Expert: Sandra - 7/15/2011

Question
Hi Sandra,
I am married to a Brazilian man, we have been married for 2 years. I have decided that I want to go to Brazil for a few months, to learn the culture, and see the sights, and to ponder the idea of moving there. Unfortunately my husband can't come with me, at least not for most of the trip, including the very beginning. I do want to get a CPF number and live as much as a local as possible. Cell phone and find a rental, as I dont want to stay in a hotel, or with my in laws that I barely know- plus they dont live in the part of the country I plan on visiting.  I know i need a tourist visa for the trip, my passport is valid,my Texas drivers license, and I plan on taking my birth certificate with me, as well as my marriage license. What else will I need as far as documentation? And any advice you may offer is welcomed :)

Thanks,
Elizabeth

Answer
Hi, Elizabeth !
I certainly have to give you credit for taking on such a trip on your own, but I think you are wise to check out what it might be like to live in Brazil for future reference. One thing to think about is how different it might be as a visitor, no matter how long term, and as a resident. Do check prices for things like electronics, home appliances, comfortable furnishings, linens, etc, which I find much higher than the U.S., especially for the often poor quality in Brazil. Many people send a number of cartons or a container from the U.S. to make life more comfortable at the beginning of a more permanent move.

You need to develop some Brazilian street smarts about areas that are safe/dangerous and folks who may be helpful/a threat. These situations are not the same as they appear in the U.S.

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Let me try to address some of your specific questions.
You can get a CPF number at your Brazilian Consulate in the U.S. before you leave.
If you wait until you arrive in Brazil, ask the nearest U.S. Consulate to make up a letter for you (cost U$30) with all the info needed for the application (like parents name, which doesn't appear on U.S. passports but does on Brazilian) so you have everything on one piece of paper. You go to the correio (post office) to fill out the form. You will need a Brazilian address for them to send you a letter (about a week or so after applying) summoning you to the nearest Receita Federal to finish the process. Recently, they have stopped issuing actual cards, as they used to, and are just giving out the number.
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You now need a CPF to activate a cell phone chip. I would advise buying a cheap one there (or bring a quad band UNLOCKED phone from the U.S.). TIM and Oi and the major providers. You can find stalls on the street, in addition to phone shops, where you can put credit on your phone. But most folks run through this credit quickly, even on local calls.
For calls home, I would try to bring a few phone cards that have an access number to call the U.S. from Brazil. U$5 = 50 minutes. One brand is Voz do Brazil. As you are about to run out of time, ask your husband to buy more cards and simply give you the code for each by email or over the phone.
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As far as renting an apartment, you may be limited to short-term furnished rentals geared toward foreign tourists in some of the more touristic cities. In less touristic locations, these may be harder to find. They are not cheap these days, either, with the bad exchange rate, maybe R$1200/month. Renting a "regular" apartment usually requires proof of income or a fiador with stable a financial history to guarantee payment, and then there is the problem of furnishing it. Another option in some places might be a republica, a shared student apartment, but it is more common for students to remain in the family home, so there are not as many of these as in the U.S. If your Portuguese is good, you may even be able to find a family willing to rent you a room, in some cities.
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You should get an international driving permit, the special one for Brazil, from the AAA auto club. You probably won't be asked for it in order to rent a car, but if stopped by the police, they won't recognize a U.S. license. Driving can be dangerous and tiresome though. And expensive.

But I would recommend checking some of the bargain airlines to travel arouns. These days, many fares are equal to or cheaper (especially if there is a good sale) than using the long-distance buses. You can buy online with a Brazilian credit card, or sometimes AMEX. Check Webjet, Azul, Avianca, GOL.
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You really don't need documentation other than your passport, but make some Xerox copies to walk around with, and leave the original in a safe place at your accomodation. Also make and carry a list of personal contact numbers, and take a list of numbers for advising your credit/debit card companies if anything happens.

Check with a travel medicine clinic (one that has a doctor who has been to Brazil preferably, and knows one area from another) for any recommended medications. You should have Yellow Fever vaccination, for example, and tetanus and Hep (general travel meds), but probably won't need malaria meds (which is why the doc should know Brazil). Most OTC meds you find in the U.S. are available (for example, Advil), but more expensive. And I've found that most pharmacy attendants there can suggest good ideas for OTC meds (some of which might be prescription in the U.S.)if you find yourself with a problem, so you don't necessarily have to see a doctor. I also carry a compact first aid kit with me, stocked with basic meds and bandages.
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Hope this helped. If you want to be specific about which area(s) you want to visit or settle down for awhile in, perhaps I could give you more specific suggestions.

I hope you have a great trip.