Marrying and Sponsoring a Brazilian Citizen

Marriage to a Brazilian Citizen

Every country has its own laws that apply to its citizens marrying a person from a different country.

If you want to bring your Brazilian spouse or partner to live in Canada, you must then file a sponsorship application for them to become a permanent resident. If they would like to visit you in Canada while their application is in process, they must also apply for a visitor visa. For more information, please see our family sponsorship page and our visitor visa page.

 

Brazilian Marriage Basic Requirements

In order to marry a citizen of Brazil, you must demonstrate to the Brazilian government that you are eligible to do so. This includes:

• Proof of country of birth
• Proof of single status
• Proof of age requirement

Free Complete Spousal Sponsorship Course

 

Family Members

If your Brazilian spouse has dependent children, this does not affect the Brazilian Marriage document application.

If you have dependent children, they have no effect on the application to marry a Brazilian citizen.

List of Brazilian Consulates in Canada

Honorary Consul of Brazil in Halifax, Canada

Consulate General of Brazil in Toronto, Canada

Consulate General of Brazil in Montreal, Canada

Consulate General of Brazil in Vancouver, Canada

 

Calling Brazil

To make a direct call to Brazil from Canada, you need to follow the international dialing format given in the box below. The dialing format is same for calling Brazil mobile or land line from Canada.

To call Brazil from Canada Dial

011 – 55 – Area Code – TEL #

Follow the dialing format shown above while calling Brazil from Canada.

011 – Exit code for Canada, and is needed for making any international call from Canada

55 – ISD Code or Country Code of Brazil

Area code – There are 99 area codes in Brazil.  Dial area code of the city in Brazil you are calling after dialing ISD Code. The format is dial 011 + 55 + phone number

List of area codes in Brazil

 

Ananindeua	91	Ilheus	73	Rio de Janeiro	21
Anapolis	62	Itaquaquecetuba	11	Salvador	71
Aparecida de Goiania	62	Joinville	47	Santa Maria	55
Aracaju	79	Joao Pessoa	83	Santarem	91
Bauru	14	Juiz de Fora	32	Santo Andre	11
Belem	91	Limeira	19	Santos	13
Belo Horizonte	31	Londrina	43	Sao Bernardo Campo	11
Boa Vista	95	Macapa	96	Sao Goncalo	21
Brasilia	61	Maceio	82	Sao Joao de Meriti	21
Campinas	19	Manaus	92	Sao Jose Campos	12
Campo Grande	67	Maringa	44	Sao Jose de Rio Preto	17
Canoas	51	Maua	11	Sao Luis	98
Carapicuiba	11	Montes Claros	38	Sao Paulo	11
Cariacica	27	Mogi das Cruzes	11	Sao Vicente	13
Caxias do Soul	54	Natal	84	Serra	27
Contagem	31	Niteroi	21	Sorocaba	15
Cuiaba	65	Nova Iguacu	21	Taubate	12
Curitiba	41	Olinda	81	Teresina	86
Diadema	11	Paulista	81	Uberlandia	34
Duque de Caxias	21	Pelotas	53	Uberaba	34
Feira de Santana	75	Petropolis	24	Varzea Grande	65
Florianopolis	48	Piracicaba	19	Vila Velha	27
Fortaleza	85	Porto Alegre	51	Vitoria	27
Foz do Iguacu	45	Porto Velho	69	Vitoria da Conquista	77
Franca	16	Recife	81	Volta Redonda	24
Goiania	62	Ribeirao Preto	16
Guarulhos	11	Rio Branco	68

Free Complete Spousal Sponsorship Course

 

Calling Canada from Brazil – Direct Dialing Numbers

To make a direct call to Canada from Brazil, you need to follow the international dialing format given in the box below. The dialing format is same for calling Canada mobile or land line from Brazil.

To call Canada from Brazil

Dial XX – 1 – Area Code – TEL #

Access code for Brazil can be one of the following numbers;

0014 – Brasil Telecom
0015 – Telefonica
0021 – Embratel
0023 – Intelig
0031 – Telma

Follow the dialing format shown above while calling Canada From Brazil.

0014 – Brasil Telecom, 0015 – Telefonica, 0021 – Embratel, 0023 – Intelig, 0031 – Telmar – Exit code for Brazil, and is needed for making any international call from Brazil

1 – ISD Code or Country Code of Canada

Area code – There are 18 area codes in Canada. The area code is the first three digits of your telephone number.

