PART TWO

OVERVIEW

Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world and the largest in South America. Its population consists largely of European decedents and people of mixed race, as well as native Indian and a significant number of people of African descent. The size and ethnic diversity of Brazil provide it with a very rich and varied culture.

Brasilia is the capital of Brazil, but Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro are its largest cities. Other main cities include Manaus, in the Amazonian region, and Fortaleza, Natal, Recife and Porto Alegre on the coast.

Some quick facts:

Area: 8,511,965 sp km
Population: 188,078,227 (U.S Census Bureau estimate)
Capital: Brasilia
Government: Federative Republic
Main Languages: Portuguese (official language); Spanish, English, French
Religion: Roman Catholic 73.6%, Protestant 15.4%, Other, Unspecified or No Religion (11%)
Time: GMT-2 to GMT-5. Daylight saving from Oct to Feb in Southern Brazil
Flight Duration from U.K: approx 8.5 hours.

COST OF LIVING

The Brazilian unit of currency is the Real (R$ or BRL). As at October 2006, 1R$ was equal to GBGP 0.25 and EURO .37. The cost of living in Brazil is low, typical prices include:

Loaf of bread: 37p
1kg of potatoes: 62p
1.5 litre of bottled water: 63p
Glass of local draft beer: 66p
Restaurant meal from: £1.25


CLIMATE AND WEATHER

Although Brazil is a tropical climatic zone, the diversity in its size and landscape means that there are a diverse range of climatic conditions throughout the country, from the tropical north-east to the temperate south.

Typical seasonal weather:
Winter: from June to August, temperatures in the south range between 13 degrees C and 18 degrees C, with occasional frosts.
Summer: from December to February, temperatures in the south are in the upper 30 degrees C, and sometimes exceed 40 degrees C, with high humidity
Spring and Autumn: typical temperatures are around 25 degrees C.
The average yearly temperature is 28 degrees C.

In general the north-east is less humid than the south due to the effect of tropical breezes.

HEALTHCARE AND VACCINATIONS

Medical and dental care in Brazil is generally considered to be of a good standard, especially in capital cities. Municipal hospitals are widely available, which provide free treatment including emergency services to everyone. One major difference when comparing to other healthcare systems is that you do not always have to go through your GP to receive a specialist consultation.

There are no compulsory vaccinations required for Brazil at present, unless you are planning to go to the Amazon, in which case you would need Hepatitis A and B, Yellow Fever and Malaria tablets. There are no current problems with any specific diseases.

In general private healthcare in Brazil is of a good standard, but it is important to have health insurance. Good dental treatment is also available in Brazil. Cosmetic surgery is a major Brazilian industry, bringing many foreign nationals to the country.

Typical private healthcare costs with UniMed, Brazils largest and best healthcare insurance provider, for a family of four would be:

Male aged 41
Female aged 36 à R$ 570.00 (£140.00) per month
Two Children aged 4 and 6

EDUCATION AND SCHOOLS

Virtually all expatriate children living in Brazil attend a private school.
There are many good private schools in Brazil’s main cities and in other locations with substantial expatriate communities.]
Some of these are international schools, accredited overseas, which mainly follow the American or British curricula while others are Brazilian-run.
Good private school fees range from £30 to £60 per month dependent on the school and the age of the child.

EMPLOYMENT

The best route for foreign nationals looking for work in Brazil, it is better to go through a large multinational corporation or inter-governmental agencies.
There are many online jobs sites, some of which specialize in particular areas of work, such as medicine or English language teaching.

RENTING PROPERTY

Currently there is a 70% shortfall in tourism accommodation. Many new developments are under construction to address this shortfall. We would advise that you use the services of a reputable real estate agent when looking for accommodation. Club Tropical offers a full rental and management service, including maintenance of the properties within the resort.

BUYING PROPERTY

Property prices are relatively low in Brazil, but they are increasing rapidly, particularly in the big cities and main tourist areas. In some areas, property prices have increased by more than 50% in 2006.

There are no restrictions on the ownership of land or property in Brazil by foreign nationals. However, in order to purchase property you need a Brazilian identity card called a CPF. This is easily obtained through a simple process which is included in the purchase process with us.

TAXATION

Foreign nationals who are tax-resident in Brazil are required to pay tax on their Brazilian and overseas-generated income, unless covered by a double taxation treaty between Brazil and their home country, and must file an annual tax return in April. Foreign nationals become subject to tax-residence status if they stay in Brazil for more than 183 days in any 12 months period, and this status applies for 12 months after their last departure from Brazil.

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DAVID BELK
WWW.BRAZREG.CO.UK