Using a credit card in Brazil
Use our guide to get the best out of your plastic, and your cash, on holiday in Brazil.
Brazil is the most popular country for tourism in South America. Several regions across the country attract millions of visitors per year, with Rio De Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Iguazu Falls and tours of the Amazon rainforest proving especially popular.
In the major urban areas of Brazil, credit cards will be accepted more or less anywhere. However, if you’re visiting smaller rural towns, it’s recommended to carry plenty of cash, in case you come across retailers that don’t accept credit card payments.
Mastercard and Visa are the most commonly-used credit card networks in Brazil, and you should have little problem using American Express as well.
Cash machines in Brazil
You’ll find cash machines linked to the Plus or Cirrus systems in all urban areas of Brazil, allowing you to withdraw cash using your Visa or Mastercard card. However, many of these machines are contained within cages, which are locked late at night. It may therefore be more difficult accessing cash at this time. You may also find it tougher to find an ATM within the rainforest areas and in smaller rural parts of the country.
Cash in Brazil
Brazil uses a currency called reais. While it’s recommended to keep cash on you at all times in case of an emergency, you can expect most vendors you deal with in major urban cities to accept credit cards, even on smaller purchases. The retailers least likely to accept credit card payments are smaller independent traders in smaller towns.
Find a great deal on your travel money for Brazil
Chip and PIN
Brazil has moved from magnetic-stripe to chip cards, and all banks in Brazil now issue the latter. You’ll still be able to use your magnetic-stripe card in Brazil, although you can expect some confusion. In the switching of technology, some retailers falsely believe that they can no longer accept magnetic-stripe cards while some others will not let you use them, to do their bit in reducing credit card fraud. All they basically need you to do is swipe your card instead of inserting it into the machine, and then get you to sign for the purchase.
If you use a chip-and-signature card, you can use it in Brazil just about everywhere you find a manned credit card machine. However, some businesses are hesitant in accepting them because they are not sure if it’s allowed and some others don’t accept them to cut down on credit card fraud. If you are getting tickets from a machine, you will need to enter a PIN, in which case your chip-and-signature card won’t work.
Potential credit card fees
Credit card fees can leave a noticeable dent in your pocket when you’re travelling overseas, so know what you’re up against well in advance and choose a card with no or low fees.
Foreign transaction fees
British credit card issuers typically charge a fee equivalent to 1% to 3% of your transaction, so carefully review your card’s fine print to avoid statement surprises. Some cards designed for travel come with no foreign transaction fees, so this could be a good time to switch.
Learn more about cards designed for overseas spending
Currency conversion fees
If a retailer offers to bill your credit card in sterling, dynamic currency conversion comes into play. While this might sound like a good deal, you will actually end up getting a worse exchange rate, and you might also end up paying currency conversion fees. Whenever you are presented with an option, choose to pay in the local currency.
Cash advance fees
Using your credit card to withdraw money from an ATM may not make sense unless it’s a bona fide emergency. Each time you withdraw funds from an ATM, you’re likely to pay a cash advance fee. Your APR for cash advances is normally higher than your purchase APR. Typically, you get no grace period and you will start paying interest immediately. Again, some cards designed for overseas spending will waive this fee.
The table below serves as an example of how much extra you may pay to use your credit card in Brazil.
Additionally, you can get an idea of costs by using these online currency conversion tools from Mastercard and Visa.
What is a cash advance fee?
A cash advance fee is calculated (and charged) when you withdraw cash from your credit card. It’s usually the greater of a flat fee or a percentage of the transaction. For example, “2.5% of the transaction, minimum £3.00”.
Is it safe to use my card in Brazil?
Bank and credit card fraud is common, including card cloning from cash machines. Make sure you are in sight of your card at all times and do not use an ATM if you notice anything suspicious.
- Keep your PIN safe. Use one hand to enter the PIN and the other to shield it from prying eyes and hidden cameras.
- Select ATMs with care. Try and stick to ATMs in banks and avoid using ones in the street.
- Watch out for “skimmers”. When installed in an ATM, a card skimmer works by stealing information from credit and debit cards. If you feel the card slot is not as smooth as it should be or if there is a problem with the keypad, cancel your transaction and look for another ATM.
If you withdraw cash and it has any sort of pink marks, speak to the bank or police immediately to get it changed as it may have been marked as damaged or counterfeit. Don’t carry large sums of money and consider wearing a money belt.
Keeping your credit card (physically) safe
Remain alert to street crime, especially where two or more people work in distracting victims before decamping with their valuables. Instances of theft at airports are not uncommon, so stay vigilant while arriving and departing. There have been numerous instances of thefts from hired cars so don’t leave your wallet or purse in a parked car.
How to prepare before travelling to Brazil
- Go with Visa or Mastercard. Carry at least two cards on your trip to Brazil, preferably connected with Visa or Mastercard. If you just take an American Express card, you won’t get to use it in many places.
- Think no foreign transaction fees. When there are cards that come with no foreign transaction fees, using ones that charge 2% or 3% of each overseas transaction does not make sense. Some of these cards don’t charge an annual fee, either.
- Keep your bank informed. Banks, in their efforts to thwart fraudulent transactions, block credit cards if they detect suspicious activity such as unexpected overseas transactions. To make sure this does not happen to your card, let your bank know about your travel plans before you leave the UK.
- Keep the emergency number handy. Know which numbers you will need to call if you end up losing your card or if you need an emergency replacement.
- Know where you’ll get cash from. Consider using your debit card to withdraw cash from ATMs. If you need to exchange money, stick to banks or official money-exchange offices because possessing counterfeit money in Brazil is a serious crime. Try to avoid exchanging money at airports and popular tourist destinations because of typically poor exchange rates.
Next steps
Ask yourself these simple questions before you leave so your spending in Brazil does not hit any roadblocks.
- Which cards will I take? Visa and Mastercard are the most commonly accepted cards. If you’re planning a trip, check out cards which give you complimentary airport lounge access. If you’re planning well in advance, consider earning air miles for your trip with a frequent flyer credit card.
- Have I let my bank know? If you don’t inform your bank about your travel plans, you may end up with a temporarily suspended card.
- What fees do I need to pay? If your existing cards come with foreign transaction fees, look for one that does not. Paying in sterling outside of the UK might come with currency conversion fees.
- How will I get cash? Using your debit card at an ATM is the simplest way to access your own money. You can carry cash and traveller’s cheques with you. Exchanging sterling to reais is simple enough and you’ll get several options.
When you’re in Brazil, you don’t have to worry about where and when you can use your credit card. Just keep some cash handy to pay for small purchases.
Compare cards with fee-free currency conversion in Brazil
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