USD business account in Brazil
A Brazilian company can hold US dollars in a foreign currency account at a Brazilian bank if it exports goods or has foreign loans or shareholders, under Central Bank rules in force since 1 October 2026, or in a USD account abroad in its own name. Since 2 February 2026, stablecoin payments across the border also sit inside Brazil's foreign exchange market. This guide covers each option, the rules, documents and where Helm fits.
Also available in: Português
- Resolution BCB 575 of 18 June 2026, in force from 1 October 2026, lets companies that export goods hold foreign currency deposit accounts in Brazil, credited only with export revenue and other amounts from abroad.
- The same resolution opened these accounts to private companies with external loans and companies with direct non-resident shareholders, limited to external credit and foreign direct investment flows.
- Converting balances in these accounts to reais requires a foreign exchange contract, cash and checks are prohibited, and moving foreign currency to and from them needs no exchange contract.
- Brazilian residents must file an annual declaration of Brazilian capital abroad with the Central Bank when assets abroad, including deposits at non-resident institutions, total US$1 million or more on 31 December.
- Since 2 February 2026, Resolution BCB 521 places international payments with virtual assets and the purchase, sale or exchange of stablecoins such as USDC and USDT inside Brazil's foreign exchange market.
- A virtual asset service provider company may make an international payment with virtual assets to a counterparty that is not an authorized exchange institution only up to US$100,000, and buying or selling virtual assets against foreign currency is prohibited.
USD business account options in Brazil: the short answer
A Brazilian business can hold and receive US dollars in four ways: a foreign currency deposit account at a Brazilian bank, open since 1 October 2026 to companies that export goods and to some companies with foreign loans or foreign shareholders; a USD account abroad in its own name; a US company with its own US account; and, through an authorized provider, dollar stablecoins such as USDC and USDT. Companies that do not qualify for an account in Brazil receive dollars by wire to their Brazilian bank, which converts them to reais under a foreign exchange contract.
A foreign exchange contract (contrato de câmbio) is the record of one purchase or sale of foreign currency between a client and an institution authorized by the Central Bank of Brazil (Banco Central do Brasil, BCB): the amount, the rate, the settlement date and the purpose. Every conversion between reais and dollars in Brazil runs through one.
| Option | Account name and location | How US payers pay it | Main rules and limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Real account at a Brazilian bank, converted on receipt | Company's own name, bank in Brazil | International wire (SWIFT) | Foreign exchange contract for each conversion (Resolution BCB 277) |
| Foreign currency deposit account in Brazil | Company's own name, bank in Brazil | International wire (SWIFT) | From 1 October 2026, for listed holders only; goods exporters may credit only export revenue and other amounts from abroad (Resolution BCB 575) |
| USD account abroad | Company's own name or a pooled account, held abroad | ACH, Fedwire or SWIFT, depending on the provider | Brazilian capital abroad; annual declaration to the BCB at US$1 million or more (Resolution BCB 279) |
| US company with a US account | A new US company's name | ACH and Fedwire as a US business | Separate legal entity, EIN and US filings |
| Stablecoins through a virtual asset provider | Wallet or provider account | USDC or USDT on a blockchain | Inside the foreign exchange market since 2 February 2026; limits on payments to non-authorized counterparties (Resolution BCB 521) |
Sources: Banco Central do Brasil, Resolutions BCB 277, 279, 521 and 575. As published on 29 October 2026. This table compares option types and is not a ranking.
SWIFT is the global messaging network banks use for cross-border payments. ACH is the US batch transfer network for lower-cost domestic payments, and Fedwire is the Federal Reserve's same-day wire system; both reach only accounts in the United States.
The sections below cover the BCB rules for each route, documents, stablecoins and where a Helm USD account fits. For the invoice details a US buyer needs, Pix and published bank fees, see our guide on receiving USD payments from US customers in Brazil.
