Expert: Sandra - 9/26/2011

Question
Sandra,

I have a friend who lives in Belo Horizonte.  If i travel, and decide to bring my road bicycle, am I required to pay fees/taxes to bring it over?  I would be traveling with minimal cash ($300.00 or less).  I didn't know how that works.  I have been to Fortaleza once before, but did not have my bicycle with me.  Also, if I got a job in Belo Horizonte with my friends mechanic shop, is it reasonable to attain a work visa?  

Regards,

Tim

Answer
Hi Tim.

First of all, I think it would be extremely foolish to take a bicycle to Brazil, both because of unheeding drivers and thieves, either of which could be fatal to you and the bike in short order.

You are allowed to bring in up to $500 in value. You should have the receipt to prove this, else they can value the bike at whatever they want and tax it.

You should travel with reais and credit cards, not dollars. Get enough in reais to start you out from the bank at home.

The criteria to get a work visa, which the employer has to apply for (a big expenditure in time, money and effort), is to prove that there are no Brazilians existing who can do the job. Reasonable to attain for you in the situation described? IMO, no.

Have fun visitng your friend in B.H., one of my favorite cities. Try to go to the huge Sunday feira, one of the places that makes its own cachaca on premises, and some of the Colonial mountain towns relatively nearby.