There are various basic formalities you must take into account when completing your property purchase process in Brazil:

POWER OF ATTORNEY

To be your legal representative in Brazil it is essential that you sign a Power of Attorney on our behalf. Within this Power, we should be able to sign contracts, Deeds and all kinds of relevant documentation related to your purchase process. We will draft the Power of Attorney that can be signed, at your convenience, either in Brazil or through our London office. If you live in the U.K. or Ireland, our London / Dublin offices will make the necessary arrangements for you to obtain the Power at the closest Notary’s office to your home. This Notary has to be registered with this Consulate-General. Our work will include the later validation by the Brazilian Consulate-General in London or Dublin with which the Power has to be stamped to be valid in Brazil. We will take care of everything.

CPF (Cadastro de Pessoa Física, Tax code)

This is an identification number for use in Brazil. If you have dealings within Brazil (even if you are not a permanent or tax resident) you are required to have a fiscal number. This number is a legal requirement for all foreigners purchasing property as it enables the foreign investor to be uniquely identified for taxation and title purposes.
We can apply for a CPF number, on your behalf, once we have the following documentation:

• Notarized copy of your passports.
• Power of Attorney

This has to be solicited from the local Tax Office (Receita Federal). It is compulsory to have the C.P.F. in place in order to pay your first instalment (exchanging the contract).

MONEY TRANSFER

All transfer of funds must be sent through the Central Bank of Brazil which will record your funds entering the country. It is important that this official route is used or you may have problems in the future when transferring funds out of Brazil at the time you come to sell your property. Today the registration of foreign investments is an electronically made declaration called RDE-IED (Electronic Registration Statement – Direct Foreign Investment). The investment will be registered in the currency of the country of origin.

VISA

Foreigners are allowed a three month visas or a maximum stay of 180 days per year. If you wish to apply for a permanent visa you must meet certain criteria and this is done through your nearest Embassy.

BRAZILIAN WILL

It is highly advisable that you bear in mind the Brazilian Inheritance Tax, which is the tax to be paid in “mortis causa” property ownership transfers, and to be aware of the ways of mitigating its effects.

We recommend that you make out a Will just for your new property in Brazil. The Will can be signed in the UK and be valid in Brazil. Our London and Dublin offices can assist you in this matter. We will be able to make the necessary arrangements for you to obtain the Will at the British or Irish Notary’s office closest to your home and we would then arrange for the subsequent stamp/validation by the Brazilian Consulate-General in London or Dublin for it to be valid in Brazil. We will be happy to take care of the whole process.