The Fernshore Index
The factors retirees look at first.
Each grade is against a published measure, with its source and the date we checked it. It is research information, not advice. Where we have no figure, the row says Unknown.
Retirement
50 of 100Mixed
Mixed: a retiree route exists (RN CNIg 40/2019, VITEM XIV; about US$2,000 a month transferred to Brazil; no minimum age and no deposit in the text; initial residence up to two years). To be safe, have more than US$2,100 a month. A stated period after which it can become permanent was not found: the resolution leaves renewal to a separate resolution that was not located. It could grade strong if that rule is found.
Source: Resolução Normativa CNIg nº 40, de 2 de outubro de 2019: visto temporário e autorização de residência com base em aposentadoria e/ou pensão por morte; Visto Temporário XIV: Aposentadoria ou Pensão; VITEM XIV: transfer of retirement/pension. Checked 15 October 2026.
Healthcare
79 of 100Strong
WHO UHC service coverage index 84 (2023).
Source: UHC service coverage index (SDG 3.8.1). Checked 15 October 2026.
Cost of living
73 of 100Strong
Price level 0.457 of United States prices (2025).
Source: Price level index (GDP), Brazil. Checked 15 October 2026.
Safety
23 of 100Weak
Global Peace Index 2026: 124th of 163.
Source: Global Peace Index 2026, overall rank. Checked 15 October 2026.
Community
81 of 100Strong
Expat Insider 2026 Ease of Settling In: 4th of 31.
Source: Expat Insider 2026: Ease of Settling In. Checked 15 October 2026.
Climate
50 of 100Mixed
Florianópolis, the main city (the city Brazil's research packs lead with): 7 comfortable months a year (April to September and November). Monthly average daily highs run 21.1 to 29.5 °C; January, February, March, October and December have 150 mm of rain or more. São Paulo (Mirante de Santana) has 8.
Source: Normal Climatológica do Brasil 1991-2020: Temperatura Máxima Mensal e Anual (°C); Normal Climatológica do Brasil 1991-2020: Precipitação Acumulada Mensal e Anual (mm). Checked 15 October 2026.
Visa, United States passport
Unknown
Research for US passports is being checked
Visa, Canada passport
Unknown
Research for CA passports is being checked
Visa, Australia passport
Unknown
Research for AU passports is being checked
Visa, New Zealand passport
Unknown
Research for NZ passports is being checked
The country
The rest of the research on Brazil.
The country page grades every factor, with its sources.
BrazilQuestions from retirees about Brazil.
Which Brazilian visa is meant for retirees, and what does it ask for?
The retiree and pensioner visa (VITEM XIV) asks you to prove a monthly transfer to Brazil; to be safe, show more than US$2,100 a month. Other regular income can top it up. The rule names no minimum age and no deposit, and the first residence is up to two years. Consulates may ask for more.
Can a retirement visa lead to permanent residence in Brazil?
We have not found a stated route. The retiree rule leaves renewal to a separate resolution that we could not locate, so whether and when the residence can become permanent is unknown. The first residence is up to two years. Ask the consulate that serves you.
What should a retiree know about healthcare in Brazil?
The WHO service coverage index for Brazil is 84 of 100 (2023). The Migration Law gives migrants access to public health services without discrimination. Canada says public care is free but crowded, with long waits, and private hospitals ask for proof of insurance. US Medicare usually does not cover care abroad.
Does my country have a social security agreement with Brazil?
The US agreement has been in force since 1 October 2018, and Canada's since 1 August 2014 (CPP and OAS, not QPP). Australia lists Brazil only among agreements under negotiation, and New Zealand's list of agreements does not include Brazil. Whether your pension is paid in Brazil is a separate question.
What do living costs look like for retirees in Brazil?
Prices overall are about 0.46 of United States prices (World Bank, 2025), an average. The one cost we price is rent: four Florianópolis furnished one-bedroom adverts asked R$3,009 to R$5,500 a month on 15 October 2026, before condominium fees and property tax. Groceries, utilities and insurance are unknown.
What do safety advice and climate look like for retirees in Brazil?
The Global Peace Index 2026 ranks Brazil 124th of 163, and Canada advises a high degree of caution. Comfortable months (highs of 18 to 30 °C, under 150 mm of rain) run from 8 a year in São Paulo and 7 in Florianópolis to none in Fortaleza. Expat Insider 2026 ranks Brazil 4th of 31 for ease of settling in.
