Reference Educator - Lower School - 2026

Help from the Brazilian government

For any questions about moving to or living in Brazil, you may be able to get help from the:

• Consulate General of Brazil in London
• the Brazilian Federal Police (in Portuguese)

The UK government, the British Embassy in Brasilia and the British Consulates in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro cannot give personalised advice on moving to, living or retiring in Brazil.

Professional help in Brazil

You can also get help from English-speaking professionals in Brazil, including:

• lawyers
• notaries
• funeral directors

We also publish a list of translators and interpreters in Brazil.

Help from the UK government

Read the travel advice for Brazil to understand the risks you may face if you live in or visit Brazil. This includes the latest information on:

• visas and entry requirements
• laws and cultural differences
• safety and security
• regional risks

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad.

Get help from the UK government abroad, including in an emergency.

Make sure you meet the entry requirements for Brazil before you travel.

Visas and residence permits

Check which type of visa or residence permit (in Portuguese) you need to live in Brazil.

You can get a visa or residence permit to:

• work
• study
• complete research or training
• retire
• live with family in Brazil
• volunteer
• invest or do business in Brazil
• get medical treatment

For more information, including fees and how to apply, read the Consulate General of Brazil in London’s visa information.

If you want to extend your visa, contact the Consulate General of Brazil in London.

Documents for residency

To apply for a residence permit, you may need to provide:

• a copy of your birth certificate
• proof of a UK criminal record check

You will need to get these documents officially translated and legalised. For more information on translation and legalisation, read about documents for British people abroad.

If you’re already living or have previously lived in Brazil, you may also need to provide a Brazilian Criminal Record Certificate. You can apply for the certificate from the Brazilian Federal Police (in Portuguese).

The British embassy and consulates in Brazil no longer issue consular certificates (‘cédulas de inscrição consular’). If the Brazilian authorities ask you for this certificate, show them this information note on consular certificates.

Registering as a foreigner and getting a foreigner’s identity card (RNM)

Once you arrive in Brazil, you’ll need to register as a foreigner with the Federal Police (in Portuguese).

If you have any problems or questions about registering, contact:

• your local department of the Brazilian Federal Police (in Portuguese)
• an English-speaking lawyer in Brazil

Permanent residency

You may be able to apply for permanent residency in Brazil if you meet the requirements.

To find out if you’re eligible and how to apply, read guidance from the Brazilian Federal Police on registering as a resident in Brazil (in Portuguese).

Citizenship

Brazil recognises dual citizenship. This means that you do not have to give up (renounce) your British citizenship to become a Brazilian citizen.

To find out if you’re eligible for Brazilian citizenship, read:

• guidance on requesting Brazilian citizenship (in Portuguese)
• information on getting Brazilian citizenship through naturalisation, from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Help with visa, residency and citizenship applications

The British Embassy in Brasilia and the British Consulates in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro cannot help with Brazilian visa, residency or citizenship applications.

For any questions or issues, contact:

• the Consulate General of Brazil in London
• the Brazilian Federal Police (in Portuguese)
• an English-speaking lawyer in Brazil

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:

• apply for a British passport from abroad
• travel urgently without your British passport

Dual citizens travelling to the UK

When travelling to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. Read guidance on dual citizenship.

Children travelling without a parent or legal guardian

Read the entry requirements for Brazil for information on authorisation for children travelling without a parent or legal guardian.

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:

• plan your healthcare
• take medicine abroad

Brazil does not have a reciprocal health agreement with the UK.

Make sure you have appropriate health insurance to cover any healthcare costs. You can get insurance from Brazilian or international providers. If you work in Brazil, you may get private health insurance through your employer.

If you’re legally resident in Brazil, you can also apply for an SUS health card. This allows you to access free public health care through the Brazilian Unified Health System (‘Sistema Único de Saude’ or ‘SUS’) (in Portuguese).

Contact your doctor or local health centre for information on how to apply for your SUS card.

To find out how to get medical treatment:

• contact your insurance provider
• read guidance on health in Brazil and mental health support for British nationals in Brazil
• find medical facilities for British nationals in Brazil

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers working abroad, including documents you may need from the UK government.

To work in Brazil, you need a work visa.

The Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs explains how to apply for a temporary work visa (‘VITEM V’).

To apply for a job, you may need to provide a:

• valid passport
• birth certificate, with both parents’ full names
• UK police certificate

Recognition of qualifications

If you want to work in Brazil, you may need to get your foreign qualifications recognised. Read the Brazilian government’s guidance on validation and recognition of foreign degrees (in Portuguese).

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:

• drive abroad legally
• take your UK vehicle abroad
• get driving licence letters

You can drive in Brazil for up to 180 days using your UK photocard driving licence. To continue driving after this time, you must apply to exchange your driving licence for a Brazilian licence.

