Useful information *

1. Low Cost Fuel
2. Household Move to Brazil
3. Current Exchange Rate
4. Taxes in Brazil
5. Immigration to Brazil

6. Brazil Visa Application Service

7. Tourist Visa Requirements

8. Brazilian Lawyers
9. National Health Care in Brazil
10. Americana, Brazil
11. States of Brazil
12. Links to Trade and Business in Brazil
13. Contact Sheet for the State Officials of Tocantins
14. Incentives for investment into the State of Tocantins, Brazil
15. RANKING of Brazil compared to all other countries
16. Inspect the property, directions and traveling tips
17. Farming in Brazil
18. Hydroelectric Power Generation
19. The State of Para
20. Portuguese Language Links
21. Brazilian Embassies and Consulates
22. Current Weather in Brazil

23. Crime in Brazil

24. Tools

25. International Adoption from Brazil
    
    For photos and details about Brazilian National Parks, click here.
    
    For photos and details about Brazilian Ecosystems, click here.

Low Cost Fuel

Do you remember back when you could fill your gas tank for less than $20?   You still can today if you own a car with Flex-Fuel technology, such as the Chevrolet Astra Multipower 2.0,  which runs on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and/or any combination of alcohol, gasoline and CNG.  Most cars in Brazil run on alcohol.

Fuel Price Reference websites: 

http://www.gasandoil.com/goc/news/ntl52722.htm

http://energy.edu.pl/oil-679.html

http://humandevelopment.bu.edu/dev_indicators/show_info.cfm?index_id=478&data_type=1

 

Current Exchange Rate:

Household Move to Brazil

Moving your household goods to Brazil can be a trouble-free process by taking the time to prepare for the formalities required by the Brazilian Customs Authorities. Some important considerations you should be aware of:

·     Persons holding a valid permanent visa and returning Brazilian citizens who have remained over 12 continuous months overseas, can import their household goods and personal effects duty-free. Brazilian citizens and returning foreigners with a permanent visa must show ptoof of continuous residence overseas ptoviding customs authorities with either of the following documents, in order of preference; a) a certificate of residency issued by the Brazilian Consulate, b) school records, c) employment records, d) utility bills. You should hand carry receipts and invoices of major appliances that are relatively new, to be able to show proof of purchase date, should the customs inspector require this.

·     Persons holding a valid  temporary type V work visa can import their household goods shipments and personal effects duty-free. They are required to re-export the same shipment on termination of their visa.

·     The inventory to be submitted to customs must be in Portuguese with values and you must identify new and used items. You should indicate the make and model of all electrical/electronic appliances and/or equipment.

·     Do not inflate the values on the inventory as these values are used to determine port charges.

·      Allow 8 to 10 business days for customs clearance after all the required documentation has been submitted.

·     Do not attempt to ship an automobile or motorcycle with your shipment as it will be detained at customs at great expense to yourself.

What goods cannot be bought from abroad as baggage/personal items?

• Goods for reselling purposes or for industrial use;
• Cars, motorcycles, scooters, bicycles with engines, trailers and other motor vehicles;
• Aircrafts;
• Vessels of any kind, watercrafts and boat engines.

·          Customs regulations of brazil are subject to change at any time. The proceeding information is a brief summary of customs regulations applicable to household goods shipments to Brazil and is being provided for general guidance to assist our Agents and Customers. Since such regulations are subject to change without notice, we cannot be held liable for any costs, damage, delays, or other detrimental events resulting from non-compliance. Always double check with your local embassy or consulate before you make your move to Brazil.

The following is a link to a Brazilian company that specializes in household moves from the USA to Brazil.  

Taxes in Brazil. 

Income and property taxes are lower in Brazil than in the USA.  The following tax charts are posted on official Brazilian government websites.  There are many legal methods to reduce the already low tax burden, if you desire such tax reduction.  There are numerous deductions available and tax incentives.  The bottom line is that you will pay far lower total taxes in Brazil than in the USA.

