Expert: Sandra - 5/12/2009

Question
I am wanting to move to Brazil!
I would like to know how difficult it is to get a job there?
I do not speak the language and have been in sales my whole life with a college degree.
I would be happy to work in the travel industry.
I would be traveling with enough $40,000
but I want to get established with something there and
want to enjoy the beach.
I am a Gringo.
What type of docs do I need to get there and work.
Where should I live with out getting killed atleast for a while.
Please help!

Jim

Answer
Hi Jim.
Brazil does capture the heart and imagination of quite a few people from other places. However, it is not an easy place to survive, even for many Brazilians, so the news about a permanent move is, unfortunately, not very hopeful.

First of all, it is important to speak excellent Portuguese. Imagine how well your sales work (in the U.S. I assume) might go if you communicated with customers in Cambodian, for example. Or any other type of work, if you could not communicate well.
Finding a job is also usually based on networking (or taking an exam in Portuguese for some jobs).....who you know there. Do you have a lot of influential friends, each with a large circle of acquaintances?
In order to work legally, you need a work visa. Very few companies are prepared to go to the expense, time and trouble to apply for one for you, when they can more easily get a well-trained, Portuguese-fluent (and under or un-employed) Brazilian, who is also going to be accustomed to the lower salary levels in Brazil. There are enough English, Spanish, etc. speaking Brazilian travel professionals, so that industry is not in dire need of Gringos.

There are some jobs teaching English under the table, but they don't pay very well. To develop a private client base for English teaching takes time, and you also spend a lot of unpaid time commuting to the client's location.

You might look for a position in an American (or European) company that has offices in Brazil, with an eye to an eventual transfer. I would bet that most of these are based in Sao Paulo, though, a long weekend traffic jam from the beach, and a huge urban jungle, though one with lots of great restaurants and clubs.

An investor visa (with 5 year permanent residence permission) is an option available for those who have U$150,000 to invest in a business (not a home/apt for rent).
You can also gain 'permanencia' (permanent residence) by fathering a Brazilian citizen child or for the time you are married to a Brazilian citizen and living in the country.
Retirement visas are based on a monthly income of U$2000 (demonstrable pension, not investment income, rents or other).

I also recommend you look at the expat site www.gringoes.com for more information. This topic has been well covered there and the site has many contributors with personal experience.
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A U.S. citizen is usually permitted a 5 year multiple entry tourist visa to Brazil. This is good for an initial stay of 90 days, and can usually be renewed at the Policia Federal for another 90 days.

So the good news is that you have 6 glorious months to enjoy Brazil on part of your U$40,000, while you see if you really like living there, travel to see what part of the country you like best, make some new friends/connections, see what the business climate is like, and improve your Portuguese to the fluency you might need to live in Brazil.

As far as safety in any particular area, generally smaller towns and beachside villages are safer than larger cities. (Crime against residents and any crime that might be experienced by tourists often differs in type.) Residents develop, and 'estrangeiros' must too, a sense of constant vigilance, while remaining relaxed enough to enjoy the experience of the moment.

I suggest you travel as widely as possible, south to north, to get an idea of the customs, climate and ambiance of the different regions of the country. If beaches are your priority, remember that this is a country with a beach guide (4 Rodas), published annually, that includes over 2000 beaches along a (mostly) gorgeous coastline.

Enjoy your time in Brazil.