Central Bank rules on receiving and paying US dollars
Brazil's foreign exchange framework is Law 14.286 of 2021 and its main rulebook, Resolution BCB 277 of 31 December 2022. The articles below decide how a company receives, holds and pays out dollars.
| Rule | What Resolution BCB 277 says | Article |
|---|---|---|
| Who handles cross-border payments | Payments to and from abroad go through an institution authorized to operate in the foreign exchange market, or another form the law provides; the payment instruction must carry sender and beneficiary information | Art. 13 |
| When a dollar payment arrives | The institution must tell the beneficiary immediately and say the payment order can be negotiated in full or in parts | Art. 14 |
| Export revenue | May enter Brazil in reais or foreign currency, whatever the contract currency, before or after shipment; it may be received by credit to an account abroad held by an authorized institution | Art. 46 |
| Import payments | May be made in reais or foreign currency; advance payment up to 360 days before shipment, or up to 1,800 days for long-cycle machinery and equipment | Art. 47 |
| Settlement timing | Spot contracts settle within two business days, excluding non-business days in either currency's center; future contracts up to 1,500 days | Art. 38 |
| Total cost | For spot operations up to US$100,000, the institution must state the VET before the operation | Art. 18 |
Source: Banco Central do Brasil, Resolution BCB 277, as published on 29 October 2026.
The VET (Valor Efetivo Total) is the total cost of a foreign exchange operation in reais per unit of foreign currency, combining the rate, taxes and fees. Compare it, not the headline rate, when you choose where to convert.
Two points follow for a business account. First, a US holiday can delay a Brazilian settlement, because spot contracts skip non-business days in either financial center. Second, because a payment order can be negotiated in parts, a company receiving a large wire can convert part of it and leave the rest until it needs reais, where its account type allows it to hold the balance.
An importer buys dollars from its bank under a foreign exchange contract, and the bank wires the supplier. Our guide on paying suppliers in Brazil covers the same corridor from the US buyer's side.
Foreign currency accounts in Brazil from 1 October 2026
Resolution BCB 575 of 18 June 2026 amended Resolution BCB 277 and took effect on 1 October 2026. It widened the list of who may hold a foreign currency deposit account at a Brazilian bank. Before it, the list covered mainly tourism businesses, embassies and international organizations, postal services, international card issuers, foreigners in transit and non-resident Brazilians, public entities with external loans, energy project companies, insurers and reinsurers, non-resident carriers, authorized exchange institutions and oil and gas producers.
| New holder (Article 70) | What may go in and out |
|---|---|
| XII: companies that export goods | Credits only from export revenue and other amounts from abroad (Art. 75-A) |
| XIII: resident private companies that owe external credit | Credits and debits only from external credit operations (Art. 75-B) |
| XIV: companies in Brazil with a direct non-resident shareholder | Credits and debits only from foreign direct investment (Art. 75-B) |
| XV: non-resident companies lending to residents | Credits and debits only from external credit operations (Art. 75-B) |
| XVI: non-resident companies with a direct stake in a Brazilian company | Credits and debits only from foreign direct investment (Art. 75-B) |
Source: Banco Central do Brasil, Resolution BCB 575 of 18 June 2026, as published on 29 October 2026.
The conditions are the same for every new holder:
- Conversion to reais requires a foreign exchange contract under the rules in force.
- Cash and checks are prohibited: no cash deposits or withdrawals and no movement by check.
- Transfers in foreign currency to and from these accounts need no foreign exchange contract, including conversion between foreign currencies.
- Reporting: the bank sends the BCB monthly data for each account by the fifth day of the following month, including the account identifier in IBAN format, the holder's classification and the opening balance, total credits, total debits and closing balance.
An IBAN (International Bank Account Number) is a standard account format that combines country, bank, branch and account number in one string. For holders in groups XIII and XIV, Resolution BCB 575 also amended Resolution BCB 278: the company must prove it has external credit or foreign direct investment in force and confirm to the bank that the operations are declared and up to date in the BCB's SCE-Crédito or SCE-IED systems.
Two limits matter in practice. Service exporters, such as software, design or consulting firms, are not named as a new holder category, so their dollars still arrive through a wire to a real account or into an account abroad. And a goods exporter cannot fund the account from domestic sales or from reais; only export revenue and other money from abroad may be credited. Ask your bank whether it offers the account yet and what it charges.
Holding dollars abroad: the Central Bank declaration
Resolution BCB 279 governs Brazilian capital abroad: values, goods, rights and assets of any kind held outside Brazil by residents. It states that Brazilian capital abroad may be applied in any modality regularly practiced in the international market. Deposits at non-resident institutions are one of the listed categories, so a USD account abroad in a Brazilian company's name is Brazilian capital abroad.
| Obligation | Threshold or period | Article |
|---|---|---|
| Annual declaration to the BCB | Brazilian capital abroad of US$1 million or more on 31 December | Art. 10 |
| Quarterly declaration | US$100 million or more on 31 March, 30 June or 30 September | Art. 11 |
| Supporting documents | Kept for 10 years after the operation ends | Art. 3 |
| Virtual assets held abroad | Subject to the same rules since 2 February 2026 | Art. 1, as amended by Resolution BCB 521 |
Source: Banco Central do Brasil, Resolution BCB 279, as published on 29 October 2026.
