hagece8690
Brazilian citizen
Forum posts
48
About me
Brazilian
Registration: 20 January 2026
Noisy Brazil? by alexanderstephenlange
The other day, speaking with a native, she said: Brasil 茅 muito barulhento, n茅?! (She had lived in Germany for a long while... .)In my area, so far, it's really noisy only when something big is happening, like the Copa and other ...
What about the rusted out grey VW Brasilia lata velo with duct tape and a black garbage bag where the back window used to be, with a loudspeaker strapped to the roof while driving down the street with the words "Pamonha, Pamonha, Pamhona, temos ... 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鈥檛 work. Called my bank they said everything thing should work. In the same store tryed to use my ...
One of the banks here gave me a C/C with the words (and access to both) debit and credit written in small print on the back, as well as a stand alone debit card. Go figure. I loathe using debit or PIX because they give someone access to your ... Read More
Starlink use in Brazil by Boondog
@abthree Thank you for responding. Yes, I bought a home in Casemiro de Abreu in the state of Rio they should be moving there sometime September October. Do you have any experience with Starlink in rural areas?Thanks again for your input. Regards. ...
Spend your money on Brazilian services!!mberigan - @mberiganI too live by this credo here. Next to no G7/EU type corporations operate here, yes there are a few (Carrefour, Sam's Club, Amazon, McDonald's, GM, etc) but by and large, I refuse to do ... Read More
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 ...
07/15/26 To head that kind of confusion off at the pass, since my naturalization I've been introducing myself as "Brasileiro naturalizado, Americano nato." - @abthreeI commonly use "quasi Carioca de gema" which always elicits a laugh. I've had a few ... Read More
Word(s) of the day by alexanderstephenlange
Queijo no queixo faz uma queixa!Please add to this thread, friends.
BENJAMINI just bought some of these the other day. Everyone has them in their apartment or house. What are they ??? Read More
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 ...
I make a game out of what Brazilians guess to be my origins when meeting for the first time because I speak Portuguese well enough yet have that persistent accent. In the northeast they first guess me to be "gaucho," then German, then Portuguese. If ... Read More
Is it hard to become fluent in Brasilian Portuguese ? by hagece8690
FWIW I've passed the Celpe-Bras exam, and can watch videos, read, and communicate verbally with pretty much anyone here like a native, except people from Bahia KKKKKK, and when encountering regionalized slang. The reason I am asking this question, ...
Does anyone here watch the occasional polyglot video on YT ?For fun I watch two different ones. Xiaomanyc and Oriental Pearl. One is a guy who lived in Beijing for a year went to university there and then started to study Mandarin seriously upon ... Read More
Is it hard to become fluent in Brasilian Portuguese ? by hagece8690
FWIW I've passed the Celpe-Bras exam, and can watch videos, read, and communicate verbally with pretty much anyone here like a native, except people from Bahia KKKKKK, and when encountering regionalized slang. The reason I am asking this question, ...
Yeah........I find it hard to believe any of the claims made by the serious, and the circumspect language schools to be honest, when it comes to time requirements for being fluent, or anything close to it. Read More
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 ...
We will always be foreigners, yes, and can never fully be assimilated - @alexanderstephenlangeThat is an off ramp which will never arrive for all the aforementioned reasons. And, that is just fine, for I am happy where I am at, as I figure most are ... Read More
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 ...
Except for people who are here for thirty years, for whom the requirement is waived. - @abthreeIt's 15 years of residency actually.And here is the law. From gov.br (link may be censored as they often seem to be on this ... Read More
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 ...
"Tu" is replaced by "voce" here in the South East.In English you have the TOEIC which is the gold standard for formal english required for employment in certain sectors. Immigration and citizenship to many countries neither requires ANY level of ... Read More
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 ...
I'm not saying it is one. Just that it has to go somewhere on a scale, and where it get's placed is totally a personal preference relative to your position in the country, and in reality, unnecessary for the most part. Read More
Is it hard to become fluent in Brasilian Portuguese ? by hagece8690
FWIW I've passed the Celpe-Bras exam, and can watch videos, read, and communicate verbally with pretty much anyone here like a native, except people from Bahia KKKKKK, and when encountering regionalized slang. The reason I am asking this question, ...
That was my whole point. You cannot truly learn from a few hundred hours in a class. Read More
FinCEN FBAR by drnelsonsantosdc
Good morning,Has anyone had to deal with FBAR after having purchased property in Brazil?
If you need a qualified accounting reference I will send you a private message with my guy's contact info. Let me know. Read More
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 ...
Alex,If the question was "how much assimilation" is enough for you personally, I'd say that unless you really wanted to move from 30 to 50, and get the passport, which is a totally documentary process, you're probably just fine where you are. That ... Read More
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 ...
If you could measure assimilation, I'd use a scale of 1 - 100 and mark it like this.1 - FOB fresh off the boat.100 - Totally indistinguishable from a local in every respect.Obtaining citizenship would be at # 50.Being a completely fluent citizen, ... Read More
I found something interesting about Brazilian Tax by NewBrazil
If your diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma or worse. This could be a sore on your nose or body. Even if you had MOHS surgery to remove it. If you had cancer diagnosed . It states in Brazilian tax law your social security and possibly pension income ...