 

List of area codes in Canada

Province	Code	Province	Code
Alberta	403 / 587 (southern Alberta) 587 / 780 (central and northern Alberta)	Nunavut	867
BC	236 / 250 / 778 (majority of BC) 236 / 604 / 778 (Metro Vancouver)	Ontario	226 / 519 (southwestern Ontario) 249 / 705 (northeastern Ontario) 289 / 365 / 905 (Greater Toronto Area) 343 / 613 (eastern Ontario) 416 / 647 (Toronto) 807 (northwestern Ontario)
Manitoba	204 / 431	PEI	782 / 902
New  Brunswick	506	Quebec	418 / 581 (eastern Quebec) 438 / 514 (Montreal) 450 / 579 (Greater Montreal) 819 / 873 (remainder of Quebec)
Newfoundland and Labrador	709	Saskatchewan	306 / 639
Northwest Territories	867	Yukon	867
Nova Scotia	782 / 902

 

Time Difference

There are multiple time zones in Brazil:

Canadian Time Zone	BrazilianTime Zone	# of Hours Difference with western Brazil	# of Hours Difference with central Brazil	# of Hours Difference with eastern Brazil
Pacific (BC, Yukon)		Western Brazil is 4 hours ahead	Central Brazil is 5 hours Ahead	Eastern Brazil is 6 hours Ahead
Mountain (Alberta, western Nunvaut, Lloydminster, Saskatchewan)		Western Brazil is 3 hours ahead	Central Brazil is 4 hours ahead	Eastern Brazil is 5 hours ahead
Central (Manitoba, Northwest Territories, central Nunavut, northwestern Ontario, Saskatchewan)		Western Brazil is 2 hours ahead	Central Brazil is 3 hour ahead	Eastern Brazil is 4 hours ahead
Eastern (most of Ontario, most of Quebec)		Western Brazil is 1 hour ahead	Central Brazil is 2 hours ahead	Eastern Brazil is 3 hours ahead
Atlantic (Labrador, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI, eastern Quebec)		Same time	Central Brazil is 1 hour ahead	Eastern Brazil is 2 hours ahead
Newfoundland		Western Brazil is 30 minutes behind	Central Brazil is 30 minutes ahead	Eastern Brazil is 90 minutes ahead

Like Canada, Brazil participates in Daylight Saving Time. However, Brazil goes through DST in their summer (our winter), making it difficult to calculate the time differences. Also, not all of Brazil participates in DST, just like Saskatchewan doesn’t. Figuring out the time difference between your time zone in Canada and the Brazilian time zone you are calling can be really hard. The above time differences only apply when neither country is in DST, which is from the third Sunday of October to the first Sunday of November, and from the third Sunday of February to the second Sunday of March.

The below table shows you what Canadian time zone equivalent Brazilian states are in at different times of the year.

Brazilian States	Time of Year	Third Sunday of February to Second Sunday of March and third Sunday of October to first Sunday of November Only (No DST)	November-February (Brazil DST)	March-October (Canada DST)
Western Brazil: Acre, Amazonas, Roraima, Rondonia		Atlantic Time	Eastern Time	Eastern Time
Southwestern Brazil: Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sol		Atlantic Time	Atlantic Time	Eastern Time
Northeastern Brazil: Alagoas, Amapa, Bahia, Ceara, Maranhao, Para, Paraiba, Piaui, Pemambuco, Rio Grande do Norte, Sergipe		1 hour ahead of Atlantic Time	Atlantic Time	Atlantic Time
Southern Brazil: Brasilia, Espirito Santo, Goia, Minas Gerais, Parana, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Sol, Sao Paulo, Tocantins		1 hour ahead of Atlantic Time	1 hour ahead of Atlantic time	Atlantic time

Brazilian Money

10 million reis [Public domain]

Brazil’s currency is called the Real (plural: Reais). However, the name of the money was only adopted in 1994. This was because in the past Brazil had lots of different currency due to fluctuations and changes in the economy.

In the 1980s and early 1990s, Brazil saw very high inflation. For a time the currency or money used in Brazil was called Cruzeiros (until 1986) and then changed to Cruzado. Only a couple of years later a new currency was introduced to Brazilians called the Cruzados Novos (“new cruzados”). In 1990 another twist to the Brazilian money saga when the Cruzados Novos were stopped and the Cruzeiros returned.

In 1993, the Cruzeiros had three zeros shaved off them and were turned into Cruzeiros Reais.  In 1994, the new currency, the one being used today was introduced called the Real after the development of a new monetary policy. Brazilian currency has 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 bills. Most bills have pictures of animals on one side and then the feminine character that is a representation of Brazil on the other. Coins are available in values or denominations of 1 cent, 5 cents, 10 cents, 25 cents, 50 cents and 1 Real. Coins vary in size and color.

 

Convert to Brazilian Reais

 

Brazilian Wedding Traditions

Pedro II and his wife [Public Domain]

The South American country of Brazil has a host of traditions and customs within its culture. Brazil is recognized for its diverse population whose practices can be traced to the traditional beliefs and behaviors of Africans, Amerindians, and European folk cultures. For Brazilian brides, these traditions lead to extravagant and fun-filled weddings.  Brazilians believes that their wedding traditions is gives newlywed couples good luck, happy and a long-lasting marriage. They involve combining Brazilian culture with Christian traditions for a standard wedding ceremony.

Traditional Wedding celebrations in Brazil are among the grandest and most expensive celebrations in the world.  Brazil marriage ceremony is full of music, song and dance, strong beliefs, rich legends and great sumptuous food. A Brazil marriage ceremony is very different and they are very old. But some of the traditions are very different and distinct from other countries around the world.

