The câmbio and remittance process

Moving money out of Brazil to fund a foreign account is a foreign-exchange (câmbio) operation. It is legal and routine, but it is regulated and it has costs.

What happens mechanically

You instruct your bank or broker to convert reais into the target currency (usually dollars) and send them to your foreign account.
The provider applies an exchange rate that is worse for you than the "true" market rate — the difference is the câmbio spread, one of your main costs.
IOF (Imposto sobre Operações Financeiras) applies to foreign-exchange operations. The applicable IOF treatment for sending money abroad to invest has changed over time, so confirm the current rate and rules before you remit.
The funds arrive in your foreign account, ready to invest.

Limits and declarations

Brazil's central bank requires that câmbio operations be done through authorised institutions, and larger movements and foreign holdings carry reporting obligations (covered in the tax chapter). Day-to-day retail remittances run smoothly through the broker, but the legal framework around limits and declarations does exist and changes — always verify the current rules.
Keep records of every remittance: the date, the amount in reais and in dollars, and the exchange rate. You will need them to compute capital-gains and to file correctly.

Bringing money back

The reverse operation — converting foreign currency back to reais and repatriating it — is also a câmbio operation with its own spread and IOF treatment. Plan round-trip costs, not just the outbound leg.

Because rates, IOF and limits are exactly the kind of rule that gets revised, treat any specific number you read as provisional and verify it at the time you transact, ideally with your broker or an accountant.