Sources
Where each figure comes from.
Every figure on this page links to the page we read, with the date we checked it.
- [R1] Resolução Normativa CNIg nº 40, de 2 de outubro de 2019: visto temporário e autorização de residência com base em aposentadoria e/ou pensão por morte, Conselho Nacional de Imigração (CNIg), Ministério da Justiça e Segurança Pública (Portal de Imigração Laboral). Checked 15 October 2026. Art. 1: a temporary visa for a retiree or death-pension beneficiary who proves a monthly transfer to Brazil of US$2,000 or more in foreign currency. Art. 3 III: other regular income can top up the amount. Art. 3 and art. 4 sole paragraphs: initial residence of up to two years. Art. 5: renewal is set by a separate normative resolution, which was not located, so whether and when this residence can become permanent was not confirmed. The text states no minimum age and no deposit.
- [R2] Visto Temporário XIV: Aposentadoria ou Pensão, Ministério das Relações Exteriores (Consulado-Geral em Faro). Checked 15 October 2026. Names "Resolução Normativa nº40/2019 do CNIg" and asks applicants to show a monthly transfer to Brazil of US$2,000 or more. The page gives no validity, initial stay or permanent-residence information.
- [R3] VITEM XIV: transfer of retirement/pension, Ministério das Relações Exteriores (Embaixada em Viena). Checked 15 October 2026. The visa is valid for up to 1 year; the initial period of stay is up to 2 years; holders register with the Federal Police within 90 days of first entry; proof of a monthly transfer of US$2,000 or more.
- [H1] UHC service coverage index (SDG 3.8.1), World Health Organization. Checked 15 October 2026. Brazil: 84 out of 100 (2023), read from the WHO GHO API (indicator UHC_INDEX_REPORTED) on 15 October 2026.
- [C1] Price level index (GDP), Brazil, World Bank. Checked 15 October 2026. 2025: 45.72 (United States = 100), read from the World Bank API on 15 October 2026. The data.worldbank.org indicator page did not open for scripts on 15 October 2026 (HTTP 502 or timeout).
- [S1] Global Peace Index 2026, overall rank, Institute for Economics and Peace. Checked 15 October 2026. Brazil ranks 124th of 163 countries (score 2.333).
- [Q1] Expat Insider 2026: Ease of Settling In, InterNations (Expat Insider survey, private). Checked 15 October 2026. Brazil ranks 4th of 31 countries. The page text: "Brazil (4th), which ranks in the top 5 for every single factor of the index".
- [W1] Normal Climatológica do Brasil 1991-2020: Temperatura Máxima Mensal e Anual (°C), Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia (INMET), Ministério da Agricultura e Pecuária. Checked 15 October 2026. Station 83897 FLORIANOPOLIS (the main city for Brazil's climate grade). The maximum temperature normal, read as the average daily high, January to December: 29.4, 29.5, 28.7, 26.9, 24.0, 21.9, 21.1, 21.8, 22.4, 24.2, 26.1, 28.3 °C. The clima.inmet.gov.br site refused automated access, so the normals were read from the spreadsheets published on portal.inmet.gov.br. Also read: Station 83781 São Paulo (Mirante de Santana). The maximum temperature normal, read as the average daily high, January to December: 28.6, 29.0, 28.0, 26.6, 23.4, 22.9, 22.9, 24.5, 25.2, 26.5, 26.9, 28.3 °C. The clima.inmet.gov.br site refused automated access, so the normals were read from the spreadsheets published on portal.inmet.gov.br.
- [W2] Normal Climatológica do Brasil 1991-2020: Precipitação Acumulada Mensal e Anual (mm), Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia (INMET), Ministério da Agricultura e Pecuária. Checked 15 October 2026. Station 83897 FLORIANOPOLIS. Monthly rain, January to December: 241.3, 198.3, 180.4, 115.8, 126.2, 86.3, 100.8, 93.0, 146.9, 153.2, 146.6, 177.2 mm. Months with a high of 18 to 30 °C and under 150 mm of rain: April, May, June, July, August, September, November (7). Also read: Station 83781 São Paulo (Mirante de Santana). Monthly rain, January to December: 292.1, 257.7, 229.1, 87.0, 66.3, 59.7, 48.4, 32.3, 83.3, 127.2, 143.9, 231.3 mm. Months with a high of 18 to 30 °C and under 150 mm of rain: April to November (8).