The declaration is a statistical filing, not an approval. A company below US$1 million on 31 December files nothing for that year under this resolution. Joint holdings count at their full value for the threshold test, with each holder declaring its own share. Tax reporting is separate; record foreign balances with your accountant.
Keep the same records for receipts abroad as for a wire into Brazil: invoice, contract and shipping documents. You will need them when the money is brought to Brazil and converted.
Stablecoins in Brazil: the 2026 Central Bank rules
Stablecoins are digital tokens designed to hold a steady value against a currency. Resolution BCB 520 of 10 November 2025 defines a fiat-referenced virtual asset (stablecoin) as a virtual asset backed by reserve assets and created to keep its value linked to a reference fiat currency. Reserve assets are that currency and government bonds of the governments that issue it. USDC and USDT are dollar stablecoins. Three resolutions set the position in 2026.
Resolution BCB 520: who may provide the service
In force from 2 February 2026, it governs the authorization and operation of virtual asset service provider companies (sociedades prestadoras de serviços de ativos virtuais, SPSAVs) and the virtual asset services of banks, brokers and distributors. Providers must assess a stablecoin's reserves, issuer and price stabilization mechanism before offering it, and may not offer stablecoins whose reserve control is carried out by algorithms.
Resolution BCB 521: stablecoins inside the foreign exchange market
In force from 2 February 2026, with its information rules from 4 May 2026, it adds a new title to Resolution BCB 277. The foreign exchange market now includes these virtual asset services: international payments or transfers with virtual assets; transfers of virtual assets to settle international card obligations; transfers to or from self-custody wallets; and the purchase, sale or exchange of fiat-referenced virtual assets. An international payment with virtual assets is one settled by a change of ownership between a resident and a non-resident, or the sending or receipt, to or from abroad, of virtual assets owned by the same person.
Resolution BCB 561: eFX services
Adopted on 30 April 2026 and in force from 1 October 2026, it prohibits virtual assets as the means of payment or receipt between a provider of eFX, the international payment or transfer service regulated in Resolution BCB 277, and its counterparty abroad.
| Question | What the BCB resolutions say |
|---|---|
| Who may carry out stablecoin foreign exchange services? | Banks and Caixa for all operations when acting as virtual asset service providers; securities brokers, securities distributors, foreign exchange brokers and the other institutions in Article 29, II, acting as providers; and SPSAVs, which may not deal in cash (Res. 277, Art. 29, as amended by Res. 521) |
| Limit on international payments with virtual assets | Where the counterparty is not an authorized foreign exchange institution: US$100,000 for SPSAVs and US$500,000 for the brokers and other institutions in Article 29, II (Art. 29) |
| Buying stablecoins with dollars | Prohibited: buying or selling virtual assets with payment in foreign currency (Art. 76-A, §2) |
| Payments for third parties | Prohibited, except when the provider serves an authorized exchange institution acting for its clients (Art. 76-A, §3) |
| Self-custody wallets | The provider must identify the wallet owner and verify the origin and destination of the assets (Art. 76-A, §5) |
| Information from the client | Purpose code for each payment, with US$50,000 as the threshold for the shorter code list, plus details of the payer or recipient abroad and their relationship to the client (Art. 76-C, from 4 May 2026) |
| Reporting | Monthly to the BCB by the fifth day of the following month (Art. 82-A, from 4 May 2026) |
| eFX providers | May not use virtual assets to pay or receive with the counterparty abroad (Res. 561, from 1 October 2026) |
Sources: Banco Central do Brasil, Resolution BCB 520, Resolution BCB 521 and Resolution BCB 561, as published on 29 October 2026.
For a business this means a stablecoin receipt from a foreign customer, or a transfer of the company's own USDT to its account abroad, is an international payment or transfer with virtual assets. When a provider handles it, it is a foreign exchange market operation with a purpose code, counterparty details and BCB reporting, like a wire. Resolution BCB 521 also brings external loans made in stablecoins and capital paid in with virtual assets within the foreign capital rules, and virtual assets held abroad within the Brazilian capital abroad rules.