Contact your local office of DETRAN (Brazilian State Traffic Department) to find out how to make the exchange.

DETRAN provides information on driving in Brazil, including:

• driving licences (in Portuguese)
• vehicle licensing and maintenance (in Portuguese)
• fines and traffic violations (in Portuguese)

For more information, read guidance on road travel in Brazil, in safety and security in the travel advice for Brazil.

Disabled drivers

You may be able to apply for a Brazilian digital disabled parking permit (in Portuguese).

If you have a UK Blue Badge and live in Brazil, you must return it to the original UK issuing authority. 

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers tax, including paying UK tax and National Insurance.

The UK has signed a double taxation agreement with Brazil. When this agreement comes into force, it will mean that you may not pay tax on the same income in both countries.

Contact the Brazilian Federal Revenue (‘Receita Federal’) (in Portuguese) for any questions about tax in Brazil.

Consider getting professional advice on paying tax in Brazil. To do this, find an English-speaking lawyer in Brazil.

Taxpayer registration

You must register with the Individual Taxpayer Registry (‘Cadastro de Pessoa Fisica’ or ‘CPF’) if you want to own assets subject to tax in Brazil. This includes property and vehicles.

If you are in the UK, you can register through the Consulate General of Brazil in London. Read the Consulate’s guidance on CPF for foreigners (in Portuguese).

If you’re in Brazil, contact the Brazilian Federal Revenue (‘Receita Federal’) (in Portuguese) to register.

Claiming your UK pension

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers:

• how to claim your UK State Pension
• where the UK government pays an annual increase in the State Pension

Claiming a Brazilian pension

You may be able to claim a Brazilian pension if you work and pay social security contributions in Brazil.

Contact the Brazilian National Institute of Social Security (INSS) (in Portuguese) to find out whether you’re eligible.

Claiming UK benefits

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to claim UK benefits abroad, including Child Benefit.

Claiming Brazilian benefits

Contact the Brazilian National Institute of Social Security (INSS) (in Portuguese) to find out whether you can claim benefits in Brazil.

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers buying and renting property abroad.

Contact an English-speaking lawyer in Brazil if you’re considering buying property or land.

If you plan to study in Brazil, you must meet all visa requirements before you travel.

Read the Brazilian government’s guidance on:

• student visas
• visitor visas for study or internships

For more information:

• read guidance on travel grants for students studying abroad or on placements (England) and higher education in Brazil
• contact your higher education provider in the UK or Brazil
• contact the Brazilian Ministry of Education (in Portuguese)

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers moving abroad with children, including:

• getting permission to take your child abroad
• claiming UK Child Benefit abroad
• child maintenance payments if a parent lives abroad

Schools and education

The Brazilian Ministry of Education provides information about the school system in Brazil.

All children aged 6 to 14 must attend school or home school in Brazil. You can use the Brazilian schools catalogue to find a local school in Brazil (in Portuguese).

For more information, read the Brazilian Ministry of Education’s guidance on basic education in Brazil (in Portuguese).

Childcare 

The Brazilian Ministry of Education and the municipal governments are responsible for early childhood education and care in Brazil.

You may be able to get some funding support for childcare. Check with your local municipal education secretariat (Secretaria Municipal de Educação).

Read the Brazilian government’s guidance on early childhood education in Brazil (in Portuguese).

Births

If your child is born in Brazil, register the birth with the Brazilian authorities. You should do this at your local Civil Registry Office (‘Cartório de Registro Civil’) within 15 days of your child’s birth. 

Brazilian birth certificates are recognised in the UK as long as they are:

• legalised with an apostille
• accompanied by a certified English translation

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:

• register the birth with the UK authorities to get a UK birth certificate
• apply for your child’s first British passport

Deaths

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers:

• what to do after someone dies abroad
• how to register the death with the UK authorities

If someone dies in Brazil, read guidance on:

• what to when someone dies in Brazil
• English-speaking funeral directors in Brazil

Marriages and civil partnerships

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to get married or form a civil partnership abroad.

Brazilian marriage certificates include instructions on how assets would be divided in the event of divorce, separation or death. If the Brazilian authorities ask for a British version of this, download this information note on matrimonial property.

You can also download an information note on the validity of a marriage in the UK.

Divorce and separation

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to get a divorce or end a civil partnership.

Consider taking legal advice from an English-speaking lawyer in Brazil.

Read our guidance on documents for British people abroad. This covers: 

• legalising and certifying UK documents
• marriage and civil partnership documents
• affirmations and affidavits
• witnessing signatures

To find an English-speaking lawyer, translator or notary in Brazil, read guidance on professional services if you’re abroad.