Moving to Florianópolis: A Step-by-Step Guide for Expats

💡 All tips on adaptation, housing, and daily life are in the main section:

→ Florianópolis Lifestyle Guide

You have made the decision—you are moving to Florianópolis. Now you need a clear plan. Brazilian bureaucracy is known for its unpredictability: the order of steps matters here, because each subsequent document, as a rule, requires the previous one.

We have put together a step-by-step checklist to save you from running in circles.

Step 1. Before Departure — Prepare Documents at Home

This is the most important stage, which most people underestimate. Some documents cannot be obtained once you are already in Brazil, or it will take much longer.

What to do before your flight:

• Apostille key documents. Most long-term visas (residence permits, family reunification visas) require an apostilled birth certificate, diploma, or background check. The apostille must be done in the country where the document was issued—do this in advance.
• Open a Wise account. This is your primary financial tool for the first few months before opening a Brazilian bank account. Wise allows you to hold Brazilian Reais (BRL), pay via QR codes, and transfer money using the Pix system.
• Health insurance. For the period before you get a Brazilian health plan (plano de saúde), you will need international health insurance (such as SafetyWing or Foyer). This is also a mandatory requirement for several visa types.
• Transfer money. Decide on the amount of money you are taking with you. Cash USD or EUR can be exchanged at tourist exchange offices (casas de câmbio) at the airport or on Beiramar, but the rate is always better via Wise or Nomad.

Step 2. First Week — Get a CPF

CPF (Cadastro de Pessoas Físicas) is an 11-digit tax ID number, without which you cannot do literally anything in Brazil: rent housing, buy a SIM card, register on iFood, or open a bank account.

The good news is that you can obtain a CPF online even before your arrival, or during your first few days in the country through a Receita Federal branch or a Correios post office.

→ Full instructions on getting a CPF online for foreigners

Step 3. First Month — Housing

The biggest trap for newcomers: searching for long-term housing immediately upon arrival without a Brazilian guarantor (fiador). Most lease agreements require a local guarantor, which you obviously do not have.

Working strategies:

1. First 1–2 months—Airbnb or short-term/monthly rentals. This gives you time to look around, choose a neighborhood, and find suitable housing without rushing.
2. Long-term rent without a fiador. Brazilian law provides several legal alternatives to a guarantor: rent insurance (seguro fiança), an increased deposit (caução of 3 months), or a surety bond from a landlord guarantee company. Many landlords who work with foreigners accept these options.

→ How to rent an apartment in Florianópolis without a guarantor

Choosing a neighborhood:

Step 4. First 2–3 Months — Financial Infrastructure

SIM Card & Mobile Internet:

• In-store: Buy a SIM at any Claro, Vivo, or TIM store (passport and CPF required). A great option for nomads is a Claro plan from 60 BRL/month (~12 USD). If you do not have a CPF yet, TIM stores are usually the most accommodating for registering prepaid SIMs with just a foreign passport.
• Remotely online (Correios Celular): Once you have a CPF and passport, you can skip physical stores entirely and get a virtual eSIM or order a physical SIM delivered to your home via Correios Celular. The entire purchase process is 100% online and takes just a few hours.

Bank account: The easiest way to open a BRL account is through neobanks like Nubank or Inter. They can be opened online using your CPF and passport without visiting a branch. Traditional banks (Itaú, Bradesco) will be available later once you obtain a residence permit (CRNM).

→ How to open an Itaú bank account with a CRNM

Pix: Set up Pix immediately—it is an instant money transfer system that works 24/7. In Brazil, people use it to pay for everything from rent to a cup of coffee. Link your Pix key to your CPF or phone number.

Step 5. Visa and Legalization

Your length of stay and visa requirements depend on your citizenship:

• Up to 90 days: most citizens of the CIS, EU, and US enter without a visa.
• 90 days and longer: you will need a visa or residence permit. The most popular option for remote workers is the digital nomad visa VITEM XIV (requires income of at least 1,500 USD/month).

→ Complete Brazil visa guide for expats

Relocation & Living Budget Calculator

Calculate your estimated monthly living expenses in Florianópolis:

Final Relocation Checklist