No, I am just regurgitating what the doctor him him. Read More
Bahia, Brazil by Bolandpe
I would like to connect with English speaking people in Bahia. I am considering wintering there.
Brasilian slang lesson incoming........have you seen any OBNI's yet ?"Objeto Baiano Nao Identificado" Read More
I found something interesting about Brazilian Tax by NewBrazil
If your diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma or worse. This could be a sore on your nose or body. Even if you had MOHS surgery to remove it. If you had cancer diagnosed . It states in Brazilian tax law your social security and possibly pension income ...
I can concur.My father in law has prostate cancer. He is 88 now, and he'll die from old age long before before the disease gets him according to his doctor, but, all it took was a letter from the oncologist. Sent it to INSS and his private pension, ... 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鈥� or cycling.In Denmark, for ...
My bad. That should be R$.20 a KM for the BYD mileage cost. I inverted the calc when posting. 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鈥� or cycling.In Denmark, for ...
This is just a data point for people considering daily use of an electric car in one of the major cities. Now, none of you are going to be doing this I imagine, but, it provides numerical "real world and first hand" insight into the costs. I've ... Read More
HOW MUCH DOES YOUR ACCOUNTANT CHARGE TO DO TAXES ?
Assuming you use one that is, and don't use the pre-filled template on the RF site.Tax season just ended last week, and I actually paid my guy two weeks ago. Now, while everyone has different situations obviously, and unless you have only one source ... Read More
Life in Brazil: What foreigners should expect by efmarshall1
I currently live in the U.S. and though I have never visited Brazil; I am thinking of relocating from the US. What can I expect as a foreigner moving to a new country. I have researched Brazil and I have made up my mind.
OP......Tell us why you've made up your mind already about Brasil. Point out your top 5-6 bullet points in a post.You've never been here yet, so, it's a bit presumptuous to make the statement you did. Maybe once everyone can see your reasoning, or ... 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鈥檛 work. Called my bank they said everything thing should work. In the same store tryed to use my ...
I never even got that far. The cannot read your card message hit the screen about 5 seconds after I put it in. The two people in front of me didn't have problems though. Very odd however that a POS terminal read my chip OK for the bottle of water, ... 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鈥� or cycling.In Denmark, for ...
Good point. I just buy a bottle of fuel stabilizer (STA-BIL brand) if I am travelling for a while and put it in the tank. It is a product that is designed for this application in all types of situations. Gas has it's own issues along these lines as ... 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鈥檛 work. Called my bank they said everything thing should work. In the same store tryed to use my ...
Yesterday I went to a Banco24Horas ATM to grab some cash as I was too lazy to walk over to my branch. My debit card didn't work and the screen said the machine could not ready my card. Odd that. This card is two years old, doesn't have any marks on ... Read More
颁补谤苍锚-尝别茫辞 by ibdegen
Sorry if this is covered in another topic, but I have not found anything. I am a retired American with a permanent residence visa. I have been paying taxes for the past two years in Brasil and am getting ready to file a return for 2025. For the ...
05/30/26 There are always exceptions, and one big one is your investment in your principal residence. Earlier this year when it appeared that we'd be selling our apartment and moving across Brazil, I discovered to my horror that we'd not only have ... Read More
Is it hard to become fluent in Brasilian Portuguese ? by hagece8690
FWIW I've passed the Celpe-Bras exam, and can watch videos, read, and communicate verbally with pretty much anyone here like a native, except people from Bahia KKKKKK, and when encountering regionalized slang. The reason I am asking this question, ...
@alexanderstephenlangeLast night I watched the Brasil v Panama amistoso and it got me to thinking. IMHO a true test of actual fluency should be that the person being tested has to listen to 10 different 15 second sound聽 bites of an "excited ... Read More
Is hard to become fluent in Brasilian Portuguese ?
FWIW I've passed the Celpe-Bras exam, and can watch videos, read, and communicate verbally with pretty much anyone here like a native, except people from Bahia KKKKKK, and when encountering regionalized slang. The reason I am asking this question, ... 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鈥檛 work. Called my bank they said everything thing should work. In the same store tryed to use my ...
It is becoming more and more common that vendors to charge a little more for credit card use. - @Pablo888I've seen discounts commonly up to 10% for PIX use. Interchange fees are limited by law to .5% for debit cards and C/C fees are usually around ... Read More
颁补谤苍锚-尝别茫辞 by ibdegen
Sorry if this is covered in another topic, but I have not found anything. I am a retired American with a permanent residence visa. I have been paying taxes for the past two years in Brasil and am getting ready to file a return for 2025. For the ...
@Pablo888No worldwide tax. Plus, I'm paying R$900 a month in carne leao. Read More
颁补谤苍锚-尝别茫辞 by ibdegen
Sorry if this is covered in another topic, but I have not found anything. I am a retired American with a permanent residence visa. I have been paying taxes for the past two years in Brasil and am getting ready to file a return for 2025. For the ...