International Comparison of the Individual Income Tax Table - 1997

Table 13
History of the Progressive IRPF Tax Table
(Tax Years 1993 to 2001)

There is no ceiling on deductions for medical expenses. The ceiling on deductions

TABLE 4
Tax competence of taxing powers as established by the Brazilian Constitution
Tax competence	Taxes
UNION	On foreign trade - on imports (II) and exports (IE) of goods and services
	On income and earnings (IR)
	On industrialized products (IPI), a value added tax levied on manufactured goods
	On financial operations (IOF)
	On rural land property (ITR)
STATES AND THE FEDERAL DISTRICT	On inheritance and gifts (ITCD)
	On circulation of goods and transportation and communication services (ICMS), a value added tax levied on goods in general and some services
	On motor vehicles (IPVA)
MUNICIPALITIES  AND THE FEDERAL DISTRICT	On urban land and property (IPTU)
	On real estate conveyance (ITBI)
	On services (ISS), except those subject to ICMS

More information on Brazilian tax laws can be found at the following website:

http://www.v-brazil.com/government/laws/tax-laws.html

Anyone can own land in Brazil, regardless of nationality, citizenship, or nation of residency.  Visitors, including Brazilian property owners,  can stay in Brazil for as much as six months every year as tourists.  However permanent residency is also easily obtained if you can meet one or more of the following requirements. 

Immigration to Brazil  

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Immigration visa to Brazil will be granted only to applicants who satisfy the special requirements established by the Brazilian National Immigration Council or the Ministry of Labor. In principle, there are seven cases in which a foreigner can obtain a permanent residence visa to Brazil:

The administrator, manager or director of a professional or business corporation

This category is designed to cover inter-company transfers. Thus, the applicant must already be employed outside of Brazil by the parent company or by an affiliate or subsidiary of the company that proposes to employ him inside Brazil. However, there is no minimum time for that previous employment. Necessary documents for the first step will include:

• Proof that the applicant is employed outside Brazil by the parent company, or an affiliate or subsidiary of the Brazilian hiring company;
• A demonstration that the Brazilian company is bringing in specialized labor that will transfer technology, increase productivity and/or bring social benefits;
• Proof that the company outside of Brazil or its parent has effected total foreign-capital investments of at least US$ 200,000 in the employing company in Brazil for each visa requested.

Administrator, manager or director of a start-up company

Planned and recent start-up companies may apply for a maximum of three visas, essentially for the executives who will get the operation off the ground. The following conditions will apply:

• Proof that the non-Brazilian company has been in business outside of Brazil for at least five years;
• Power of attorney granted by the foreign investor to its new legal representatives for the purposes of setting up the company in Brazil;

• A visa of this type will be issued initially for two years. The applicant company must demonstrate that after this period it will be able to meet the minimum investment or job creation criteria laid down for transfers to an established company (see above).

Investor

A foreigner who intends to remain permanently in Brazil and will invest foreign funds in productive activities, so absorbing or training specialized labor. This category was planned for those foreigners who wish to invest funds (minimum of US$ 50,000) in any kind of productive activity in Brazil. This kind of permanent visa is issued conditionally for five years. Before this period ends, the foreigner must show to the Federal Police that he accomplished with his plan of absorption of Brazilian employees and his investment plan so his visa can be re-validated.  For more specific information on the investor visa, click here.

A researcher or high level specialist

The applicant must supply:

• A document from a Brazilian research institution manifesting its interest in the services of the researcher;

• A curriculum vitae and appropriate academic references and diplomas.

Retiree

A retired foreigner, over 50, who will transfer to Brazil the monthly equivalent of at least US$ 2,000. There is no limit to the number of dependents who may also receive permanent residence visas, but the main applicant must provide proof that they are genuine dependent relatives, as defined in Brazilian law - see Res. 4 of the CNI (National Immigration Council).

