Buying Property in Brazil Without Risking Your Money

Q: Can I buy property in Brazil remotely, without traveling?

Yes. With a power of attorney, a legal team can complete the entire purchase on your behalf, from due diligence to deed and registration, while you follow everything from abroad.

We protect foreigners buying real estate in Brazil: full due diligence, secure contracts and registration, so you never pay for a property without truly owning it. Your purchase can also become a 4-year residence permit.

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SERVICES

Full due diligence on the property and the seller (title, liens, mortgages, debts and lawsuits);
Drafting and review of the purchase agreement and the public deed (escritura pública);
Obtaining your Brazilian tax number (CPF) and sworn translations;
Tax guidance: transfer tax (ITBI), notary fees and income tax rules for non-resident owners;
Legal remittance of funds to Brazil through the Central Bank system;
Follow-up of the deed until final registration, when the property becomes legally yours;
Application for the real estate investor residence permit, when your purchase qualifies.

Buying safely as a foreigner

In Brazil, paying and signing does not make you the owner: ownership only transfers when the deed is registered at the Real Estate Registry Office. One unchecked document can cost you everything you invested. Here is what every foreign buyer needs to know.

Foreigners can buy urban property in Brazil with the same rights as Brazilian citizens, resident or not. You only need a Brazilian tax number (CPF), which we obtain for you. Restrictions apply only to rural land and border areas;

The most expensive mistake is skipping due diligence: hidden debts, liens and lawsuits follow the property, not the person. We audit the title (matrícula), the seller's certificates and every tax debt before you sign anything;

If your urban property is worth at least BRL 1,000,000, or BRL 700,000 in the North or Northeast regions, you are entitled to apply for a real estate investor residence permit, initially granted for 4 years (CNIg Normative Resolution No. 36/2018);

You do not need to travel: with a power of attorney, our team completes the entire purchase on your behalf, from due diligence to deed and registration, while you follow everything from abroad. A safe purchase typically takes 30 to 60 days.

Iure Pontes Vieira

ATTORNEY IN CHARGE OF THE REAL ESTATE AND FOREIGN INVESTMENT PRACTICE

Long experience in Brazil and abroad. Attorney in Brazil. He holds a PhD and a Master II in Law and a specialization degree (D.S.U.), all from Université Panthéon-Assas, Paris II.

He also holds a Law degree from the University of Fortaleza (Unifor) and an Accounting degree from the State University of Ceará (UECE).

We are referenced by French Tech São Paulo, the Chambers of Commerce of France in Brazil and the Chamber of Commerce of Brazil in France.

TESTIMONIALS

"Iure et ses équipes m’accompagnent depuis presque 10 ans depuis de mon installation au Brésil. J’ai eu recours au cabinet de Iure pour de nombreux sujets : visa, apport de capital, fiscalité, ressources humaines, sociétés… et il a toujours su trouver les solutions à mes problématiques. Iure est un excellent conseil et un excellent partenaire, il est dynamique et à l’écoute et fait surtout preuve d’une grande patience. Il parle en plus un français parfait !

Je recommande vivement Iure et le cabinet Pontes Vieira."

"Je tiens à féliciter le cabinet Pontes Vieira & Advogados, qui m'accompagne dans ma vie professionnelle au Brésil depuis 2016. Avec une parfaite maîtrise des problématiques fiscales brésiliennes et françaises, ainsi que des problématiques d'immigration. J'ai des affaires au Brésil, en Afrique et en France et j'ai donc régulièrement besoin de conseils avisés, car la législation et les accords bilatéraux entre ces trois pays sont assez spécifiques."

"The law firm of Iure Pontes Vieira is always very helpful and professional . Iure knows how to answer to every legal fields from immigration to taxes. I highly recommend his firm and legal services."

"Je recommande vivement les services du cabinet Pontes Vieira. Ils m´ont accompagné lors de l'obtention du visa adapté à ma situation personnelle."

Frequently Asked Questions about Buying Property in Brazil

Can a foreigner buy property in Brazil without living there?

Yes. Non-residents can buy urban property in Brazil. The only mandatory requirement is a Brazilian tax number (CPF). Restrictions apply only to rural land and border-area properties.

Does buying property in Brazil give me residency?

Yes, if the urban property is worth at least R$ 1,000,000 (or R$ 700,000 in the North and Northeast regions). This entitles you to a real estate investor residence permit, initially valid for 4 years (CNIg Normative Resolution No. 36/2018).

What taxes do I pay when buying property in Brazil?

The main cost is the municipal transfer tax (ITBI), usually 2% to 3% of the property value, plus notary and registration fees. Non-resident owners also have income tax obligations on rental income and capital gains, which we help you plan.

How long does it take to buy property in Brazil?

A safe purchase with full due diligence typically takes 30 to 60 days from offer to final registration, depending on the property's documentation and the registry office.

What is due diligence in a Brazilian property purchase?

It is the legal audit performed before signing: verification of the property title (matrícula), liens, mortgages, seller's debts, lawsuits and tax certificates. It is the single most important protection against fraud and hidden liabilities.

Can I buy property in Brazil remotely, without traveling?

Yes. With a power of attorney, our team can complete the entire purchase on your behalf, from due diligence to deed and registration, while you follow everything from abroad.