 

The Wedding Engagement

The Bumba-Meu-Boi tradition is where the groom demonstrates his ability to tame an unbridled donkey which symbolizes his suitability as a husband. If the groom is successful then he gets permission to wed his bride, and a giant engagement party is thrown in celebration.  Here, both the bride and groom exchange rings, each wearing them on their right hands.

 

Preparations

Bridesmaids and groomsmen are chosen at the time of the wedding. Those selected consist of couples paired off at the altar, usually three men and three women. The groom arrives at the wedding ceremony location first. The bride comes to the location, usually a church, at least 10 minutes after the groom’s arrival. The two should not see each other before the ceremony, however, as it is believed this will bring bad luck.

 

The Wedding Ceremony

When the wedding day arrives the ceremony is usually performed in a church where the bride is discretely brought at least 10 minutes after the groom.  She slips in undetected dressed in her extravagant white wedding gown.  It is bad luck if the groom catches a peek.  The parents, groom, bridal party, flower girl, and ring bearer all journey down the aisle before the bride. Bridesmaids and groomsmen, also known as “padrinos,” stand coupled on both sides of the bride and groom throughout the service.  With no strict dress code, the bridesmaids only need to abide by one rule: they cannot wear duplicate colors. Typically, a sense of national patriotism infuses the wedding.  Not only does the groom replace his flower boutonniere with a Brazilian flag, but the groomsmen carry small flags down the aisle.

Roman Catholicism has a very large following, so it is not uncommon to have the marriage ceremony partnered with a mass.  The contents of the mass vary, but there are many marriage ceremony traditions that stay true to their structure.  These are the vows, the signing of the marriage license, and the exchanging of gifts between the bride and groom and their parents.  The bride and groom then switch the rings, each engraved with the one another’s names, from their right to their left hand. If these rings are dropped during this time it is believed that the marriage is doomed.  Concluding the ceremony the two seal the marriage with a kiss.  They happily flee the scene through a waterfall of flower petals tossed in the air by guest.

Dance and merriment are a part of Brazil marriage ceremony. There are traditional dances as the one-note samba. One can see many varieties of samba dance or ‘pagoda’ as it is often called, for the special occasion called marriage.  After the Brazil wedding ritual, it is the party time. This wedding party is called as ‘padrinhos’. One can see three couples of bridesmaid and the groomsmen lined up on both sides. This is an interesting tradition. Latin song and dance is the common features in such ‘padrinhos’ as the Brazilian wedding is also influenced by the Latin American traditions. Brazilian songs by Vinicius de Morais or the national anthem is sung to commemorate the auspicious occasion of marriage in Brazil.

 

The Wedding Reception

Sparkling with animation, the Brazilian carnival spirit seeps into the reception celebration.  They have dancers with fantastic feathered attire who serve as entertainment and encourage the vivacious tone.  Along with the national anthem and bossa nova tunes, the guest’s dance the One-Note-Samba in Pagode form to Samba music. Traditionally the bride will find herself in the middle of the dance floor where her shoe is placed to collect donations.

Queen of the Drums by Carnival.com Studios / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0

Many of the Brazilian traditions take place at the guest’s tables.  Each table is named a different Brazilian city instead of being assigned a numerical value.  Another creative way in retrieving financial support is when the best man travels around from table to table cutting pieces of the groom’s tie to sell to the guests.  At these tables, many things delight the taste buds of the guests: traditional Feijoada and Farofa cuisines, Caipirinha beverages, and wedding cake and Brigadeiros desserts.  Most importantly the bride and groom show their gratitude by visiting each table with a basket of lembrancinhas. These party favors are the traditional Casadinhos wedding cookies which are two cookies that sandwich a sweet filling and then rolled in sugar. They are named Bem Casados which means “well-married.”

Free Complete Spousal Sponsorship Course

 

Traditional Brazilian Wedding Food

Farofa

Farofa is a buttery and toasted manioc flour dish that includes various ingredients such as chopped meats, nuts, fruits, and seasonings depending on the recipe. Eaten across many borders in South America and West Africa, it is particularly popular in Brazil and Nigeria.

Farofa by Carioca / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

 

Feijoada

Feijoada is a Portuguese and Brazilian stew that many Southern European cultures enjoy. It includes types of rice, beans, and pork / beef depending on the culture’s recipe.

Feijoada with a pork chop by Themightyquill / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

Caipirinha

Caipirinha is Brazil’s national rum cocktail flavored with lime, sugar and Cachaca (a sugar caned rum).

Caipirinha [Public Domain]

 

Brigadeiros

Brigadeiros is a popular bonbon chocolate candy in Brazil and Portugal whose shape resembles a truffle. This bundle of condensed milk, butter, and cocoa powder was named after the Brazilian Air Force brigadier, Eduardo Gomes, in the 1940′s.

