How Brazilians actually buy abroad
International brokers and global accounts
4 min
To invest directly abroad you need an account that can hold foreign assets. Two broad options exist.
A dedicated international broker
These are brokerages — some global, some aimed specifically at international clients — where you open an account in your own name abroad, fund it by remittance, and trade foreign markets directly. What to look for:
- Regulation in a credible jurisdiction, and how your assets are held and protected if the broker fails (asset segregation, investor-protection schemes).
- Access — which markets, products (stocks, ETFs, bonds, options) and currencies are available.
- Costs — trading commissions, currency-conversion spread, custody/inactivity fees, and withdrawal fees.
- Tax paperwork support — statements you can actually use to compute Brazilian tax (the broker will not do it for you).
A Brazilian broker's "global" account
Several Brazilian brokers now offer an integrated global investing feature: you fund a US-dollar account through the broker and buy foreign assets from within the same app. This is more convenient and Portuguese-language, but read carefully who actually custodies the assets, what the all-in costs are, and how statements are provided for your IR.
A note on safety
An account abroad is only as sound as the institution holding it. Favour regulated, well-known providers, understand the protection that applies to your assets, and be wary of anything promising guaranteed returns or that is opaque about regulation — the same red flags that apply to any broker apply doubly across a border.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and is not investment, financial, tax or legal advice. Trading and investing carry risk, including the possible loss of capital. Any performance shown by third-party tools is hypothetical and not a promise of future results. Do your own research and consider professional advice before making any decision.