Kurterino
Swiss expat in Brazil
Forum posts
503
Contacts
2
About me
Swiss
Lives in Arembepe, Estado de Bahia, Bra
Registration: 28 August 2011
Assimilation: when is enough enough? by alexanderstephenlange
TL; DR some thoughts on plugging in (or not) to the culture/society. All comments welcome! How important to you is assimilation into Brazilian society? Do you even find yourself contemplating it? Is it self-imposed or something unconscious you don't ...
@abthree > He turned to my husband and said, "What did I say? I don't speak English." "But", my husband replied, "he asked you in Portuguese." "Oh", the driver said, thought a minute, and answered the questionThat is hilarious, and it has ... Read More
With fuel prices soaring, how are you getting around in Brazil? by Veedushi
Hello everyone!In many countries, transportation costs are becoming a real challenge for expats. Some are completely changing their habits: using public transport more often, carpooling, switching to scooters… or cycling.In Denmark, for ...
@Kurterino "...I would only use pure gasoline..." There really isn't any pure gasoline here in Brazil. It seems that even the high grade called "aditivado" or "grid" is about 30% anhydrous ethanol and I don't know how well STA-BIL deals with the ... Read More
With fuel prices soaring, how are you getting around in Brazil? by Veedushi
Hello everyone!In many countries, transportation costs are becoming a real challenge for expats. Some are completely changing their habits: using public transport more often, carpooling, switching to scooters… or cycling.In Denmark, for ...
Ethanol has been R$4.39 for almost two years now. So, no change for me as my car is flex fuel. If I don't drive I'll walk or take UBER. That is my preferred method of locomotion, chinelos. - @hagece8690 Just a heads-up: lots of vehicles work just ... Read More
Retirement Visa for Brazil by abthree
The Brazilian Government has approved a replacement for the old Permanent Visa for Retirees, that was eliminated for new applicants as part of the 2017 Immigration Reform. As was the case with the old Permanent Visa (VIPER) for family reunion, the ...
@kilobravo Did I read earlier that your permanent residency through retirement has already passed its renewal date? If that is the case, then it may have expired, and no longer be valid, so renewal is not an option. You may have to start the whole ... Read More
Having trouble with credit card and debit card working by NewBrazil
Just when yesterday and today to my local supermarket to buy groceries. When I tried to pay with my international credit card it didn’t work. Called my bank they said everything thing should work. In the same store tryed to use my ...
@hagece8690 If it says “can not read”, a quick cleaning might help and is certainly worth a try. But when I used to retrieve cash regularly, quite frequently the ATM could read my card and guided me through the entire process (select ... Read More
Having trouble with credit card and debit card working by NewBrazil
Just when yesterday and today to my local supermarket to buy groceries. When I tried to pay with my international credit card it didn’t work. Called my bank they said everything thing should work. In the same store tryed to use my ...
@NewBrazil I’ve had issues where the cashier selects the wrong type of card (credit ou debit?). If they select the wrong one it won’t go through. The last time it occurred to me it was the same cashier, twice in one week! When I ... Read More
Overstay: can't figure out why by Kurterino
I decided to open a new topic: as I wrote before, a friend of mine got a fine for an overstay of 19 days (https://www.expat.com/en/forum/south-america/brazil/1115536-new-fine-for-overstaying.html#6123527), and we can’t quite figure out ...
05/29/26 What am I missing? - @Kurterino You're probably not missing anything, you're just overthinking it. Seriously. 😂 The March 18 - June 16, 2025 is irrelevant because a new 180 period started on October 18, 2025, and he doesn't appear ... Read More
Overstay: can't figure out why by Kurterino
I decided to open a new topic: as I wrote before, a friend of mine got a fine for an overstay of 19 days (https://www.expat.com/en/forum/south-america/brazil/1115536-new-fine-for-overstaying.html#6123527), and we can’t quite figure out ...
In the meantime, he checked his last 3 flights (because the stamps in his passport aren’t very readable), and now I’m really confused . Here’s why:Last year, he arrived on March 18 and left on June 16, which is pretty much 90 days. ... Read More
Overstay: can't figure out why by Kurterino
I decided to open a new topic: as I wrote before, a friend of mine got a fine for an overstay of 19 days (https://www.expat.com/en/forum/south-america/brazil/1115536-new-fine-for-overstaying.html#6123527), and we can’t quite figure out ...
Now that it’s established that the multa will have to be paid, there’s another problem: he has not received any information as to how to pay it. The last time (3 or 4 years ago), they gave him a document which stated the reason and the ... Read More
Overstay: can't figure out why by Kurterino
I decided to open a new topic: as I wrote before, a friend of mine got a fine for an overstay of 19 days (https://www.expat.com/en/forum/south-america/brazil/1115536-new-fine-for-overstaying.html#6123527), and we can’t quite figure out ...
@abthreeWow, thanks a lot, that totally makes sense. And it also explains that when I arrived in Brazil last month, they told me I was allowed to stay 55 days instead of the 90 I was expecting (I forgot to renew my retirement visa before it expired ... Read More
Overstay: can't figure out why by Kurterino
I decided to open a new topic: as I wrote before, a friend of mine got a fine for an overstay of 19 days (https://www.expat.com/en/forum/south-america/brazil/1115536-new-fine-for-overstaying.html#6123527), and we can’t quite figure out ...
