Are you thinking of moving there? Visa, budget, safety, employment … here is a comprehensive guide to help you make a success of your relocation to Sao Paulo!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Living in Sao Paulo: the pros and cons<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\nPros<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n- Relatively low cost of living<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- A tropical climate par excellence: mild winters and hot summers<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- A city chosen by more than 60% of the country’s companies as the location for their headquarters<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- A cosmopolitan city with one of the richest cultural diversities in the world (more than 60% of the inhabitants are of Italian origin, but there are also large Spanish, Portuguese, German and Japanese communities)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- More than 5,000 schools, making it the largest education network in Brazil<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- A city where culture occupies a central place<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
Disadvantages<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n- Many (many) traffic jams<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
\n- You come up against the language barrier (Portuguese)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
\n- The many hours of flying to reach the rest of the world ( over 11 hours to London, for example)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
![\"Large](\"https:\/\/www.foyerglobalhealth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/henrique-hanemann-xEkUtoYEJeE-unsplash-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe steps to take to successfully move to Brazil<\/h2>\n\n\n\n1. Obtain a long-stay visa<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
In general, citizens of European countries (France, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, etc.) can stay in Brazil for up to 90 days without a visa. However, to settle there, it is necessary to apply for a long-stay visa. Several options are available, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- VITEM V<\/strong>: the Brazilian work visa for foreigners who have obtained a job in Brazil;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- VITEM I<\/strong>: intended for researchers, teachers and postgraduate students;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- VITEM IX<\/strong>: for investors who intend to invest in the Brazilian market (real estate, companies, etc.);<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- VITEM XIV<\/strong>: visa for retirees.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
You can apply for a visa by appointment at the Consulate General of Brazil in your country of residence or online on its official website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Obtaining your residence card<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\nAfter obtaining your visa and once you have arrived, to live in Brazil<\/a>, you must apply for a residence card, known as the National Migration Registration Card (CRNM)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThis application can only be made on site, within 30 days of your arrival, by going to the Federal Police in Sao Paulo.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.foyerglobalhealth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/docusign-BbSBf5uv50A-unsplash-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Applying for a tax identification number (CPF)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
To open a bank account, sign a lease, subscribe to a telephone line or even buy a property, you must obtain a Cadastro de Pessoas F\u00edsicas (CPF)<\/strong>, i.e. a tax identification number.<\/p>\n\n\n\nYou can apply for it remotely at the Brazilian embassy or directly on the official website of the federal tax administration: https:\/\/www.receita.fazenda.gov.br\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n4. Obtaining the Work Card<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
In some cases, in addition to a VITEM V visa, you must apply for the work card (Carteira de Trabalho<\/strong>) to be entitled to work in Brazil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n
Pros<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n- Relatively low cost of living<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- A tropical climate par excellence: mild winters and hot summers<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- A city chosen by more than 60% of the country’s companies as the location for their headquarters<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- A cosmopolitan city with one of the richest cultural diversities in the world (more than 60% of the inhabitants are of Italian origin, but there are also large Spanish, Portuguese, German and Japanese communities)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- More than 5,000 schools, making it the largest education network in Brazil<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- A city where culture occupies a central place<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
Disadvantages<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n- Many (many) traffic jams<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
\n- You come up against the language barrier (Portuguese)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
\n- The many hours of flying to reach the rest of the world ( over 11 hours to London, for example)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The steps to take to successfully move to Brazil<\/h2>\n\n\n\n1. Obtain a long-stay visa<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
In general, citizens of European countries (France, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, etc.) can stay in Brazil for up to 90 days without a visa. However, to settle there, it is necessary to apply for a long-stay visa. Several options are available, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- VITEM V<\/strong>: the Brazilian work visa for foreigners who have obtained a job in Brazil;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- VITEM I<\/strong>: intended for researchers, teachers and postgraduate students;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- VITEM IX<\/strong>: for investors who intend to invest in the Brazilian market (real estate, companies, etc.);<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- VITEM XIV<\/strong>: visa for retirees.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
You can apply for a visa by appointment at the Consulate General of Brazil in your country of residence or online on its official website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Obtaining your residence card<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\nAfter obtaining your visa and once you have arrived, to live in Brazil<\/a>, you must apply for a residence card, known as the National Migration Registration Card (CRNM)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThis application can only be made on site, within 30 days of your arrival, by going to the Federal Police in Sao Paulo.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Applying for a tax identification number (CPF)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
