All about the working holiday in Brazil

Rainforests, beaches, football, samba and more... Few nations celebrate life as vibrantly as Brazil does. Witness the beauty of Brazil for yourself on a working holiday.
Wherever you are in the process of working holiday preparation, pvtistes.net provides free information and resources to help with your planning and big move.
Working Holiday Visa travel insurance.

We’ve been recommending Globe WHV since 2005 (medical expenses, hospitalisation, repatriation…).

1 Eligibility requirements
Age limit

Between 18 and 29 or 30 years old

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Valid passport

A valid passport for the entire duration of your working holiday

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Sufficient funds

Enough to support yourself financially

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First participation

This must be your first participation

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Mandatory health insurance

Must cover medical care, hospitalisation and repatriation

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Beat the quota

Apply before the annual quota is reached

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Contents
2 FAQ

01. What is the Working Holiday Visa?

WHVs are bilateral accords signed between governments to promote youth mobility and cultural exchange. Participating countries allow young adults to spend a set period of time (usually one year) living and working abroad. Most of the accords are signed between countries in Europe, the Americas, Oceania, and East Asia. A WHV encourages cultural exchange alongside the chance to gain valuable work experience, though participants are not obligated to work.

02. Which nationalities are eligible?

Young adults from Australia, New Zealand, France, and Germany can apply for the Brazil WHV.

03. How long is the visa good for?

The WHV allows you to work and live in Brazil for up to one year.

04. Can I work during my working holiday?

Yes. However, New Zealanders can not work for more than 3 months for the same employer. Source

No such restriction applies to Australians.

05. Do I need to buy health insurance?

Yes. You must purchase health insurance covering medical expenses, hospitalisation, and repatriation for the duration of your working holiday.

06. What documents are required for the application?

The following documents are required:

  • Application form
  • ID photo
  • Passport
  • Proof of sufficient savings
  • Proof of adequate medical insurance
  • Copy of birth certificate
  • Flight itinerary
  • Police clearance certificate (New Zealanders only)

See more details for Australians and New Zealanders.

07. What is pvtistes.net and how can it help me?

We are a team of current and former working holiday makers dedicated to providing free information and resources about the working holiday in Brazil and other destinations. Read our helpful articles, leave comments if you have questions, and check out our special deals.

We don’t ask for any money, and neither should anyone else in your application process (besides the embassy/consulate and their official partners). Be very careful of online scams where someone might ask you for an exorbitant amount to help you get your visa. Working Holiday Visas are designed to be relatively easy to obtain yourself, so there is absolutely no need to pay any professional service to do it on your behalf.

08. Where can I apply?

  • Australians: The application form can be filled out digitally. Once that’s completed and you’ve gathered your support documents, you have the choice of either mailing everything to the Brazilian Embassy or going in person, via appointment. All details can be found on this website.
  • New Zealanders: You will fill out an online application form. The Embassy will then give you instructions for how to mail your passport and supporting documents. Once approved, you will receive your passport and visa by mail. All steps are explained on this website.
Contents
3 Buying health insurance

Yes. You must purchase health insurance covering medical expenses, hospitalisation, and repatriation for the duration of your working holiday.

We’ve been recommending Globe WHV since 2005. They have covered thousands of working holiday makers over the years.

Learn more about Globe WHV
Useful links
Contents
4 Getting a Brazilian real card

Brazil’s currency is the real (BRL, R$).

If you want to have a BRL debit card in hand before even arriving in Brazil, you may want to consider an online neo-bank like Wise. Wise is an app that offers multi-currency financial services. Customers receive a physical debit card that can be used to withdraw cash at local ATMs and make payments in Brazil. You can top up your card using one of the supported currencies and it will auto-convert into reals when making purchases in Brazil. This way you can avoid the foreign transaction fees that many international travellers incur when using their home cards abroad. Learn more about Wise.

Learn more about Wise
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5 Finding housing in Brazil

Once your application is approved, you’ll need to think about where to live, especially in the first few days and weeks. If you are planning on renting long term housing, we recommend you wait until you arrive in Brazil before paying a deposit or signing anything. Never send money to anyone without seeing the place in person.

For your first couple of weeks, you could consider hotels. But the most affordable option is going to be youth hostels. You can find some great ones on Hostelworld.

Find a hostel on Hostelworld
Useful links
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6 Getting ready for departure

After you get your visa, you will have plenty of things to take care of. Some of them are more urgent than others, so this list breaks down your to-dos, starting with the most urgent to the least. It may seem like a lot, but don’t worry, one step at a time!

Useful links
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7 Read up on other important topics

As you prepare for your working holiday in Brazil, check out our library of free articles and guides. Everyone on the pvtistes.net team has done (or is currently on) a working holiday, and so everything we write is from personal experience.

Library of free articles and guides on the working holiday
Useful links
Contents
8 Check out language courses and other deals

This is also the perfect chance to learn or brush up on Portuguese. Babbel is partnering with pvtistes.net to offer 20% off on language courses (learn more). Also check out our other deals for working holiday makers.

Learn more about Babbel (-20%)
Our special offers
Take advantage of our special offers for flights, banking, money transfers, and language courses.
Read more
Contents
Age limit

You must be at least 18 years old at the time of application.
Australians can apply until the day before their 31st birthday.
New Zealanders can apply until the day before their 30th birthday.

Valid passport

You must have a passport that is valid for the entire duration of your working holiday.

Sufficient funds

The Brazilian government does not provide a specific number, so use your best judgement and generously estimate what you will need in at least the first 3 months.

First participation

This must be your first participation. If you have already been granted a WHV to Brazil before, then you cannot apply again.

Mandatory health insurance

Your insurance must be valid for the full duration of your stay and cover at least medical, hospitalisation, and repatriation expenses.

Beat the quota

Apply before the annual quota is reached. The quota is 500 for Australians and 300 for New Zealanders.