In the meantime, I have a theory what might could have happened: this friend has had a long overstay about 4 or 5 years ago, approximately 45 days (don’t remember the exact number), with the full 100R/day fine, so almost 5000 R$. Back then he ... Read More
Overstay: can't figure out why
I decided to open a new topic: as I wrote before, a friend of mine got a fine for an overstay of 19 days (https://www.expat.com/en/forum/south-america/brazil/1115536-new-fine-for-overstaying.html#6123527), and we can’t quite figure out ... Read More
New fine for overstaying ? by Kurterino
A friend of mine has left Brazil yesterday evening, he was here on a tourist visa. He has been staying in Brazil for the last 20 years on consecutive tourist visas, before Covid he was able to stay 180 days at a time, and since Covid he can only ...
@abthreeI haven’t yet received an answer from him, but I suspect he might have told the immigration officer that he was going home for the funeral of his mother (she was 92 and in the hospital, so it wasn’t totally unexpected. Plus, he ... Read More
New fine for overstaying ?
A friend of mine has left Brazil yesterday evening, he was here on a tourist visa. He has been staying in Brazil for the last 20 years on consecutive tourist visas, before Covid he was able to stay 180 days at a time, and since Covid he can only ... Read More
Can you hear me now? by 1happykamper
Good grief this forum is quiet. No posts for two years?Greetings from Chiang Mai. The heat is making things miserable here. I've put up with it for 11 years in Thailand.Is Da Lat, Vietnam my next base? Is it yours?
Good grief this forum is quiet. No posts for two years? Greetings from Chiang Mai. The heat is making things miserable here. I've put up with it for 11 years in Thailand. Is Da Lat, Vietnam my next base? Is it yours? - @1happykamper I have spent a ... Read More
With fuel prices soaring, how are you getting around in Brazil? by Veedushi
Hello everyone!In many countries, transportation costs are becoming a real challenge for expats. Some are completely changing their habits: using public transport more often, carpooling, switching to scooters… or cycling.In Denmark, for ...
@Kurterino NIO: A premium EV brand known for its high-performance battery-swapping ecosystem. Zeekr: Backed by Geely, this brand focuses on sleek, European-inspired design and high-end luxury. Xpeng (Xiaopeng): Renowned for its advanced autonomous ... Read More
Mozzarella by Kurterino
This is the second time I’m opening a thread about food, and just like the last one, it’s about a dairy product (last time I inquired about cream). I like to bake a pizza once in a while, it’s a tasty meal and very easy to make at ...
Hello alexanderstephenlange, Please note that I have moved your post, along with the related replies, to this thread as it was off-topic in the other discussion. Let’s not mix taxes with mozzarella together, not the most delicious combination ... Read More
With fuel prices soaring, how are you getting around in Brazil? by Veedushi
Hello everyone!In many countries, transportation costs are becoming a real challenge for expats. Some are completely changing their habits: using public transport more often, carpooling, switching to scooters… or cycling.In Denmark, for ...
@abthree I do see Chinese EVs everywhere , it’s impressive. I don’t know the brands except for BYD, but they do seem to sell well. Too bad that I never had the pleasure to get an EV Uber. Read More
How many here in Brazil had cosmetic or dental medical treatment by NewBrazil
I was just wondering if you had a medical procedure. What was it and how much did it cost. Example having MOHS surgery for a facial nodule that been show to be cancer. Mohs is the surgery that removed this result is 99% cure. In the USA without ...
@Vincent Devalk Can confirm, I had excellent dental treatment in Salvador, several root canal treatments and one implant. I even found a clinic which offers ´sedacao leve ‘ (laughing gas), if you like your treatments painless. ... Read More
Mozzarella by Kurterino
This is the second time I’m opening a thread about food, and just like the last one, it’s about a dairy product (last time I inquired about cream). I like to bake a pizza once in a while, it’s a tasty meal and very easy to make at ...
@abthree Where did you get the Buffalo milk necessary for true mozzarella? :-) - @alexanderstephenlange I know that some Mozzarella is made from Buffalo milk, and I also know that it’s considered superior to mozzarella made fromcow milk. ... Read More
With fuel prices soaring, how are you getting around in Brazil? by Veedushi
Hello everyone!In many countries, transportation costs are becoming a real challenge for expats. Some are completely changing their habits: using public transport more often, carpooling, switching to scooters… or cycling.In Denmark, for ...
@abthreeI also use Uber quite frequently, and so far i haven’t been in one that’s larger than a compact car (like a Fiat Panda or a Hyundai i20). Most of the times they’re either relatively new or well maintained and clean, but ... Read More
With fuel prices soaring, how are you getting around in Brazil? by Veedushi
Hello everyone!In many countries, transportation costs are becoming a real challenge for expats. Some are completely changing their habits: using public transport more often, carpooling, switching to scooters… or cycling.In Denmark, for ...
i have bought a little scooter a couple of years ago, it’s a 125 cc , so only really useful for short distances. Also it’s comfortable, but much less so if you have a passenger (plus I don’t like the added responsibility). Mine is ... Read More
Another tax question… by Kurterino
I had a little discussion with my accountant on Friday, and the gist of it is that he recommended to not file taxes at all, so I wanted to see how some of you guys are handling the tax situation. I’m getting a monthly pension from my home ...