To open a bank account, sign a lease, subscribe to a telephone line or even buy a property, you must obtain a Cadastro de Pessoas F\u00edsicas (CPF)<\/strong>, i.e. a tax identification number.<\/p>\n\n\n\nYou can apply for it remotely at the Brazilian embassy or directly on the official website of the federal tax administration: https:\/\/www.receita.fazenda.gov.br\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n4. Obtaining the Work Card<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
In some cases, in addition to a VITEM V visa, you must apply for the work card (Carteira de Trabalho<\/strong>) to be entitled to work in Brazil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n
Disadvantages<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n- Many (many) traffic jams<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
\n- You come up against the language barrier (Portuguese)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
\n- The many hours of flying to reach the rest of the world ( over 11 hours to London, for example)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The steps to take to successfully move to Brazil<\/h2>\n\n\n\n1. Obtain a long-stay visa<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
In general, citizens of European countries (France, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, etc.) can stay in Brazil for up to 90 days without a visa. However, to settle there, it is necessary to apply for a long-stay visa. Several options are available, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- VITEM V<\/strong>: the Brazilian work visa for foreigners who have obtained a job in Brazil;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- VITEM I<\/strong>: intended for researchers, teachers and postgraduate students;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- VITEM IX<\/strong>: for investors who intend to invest in the Brazilian market (real estate, companies, etc.);<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- VITEM XIV<\/strong>: visa for retirees.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
You can apply for a visa by appointment at the Consulate General of Brazil in your country of residence or online on its official website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Obtaining your residence card<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\nAfter obtaining your visa and once you have arrived, to live in Brazil<\/a>, you must apply for a residence card, known as the National Migration Registration Card (CRNM)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThis application can only be made on site, within 30 days of your arrival, by going to the Federal Police in Sao Paulo.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Applying for a tax identification number (CPF)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
To open a bank account, sign a lease, subscribe to a telephone line or even buy a property, you must obtain a Cadastro de Pessoas F\u00edsicas (CPF)<\/strong>, i.e. a tax identification number.<\/p>\n\n\n\nYou can apply for it remotely at the Brazilian embassy or directly on the official website of the federal tax administration: https:\/\/www.receita.fazenda.gov.br\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n4. Obtaining the Work Card<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
In some cases, in addition to a VITEM V visa, you must apply for the work card (Carteira de Trabalho<\/strong>) to be entitled to work in Brazil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n
- \n
- You come up against the language barrier (Portuguese)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- The many hours of flying to reach the rest of the world ( over 11 hours to London, for example)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The steps to take to successfully move to Brazil<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Obtain a long-stay visa<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
In general, citizens of European countries (France, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, etc.) can stay in Brazil for up to 90 days without a visa. However, to settle there, it is necessary to apply for a long-stay visa. Several options are available, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- VITEM V<\/strong>: the Brazilian work visa for foreigners who have obtained a job in Brazil;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- VITEM I<\/strong>: intended for researchers, teachers and postgraduate students;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- VITEM IX<\/strong>: for investors who intend to invest in the Brazilian market (real estate, companies, etc.);<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- VITEM XIV<\/strong>: visa for retirees.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
You can apply for a visa by appointment at the Consulate General of Brazil in your country of residence or online on its official website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Obtaining your residence card<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n\nAfter obtaining your visa and once you have arrived, to live in Brazil<\/a>, you must apply for a residence card, known as the National Migration Registration Card (CRNM)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This application can only be made on site, within 30 days of your arrival, by going to the Federal Police in Sao Paulo.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Applying for a tax identification number (CPF)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
To open a bank account, sign a lease, subscribe to a telephone line or even buy a property, you must obtain a Cadastro de Pessoas F\u00edsicas (CPF)<\/strong>, i.e. a tax identification number.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can apply for it remotely at the Brazilian embassy or directly on the official website of the federal tax administration: https:\/\/www.receita.fazenda.gov.br\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. Obtaining the Work Card<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
In some cases, in addition to a VITEM V visa, you must apply for the work card (Carteira de Trabalho<\/strong>) to be entitled to work in Brazil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n \n \n\n\n - VITEM I<\/strong>: intended for researchers, teachers and postgraduate students;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- VITEM V<\/strong>: the Brazilian work visa for foreigners who have obtained a job in Brazil;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The many hours of flying to reach the rest of the world ( over 11 hours to London, for example)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n