Brigadeiro by Marya / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0

Brazilian Wedding Gifts

Wedding gifts for a Brazilian couple vary a little bit from wedding gifts for couples in other countries, such as the United States. It is difficult to generalize Brazilian wedding gifts as the country is impossible to generalize as a whole; gifts vary completely depending on economic conditions. In Brazil there is a great disparity of wealth, the very rich live alongside the very poor with the modest middle-class in between. No matter what the economic status, weddings are momentous causes for celebration and all wedding gifts will be directed to helping the couple begin a new life together.

Appliances

In Brazil, men and women generally live in their parent’s home until they get married. Therefore marriage in Brazil is usually accompanied by the couple moving out and into their own home. As such, everything for a new home will be required. Common gifts for family members to give include microwaves, blenders and grills. Closer friends and family members often give larger items such as refrigerators and washing machines, or take a share with others in helping to pay for them.

 

Housewares

As with appliances, housewares are also common gifts to help get the couple on their way. The majority of Brazilian homes are covered floor and walls with ceramic tiles, therefore small carpets or rugs are needed in the bathroom and kitchen areas. Purchased rugs or even handmade ones may be given to the couple. Like with wedding gifting in America, linens and towels are also commonly given to the Brazilian couples as well.

 

Cowhide rugs

[Public Domain]

Carpets

by Eurico Zimbres / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.5

Alcohol

Alcohol such as high quality bottles of wine, cachaça or beer are appropriate gifts to give.

Cachaca Sagatiba [Public Domain] Wedding Favors

Casadinhos

Casadinhos is a dessert whose wedding celebratory name is Bem-Casado, which translates to mean “happily married” or married well.” These Brazilian wedding favor cakes are an ensemble of two sponge cake ends that sandwich dulce de leche, egg curd or jam. Wrapped in crepe paper and topped with a bow, this cake of gratitude symbolizes the two newlyweds glued together in a sweet, new life.

by Wolfhardt / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

 

The Honeymoon

After the reception, it’s honeymoon time! On the first night the groom must carry his bride into either the house or hotel room by taking his first step through the doorway with his right foot.

 

Customs Duties and Wedding Presents

If you like traveling abroad and love shopping in the process, you must remember that there are set rules and regulations that you must follow and duty to pay when you bring those goods across the Canadian border.

If you are a Canadian resident coming from Brazil, you are eligible for a personal exemption, which allows you to bring a certain amount of goods into the country from Brazil without paying any duty.

Personal exemptions

Personal exemptions are based on the amount of time you have spent in Brazil. These exemptions apply if;

• You are a Canadian resident returning from a trip in Brazil
• You are a former resident of Canada returning to live in the country from Brazil
• You are a temporary resident of Canada.

For a minimum absence of 24 hours you can claim goods worth up to $50 Canadian (excluding alcohol and tobacco). For 48 hours, you can claim goods worth $200. And for seven days, you can claim goods worth $750. Children and infants are also eligible for personal exemptions; parents or guardians can make the declaration on behalf of the child, as long as the item is for the child’s use.

Except for certain restricted items (such as firearms and explosives) you can bring back any amount of goods. But if the amount is more than that of your personal exemption, you will have to pay duty and any provincial or territorial assessments that apply. And if you don’t qualify for a personal exemption, you will have to pay duty on the entire amount of the goods you bring in the country.

Gifts

You must declare all gifts to the Canada Border Services Agency. Gifts worth CDN $60 or less each may be brought into Canada duty-free and tax-free, but must be declared. For gifts worth more than CDN $60, you may have to pay duties and taxes on the excess amount. Tobacco and alcohol cannot be imported as gifts.

Wedding gifts

If you got married in Brazil within three months of coming to Canada or if you plan to marry no later than three months after arriving in the country, you can bring in your wedding gifts free of duty and taxes. However, you must have owned and possessed the gifts while in Brazil and before you arrived in Canada. In this instance, the requirement to have used the goods does not apply. These same conditions apply to household goods you bring in as part of a bride’s trousseau from Brazil.

Ownership, possession and use requirements

To import goods duty- and tax-free, Settlers must have owned, possessed and used the goods prior to their arrival in Canada and Former Residents must have owned, possessed and used the goods for at least six months before returning to resume residency.

It is important that you meet these three requirements. For example, if you owned and possessed the goods without using them, the goods will be subjected to duty and taxes. Please note that leased goods are subject to duty and taxes because the Canada Border Services Agency does not consider that you own them. If you have bills of sale and registration documents, they can help you prove that you meet these requirements.

 

Exceptions to ownership, possession and use requirements

If you are a former resident then the six-month stipulation will be waived if you have been absent from Canada for five years or more. Therefore, you only need to have owned, possessed and used your personal and household effects/items for a period of time before you return to Canada.

 

Replacement goods

Replacement goods imported by Former Residents are also exempt from the six-month requirement. However, they must have owned, possessed and used the goods abroad before returning to Canada to resume residency. To qualify for the exemption, the goods must be replacements for goods that would have met the six-month ownership, possession and use requirements, except for the fact that they were lost or destroyed as a result of a fire, a theft, an accident or due to other unforeseen circumstances.