@abthree Thx, that is very helpful. I admit that I myself had come to the conclusion that it would be good to find a lawyer who is either already well versed in this area, or willing to dive into it. As I mentioned before, given the small number of ... Read More
Sandelwood soap
Asking for a friend who is a big fan of this type of soap (personally i don’t even really know what it is lol…). She usually buys this soap in Asia where it is A LOT cheaper than in Switzerland, now she asked me if it is also available ... Read More
Another tax question… by Kurterino
I had a little discussion with my accountant on Friday, and the gist of it is that he recommended to not file taxes at all, so I wanted to see how some of you guys are handling the tax situation. I’m getting a monthly pension from my home ...
@abthreeThanks a lot for having taken the time to read the treaty, especially since it doesn’t have anything to do with your situation, I really appreciate that!As you said, anyone who actually does read the treaty won’t find any ... Read More
Brazillian MigranteWeb by nicholsharvey
I have successfully gained access to the Brazil MigranteWeb. https://migrante.mj.gov.br/painel/cadastrar-processoI am trying to check on the status of my retirement visa renewal. I currently have a Brazillian retirement visa. I need a step-by-step ...
04/20/26 @nicholsharvey. MigranteWeb came in after my time, but you might try inserting the process number from the Protocolo for your renewal here: https://migrante.mj.gov.br/consulta-publica If this doesn't get you what you're looking for, I hope ... Read More
Mozzarella by Kurterino
This is the second time I’m opening a thread about food, and just like the last one, it’s about a dairy product (last time I inquired about cream). I like to bake a pizza once in a while, it’s a tasty meal and very easy to make at ...
@bepmoht The town where I live is pretty small, but I’m in close proximity to Lauro de Freitas and Salvador. But we do have a little bakery, I’ll try there before driving to Salvador. Read More
Brazilian Passport by onthabay
Hello, I'm an American living in Brazil with a permanent residency card. I keep seeing Instagram ads, and other ads saying "Get Your Brazilian Passport Now!" I have asked administrators at my local Federal Police station where I received my Perm. ...
@abthreeThx. Somehow i expected this to be harder. How much does it cost, all-in?Also, which of the four levels of the CelpeBras exam do you have to pass? Read More
Mozzarella by Kurterino
This is the second time I’m opening a thread about food, and just like the last one, it’s about a dairy product (last time I inquired about cream). I like to bake a pizza once in a while, it’s a tasty meal and very easy to make at ...
04/10/26 @Kurterino Well, I did some reading, and it is indeed possible to make mozzarella at home, and all you need is milk and vinegar. However, normally you would need “rennet” (I hope that is the correct word, I think it’s the ... Read More
Mozzarella by Kurterino
This is the second time I’m opening a thread about food, and just like the last one, it’s about a dairy product (last time I inquired about cream). I like to bake a pizza once in a while, it’s a tasty meal and very easy to make at ...
@Kurterino Depending where you live, you may have to make your own. The simplest recipes use milk (not UHT) and white vinegar. To source milk, ask at your local bakeries in town. Good luck ! - @bepmoht Well, I did some reading, and it is indeed ... Read More
Mozzarella by Kurterino
This is the second time I’m opening a thread about food, and just like the last one, it’s about a dairy product (last time I inquired about cream). I like to bake a pizza once in a while, it’s a tasty meal and very easy to make at ...
@Kurterino Depending where you live, you may have to make your own. The simplest recipes use milk (not UHT) and white vinegar. To source milk, ask at your local bakeries in town. Good luck ! - @bepmohtI had no idea that it’s possible to make ... Read More
Banking and transferring money from the U.S. by onthabay
Hello, My name is Rick. I live in a small town in the state of SP. I am married to a Brazilian, and I retired last year and we moved here. I have been trying to open a bank account in my name, showed them my CPF # and my permanent residencey card, ...
It’s a bit late to react, but I just like to add that it is true that it’s quite easy to open a NU bank account, however NU accounts don’t come with an international account number (IBAN or Swift), which means that you can’t ... Read More
Mozzarella
This is the second time I’m opening a thread about food, and just like the last one, it’s about a dairy product (last time I inquired about cream). I like to bake a pizza once in a while, it’s a tasty meal and very easy to make at ... Read More
Shoppee scam by Kurterino
This is more like an advisory than anything else, hopefully it is useful to someone at some point. A friend of mine recently ordered a cellphone on Shoppee, a low priced Android for under 600 Reais, not an expensive iPhone. While she was waiting for ...
I have had driver's from Shopee and ML text me in the AM asking in an official sounding sort of way that I can "expedite" my delivery that day for a R$15 fee........I refuse. - @hagece8690 As I mentioned in my previous post, a support worker from ... Read More
COMPARTILHAR a vehicle: what does it do/what is it good for? (CNH app) by Kurterino
So I finally managed to pay my registration for 2026 for my scooter, and while checking the status in the CNH app, I noticed that if you click on Licenciamento, it will show you the card that you probably would have to show to the police if they ask ...
