Moving to Brazil with IntlMOVE will be a great start to a new adventure.

IntlMOVE will move your household goods overseas to Brazil when a new job or retirement brings you to your new country.

There will be a lot of new social norms to learn, so try to enjoy your time while taking in all the new sights and sounds.

Fun Tips

If you are lucky enough to work from home, you can now take your work to the beach!

Copacabana Beach now offers free Wi-Fi!

When ordering coffee, be aware that you will get a very strong coffee similar to espresso with a real kick!

Cafezinho, which is the Brazilian version of coffee, will normally be offered to you at all offices.

The cups are very small, like espresso, and will be served with sugary and small spoons.

 Office

Treat the office secretary with respect.

She is the person to ask about office procedures, dress code or any other help you will need.

The office secretary is a wealth of information and being on her good side will greatly benefit you, so keep it friendly!

In meetings, Americans often get frustrated that there is a lot of chitter chatter.

This is not unnecessary socializing, but it is part of the Brazilian culture.

Brazilians like to be friendly and feel at ease before getting down to business.

When you have meetings, be prepared for friendly greetings and longer meetings.

This norm should also be followed when making phone calls.

Make friendly conversation before you talk business.

It is only acceptable to call people by their first names when you are invited to use their first name. 

In the United States, employees are usually on a first name basis with their bosses.

This is not the case in Brazil.

When you move to Brazil, you will notice that people are much more formal in office settings.

If you are on the same level with someone in your office, you will usually use their first names.

However, you should never assume that it is ok to call someone by their first name, so wait until they give you the go ahead.

Many male executives are called “doutor” as an honorific title, even though they are not doctors.

When you arrive on your first day, you can ask what is appropriate in your office or just follow the lead of your peers.

 Meeting People and Greetings

When meeting people, you will likely shake hands.

Don’t be surprised if the handshake is followed by kisses on each cheek.

Women will be kissed on the cheek by males and females, while males will only be kissed on the cheek by females.

As mentioned in the office section, Brazilians like to talk on the phone.

If you are pressed for time, you still need to make sure that you open all phone conversations in a friendly manner.

Don’t end the phone conversation with anything more than a simple goodbye because you don’t want to risk sounding insincere.

At the end of conversation, refrain from saying things like, “Have a good day.”

 Punctuality

When scheduling meetings or social outings, you have to be prepared for people being late.

It is not rude, but it is the Brazilian way – laid back.

Brazilians find it very important to socialize, so sometimes they lose track of time.

Instead of getting upset, follow the locals lead and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and start to enjoy interacting with your new acquaintances.

However, don’t expect the laid back atmosphere at work because employees are expected to arrive on time.

 There are so many great things to do in Brazil, that you will have a hard time finding the time to explore everything.

When you decide to move to Brazil, contact IntlMOVE and follow the tips for a successful international move to Brazil.