Brazil
How to pay as a visitor. Brazilian real (BRL).
The short version
- 1Pix is a payment system, not an app. A visitor needs an eligible wallet or bank that can send Pix. Several cross-border apps document passport onboarding without a Brazilian bank account or CPF.
- 2Match the app to the payment request. A merchant QR, a code on your own phone and a Pix key can require different app features. Camera-only scanning will not cover every situation.
- 3Bring a card and some reais too. International cards are widely accepted in cities. Cash remains useful in informal or remote settings and when a terminal or app fails.
Payment apps
These six products publish a passport-capable route to merchant Pix. Eligibility still depends on residence, phone, app-store access and the way you fund the payment.
| App | Sign up | Fund from | Payment cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moreta official payment guide | Passport + three selfiesAddress and phone required | Bank, card or Solana cryptoSome card-issuer countries excluded | 1.5% + FX spreadFunding costs are separate |
| Takenos official payment guide | ID or passport + selfieStore country restrictions apply | USD/EUR bank or cryptoNo general card top-up found | No added Pix feeRate shown before payment |
| Airtm official payment guide | Government ID + selfieFull verification and phone | P2P, card, bank or cryptoMethod availability varies | Quote in appNo stable Pix rate published |
| WanderWallet official payment guide | Passport or ID + selfiePartner checks can add requirements | Bank, Revolut or Polygon USDCOwn accounts only | 1% + US$0.20Funding and FX may also apply |
| Lokal official payment guide | Apple/Google sign-inPassport + selfie for full use | Foreign Visa or MastercardCard charged per payment | Quote in appNo balance to withdraw later |
| Peanut official payment guide | Passport or accepted ID + selfiePublic pages still mention early access | Bank transfer or cryptoRails vary by region | No separate payment feeFX is embedded in the rate |
Moreta
Takenos
Airtm
WanderWalletQR scan, copy-and-paste or Pix key?
A printed merchant code can work with a camera scan. A checkout code displayed on the same phone needs image import or Pix copy-and-paste. A person may instead give a phone number, email, CPF/CNPJ or random Pix key. Takenos, Airtm, WanderWallet and Lokal document key support; Peanut limits its public flow to merchant QR scanning.
Already use a Latin American wallet?
Belo documents Pix for residents of 11 named Latin American countries, with identity rules that vary by residence. AstroPay markets Brazil Pix to users from Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, Uruguay, Chile and Peru, but does not publish all KYC, fee and refund details. Prex, Lemon and Mercado Pago also have useful routes for eligible home-country account holders.
Can I send Pix with Wise?
Wise can send BRL to a Pix key without a Brazilian CPF or address, but visitors cannot generally scan a QR or paste a Pix code unless their Wise address is in Brazil. Conversion and delivery can take business days, so this fits a planned transfer rather than an instant checkout.
Can I open a Brazilian Pix account?
A foreigner can apply for a CPF, but still needs approval for a bank or payment account. Mercado Pago, PicPay and Nubank publish local account conditions that do not establish quick passport-only tourist onboarding. Banco Rendimento has a formal nonresident account with Pix, but asks for CPF, passport, foreign tax number, proof of address and income.
Check the recipient before confirming
Review the name and amount in the app. A successful Pix is normally final. Brazil's special return mechanism covers certain fraud and operational-failure cases; it is not a general remedy for the wrong recipient, a wrong amount or a purchase dispute.
Your own card
- Cards work widely in cities. International cards are commonly accepted in restaurants and stores. Acceptance is less dependable in rural areas and informal markets, and terminals can sometimes be unreliable.
- Check the terminal amount. Keep the card in view, prefer contactless where possible, and monitor transactions. Use ATMs inside banks or established businesses.
- Pay in reais. If a terminal or ATM offers your home currency, decline that conversion and choose BRL. Your issuer's own overseas fees can still apply.
Cash
- Keep a modest BRL fallback. Cash is useful for small purchases, informal markets and remote areas where card acceptance or ATM access is less dependable. There is no single right amount for every trip.
- Exchange through authorized providers. Banco Central do Brasil directs travelers to authorized institutions or their correspondents and provides tools for comparing the total effective cost of exchange.