has been huge.

My first marriage was in a São Paulo family whose very old (in the 1980s) family members didn't even speak Portuguese. It was a delight to visit them mostly because of their culinary skills but also their jovial Italian ways.

I hope that you find what you are looking for here in Brazil!!

mberigan

PS - look for Brazilian movies on Italian immigration here. An example of one is from 2022 and available on Youtube titled "AZAMBUJA - A Imigração Italiana no Sul de Santa Catarina." I can't say if it is good but it is a newer one of many.

08/31/25 @Domenico Oliverio.  Good evening and welcome!  Brazil offers a temporary residence visa, VITEM VIII, for people who want to work in Brazil as volunteers:

https://www.gov.br/mre/pt-br/consulado- … volontario

Coming to Brazil as a volunteer without sponsorship is not impossible, but it is extremely difficult.  One Italian organization that is extremely active in Brazil is the Salesian Fathers.  They could be looking for volunteers with your background willing to go to Brazil :

https://www.donbosco.it/chi-siamo/la-fa … salesiana/

If you're looking for a human rights organization, try approaching one that is active in both Italy and Brazil.

You could also obtain Brazilian residency through a Retirement Visa or an Investment Visa;  you can find more information about them in the Visas section of the the Brazilian Embassy in Rome site, shown above.

In addition, you can come to Brazil as a visitor and buy qualifying real estate to obtain an Authorization of Residency from the Polícia Federal, without obtaining a Residency Visa first.  The Normative Resolution permitting this, Resolução Normativa No. 36, appears here:

https://www.in.gov.br/materia/-/asset_p … 8-51055283

Planning to move to Gramado, RS, as soon as I retire from my job.  Just counting the days to get back to Brazil. I’m from Texas and looking forward for the good life.

@44Intel44

I'm guessing that Gramado was your previous destination in Brazil. Say more about your experiences here in this marvelous Brazil!!

mberigan

09/01/25 @44intel44.  Welcome!  May life in RS be everything you're hoping for and more.

Hi All,

Hope you are all doing good.

i am Yuva, from singapore. i will be coming over to Sao Paulo in 2-3 months time to work.

This is the first time i am visiting Brazil and hope to make many friends and meet like minded people to mingle with. I have no knowledge in Portuguese and slowly has started to learn it. Just started, so i guess i have long way to go. i hope to pick up as much portuguese as possilbe within the next 3 months, by the time i land there.

09/02/25 @Yuvaa.  Welcome!  And welcome to a different world.  Any questions we can answer to ease your way, we're here to help.  Check out our threads, and if you don't see what you're looking for, feel free to start a new one with your question.

Welcome to any and all new members.

I've been coming to Brasil for over 18 years. I am a resident, RNM, have owned a couple of apartments around the state of SP, owned a couple of cars, and I drive a LOT for fun. I'm always happy to help.

@abthree

Thank you 😊

@mberigan

Yes.  I was a diplomat back in my days and traveled the entire country of Brazil.  Just fell in love with the south.  We vacation each year to Gramado, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo.  I did  however spend sometime working and living in other central and South America countries. No experience like Brazil. 

@44Intel44

That says a lot.... time around Central and South America and coming to roost in Gramado..... I have no numbers (wish I did) but I sense that there is a large movementof people with relationships to Brazil but living elsewhere that are moving this direction.

Hoping that we hear more of your adventures as you settle in to Rio Grande do Sul!!

mberigan

I am the great grandson of brasileiros from the litoral, living in SP/ZO for the past six years.  I am from the US, medically retired and currently in the home stretch of naturalization awaiting publication in the DOU.  It is quite interesting to see the perspectives of others in this forum, as I am not normally exposed to estrangeiros from north america on a regular basis where I reside. 

Anyway, we plan to move before very long to the interior of the state, and we enjoy traveling and visiting family in BA and PE.

@Julien

Hello everyone,

My name is Russ and I’m Irish, but originally from Canada and have been living in France for many years.

I recently retired (I’m 60), and have started spending more time in Vitória (ES), where I have an apartment in Enseada do Suá. I’m interested in improving my Portuguese, getting to know more about daily life here, and connecting with other expats and locals.

My background is in international diplomacy and communications, but outside of work I’m passionate about gardening, cooking, and exploring history and culture.

I’d be glad to exchange tips, experiences, and perhaps meet people who are also enjoying life in Brazil.

Looking forward to connecting!

Best,

Russ

09/10/25 @rovoruss.  Welcome, Russ!  Vitória is one of my very favorite cities, I'm sure that you'll be happy there.  And with expat experience already under you belt, adjustment will be that much easier.  All the best.

Hello Friends,

My name is Fahad I'm a product manager for an E-learning/edtech company. I'll be moving to Porto Alegre in November. Any recommendations for activities and cool places to check out please shoot my way. Happy to be here and look forward to interacting with all of you. Wish you all a great day!

09/15/25 @FahadQ.  Welcome, Fahad!  Enjoy Porto Alegre.

Thank you @abthree you're a legend!

Hello everyone!

I’ve moved to Rio de Janeiro yesterday with my husband and our 2,5y daughter. I’m looking for any mum’s group (or parents group) to meet up, have play dates and share important information related to kids!

I would appreciate any suggestion!

thank you!

Mariana

10/02/25 @Mariana Walter Marques.  Welcome, Mariana!

@Julien

Hi I am an American living in São Pedro da Aldeia for over ten years. But I know very little português and speak inglês fluently. I would like to meet a man who enjoys socializing .

Larry

Anyone from Flórida.

10/29/25 @Larryd906.  Welcome, Larry -- glad that you've found us!

Hey all!

I'm Gabriel. Dual citizen that recently moved to Brazil.

11/03/25  I'm Gabriel. Dual citizen that recently moved to Brazil. - @Gabriel Otero

Welcome, Gabriel!  I really enjoyed your first thoughts on your Brazil experience in the thread you started.

Hi Abthree,

Thank you!! Looking forward to sharing more experineces with the community

Hello everyone,

Nice to meet you, all! I am Andy, a Polish-British expat living in Vila Velha (ES). My partner is Brazilian. I am a life coach. It's a blessing to meet you all. All the best, Andy

11/04/25 Welcome, Andy!  Espírito Santo is one of my favorite states.  I hope that you and your partner will be very happy there.

@andys2404

Hi Andy,

My wife and I are currently in Southern California but will be returning to Vila Velha in late December. Maybe we can meet up.

Brent

@Julien

Hi all

I’m Italian, and although I’m not new to Brazil, my story here has been long. My first time in the country was in 2003, and since then I ended up leaving four times. About five years ago I decided to return — this time for good.

I feel very well here. Everything is easier and less bureaucratic than in Italy or maybe even Europe in general.

Today I work as a RE/MAX real estate agent and I live in Ubatuba, on the north coast of São Paulo — a wonderful place surrounded by nature.

If you ever need anything related to real estate in Brazil, I’m here to help.

Have a good day .

Hello everyone! 👋

My name is Tam Ogaji, writing from Nigeria. I’m glad to be part of this community and looking forward to learning from fellow members here on the Expat Brazilian Forum.

Though I’m not yet in Brazil, I’m actively exploring opportunities and connections that could support my future relocation. I have hands-on experience in electrical installation, plumbing, maintenance works, as well as logistics, warehouse management, and cargo handling

My goal is to connect with people who can share insights, advice, or even professional leads related to these fields in Brazil. I'm also open to building friendships and learning more about Brazilian culture and work life.

Looking forward to engaging with you all!

Warm regards, 

Tam