The Land of Carnival, The Amazon & The Iguacu Falls

Information on Relocating to Brazil

• The capital city of Brazil is Brasilia with about 2,3 million people. The political centre is also in Brasilia where the President resides. Brasilia is not the largest city of Brazil. Brazil is a Republic.

• Languages: Portuguese is the official language of Brazil. Except for the languages spoken by Indian tribes living in remote reservations, Portuguese is the only language of daily life. There are no regional dialects. Brazil is the only Portuguese-speaking country in South America. The TV programs are in Portuguese. Cable TV is available and offers more options and Satellite TV is also locally available.

• Population: Current population is over 198 million. The majority of the people live in the south-central area, which includes the industrial cities of Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Belo Horizonte. Urban growth has been rapid.

• Expat areas: São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasilia and Curitiba are the most important cities with Expats. In São Paulo, the Expats are concentrated in areas such as Morumbi, Moema, Vila Nova Conceição, Jardins, Alto da Boa Vista and Itaim. The suburbs of São Paulo are the the most recommended places in which one can find the best, most astonishing architecture, healthiest air and safest place to settle in a house in gated communities. Those communities offer a variety of amenities for residents, 24 hour security with cameras connected to the residents’ houses, patrols and other high technology devices. The residential communities are usually close to commercial centers, malls, hospitals, medical offices, etc.

• Housing: There are 4 important areas in São Paulo where most expatriates lives. They are: Morumbi, Chácara Flora and Alto da Boa Vista (Southwest to the South of the city) and Jardins (located at a distance of 12 km from the city center). Beside these 4 areas, there are 4 more that are also recommend to Expats. These areas are: Alto de Pinheiros, Higienopolis, Moema and Itaim.

• Cost of housing: Housing in São Paulo can be very expensive and varies based on type of residence and location. Rent can be anywhere from US$ 800 for a small apartment in the city to US$ 10000 and more for a house/apartment. The local currency is REAL (R$).

• Schools: There is an International School in all three areas as well as German and Swiss schools in Chacara Flora and Alto da Boa Vista and German and Spanish schools in Morumbi. All schools have bus transportation (outsourced bus companies) which are safe and reliable.

• Transportation: Good public transport such as subways and buses facilities are available in the main centers (Paulista Avenue in Jardins), but in other location there is a lack of subway system. The metro does not extend outside the city, where buses and trains are the options. Tickets can be pre-purchased. Taxis are not expensive in São Paulo, and lots of people rely on their own cars.

• Bank: The banks are open from Monday through Friday from 10.00 am – 4.00 pm.

• Shopping: Malls open Monday-Saturday from 8.00 am - 10.00 pm and Sundays from noon - 8.00 pm and Sundays from 3:00 pm - 10:00 pm, while smaller stores open from 9.00 am - 7.00 pm. Grocery stores have the longer hours beginning very early in the morning and ending late at night. There are many 24 hour supermarkets, drugstores and gas stations available in São Paulo. All above times are subject to local variations and many shops open until late in the evenings especially in December.

• Climate: There are five climatic regions in Brazil: equatorial, tropical, semi arid, highland tropical, and subtropical. Plateau cities such as São Paulo, Brasília, and Belo Horizonte have very mild climates averaging 19°C (66°F). Rio de Janeiro, Recife, and Salvador, on the coast, have warm climates balanced by the constancy of the Trade Winds.

• Culture: São Paulo offers many museums, theaters, concert halls, worldwide nationality restaurants, etc. Movies are in the original language with Portuguese subtitle. Brazil is a melting pot of diversities and in some cities different nationalities form their own mosaics, like the Japanese, Arabic, Korean, Italian and Portuguese.

• Public holidays: 1st January New Year's Day; 20th January* Founding of Rio de Janeiro. 25th January* Founding of São Paulo; February (date varies) Carnival; March April (date varies) Good Friday; March (date varies) Easter Day; 21st April Tiradentes;  1st May Labour Day; May-June (date varies) Corpus Christi; 7th September Independence Day; 12th October Our Lady Aparecida, Patron St of Brazil; 2nd November All Souls' Day; 15th November Republic Day; 20th November Black Conscience Day; 24th December Christmas Eve; 25th December Christmas Day; 31st December New Year's Eve. Note: *Regional observances only.