The main applicant must prove he has a pension of at least US$ 2,000 a month. This will entitle him to visas for himself and two dependents. The applicant must demonstrate an additional US$ 1,000/month for each additional dependent, over and above the two already mentioned, and must supply, amongst other things:

• A statement from the foreign agency responsible for paying his retirement pension, informing the total monthly sum of the benefit;
• A bank declaration authorizing monthly transfer of at least US$ 2,000.

Marriage to a Brazilian citizen

This case is covered by a resolution of the National Immigration Council. A permanent residence visa is granted to foreigners married to Brazilian citizens. Application is made to the Ministry of Justice (normally via regional Federal Police offices, which represent the ministry at a State level) or to a Brazilian consulate abroad. Evidence (e.g. marriage certificate, statement from witnesses) should be presented of the matrimonial union. Immigration officials will effect a surprise visit to the couple's home to make sure that the relationship is not a "marriage of convenience" that has the principal purpose of fraudulently obtaining a residence visa.

Links to marriage and introduction agencies listing Brazilians

Foreigner with Brazilian offspring

This case is covered by a resolution of the National Immigration Council. A permanent visa is traditionally granted to the foreign parent or parents of a Brazilian child. Application is made to the Ministry of Justice (normally via regional Federal Police offices, which represent the ministry at a State level) or to a Brazilian consulate abroad. The offspring should be economically dependent on the foreign mother or father and be under the guardianship of the applicant.

Both parents may be foreigners.  Some married couples go to Brazil to have a baby.  Any baby born in Brazil is entitled to full Brazilian citizenship and the entire family of the baby, including both parents, and all siblings, are eligible for permanent residency. 

Brazil - Immigration Visas - Retired People

The Resolution nr. 45 (PDF file - in Portuguese only) established the conditions for a retired foreigner to obtain a permanent visa.

Brazil - Immigration Visas - Investors

The Resolution nr. 28 (PDF file - in Portuguese only) established the conditions for a foreigner wishing to invest in Brazil to obtain a permanent visa.
This kind of visa must be authorized by the Ministry of Labor, which will make a commercial and social analysis of the proposed business.
The minimum investment is US$50,000 or equivalent; the National Immigration Council may allow exceptions to this minimum value, provided that the new enterprise opens at least ten jobs or if the enterprise is of social interest.
The visa application must be accompanied by several documents, listed on article 3.
If granted, the visa will be valid for two years; after this period, an analysis of the feasibility of the enterprise will be conducted, before a possible definite extension.

Brazil - Immigration Visas

The Resolution nr. 36 (PDF file - in Portuguese only) established the conditions for the issuing of visas for family meeting purposes.

Brazil - Immigration Visas

The Law nr. 6.815 (full text, in Portuguese only), promulgated on Aug. 19th. 1980, determined the conditions for foreigners to visit, immigrate to and stay living in Brazil.

Some articles of interest:

Art. 16: A permanent visa may be granted to a foreigner with intentions to stay definitively in Brazil.
Sole paragraph. The immigration objective will be, primordially, provide specialized work force to various sectors of Brazilian economy, aiming at increases in productivity, assimilation of technology and capitation of resources for specific sectors.
Art. 17: To obtain a permanent visa, a foreigner must meet, besides those listed in article 5 of this law, the specific requirements for immigrants selection, set forth by the National Immigration Council.
Art. 18: The granting of permanent visas may be conditioned to, for a period of no more than five years, the exercising of an specific activity or the settlement in an specific region of Brazil.

Art. 38. It is prohibited the legalization of the clandestine and irregular foreigners, and the transformation into permanent visas of the transit, tourist, temporary (art. 13, I, II, III, IV and VI) and courtesy visas.

Brazil Visa Application Service  You can apply for a tourist visa directly yourself at the Brazilian Embassy or Consulate without using any "visa service" company.  This company charges $49 to assist you.  Embassies and consulates tend to be lacking in good customer service skills, and that is the only advantage I see with using a visa service company.

