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How to Open a Non-Resident Bank Account in Brazil (CND) in 2025

  • Pontes Vieira Advogados
  • Sep 18
  • 2 min read
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Introduction


As of January 1, 2025, a new regulation ( Joint Resolution No. 13/2024), issued by the Central Bank of Brazil (BACEN) and the Brazilian Securities and Exchange Commission (CVM) has modernized access to the non-resident bank account in Brazil, officially called CND (Conta de Não Residente).


This reform is great news for expatriates, international investors, and foreign companies who wish to open a bank account in Brazil as non-residents.


What is a CND in Brazil?


The CND is a bank account in Brazilian reais (BRL) available to individuals or companies without tax residency in Brazil.


With the new rules, a CND now allows you to:


  • receive and transfer funds in BRL,

  • invest directly in financial assets and securities,

  • operate in the local currency without unnecessary foreign exchange bureaucracy,

  • manage your wealth and investments in Brazil with fewer legal obstacles.


👉 In other words, the CND is Brazil’s equivalent of a “non-resident bank account”, familiar in other international financial hubs.


What Changed with Joint Resolution No. 13/2024?


Before 2025, opening a bank account as a non-resident in Brazil involved heavy bureaucracy: mandatory legal representatives, electronic registration (RDE-Portfolio), and foreign exchange operations for nearly every transaction.


The new rules simplify this framework:


  • No more RDE-Portfolio registration.

  • Less mandatory currency exchange — lower costs, faster transactions.

  • No legal representative required in some cases (for individuals using their own funds).

  • Direct investments possible through a CND.

  • Legal stability — no need to liquidate investments if you change your tax residency.


Who Can Open a CND?


  • Individuals: Brazilian expatriates and foreign citizens living abroad.

  • Companies: foreign businesses wanting to invest or manage assets in Brazil.


Benefits of a CND for Non-Residents


  • Direct access to the Brazilian banking and investment system.

  • Simplified account opening for expatriates and foreign companies.

  • Reduced banking and administrative costs.

  • Diversification in Brazilian reais, with attractive local interest rates.

  • Possibility of tax optimization depending on your country’s double taxation treaties with Brazil.


Points of Attention


Even with simplification, there are still rules to follow:

  • Compliance requirements (KYC, AML, counter-terrorism financing).

  • Limits to exemptions depending on your profile and transaction size.

  • Tax obligations in your home country — especially on income and capital gains earned in Brazil.


Why Open a CND Now?


Brazil remains one of the largest emerging markets with a dynamic financial system. With the new CND, non-residents can:


  • invest more easily in Brazilian assets,

  • secure funds in local currency,

  • and plan an eventual tax exit from Brazil with greater legal certainty.


Conclusion


The Brazilian Non-Resident Bank Account (CND) is now a powerful, simplified, and secure tool for expatriates and foreign investors in 2025.


This article was written by Iure Pontes Vieira, a Brazilian lawyer, fluent in French and English, specialized in non-resident investment structures.


If you are a foreigner, expatriate, or international investor, you can contact him for a tailored legal consultation on:


  • opening your non-resident bank account (CND) in Brazil,

  • structuring your investments,

  • and ensuring international tax compliance.

 
 
 

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