In addition, replacement goods must be of a similar class and about the same value as the goods they are replacing. You will need to show proof in order to support your claim. If you intend to claim replacement goods and to ensure that the goods qualify, you should call the agency responsible for requirements.

 

Declaring your goods

When you arrive, even if you have no goods with you at the time, you must give your list of goods to the border services officer at your first point of arrival in Canada. Based on the list of goods you submit, the officer will complete a Form B4 , Personal Effects Accounting Document, assign a file number to it and give you a copy of the completed form as a receipt. You will need to present your copy of this form to claim free importation of your unaccompanied goods when they arrive. Goods to follow may be subject to import restrictions before you can import them.

To facilitate the clearance process, you can complete Form B4, in advance before your arrival at the first port of entry in Canada.

 

Disposing of goods you imported duty- and tax-free

If you import goods duty- and tax-free into Canada and if you sell or give the goods away within the first year of importing them into Canada, you will have to pay any applicable duty and taxes immediately. If you divert the goods for commercial use, the same rule applies.

 

Emergency numbers and contact information for Canadians in Brazil

Embassy of Canada in Brasilia Setor de Embaixadas Sul, Avenida das Nações, Quadra 803, Lote 16 70410-900 Brasília D.F., Brazil Postal Address: P.O. Box 216, Brasilia, D.F., 70359-970, Brazil Telephone: 55 (61) 3424-5400 Fax: 55 (61) 3424-5490 E-mail: [email protected] Website: brazil.gc.ca	View Larger Map
Consulate of Canada in Belo Horizonte Edifício Lumiere: Hospital de Olhos Dr. Ricardo Guimarães Rua da Paisagem 220, 3rd Floor, Vila da Serra Belo Horizonte Brazil Postal Address: P.O. Box 420 Belo Horizonte Cep: 30161-970, Brazil Telephone: 55 (31) 3047-1225 Fax: 55 (31) 3289-2150 E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected] Website: brazil.gc.ca	View Larger Map
Consulate of Canada in Rio de Janeiro Avenida Atlântica 1130, 5th Floor Copacabana 22021-000 Rio de Janeiro Brazil Telephone: 55 (21) 2543-3004 Fax: 55 (21) 2275-2195 E-mail: [email protected] Website: brazil.gc.ca	View Larger Map
Consulate of Canada in Sao Paulo Centro Empresarial Nações Unidas – Torre Norte Avenida das Nações Unidas, 12901, 16th Floor 04578-000 São Paulo Brazil Telephone: 55 (11) 5509-4321 Fax: 55 (11) 5509-4260 E-mail: [email protected] Website: brazil.gc.ca	View Larger Map
Honorary Consul of Canada in Porto Alegre Avenida Carlos Gomes 222 – 8o. andar, room 808 90480-000, Porto Alegre Brazil Telephone: 55 (51) 3378-5210 Fax: 55 (51) 3378-1099 E-mail: [email protected]	View Larger Map

Hours of Operation

The hours of operation for the Embassy and consulates are normally:

• Monday – Thursday: 8:30 – 13:00, 14:00 – 17:30 and
• Friday: 8:30 – 14:00, local time

Please note: an appointment should be made with the honorary consul before visiting.

After hours emergency contact information (for Canadian citizens only)

Collect call, with the assistance of an operator: Call 0800-703-2111 and then call one of the following numbers: 1-613-996-8885 / 1-613-944-1310 (TTY).

The Emergency Operations Centre of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. An experienced officer is always available to respond to emergency calls from anywhere in the world.

To reach Emergency Operations Centre, call the numbers above and follow the recorded instructions. It is also possible to reach the Center by e-mail: [email protected].

You can contact the Emergency Operations Centre from Brazil toll free at 0-800-891-6614

 

Emergency services

Consular Sections at Canada’s diplomatic missions offer 24-hour emergency service to Canadians in distress. The emergency services offered by the embassy falls under the following categories:

• Arrest or Detention
• Child Abductions
• Evacuations
• Natural Disasters and Civil Emergencies
• Financial Assistance
• Lost or Stolen Belongings
• Medical Matters
• Missing Persons
• Passport
• Accidents

Emergency Contacts in Brazil

Listed below are the emergency phone numbers in Brazil that Canadians may find helpful.

Rio de Janeiro

Police
Tel.190

Fire and Ambulance
Tel. 193

Tourist police
24-hr. contact line
tel. 021/3399-7170

Sao Paulo

Police
Tel. 190
Fire and Ambulance:
Tel. 193.

Tourist Police

Av. Sao Luis 92, Centro
Tel. 011/3214-0209,
Rua Sao Bento 380, Centro
Tel. 011/3107-5642).

