Brazil (BR)
South America's largest country, combining major work hubs, world-famous culture, beaches, Amazon biodiversity, strong digital payments, and complex but navigable bureaucracy for expats.
Social Security in Brazil
Benefits, contributions, and how the system works for expats.
Brazilian social security combines INSS contributions, FGTS severance fund, unemployment insurance, labour protections and social assistance. Formal CLT employees get the broadest automatic coverage.
CPF / NIT-PIS-PASEP
Cadastro de Pessoas Fisicas / NIT-PIS-PASEP
CPF through Receita Federal/consulate/partner channels; PIS/NIT generated through employment or INSS registration where needed.
- Tax
- Banking
- Employment payroll
- INSS
- FGTS
- Pix
- Healthcare plans
- School and contracts
Benefits & Support Payments
Retirement pension
Aposentadoria
INSS old-age/retirement benefit.
Workers meeting age/contribution requirements.
Meu INSS
Sickness benefit
Auxilio por incapacidade temporaria
Income support for qualifying insured workers unable to work.
Contribution and medical assessment conditions.
Meu INSS/medical assessment
Maternity salary
Salario-maternidade
Income support during maternity/adoption leave.
Qualifying insured workers.
Employer or Meu INSS depending category
Unemployment insurance
Seguro-desemprego
Temporary payments after qualifying involuntary unemployment.
Formal employees meeting work-period and dismissal conditions.
Digital labour channels/SINE
FGTS
Fundo de Garantia do Tempo de Servico
Employer monthly deposits, usually 8% of salary, accessible in specific events.
Formal employees and specific categories.
Caixa/FGTS app
Bolsa Familia / social assistance
Bolsa Familia / BPC
Means-tested support for vulnerable households/persons.
CadUnico and legal criteria; most temporary expats do not qualify.
Municipal social assistance/CadUnico
Contribution Overview
For 2026, employee INSS uses progressive bands from 7.5% to 14% up to R$8,475.55/month. Employers also pay payroll charges and FGTS. Self-employed/MEI rules differ.
International Social Security Agreements
Brazil has social security agreements with countries including Portugal, Spain, Italy, Germany, Japan, Canada/Quebec, Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Korea, Switzerland and Mercosur/Ibero-American frameworks; check current INSS/official lists.
Download CNIS records yearly. Foreigners on local payroll should verify CPF, PIS/NIT, INSS and FGTS are correctly reported.
Social Security
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