Foreign providers and the US company route
Many Brazilian companies add a USD account held outside Brazil. Eligibility is set by each provider; the table records what each states on its own pages and is not a ranking.
| Provider | What its own pages state for Brazil |
|---|---|
| Airwallex | Brazil is on its list of eligible registration countries, with Brazilian businesses onboarded to its United States entity |
| Wise | Accepts an active business with a valid CNPJ that is a sole trader (including MEI), a single-member or limited company, or a single-person law firm, with one owner holding 100% who opens the account; account details carry a setup fee payable only by Pix; Brazil is not on its list of addresses that cannot get USD account details |
| Inter (Global Account for Business) | Any Brazilian or US company with an active registration can open one; a US dollar account with exchange operations and no opening or maintenance fees |
| Payoneer | Global fee page: receiving into an account in a currency that is not your local currency costs 1% (minimum 1.00 USD); different prices may apply in different territories |
| Mercury | Accepts only companies formed and registered in the United States or a US territory |
Sources: Airwallex eligible countries, Wise for Brazilian businesses, Wise USD account details, Inter Global Account for Business, Payoneer pricing, Mercury eligibility; as published on 29 October 2026.
The CNPJ is the Brazilian company tax registration number. MEI (Microempreendedor Individual) is Brazil's simplified registration for very small sole traders. Pix is the BCB's instant payment system for reais.
Before you apply, check whose name is on the account details, which rails they accept (ACH only, or also Fedwire and SWIFT), and how dollars reach Brazil when you need reais.
A US company
Some Brazilian groups form a US company and open a US account in its name. It needs an Employer Identification Number (EIN), the US federal tax number for a business. The IRS instructions for Form SS-4 state that applicants with no principal place of business in the United States may call 267-941-1099 from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday to Friday, and may fax the form to 304-707-9471 from outside the United States. The US company is a separate entity with its own filings, and its shares are Brazilian capital abroad for the parent.
Documents you need
Banks and providers ask for broadly the same company file. The BCB rules add one point: every payment instruction to or from abroad must carry the sender's and beneficiary's details, and for a Brazilian sender that includes name, identification number, address and account identifier or CNPJ (Resolution BCB 277, Article 13).
| Document | Foreign currency account in Brazil | USD account abroad |
|---|---|---|
| CNPJ registration, active | Yes | Yes |
| Articles of association (contrato social) and amendments | Yes | Yes, sometimes with a translation |
| IDs of directors and signatories | Yes | Yes, passport or national ID |
| Details of owners of 25% or more | Usually | Yes, under provider rules |
| Evidence you qualify under Article 70 | Export record for goods exporters; SCE-Crédito or SCE-IED records for groups XIII and XIV | Not applicable |
| Commercial invoices, contracts and transport documents | For each credit and each conversion | For the first payments and large receipts |
| Purpose code for each foreign exchange operation | Yes, given to the bank | When dollars are brought to Brazil |
Sources: Resolution BCB 277, Articles 4 and 13; Resolution BCB 575; other rows are typical requirements compiled by the Helm Editorial Team and vary by bank and provider. As published on 29 October 2026.
The purpose code classifies why money moves, for example export of goods or payment of an import. Resolution BCB 277 places the duty to classify on the client, with a shorter code list up to US$50,000 and a detailed list above it. Keep invoice numbers on every payment so each credit can be matched to its export or import.
Where a Helm USD account fits
Helm is a financial technology company, not a bank. Accounts are held with regulated partner institutions. Helm provides USD account details in your company's own name, with a US routing and account number that receives ACH, Fedwire and SWIFT payments, alongside EUR and GBP details. Helm can serve businesses in Brazil.
- Exporters and service firms can give US customers domestic US payment details. Collections can be held in USD or converted. Balances abroad count toward the BCB declaration threshold of US$1 million on 31 December.
- Importers can send international payments to suppliers by SWIFT, or by local rails in the supplier's currency where available, with the rate, fee and expected arrival shown before sending.
- Companies paid in stablecoins can receive USDC and USDT and convert them to USD inside the account. Moving the company's own stablecoins from a Brazilian provider to the account abroad is an international transfer with virtual assets under Resolution BCB 521.
- Goods exporters that also open a foreign currency account in Brazil can transfer dollars between the two without a foreign exchange contract, because Resolution BCB 575 dispenses with one for foreign currency transfers to and from those accounts.
Each account has a named account manager, and review questions are answered in writing within one business day. Trade finance, such as supplier finance, receivables finance and working capital, is arranged case by case. Helm agrees pricing with each business in writing before the account opens, and shows the rate, the fee and the expected arrival before you confirm each payment.