Brasilia

Police
Tel. 190
Fire and Ambulance
Tel. 193

Hospitals

Santa Lucia
Tel. 061/445-0000
ER
Tel. 061/345-9260

Free Complete Spousal Sponsorship Course

Religion in Brazil

Religion in Brazil has a higher observance level compared to other Latin American countries, and is more diverse. Brazil possesses a richly spiritual society formed from the meeting of the Roman Catholic Church with the religious traditions of African slaves and indigenous peoples. This convergence of faiths during the Portuguese colonization of Brazil led to the development of a diverse array of syncretistic practices within the overarching umbrella of Brazilian Roman Catholicism, which was marked by traditional Portuguese festivities. Religious pluralism increased during the 20th century, largely due to a Protestant community that has grown to include over 15% of the population.

In 1891, when the first Brazilian Republican Constitution was promulgated, Brazil ceased to have an official religion and has remained secular ever since, though the Catholic Church remained politically influential into the 1970s. The Constitution of the people of Brazil provides freedom of religion and strongly prohibits the establishment of any religion by banning government support or hindrance of religion at all levels.  According to the 2010 census 64.6% of the population declared themselves as Roman Catholic, 22.2% as Protestant, 8% as non-religious, and 5.2% as followers of other religions mostly Spiritists or Kardecists who follow the doctrines of Allan Kardec Umbandists, Candomblers, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, and minorities of Muslims, Buddhists, Jews, and other groups.

Brazilian religions are very broad and inclined to syncretism. In recent years, there has been a great increase of Neo-Pentecostal churches and a thriving of Afro-Brazilian religions, which have decreased the number of members of the Roman Catholic Church. It is also important to notice how the number of Umbandists and Candomblers could be significantly higher than the official census figure, since many of them continue to this day to disguise their religion under “Roman Catholic” syncretism. About ninety percent of Brazilians declared some sort of religious affiliation in the most recent census.

Roman Catholicism

Brazil has the largest number of Catholics in the world. Roman Catholicism has been the main religion observed in Brazil since the beginning of the 16th century. It was introduced among the Native Brazilians by the missionaries and also observed by all the Portuguese first settlers.

The Catholicism practiced in Brazil is full of popular festivities derived from the centuries-old Portuguese traditions, but also heavily influenced by African and Native Brazilian usage. Popular traditions include pilgrimages to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida, the patron saint of Brazil, and religious festivals like the “Círio de Nazaré” in Belém and the “Festa do Divino” in many cities of Central Brazil. Areas that received many European immigrants in the last century, especially Italian and German, have Catholic traditions closer to that practiced in Europe.

The largest proportion of Catholics is concentrated in the Northeast 79.9% and South 77.4% regions. The smallest proportion of Catholics is found in the Center-West region 69.1%. The State of Piauí has the largest proportion of Catholics 90.03% and the State of Rio de Janeiro has the smallest one 56.19%. Among the state capitals, Teresina has the largest proportion of Catholics in the country 86.09%, followed by Aracaju, Fortaleza, Florianópolis and João Pessoa.

Protestantism

Christianity is the second largest Brazil religion. Those who are Christians but not Catholics are considered to be Protestants. There are many branches of Christianity in Brazil. Among them the most popular are the Neo- Pentecostalists, Old Pentecost lists and Traditional Pentecost lists which comprises of Baptists, Presbyterians and Methodists. Other Protestant beliefs and offshoots that make up smaller portions of “Christians” are Kardecist, Lutherans. The largest population of Protestants is found in North, Central-West and Southeast Brazil.

The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the third largest Brazil religion. They boast of a membership of over one million one hundred thousand with almost two thousand congregations and 309 family history centers. Five temples are stretched across Brazil.

Jehovah’s Witnesses is the fourth largest religion in Brazil. They have over 700,000 members.

Eastern Orthodox makes up the fifth largest religion in the country with over 500,000 members that came over with their Armenian, Greek, Lebanese, Russian, Syrian and Ukrainian immigrants in the past one hundred years.

Interestingly there are many other traditional beliefs that make up Brazil’s religion practices. Brazil makes the first country with some unique religions, for example it is the first Yoruba country. Yoruba is an African religion that combines several traditions from both Brazil and Africa creating an assortment of Afro-Brazilian religions. There are others such as Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, Rastafarian, and Shinto that came from immigrants from East Asia, Eastern Europe and the Middle East. This has given rise to the faster growth and development of other sects and cults in the country.

Some Christian Churches in Brazil

The Metropolitan Cathedral of Brasilia

Catedral Metropol by Bgabel at Wikivoyage / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

Brasilia is a modern city, and its architecture reflects this. The City Cathedral is no exception. It is a Roman Catholic Cathedral, serving as the seat of the Archdiocese of the city, and is situated at the Esplanada dos Ministérios. It was, interestingly, projected by an atheist. Its consecration as a cathedral took some time for this reason, and it was finally dedicated in May 1970, despite its cornerstone having been laid in September 1958.

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The Dom Bosco Sanctuary – Brasilia

Dom Bosco by Claudio Ruiz / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0

Dom Bosco is revered as being one of Christianity’s most notable historical figures. He was an Italian saint who founded the Order of Salesians. This sanctuary is the church that was constructed to honour him and his religious contributions. It is situated in the centre of the town. Inside, its walls are entirely made from blue and purple vitral or stained glass, which gives it an ethereal and mysterious ambience.