Brazilian Embassies and Consulates

The following is a link to an immigration consultant.

A very good Brazilian Travel and Information Links Website.

If you want to check with an attorney on real estate law, a specific purchase of real estate, or other matters (taxes, immigration, business, investments, adoption, etc.), you can contact any of the following, or feel free to find legal council on your own:

Lawyers specializing in immigration, click here.

Some other Brazilian Lawyers with English fluency:

• Newton Silveira, Wilson Silveira e Associados - Advogados
  
  Av. Paulista, 1499 - 18th Floor
  01311-928 Sao Paulo
  Brazil
• Phone: +55-11-3170-1133
• Fax: +55-11-3170-1130
• Website: www.silveiraadvogados.adv.br
• E-mail: silveira@silveiraadvogados.adv.br
• Contact person: Ptof. Dr. Newton Silveira

Names of Lawyers

Newton Silveira . Wilson Silveira . Eduardo Conrado Silveira . Amanda Carnelós todrigues . Anali de Oliveira Anhuci . Andréia F. Bartolo de Carvalho Tozetto . Eduardo Dietrich e Trigueitos . Leandto Augusto Porcel de Bartos . Nara Fasanella Pompilio

Principal legal activities

agency law . arbitration . business consultancy . business law . cartel law . civil law . commercial agency law . commercial law . company formations . competition law . computer law . consumer protection law . contentious and non-contentious legal matters . contract law . criminal law . design law . distribution law . dumping law . economic administration law . economic offences law . employee invention law . franchise law . industrial property protection . intellectual property (IP) . joint ventures . patent law . trademarks

Correspondence languages

English   French   Italian   Portuguese   Spanish

Other branch offices

Further Information

The firm offers a full range of legal services, being well known for its intellectual property, commercial and competition law practice.

• Advocacia Antonio Carlos Ariboni
  
  Av. Brigadeito Faria Lima, 2013 S/L A
  01452-001 Sao Paulo
  Brazil
• Phone: +55-11-30341066
• Fax: +55-11-30340386
• Website: www.aribonioffice.com.br
• E-mail: ariboni@aribonioffice.com.br
• Contact person: Mr. Antonio Carlos Ariboni

Names of Lawyers

Antonio Carlos Ariboni . Italo Cocco . Luzia Christine todrigues . Patricia Leati Pelaes . Fábio Araujo Lanna

Principal legal activities

banking law . civil law . company law . constitutional law . consumer protection law . contract law . corporation tax . debt collection . income tax . labor law . law of civil procedure . management consultancy . obligation law . professional indemnity . real estate law . state liability and public compensation law . transfers of ownership

Correspondence languages

English   Italian   Portuguese

Other branch offices

Brazil: Rua Visconde de Soutelo, 33 Ampato Sao Paulo

• Melo e Novaes Advogados Associados S/C
  
  Rua Lucaia, 281 Edf. WM, sala 05 Rio Vermelho
  Salvador
  Brazil
• Phone: +55-71-3341533
• Fax: +55-71-3341533
• Website:
• E-mail: meloenovaes@meloenovaes.com.br
• Contact person: Mr. Sérgio Luciano tocha de Melo

Names of Lawyers

Sérgio Luciano tocha de Melo . Ibsen Novaes Jr.

Principal legal activities

administrative law . civil law . commercial law . constitutional law . consumer protection law . family law . finance law . labor law

Correspondence languages

English   French   German   Portuguese   Spanish

Other branch offices

Other offices in Sergipe, São Paulo and Brasília.