Freelancers, MEIs and service firms
Resolution BCB 575 opened foreign currency accounts in Brazil to companies that export goods, not to service exporters or individuals. A freelancer, an MEI or a design studio paid by US clients therefore receives dollars by wire to a real account, which converts them under a foreign exchange contract, or into a USD account abroad.
Some online providers accept small Brazilian businesses: Wise, for example, states that it accepts sole traders including MEIs with an active CNPJ, provided one owner holds 100% and opens the account. Its page also lists per-transfer limits for business accounts, including 10,000 USD when sending to BRL. A freelancer who is paid in USDC or USDT by a client abroad is making an international payment with virtual assets under Resolution BCB 521 when a Brazilian provider handles it. As the business grows, incorporating and moving client payments to a company account keeps business and personal funds separate. For a comparison with another market, see our guide to USD business accounts in Mexico.
Open a Helm account
USD, EUR and GBP accounts in your company's name, with a named account manager.
Open accountQuestions
Can a Brazilian company have a US dollar account in Brazil?
Yes, if it is on the BCB's list. From 1 October 2026, Resolution BCB 575 lets companies that export goods hold foreign currency deposit accounts in Brazil, as well as private companies with external loans and companies with direct non-resident shareholders, each limited to the matching flows.
What can a goods exporter credit to its foreign currency account in Brazil?
Only export revenue and other amounts coming from abroad. Converting the balance to reais requires a foreign exchange contract, and cash deposits, cash withdrawals and checks are prohibited.
Can service exporters open a dollar account in Brazil?
Resolution BCB 575 names companies that export goods, not service exporters. A software, design or consulting firm receives dollars by wire to a real account or into a USD account abroad unless it falls into another listed category.
Can a Brazilian company keep dollars in an account abroad?
Yes. Resolution BCB 279 states that Brazilian capital abroad may be applied in any modality regularly practiced in the international market, and deposits at non-resident institutions are a listed category. The company files an annual declaration with the BCB if its assets abroad total US$1 million or more on 31 December.
What is a contrato de câmbio?
A contrato de câmbio is a foreign exchange contract: the record of one purchase or sale of foreign currency between a client and an institution authorized by the Central Bank of Brazil. Spot contracts settle within two business days.
Are stablecoins regulated in Brazil?
Yes. Since 2 February 2026, Resolution BCB 520 governs virtual asset service providers, and Resolution BCB 521 places international payments with virtual assets and the purchase, sale or exchange of stablecoins inside the foreign exchange market.
Is there a limit on international stablecoin payments from Brazil?
Yes. When the counterparty is not an authorized foreign exchange institution, a virtual asset service provider company may make an international payment with virtual assets up to the equivalent of US$100,000, and a broker or other institution listed in Article 29, II up to US$500,000, under Resolution BCB 277 as amended by Resolution BCB 521.
Can I buy USDT with US dollars through a Brazilian provider?
No. Resolution BCB 521 prohibits a provider from buying or selling virtual assets with payment or receipt in foreign currency. The purchase, sale or exchange of stablecoins is otherwise a foreign exchange market service that authorized providers may offer.
Does Airwallex or Wise accept Brazilian companies?
Airwallex lists Brazil as an eligible registration country, served by its United States entity. Wise accepts certain Brazilian businesses with an active CNPJ and a single owner holding 100%, including MEIs.
Do I need to report my USD account abroad to the Central Bank of Brazil?
Only if your Brazilian capital abroad, including deposits, totals US$1 million or more on 31 December, when an annual declaration is due. A quarterly declaration applies from US$100 million.
References
- Banco Central do Brasil: Resolução BCB nº 277, de 31 de dezembro de 2022 (foreign exchange market)
- Banco Central do Brasil: Resolução BCB nº 575, de 18 de junho de 2026 (foreign currency deposit accounts)
- Banco Central do Brasil: Resolução BCB nº 521, de 10 de novembro de 2025 (virtual asset services in the foreign exchange market)
- Banco Central do Brasil: Resolução BCB nº 520, de 10 de novembro de 2025 (virtual asset service providers)
- Banco Central do Brasil: Resolução BCB nº 561, de 30 de abril de 2026 (eFX)
- Banco Central do Brasil: Resolução BCB nº 279, de 31 de dezembro de 2022 (Brazilian capital abroad)
- Airwallex: Eligible countries and territories
- Wise: Opening a Wise account for your Brazilian business
This guide is general information for businesses, not financial, legal or tax advice. Rules, fees and timings were checked against the sources listed on the review date and may change.