Yes it does. But that doesn't matter IMHO. Here's why.I doubt there is any official and formal sharing of information between countries (it would be too onerous a time commitment, and expensive, especially since many governments around the world are ... 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鈥檛 work. Called my bank they said everything thing should work. In the same store tryed to use my ...
Yes, as a tourist years ago before I moved moved here permanently.There are way too many POS terminal providers in Brasil unfortunately IMHO, and some of them do not work with the security protocols of US/CAN systems, depending on which C/C or debit ... Read More
颁补谤苍锚-尝别茫辞 by ibdegen
Sorry if this is covered in another topic, but I have not found anything. I am a retired American with a permanent residence visa. I have been paying taxes for the past two years in Brasil and am getting ready to file a return for 2025. For the ...
And......the tax refund money was sitting in my account this morning, having been transferred by PIX from the RF. Read More
Looking for experiences in Rural areas with HughesNet by mberigan
Hi!I have a home in a rural area unserved by telephone services but that does have Internet. Initially, the area started with radio Internet and that helped people with communication and basic Internet services. Streaming works OK and generally ...
Get them to run an extension about 1 meter onto your property from their main line, or as far as they are literally willing to do so.Attach your router to the cable in an enclosed waterproof and insect/rodent proof platform, which is mounted ... 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. ...
You also should get a passport (in any country where you live if you can) sooner than later, just in case the rules change one day. Look at what Portugal and Italy has just done for example, to name two countries of many that are now tightening ... 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 ...
I do not pay for health insurance here. It is a racket and a scam IMHO. But, that's for another thread.My wife OTOH pays Unimed some R$1.600 a month.Private practice and medical/dental procedures here are cheap. 2 months ago my wife had invasive ... Read More
颁补谤苍锚-尝别茫辞 by ibdegen
Sorry if this is covered in another topic, but I have not found anything. I am a retired American with a permanent residence visa. I have been paying taxes for the past two years in Brasil and am getting ready to file a return for 2025. For the ...
I pay carne leao monthy on income sourced outside Brasil. I do not pay on my locally sourced income.My foreign income is taxed at source in another country. I pay tax on the net amount I receive here by direct deposit based on the central banks ... 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鈥� 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. Read More
Mozzarella by Kurterino
This is the second time I鈥檓 opening a thread about food, and just like the last one, it鈥檚 about a dairy product (last time I inquired about cream). I like to bake a pizza once in a while, it鈥檚 a tasty meal and very easy to make at ...
The ASSAI attacadao has good mozza. Read More
Remember: When Changing Phones... by Pablo888
April 4, 2026I just upgraded my phone (twice) recently. The upgrade path was easy but one thing I did not do before wiping out my old phone is:Make sure to login in both the old and new phone and transfer the account from the old to the new by QR ...
Why are you dealing with Caixa ?That is the bank for the "pobre premium" class.Do not deal with government banks here. It is those banks that get tapped to finance the pet projects which the standard commercial banks won't touch for various reasons. ... Read More
Computer Connection by Roddie Simmons
I am looking for an on-line computer store, preferably with English speakers, that I can purchase RAM (memory) for my computer.Roddie in Retirement馃槑
Every business here communicates thru Whats App. So, use a聽 translator and type your request to them.Chances are every computer store has an聽 english speaker anyways, since, all the tech type people I run into here are usually under 30 and ... Read More
Nubank account by FahadQ
Hi, how is everyone?I wanted to ask can I create a Nubank account while I wait for my immigration card? I already have my CPF. I'm trying to do it with the app but it keeps asking me for an ID. Any idea what I can do? please let me know.Thanks!
FahadQYou'll need the CRNM card to do any of that at a bricks and mortar bank. This is the immigration card you speak of. Banks normally will not accept the paper protocolo form you get issued while waiting for the physical card, just to open an ... Read More
If you have a vehicle or moto, have you paid your IPVA this year ?
I just paid R$3,800 for my VW Polo.Kinda wish I was this guy though.[link under review]Now that all Brasilian states have released information about the 2026 IPVA (Vehicle Property Tax), it's possible to point out that Santa Catarina has the most ... Read More
Atestado de resid锚ncia no exterior by UhOhDetran
Just wondering if anyone (Brazilian or expat) left Brazil for a while and then applied for a "Atestado de resid锚ncia no exterior". It's a document that you apply for and get from the embassy stating that you've been living outside of Brazil ...
Your first tax return as a PR is where you declare your landed assets to the RF. You have a short time period before and after your landed date to bring money and items into the country tax free, then it's over and done.Now, it's Brasil, so, I'm ... 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. 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
Atestado de resid锚ncia no exterior by UhOhDetran
Just wondering if anyone (Brazilian or expat) left Brazil for a while and then applied for a "Atestado de resid锚ncia no exterior". It's a document that you apply for and get from the embassy stating that you've been living outside of Brazil ...
Yes, that will be fine, as a receipt from AirBnB is like a rental agreement for their purposes. FWIW you do this online thru the link on the consulate website, not the embassy. I have completed this process before. Just a note, if you have multiple ... Read More