It's for identifying vehicle operators in the Senetran system, so that when you get a camera ticket on the highway for example, and go to pay the fine online, you can assign the "infrator" so they get the points on their license, otherwise, if this ... Read More
Shoppee scam by Kurterino
This is more like an advisory than anything else, hopefully it is useful to someone at some point. A friend of mine recently ordered a cellphone on Shoppee, a low priced Android for under 600 Reais, not an expensive iPhone. While she was waiting for ...
01/12/26 @Kurterino. Thanks for this. This happened to me at least once, maybe twice; even the shipper's name is familiar. My first go-to is always "Minhas Importações" on the Correios website (https://www.correios.com.br/) It's a ... Read More
COMPARTILHAR a vehicle: what does it do/what is it good for? (CNH app)
So I finally managed to pay my registration for 2026 for my scooter, and while checking the status in the CNH app, I noticed that if you click on Licenciamento, it will show you the card that you probably would have to show to the police if they ask ... Read More
Shoppee scam
This is more like an advisory than anything else, hopefully it is useful to someone at some point. A friend of mine recently ordered a cellphone on Shoppee, a low priced Android for under 600 Reais, not an expensive iPhone. While she was waiting for ... Read More
Vehicle tax/registration by Kurterino
I purchased a used scooter in January ‘25 and registered it in my name, at which point I also paid the tax and/or registration fee. I’m guessing that for 2026 I will have to renew the registration and/or pay the tax for the new year, and ...
Since I’ve written so much about this story, I think it’s only right to tell you how it finally ended. So after having paid the Ivpa for 2025, I’ve waited a few days, and today I logged into the DETRAN site again ... Read More
Vehicle tax/registration by Kurterino
I purchased a used scooter in January ‘25 and registered it in my name, at which point I also paid the tax and/or registration fee. I’m guessing that for 2026 I will have to renew the registration and/or pay the tax for the new year, and ...
Let’s say I can’t get a boleto for 2026, for whatever reason, from the internet app. Would/should the local emplacadora be able to resolve this, or would I have to go to the nearest DETRAN office? Read More
Vehicle tax/registration by Kurterino
I purchased a used scooter in January ‘25 and registered it in my name, at which point I also paid the tax and/or registration fee. I’m guessing that for 2026 I will have to renew the registration and/or pay the tax for the new year, and ...
@KurterinoIm replying to myself, because I might have solved the problem (I can’t say for certain yet, I’ll see the next few days, hopefully. First problem was that even though I have a gov.br account, I didn’t have one for Bahia ... Read More
Vehicle tax/registration by Kurterino
I purchased a used scooter in January ‘25 and registered it in my name, at which point I also paid the tax and/or registration fee. I’m guessing that for 2026 I will have to renew the registration and/or pay the tax for the new year, and ...
@Kurterino In Pernambuco, (and therefore I guess all states), if you go to your state DETRAN website you can download the bill for your annual car taxes, etc (IPVA). Mine is Detran-PE, and once you have identified yourself, it is very easy to print ... Read More
Vehicle tax/registration by Kurterino
I purchased a used scooter in January ‘25 and registered it in my name, at which point I also paid the tax and/or registration fee. I’m guessing that for 2026 I will have to renew the registration and/or pay the tax for the new year, and ...
This post is a few weeks old, but yesterday my mechanic explained to me how it works (eg how to renew the registration for a vehicle). Apparently (and i haven’t done it yet, but will do it probably this week), you can go to either Bradesco ... Read More
CPF renewal/confirmation by Kurterino
It has been discussed that starting this year (2025), foreigners have to renew (or confirm) their CPF every year. (For those who didn’t know, here’s the explanation: ...
@Nomad Mundo Thanks a lot, this does indeed make sense. I’ll let my friend know, but knowing him, he probably won’t do anything about it. I wonder if this will have any real-world consequences, other than not being able to activate a SIM ... Read More
Vehicle tax/registration by Kurterino
I purchased a used scooter in January ‘25 and registered it in my name, at which point I also paid the tax and/or registration fee. I’m guessing that for 2026 I will have to renew the registration and/or pay the tax for the new year, and ...
@bepmoht I didn’t know that, my bad. It’s in Bahia. Also, I mixed up the apps, where I mentioned e-titulo, I should have written Carteira digital, an app which lists everything vehicle related, like your driver’s license and your ... Read More
CPF renewal/confirmation
It has been discussed that starting this year (2025), foreigners have to renew (or confirm) their CPF every year. (For those who didn’t know, here’s the explanation: ... Read More
Vehicle tax/registration
I purchased a used scooter in January ‘25 and registered it in my name, at which point I also paid the tax and/or registration fee. I’m guessing that for 2026 I will have to renew the registration and/or pay the tax for the new year, and ... Read More
Managing meals in Brazil by Cheryl
Hello everyone, Managing meals day-to-day can sometimes be a real mental challenge, even more so when you land in a new environment, with different schedules, habits or ingredients. How do you manage your meal routine as an expat in Brazil? We ...