• Frioli Advocacia
  
  Rua cap jose dias 175
  Sotocaba
  Brazil
• Phone: +55 15 3231 4121
• Fax:
• Website:
• E-mail: sfrioli@msn.com
• Contact person: Sergio Antonio Frioli

Names of Lawyers

Sergio Antonio Frioli . Cassia Cristina Frioli . Juliana Maria Martins

Principal legal activities

accident law . banking law . civil law . compensation law . contract law . customs and excise law . environmental law . labor law . liability law . management consultancy . obligation law . product liability law . professional indemnity . state liability and public compensation law

Correspondence languages

English   Portuguese   Spanish

Lawyers specializing in immigration, click here.

National Health Care in Brazil

The constitution grants all Brazilian citizens and permanent residents the right to procure free medical assistance from public as well as private providers reimbursed by the government. While the public domain oversees basic and preventive health care, the private nonprofit and for-profit health care sector delivers the bulk of medical services, including government-subsidized inpatient care (that is, private facilities owned 71 percent of hospital beds designated for government-funded health care in 1993).

Check this link for details about Brazil's national health care system.

Health care in Brazil is very good. The poorer people depend entirely on the free national health care system.  It is not necessary to be a citizen of Brazil to use the national health care system.  Any person who is legally in the country is welcome to use the national health care system.  The national health care system does a good job of providing all health care needs at no cost to the patients.  National health care patients pay nothing at all for doctors' fees, lab fees, hospitalization, surgery, and even prescription drugs are free.  Brazil's national health care system is toughly equal to the caliber and operational style of the V.A. hospital system in the USA.  There are some drawbacks to this system.  You will not receive the very highest possible quality of health care in the national health care system.   There is a trade-off.  If you want completely free health care, including all your prescription drugs, Brazil's national health care system is very good.  If you want the very highest possible quality of health care, then you must pay.  The more affluent Brazilians favor two different private market providers for health care, much like Blue Cross & Blue Shield. 

The first private market medical provider is UniMed , which is owned and operated by doctors. They have their own hospitals and clinics throughout Brazil, they use a referral type system whereas you have a primary doctor and he refers you when needed to a specialist for any special treatments. A plan for a family of three costs about R$600.00 per month (less than $300 USD). I would recommend UniMed if you demand the highest quality healthcare.  Personally, I prefer the completely free national health care system. 

The second private market medical provider is Banco Bradesco , which is a major financial institution in Brazil offering health insurance and directly employing a substantial and high caliber medical staff. The difference with this type of policy is they only have private clinics and have to buy the hospital stay coverage from someone like UniMed. Costs are also higher. A comprehensive health insurance policy for a family of three runs in neighborhood of R$1,000.00 ($500 USD) per month.

There is also another option for health insurance coverage in Brazil. You can buy travelers insurance in the USA that will cover you and your family in Brazil. Click here for details.

You can always fall back on the safety net of completely free national health care if you cannot afford high-end private medical care.

Way, way down South

Descendents of Confederates who fled U.S. preserve tradition

By MIKE WILLIAMS
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Americana, Brazil

Link to story.

. Heritage groups in touch with 'Confederados' MIKE WILLIAMS / Cox News Service Brazilian youths, some of them descendants of American settlers, practice period dances to prepare for an annual celebration of Confederate heritage in Americana, Brazil. Below: A monument at an Americana cemetery lists the names of those who came to Brazil after the South lost the Civil War. The following are links to information about the State of Tocantins. Read the unvarnished words from Laura Price from the UK, who taught English in the State of Tocantins. For agricultural potential click the following link for the USDA production estimates and crop assessments for the State of Tocantins. World Wildlife Organization, report on wildlife in Tocantins-Brazil. Renewable Energy Businesses in Brazil - click here. Brazilian Trade Leads Directory - click here. For a link to a major newspaper in Palmas, the State Capital of Tocantins, click here. To translate the above newspaper, or any Portuguese language website, into English go the following website . Choose the language direction of Portuguese to English, and then press "Translate". U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, click here for Brazilian visa and travel information http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1072.html Mother Earth News http://www.motherearthnews.com/