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Catedral Basilica de São Salvador – Salvador, Bahia

Salvador Jesuit Church by Fernando Dall’Acqua / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0

It’s the largest and most impressive church in the praça, built in the early 1600s, not long after the founding of Salvador. Much of the original construction was lost to fire in the early 1900s, but the church was rebuilt and stands as an example of baroque architecture and sacred art in South America. The church was originally built as a Jesuit school (until the Jesuits were ousted in the mid-1600s) and above the entrance doors are carvings of three Jesuit saints. Inside, you can look down to see the marble floors, or up to see the beautifully painted and carved ceiling. Side altars are loaded with gold-covered wooden sculpture and hand-painted ornamentation, and represent a mixture of styles, from Baroque to Neo-Classic.

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Igreja de Santo Antônio – Tiradentes

Organ at Igreja de Santo Antonio by Halleypo / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

In Tiradentes there is Igreja de Santo Antônio, also called Igreja Matriz, or Mother Church. It is considered one of the richest churches in Brazil due to the amount of gold leaf interior details. Photos of the interior are forbidden, even without a flash.

The church was built on the site of a chapel built by bandeirantes, explorers and slave raiders who pushed into unmapped territory and expanded the borders of Brazil.  The sundial, made of soapstone, in front of the church dates back to 1785.

Catedral São Pedro de Alcântara – Petropolis

The Cathedral is perhaps the main historic site in Petropolis by Jorge Brazil / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0

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Romantic, Scenic and Historic Places in Brazil

Brazil surely lays claim to being one of the most exotic and romantic countries in the world. A wonderful place in so many ways, it dances to its own unique rhythm and the result is a sensuous melting pot of cultures, peoples and landscapes like no other place on earth. It is also huge, with a population of 190 million people and 8.5 million km2.  Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world, both in area and population.

 

Hotels and Resorts

Etnia Pousada Boutique Hotel – Bahia

Etnia Pousada Boutique Hotel is an intimate, rustic and sophisticated boutique hotel created by Italian fashion icons Andre Zanonato and Corrado Tini. It is located in the heart of Trancoso, a hip village near some fabulous beaches. Each room presents a different world with specific fabrics, furnishings and designs. Each has a sitting area with room for an extra bed. The tribal room, for example has African-inspired art, animal prints and dark wood accents.

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Ponta dos Ganchos Resort – Governador Celso Ramos

Located on a private peninsula near Florianopolis on Brazil’s south coast, Ponta dos Ganchos is one of the country’s most exclusive beach resorts. A ridge of Atlantic rainforest runs down to the water, where three tiny islands horseshoe around a sandy bay. A thatched restaurant idles ten feet from the beach, but paddle across to one of the islands and you find a bar that’s illuminated by torches at night.

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Hotel Unique – Sao Paulo

Hotel Unique by Flavia C / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

Located in the residential area of Jardins, and just steps from Ibirapuera Park, Sao Paulo’s largest, the the hotel looks like a boat in dry-dock. Its modern architecture design makes it truly unique among the city’s hotels.

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Radisson Hotel – Maceio

Maceio by Galeria do Bem / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0

The Radisson Maceio is located between Mundau Lake and the Atlantic Ocean. The hotel is 14 miles from the Zumbi dos Palmares International Airport, a mile from downtown Maceio and 37 miles from Sao Miguel dos Milagres. With coconut trees, long sandy beaches and a crystal clear sea that changes from emerald green to blue, Maceio is a paradise.The hotel features a lobby bar, outdoor swimming pool and a special one for children, on-site spa, fitness center, kids club, games room, sauna, meeting rooms, and banquet halls.

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Casa Turquesa – Paraty

Paraty [Public Domain]

This is a romantic boutique hotel in Paraty, a colonial town that lies on Brazil’s verdant Costa Verde. This spot has gathered in popularity in recent years, particularly with honeymooners and romancing couples wanting a break from the norm; it is picture-perfect, with beautifully preserved towns and villages set against a back-drop of lush forests and mountains, leading down to the sea.

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Fasano Hotel e Restaurante Rio – Arpoador, Rio de Janeiro

Aproador by Anna Carol / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0

The Fasono is situated at the heart of Ipanema Beach. The hotel features the lobby lounge, Londra, with live music and the Fasano Al Mare, Rogerio Fasano’s restaurant, dedicated to traditional Italian seafood.

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The Iguazu Grand Resort Spa and Casino – Foz do Iquacu

Iguacu by Fabien1309 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0 DE

The hotel is located just ten minutes away from the Iguazu Falls National Park, which straddles the borders of Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil. The hotel sits on fifteen acres of semitropical vegetation with three multilevel outdoor swimming pools and beautifully man-made cascades. The Iguazu Grand Resort Spa & Casino, a member of Leading Hotels of the World and Virtuoso, is regarded as the most luxurious hotel at Iguazu Falls and is the only full-service resort and casino on either side of the falls.