@abthree Thx for the tip about Itambé, I think it’s available around here, I’ll give it a try (although I think I have tried all of the brands available here, and they all seemed almost identical. But maybe I missed Itambé ... Read More
Managing meals in Brazil by Cheryl
Hello everyone, Managing meals day-to-day can sometimes be a real mental challenge, even more so when you land in a new environment, with different schedules, habits or ingredients. How do you manage your meal routine as an expat in Brazil? We ...
A question for those who like to cook: what’s the deal with cream (creme de leite) in Brasil? At home, cream looks and has the consistency of ‘thick’ milk, and I’ve never seen other types. Here, it’s more like thick ... Read More
Appointment at the Polícia Federal
A friend of mine needs to go see the Polícia Federal, and since he has been coming to Brazil for at least 20 years (always as a visa-exempt tourist), he’s used to just go there, without making an appointment. After checking their ... Read More
Documents For Brazilian Retirement Visa etc. by Mark Blonde
So I just got back from a 3 week trip to São Paulo and surroundings and definitely want to retire there. I'm a little over whelmed with the visa requirements. I know I have everything needed to be granted the visa, but I'm confused on the ...
@Peter Itamaraca Thx, I heard that before, it’s good to have it confirmed. Given that I don’t know which health care providers are the best, nor what kind of provider I might need, I decided to listen to recommendations from people who ... Read More
Documents For Brazilian Retirement Visa etc. by Mark Blonde
So I just got back from a 3 week trip to São Paulo and surroundings and definitely want to retire there. I'm a little over whelmed with the visa requirements. I know I have everything needed to be granted the visa, but I'm confused on the ...
@ - 11/08/25 " The SAMU ambulance arrived within minutes and rushed me to the SUS hospital that handles head trauma. They did a great job of addressing the immediate emergency: they examined me, observed me. popped me into the MRI machine, and ... Read More
Documents For Brazilian Retirement Visa etc. by Mark Blonde
So I just got back from a 3 week trip to São Paulo and surroundings and definitely want to retire there. I'm a little over whelmed with the visa requirements. I know I have everything needed to be granted the visa, but I'm confused on the ...
Double post, deleted Read More
Retirement visa: renewal by Kurterino
I couldn’t find a list of requirements on how to renew a retirement visa. I have found a couple of articles stating that it’s easier than the original application, but no details. Has anyone more information on that ?
Proof of income or pension (same monthly minimum as before, usually sent from abroad)Recent bank statements showing regular depositsProof of residence in Brazil (like a rental contract or utility bill)Valid passport and your current visa/RNEUpdated ... Read More
Retirement visa: renewal by Kurterino
I couldn’t find a list of requirements on how to renew a retirement visa. I have found a couple of articles stating that it’s easier than the original application, but no details. Has anyone more information on that ?
@Peter Itamaraca Yes, probably. I will probably give it a try anyway, I have nothing to lose other than the fee. And if I have to get a new one, it’s not a huge deal, my situation hasn’t changed, I’ll just update the docs from two ... Read More
Retirement visa: renewal by Kurterino
I couldn’t find a list of requirements on how to renew a retirement visa. I have found a couple of articles stating that it’s easier than the original application, but no details. Has anyone more information on that ?
And yet another question: unfortunately, I was a bit lazy and let it expire. I’m not in Brazil right now, so I haven’t overstayed, not even for a day. Since I’m able to return to Brazil on the visa-exempt status, do you think the ... Read More
Retirement visa: renewal by Kurterino
I couldn’t find a list of requirements on how to renew a retirement visa. I have found a couple of articles stating that it’s easier than the original application, but no details. Has anyone more information on that ?
@Ryan BlakeThx, that is very useful information. I have tried to make an appointment here (https://servicos.pf.gov.br/agenda-web/acessar), but I need to enter a Código de solicitação ou Requerimento. Apparently I should receive ... Read More
Retirement visa: renewal
I couldn’t find a list of requirements on how to renew a retirement visa. I have found a couple of articles stating that it’s easier than the original application, but no details. Has anyone more information on that ? Read More
International money transfers to a Pix account: fee comparison
This thread is a follow-up to another thread, I thought that it’s worth starting a new one (the other thread can be found here: (https://www.expat.com/en/forum/south-america/brazil/1103776-wise-account-blocked.html). It inspired me to make 3 ... Read More
Coverter - 220 to 110 (USA) by Kat2202
Good morning,I need some advice. I am bringing some small appliances, my table lamp wich has usb adapters, air purifier, my dyson floor cleaner/desinfectant and of course laptop, tablets, meta quest, etc. I am unsure if it requires converters or ...
@Kat2202 I don’t know about the plugs, since I’m not from the US, I’m sure someone else will be able to answer that. The voltage depends on the location, some places have 110V installations, others 220V, and some have both. For ... Read More
Wise Account Blocked by alan279
My Wise Account is temporarily blocked. Message in the app says I need to provide additional information. I tap the Unblock button and the next screen says they have all the information they need. I tap the Got it! button and get nothing.Is this ...
@abthree Yes, it’s an interesting experiment. I guess it would be possible to evaluate the cost of a given transfer by looking at the disclosed fees, but there’s always the question of the exchange rate, since some institutions ... Read More
Wise Account Blocked by alan279
My Wise Account is temporarily blocked. Message in the app says I need to provide additional information. I tap the Unblock button and the next screen says they have all the information they need. I tap the Got it! button and get nothing.Is this ...
@abthree Of course, I meant the current exchange rate which is published “everywhere”. I’m aware that different banks or exchanges might have slightly different rates, but they are usually pretty similar in the same country. In ... Read More
Wise Account Blocked by alan279
My Wise Account is temporarily blocked. Message in the app says I need to provide additional information. I tap the Unblock button and the next screen says they have all the information they need. I tap the Got it! button and get nothing.Is this ...
Wise will tell you the fees before you make a transaction. Today, Wise says the exchange rate is 1 USD = 5.3169 BRL and 1,000 USD will buy me 5.255,23 BRL, with fees of 11.59 USD. - @alan279 The Western Union app also shows you how much ... Read More
Wise Account Blocked by alan279
My Wise Account is temporarily blocked. Message in the app says I need to provide additional information. I tap the Unblock button and the next screen says they have all the information they need. I tap the Got it! button and get nothing.Is this ...
@Kurterino What is the cost of your transactions? - @alan279 I don’t know how to break it down, as in who (Western Union and NuBank) charges how much, but on my last transaction (about 200 US$), I received about 5% less on my Pix account than ... Read More
Wise Account Blocked by alan279
My Wise Account is temporarily blocked. Message in the app says I need to provide additional information. I tap the Unblock button and the next screen says they have all the information they need. I tap the Got it! button and get nothing.Is this ...
Western Union accepted my Pix key for my Nu account, I didn't complete the transfer, but WU verified my Nu account number. If you'd like me to test this transaction, I can try it, but it may take days to complete. My first WU transfer took a week. - ... Read More
Wise Account Blocked by alan279
My Wise Account is temporarily blocked. Message in the app says I need to provide additional information. I tap the Unblock button and the next screen says they have all the information they need. I tap the Got it! button and get nothing.Is this ...
@Kurterino If you can get a Nu account, can you get a Pix key and do an international transfer to the Pix key? Just a thought. - @alan279 How would that work, without an IBAN number? If I want to make a transfer to an account in another country ... Read More
Wise Account Blocked by alan279
My Wise Account is temporarily blocked. Message in the app says I need to provide additional information. I tap the Unblock button and the next screen says they have all the information they need. I tap the Got it! button and get nothing.Is this ...
@Kuterino So here's the question i searched on: "Quais os bancos onde eu posso abrir conta sem comprovante de residência?" And the response surprised me: "Bancos como InfinitePay, Banrisul (conta digital) e C6 Bank (conta no exterior) ... Read More
Wise Account Blocked by alan279
My Wise Account is temporarily blocked. Message in the app says I need to provide additional information. I tap the Unblock button and the next screen says they have all the information they need. I tap the Got it! button and get nothing.Is this ...
09/13/25 The one thing I don’t understand is utilities: there was no electricity nor running water until about 5 years ago, now we are connected, however nobody here has to pay for it. As far as I understand, the city (village) is footing the ... Read More
Wise Account Blocked by alan279
My Wise Account is temporarily blocked. Message in the app says I need to provide additional information. I tap the Unblock button and the next screen says they have all the information they need. I tap the Got it! button and get nothing.Is this ...
09/13/25 As far as I know, I won’t be able to open an account with banks like Banco de Brasil, unless I have a document with my address on it, and since I live in an invasão, I don’t have anything like that. - @Kurterino You do ... Read More
Wise Account Blocked by alan279
My Wise Account is temporarily blocked. Message in the app says I need to provide additional information. I tap the Unblock button and the next screen says they have all the information they need. I tap the Got it! button and get nothing.Is this ...
@abthree As far as I know, I won’t be able to open an account with banks like Banco de Brasil, unless I have a document with my address on it, and since I live in an invasão, I don’t have anything like that. So for now, I’ll ... Read More
Wise Account Blocked by alan279
My Wise Account is temporarily blocked. Message in the app says I need to provide additional information. I tap the Unblock button and the next screen says they have all the information they need. I tap the Got it! button and get nothing.Is this ...
Western Union account verified. I now have two US bank accounts, two Brazil bank accounts and Wise and Western Union for international transfers. Thanks! - @alan279 Related question: are there bank accounts that have an international account number ... Read More
Beach Trike by alan279
I'm thinking about buying a beach trike. Would it be quickly stolen?
The trike doesn't do soft sand well at all. My beach is very wide at low tide. It's smooth, effortless cruising for five miles. And there is no beach at high tide. - @alan279 I thought so. Where I am, even my skinny dog leaves deep footprints ... Read More
Beach Trike by alan279
I'm thinking about buying a beach trike. Would it be quickly stolen?
@Kurterino Triciclo praiano fat by Dream Bike in Sao Paulo. https://www.dreambike.com.br/todos-prod … chas-preto - @alan279Thx. I’m surprised that this working, is the sand particularly dense (hard) where you are using it? I doubt that ... Read More
Beach Trike by alan279
I'm thinking about buying a beach trike. Would it be quickly stolen?