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Copacabana Palace – Rio de Janeiro

Copacabana Palace by Rtietz / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.5

Opened in 1923, this impressive stucco-fashioned building is Rio’s most traditional and luxurious hotel. This landmark was designed by the French architect Joseph Gire who was inspired by two hotels, the Negresco in Nice and the Carlton in Cannes.

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Pousada Picinguaba – Paraty

Gold Trail, Paraty [Public Domain]

This is a luxury boutique hotel, set amidst the charms of nature. A stunning hideaway and with views over the peaceful bay at the heart of Serra do Mar national park, Pousada Picinguaba is the perfect retreat and a haven of seclusion.

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Txai Itacare Hotel – Itacare

Sunset at Itacare by C. Spencer Beggs / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

This is a five-star luxury hotel with a rainforest resort feel on untouched Atlantic beaches. Ideally located just meters from the beach and close to the centre of Itacare town, this hotel are a natural paradise.

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Beaches

Picinguaba

Picinguaba by Ricardosdag / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

Picinguaba is one of five beaches within the Picinguaba Nucleus, a conservation unit which is part of Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar, or Sea Range State Park.

One of the most beautiful beaches in Ubatuba, Picinguaba is home to a fisherman’s village as well as a magnet for international tourists. Its location provides easy access to Ubatuba and Paraty.

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Praia da Fortaleza

Fortazela at night by David Andrade / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

Fortaleza is the perfect beach for couples looking for quiet and a bit of ecotourism and adventure without sacrificing comfort. Beautiful in itself, Fortaleza is also the starting point of an hour-long trail leading to Praia do Cedro, one of the most beautiful deserted beaches in Brazil.

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Praia do Cedro

Praia do Cedro by Harry Wood / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0

Praia do Cedro is considered to be one of the most beautiful deserted beaches in Brazil. It is surrounded by protected rainforest and with a big maritime life, ideal for diving or snorkeling. You get there by walking about one hour from the beach Praia da Fortaleza.

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Alter do Chão (PA)

Boats at Alter do Chao by idobi / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

This meeting of the Amazon and the Caribbean is located 32 kilometers from Santarém City, a huge town in the state of Para in Brazil.

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Praia do Lázaro

Praia do Lazaro by Carla404 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

Lázaro beach is at the center of a great trio – Domingas Dias, Lázaro and Sununga. Saco da Ribeira, a bay with marinas, is also nearby.

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Praia da Almada

Praia da Almada by _titi / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0

Praia Brava da Almada beach was voted one of the ten most beautiful deserted beaches in Brazil by readers of Brazilian travel website Viaje Aqui. It is considered to be one of the most colorful and romantic beaches in Brazil

 

Itamambuca Beach

Itamambuca by Tatiana Sapateiro / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0

Itamambuca beach is one of the beaches on Ubatuba’s North Shore, is a top Brazil surfing destination. Even if you don’t know how to surf, the inebriating beauty of Itamambuca is a perfect setting for a honeymoon or romantic getaway.

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Historic Places

Christ the Redeemer on Corcovado – Rio

Christ on Corcovado by Artyominc / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

Corcovado is a mountain in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. Here, the statue of Christ is one of the main tourist attractions that continue to attract millions of local as well as international tourists every year. The statue shows Jesus overlooking the city of Rio de Janeiro with his arms outstretched. This is also one of the tallest statues in the world.

 

Corcovado statue by Klaus with K / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

Ouro Preto

Church of the Lay Order of Our Lady of the Black Rosary in Ouro Preto by Pedro Paulo Palazzo / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

This is a city that is located in the Minas Gerais in Brazil. It is known for beautiful Baroque architecture. Ouro Preto was the main destination of the gold rush in the olden days. The beautiful colonial architecture is what has led it to be declared as the World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

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Ouro Preto by Bgabel at Wikivoyage / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

Congonhas

[Public Domain]

Congonhas is a beautiful Brazilian city that is the capital of Minas Gerais. The main attraction of this city is the Basilica and outstanding sculptures. UNESCO declared it as a World Heritage Site in 1985.

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[Public Domain]

 

Sponsoring Your Brazlian Spouse

A Canadian citizen can sponsor a spouse and dependent children to come and live with him in Canada from Brazil. Therefore Canadians are free to get a marriage visa to marry their Brazilian spouse and their depending children if any and sponsor their application for marriage immigration to Canada provided that they meet all the requirements.   If you were married in Brazil, the marriage must be valid under the laws of Brazil and under Canadian law.  A marriage performed in a Brazilian embassy or consulate in Brazil must comply with the laws of Brazil.

Free Complete Spousal Sponsorship Course

 

Sponsorship Review

Immigroup will review your completed spousal sponsorship application.. Immigroup will make sure you have not made any mistakes on your application or in gathering the documentation of your relationship. We will assess your sponsorship letter and give you peace of mind that you are submitting an application with a very good chance of success. Don’t lose sleep at night worrying about whether you’ve done enough.