@alan279Can you post a link with a picture? Or a link to a shop who sells these things? I can’t really imagine how a pedal-powered vehicle could work on the beach, that’s why I would love to check it out. Read More
Prescription Eyeglasses by alan279
I need new prescription eyeglasses. The myriad local optical shops' prices seem high to me. Anyone have a recommendation for an optical shop? What about the online shops?Thanks for any advice.Alan
I got a pair last year, from a shop named Oticas Sucesso. I’m about 30 minutes south of Salvador, I don’t know if it was an independent shop or a chain, and I also forgot the price, but I think it was around 800 Reais. Not cheap, but not ... Read More
Driver's license
Is there anyone here who managed to get a BR driver’s license based on the license from his home country (converted his license to a Brazilian license)? If so, what is the procedure? Read More
Wise Account Blocked by alan279
My Wise Account is temporarily blocked. Message in the app says I need to provide additional information. I tap the Unblock button and the next screen says they have all the information they need. I tap the Got it! button and get nothing.Is this ...
I’m using (or have been using) Wise too, but once I had a weird problem: they made an error and executed a transfer twice, and once they noticed, they sent me a message that I had to approve an additional charge on my credit card, in order to ... Read More
Another tax question… by Kurterino
I had a little discussion with my accountant on Friday, and the gist of it is that he recommended to not file taxes at all, so I wanted to see how some of you guys are handling the tax situation. I’m getting a monthly pension from my home ...
@Peter ItamaracaI have read the tax treaty (between Brazil and Switzerland) in its entirety, there is no ambiguity at all. And what @NewBrazil states (that Brazil may or may not act in accordance with said treaty) doesn’t make sense, those ... Read More
Another tax question… by Kurterino
I had a little discussion with my accountant on Friday, and the gist of it is that he recommended to not file taxes at all, so I wanted to see how some of you guys are handling the tax situation. I’m getting a monthly pension from my home ...
Thanks that makes sense. I will just let it be, knowing that I should be in the clear. Read More
Another tax question…
I had a little discussion with my accountant on Friday, and the gist of it is that he recommended to not file taxes at all, so I wanted to see how some of you guys are handling the tax situation. I’m getting a monthly pension from my home ... Read More
Taxes for retirees / when to file by Kurterino
So I have finally found an accountant to do my taxes, but he isn’t sure if I have to file at all. (I figure it doesn’t matter all that much if he’s well versed in taxes for immigrants, since my situation is pretty straightforward, ...
I spoke with my accountant, and he confirmed that I don’t have to pay taxes on my pension, however I still have to declare it. So I decided to go ahead and file for last year, even though it’s too late and I’ll have to pay a fine. ... Read More
Taxes for retirees / when to file by Kurterino
So I have finally found an accountant to do my taxes, but he isn’t sure if I have to file at all. (I figure it doesn’t matter all that much if he’s well versed in taxes for immigrants, since my situation is pretty straightforward, ...
So I’m here on a retirement visa, and I spent more than 180 days here last year, which means I have to pay taxes. Luckily, Brazil and Switzerland do have a treaty, and this agreement states that people who get a pension have to pay taxes for ... Read More
Taxes for retirees / when to file
So I have finally found an accountant to do my taxes, but he isn’t sure if I have to file at all. (I figure it doesn’t matter all that much if he’s well versed in taxes for immigrants, since my situation is pretty straightforward, ... Read More
Retirement visa expiring: when can I come back on a tourist visa?
Hi, my retirement visa will expire at the end of September, and I’ll be unable to renew it immediately, I will have to wait until June 2026 (for administrative/personal reasons). I would like to spend some of these 9 months (September-June) in ... Read More
US and Brazil Taxes Revisited by sjpetzold
I’m sorry to bring this up again, but with tax season upon us, wise expats’ thoughts turn to the complexities of dual taxes. My wife and I are both US citizens filing jointly in the US. She is also a Brazil citizen while I have a ...
@abthree Thx for all you do. I actually put off my move until the end of year so I'm not a tax resident this year. I have VA disability (which isn't taxed and have no plans to bring into the countries banks) but what I'm confused on is capital ... Read More
Renewal of retirement visa /background check by Kurterino
Unfortunately, my retirement visa will expire at the end of September this year (2025). Btw, completely unrelated to my question, it was valid for two years, even though on the application documents , it said that it was only gonna be valid for one ...
@abthree Thanks a lot, that’s very helpful. I have come to like Brazil a lot and even bought a used scooter, so it might be worthwhile to give it a try. It’s a lot easier to be able to just travel back and forth without counting the ... Read More
Renewal of retirement visa /background check by Kurterino
Unfortunately, my retirement visa will expire at the end of September this year (2025). Btw, completely unrelated to my question, it was valid for two years, even though on the application documents , it said that it was only gonna be valid for one ...
Unfortunately my Swiss background check isn’t clean anymore (It’s about narcotics) , but will be clean again in 5 years at most (AFAIK). Does anybody have any experience with this? My question at this point is if I should give it a try ... Read More
Renewal of retirement visa /background check
Unfortunately, my retirement visa will expire at the end of September this year (2025). Btw, completely unrelated to my question, it was valid for two years, even though on the application documents , it said that it was only gonna be valid for one ... Read More
Número do Título de eleitor with a retirement visa by Kurterino
HelloA few weeks ago, I posted a question because I had problems activating my Claro chip that I had just bought. At the time, I thought it was a problem with my postal number, the CEP, but actually, it was about my CPF. Even though the error ...
> Can you not ignore it and click your way thru on the site ?If you want to update your CPF, they ask for this number in order to complete the process, meaning you have to send it (with a few other things) in an e-mail, together with the form ID ... Read More
Número do Título de eleitor with a retirement visa
HelloA few weeks ago, I posted a question because I had problems activating my Claro chip that I had just bought. At the time, I thought it was a problem with my postal number, the CEP, but actually, it was about my CPF. Even though the error ... Read More
Claro activation problems (wrong CEP?) by Kurterino
I recently got myself a Claro SIM card (I already have a TIM , but there are quite a few places where I don’t get a signal, whereas Claro works well there. And with the eSIM capability of my phone, I can use them both without having to change ...
My humble guess is the CEP that is associated with your CPF registration is the one they want to see OR they want the CEP which is associated with your address which is on file with the PF. When I opened my VIVO account (also had a Claro account ... Read More
Claro activation problems (wrong CEP?)
I recently got myself a Claro SIM card (I already have a TIM , but there are quite a few places where I don’t get a signal, whereas Claro works well there. And with the eSIM capability of my phone, I can use them both without having to change ... Read More
Shineray scooters
So I’m looking through the ads on OLX and Facebook to find myself a used motorcycle or a scooter (a little one). Surprisingly I found out that the Honda models are quite expensive, especially compared to what they cost when new (like a Honda ... Read More
Experiences with Starlink (internet)? by Kurterino
I live in an area where there’s no wired connection, the only way to have internet is via GSM (4G). Unfortunately the network isn’t very strong, so speed varies from Totally Fine to Almost Nothing…. In comes Starlink: if I’m ...
@Pablo888 Prepaid SIM cards work fine. You can easily switch carriers, so you can see which carrier works best for you. I've had Oi, TIM, Claro and Vivo. Vivo has the best coverage around Ilhéus. -@alan27A couple of years ago i ... Read More
Taxes in Brazil by TonyFaithOverFear
Hello, I have dual citizenship (Brazilian/American). I have plans to retire next year in California and move to Brazil. My retirement/pension paycheck will be deposited in an American bank and I would transfer it to my bank account in Brazil every ...
@abthree Sorry to revive such an old thread, but I'm trying to do some research on this topic. Given that Brazilian tax brackets are so much lower than US ones can you elaborate a bit on how your Brazilian taxes are 40% of your US ones? My situation ... Read More
Experiences with Starlink (internet)? by Kurterino
I live in an area where there’s no wired connection, the only way to have internet is via GSM (4G). Unfortunately the network isn’t very strong, so speed varies from Totally Fine to Almost Nothing…. In comes Starlink: if I’m ...
@alan279 LOL, well that's saving R$240 / year for little effort. It all adds up. Stateside I use the T-Mobile 5GB prepaid plan for $15 / month. In Brasil, I'm on the Claro R$30 plan - and I don't pay for them when I'm out of the ... Read More
Experiences with Starlink (internet)? by Kurterino
I live in an area where there’s no wired connection, the only way to have internet is via GSM (4G). Unfortunately the network isn’t very strong, so speed varies from Totally Fine to Almost Nothing…. In comes Starlink: if I’m ...
@Alan279........ No kidding......my wife just bought an I-15 for $1,090 CAD as we're leaving in 3 weeks.......which is about R$4,400........it's R$10,999 on the Brasilian Apple store site FWIW. -@Gasparzinho 777For what it’s worth, ... Read More
Experiences with Starlink (internet)? by Kurterino
I live in an area where there’s no wired connection, the only way to have internet is via GSM (4G). Unfortunately the network isn’t very strong, so speed varies from Totally Fine to Almost Nothing…. In comes Starlink: if I’m ...
@Gasparzinho 777> When we get there in 3 weeks, we're buying legit phones on a network rather than my use my burners or roamI was trying to understand what you mean by that, but i just don't get it…Do you think that somehow, phones bought ... Read More
Experiences with Starlink (internet)? by Kurterino
I live in an area where there’s no wired connection, the only way to have internet is via GSM (4G). Unfortunately the network isn’t very strong, so speed varies from Totally Fine to Almost Nothing…. In comes Starlink: if I’m ...
@Kurterino I value an expensive functioning service over a cheaper less reliable one. In Canada I pay approx R$400 for a one terabyte download fiber optic line with unlimited data. That is my baseline expense, fully realising that this level of ... Read More
Experiences with Starlink (internet)? by Kurterino
I live in an area where there’s no wired connection, the only way to have internet is via GSM (4G). Unfortunately the network isn’t very strong, so speed varies from Totally Fine to Almost Nothing…. In comes Starlink: if I’m ...
@Gasparzinho 777Can confirm about TIM: It’s the only provider that works (not very well, but it works…) where i live, so i don’t really have a choice, but when i did a road trip last year, i didn’t get a signal for dozens of ... Read More