[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":374},["ShallowReactive",2],{"page-en-\u002Fguides\u002Fcar\u002Fcnh":3,"guides-en":292},{"id":4,"title":5,"body":6,"description":284,"extension":285,"meta":286,"navigation":287,"order":276,"path":288,"seo":289,"stem":290,"__hash__":291},"content_en\u002Fen\u002Fguides\u002Fcar\u002Fcnh.md","Exchanging a licence for a Brazilian CNH",{"type":7,"value":8,"toc":274},"minimark",[9,24,30,35,58,62,132,136,139,163,167,175,179,198,202,205,221,224],[10,11,12,13,18,19,23],"p",{},"With a foreign licence you may drive in Brazil for 180 days after entry (",[14,15,17],"a",{"href":16},"\u002Fen\u002Fguides\u002Fcar\u002Fbuy-car","Buying a car","). After that you need a Brazilian ",[20,21,22],"strong",{},"CNH"," (Carteira Nacional de Habilitação). Below is how the exchange went for Russians in Rio de Janeiro in 2023 and 2025 and what it cost. In other states the procedure and prices differ: check your state's DETRAN.",[10,25,26],{},[27,28,29],"em",{},"Checked on 8 October 2026. Prices in the posts are as of the stated date.",[31,32,34],"h2",{"id":33},"in-short","In short",[36,37,38,42,45,55],"ul",{},[39,40,41],"li",{},"You need: the RNM, a valid foreign licence, its sworn translation and proof of address.",[39,43,44],{},"Stages: a protocol at DETRAN, payment of the fee, a medical check and psychological tests at an accredited clinic, and collecting the card.",[39,46,47,48,54],{},"Russians in Rio did not have a practical driving test: it is required if the country of issue is not covered by international agreements or the principle of reciprocity (",[14,49,53],{"href":50,"rel":51},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.detran.sc.gov.br\u002Fconvalidacao-de-habilitacao-estrangeira-cnh",[52],"nofollow","DETRAN-SC",").",[39,56,57],{},"In 2023 the licence was issued five working days after the clinic check, in 2025 about a month later.",[31,59,61],{"id":60},"steps-in-rio","Steps in Rio",[63,64,65,75,92,101,107,119],"ol",{},[39,66,67,70,71,54],{},[20,68,69],{},"Translation."," First a sworn translation of the Russian licence (",[14,72,74],{"href":73},"\u002Fen\u002Fguides\u002Fdocuments\u002Ftranslations","Translations and apostille",[39,76,77,80,81,86,87,54],{},[20,78,79],{},"A protocol at DETRAN."," In 2023 it was possible to book \"opening of the process\" only in person: the phone did not answer and e-mail went unanswered; they booked almost a month ahead (",[14,82,85],{"href":83,"rel":84},"https:\u002F\u002Ft.me\u002Fbrazil_lifehacks\u002F146",[52],"post, 14.04.2023","). At the office you get a protocol and a boleto to pay (about R$ 202 in 2025) and a list of documents (",[14,88,91],{"href":89,"rel":90},"https:\u002F\u002Ft.me\u002Frusso_no_brasil\u002F320",[52],"post, 03.08.2025",[39,93,94,97,98,54],{},[20,95,96],{},"Documents."," The RNM, a valid licence and its translation, proof of address (an electricity, gas or internet bill, or a declaração de residência), and the payment receipt. The licence must be valid (",[14,99,85],{"href":83,"rel":100},[52],[39,102,103,106],{},[20,104,105],{},"Filing."," You are photographed, fingerprinted and given the details of the clinic where the check will take place; you book it yourself, according to your area of residence.",[39,108,109,112,113,118],{},[20,110,111],{},"The clinic."," Another fee: R$ 230 in 2023 and about R$ 288 in 2025 (Pix was accepted). Then an eye test and psychological tests: logic (41 tasks), attention (crossing out identical objects), memory (you are shown a picture and asked to list what was on it) and coordination (drawing strokes on a \"start\u002Fstop\" command). It all takes 2–4 hours (",[14,114,117],{"href":115,"rel":116},"https:\u002F\u002Ft.me\u002Frusso_no_brasil\u002F321",[52],"post, 10.08.2025","). If you wear glasses, the licence will carry a note about driving in glasses or lenses.",[39,120,121,124,125,128,129,54],{},[20,122,123],{},"The card."," In 2023 the results went to DETRAN automatically and the licence was collected five working days later; in 2025 it took about a month (",[14,126,85],{"href":83,"rel":127},[52],", ",[14,130,91],{"href":89,"rel":131},[52],[31,133,135],{"id":134},"adding-category-a-motorcycle","Adding category A (motorcycle)",[10,137,138],{},"In 2024 the @brazil_lifehacks author added category A to his existing B:",[36,140,141,144,147,150],{},[39,142,143],{},"sign a contract with a driving school; the school sets the day of the DETRAN visit, where you get a Renach document and the phone number of a clinic for the eye test;",[39,145,146],{},"15 lessons at a training ground, one of them in the dark; it all came to about R$ 981 plus a R$ 191 fee for opening the category; after a long break the author bought another eight hours (about R$ 900);",[39,148,149],{},"the exam at the DETRAN ground: arrive at 6:30 for an 8:00 slot and bring the RNM or CNH and the Renach;",[39,151,152,153,128,158,54],{},"the card is ready in about 10 days, the digital version sooner; the whole process stretched over two months (",[14,154,157],{"href":155,"rel":156},"https:\u002F\u002Ft.me\u002Fbrazil_lifehacks\u002F388",[52],"post, 27.03.2024",[14,159,162],{"href":160,"rel":161},"https:\u002F\u002Ft.me\u002Fbrazil_lifehacks\u002F418",[52],"post, 17.06.2024",[31,164,166],{"id":165},"an-international-licence-from-brazil","An international licence from Brazil",[10,168,169,170,54],{},"The Brazilian CNH is not valid in some countries. For trips there the author obtained a Brazilian international driving permit in August 2025 (",[14,171,174],{"href":172,"rel":173},"https:\u002F\u002Ft.me\u002Fbrazil_lifehacks\u002F646",[52],"post, 21.08.2025",[31,176,178],{"id":177},"renting-a-car","Renting a car",[10,180,181,182,128,187,192,193,197],{},"For rental from the big companies (Localiza, Movida, Unidas) a valid licence, a passport and a credit card are enough; in 2023 the author needed only a Brazilian licence and a credit card (",[14,183,186],{"href":184,"rel":185},"https:\u002F\u002Ft.me\u002Fbrazil_lifehacks\u002F213",[52],"post, 10.07.2023",[14,188,191],{"href":189,"rel":190},"https:\u002F\u002Ft.me\u002Frusso_no_brasil\u002F75",[52],"post, 09.01.2025","). Details on renting are on the ",[14,194,196],{"href":195},"\u002Fen\u002Fguides\u002Fcar\u002Fowning","Running a car"," page.",[31,199,201],{"id":200},"sources","Sources",[10,203,204],{},"Official:",[36,206,207,214],{},[39,208,209,213],{},[14,210,212],{"href":50,"rel":211},[52],"Convalidação de habilitação estrangeira — DETRAN-SC",": the stages and the cases when a driving test is needed",[39,215,216],{},[14,217,220],{"href":218,"rel":219},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gov.br\u002Ftransportes\u002Fpt-br\u002Fassuntos\u002Ftransito\u002Fconteudo-Senatran\u002Fcarteira-internacional",[52],"International licence \u002F foreign licences — Ministry of Transport",[10,222,223],{},"Personal experience (channels @brazil_lifehacks and @russo_no_brasil, in Russian):",[36,225,226,232,238,244,250,256,262,268],{},[39,227,228],{},[14,229,231],{"href":83,"rel":230},[52],"A CNH in Rio, 14.04.2023",[39,233,234],{},[14,235,237],{"href":155,"rel":236},[52],"Category A: adding it, 27.03.2024",[39,239,240],{},[14,241,243],{"href":160,"rel":242},[52],"A motorcycle licence, 17.06.2024",[39,245,246],{},[14,247,249],{"href":172,"rel":248},[52],"An international licence, 21.08.2025",[39,251,252],{},[14,253,255],{"href":184,"rel":254},[52],"Renting at Localiza, 10.07.2023",[39,257,258],{},[14,259,261],{"href":89,"rel":260},[52],"A Brazilian licence in Rio, 03.08.2025",[39,263,264],{},[14,265,267],{"href":115,"rel":266},[52],"Taking the tests for a Brazilian licence, 10.08.2025",[39,269,270],{},[14,271,273],{"href":189,"rel":272},[52],"Renting a car, 09.01.2025",{"title":275,"searchDepth":276,"depth":276,"links":277},"",2,[278,279,280,281,282,283],{"id":33,"depth":276,"text":34},{"id":60,"depth":276,"text":61},{"id":134,"depth":276,"text":135},{"id":165,"depth":276,"text":166},{"id":177,"depth":276,"text":178},{"id":200,"depth":276,"text":201},"How to exchange a foreign driving licence for a Brazilian CNH in Rio de Janeiro: documents, translation, medical and psychological checks, prices and timing; category A.","md",{},true,"\u002Fen\u002Fguides\u002Fcar\u002Fcnh",{"title":5,"description":284},"en\u002Fguides\u002Fcar\u002Fcnh","8naX-jPJ8PU0RloD3HRRO5Q5js2UEP0F3Wqu7JabUdM",[293,296,297,301,306,311,315,319,323,326,330,334,338,342,346,350,354,358,362,366,370],{"path":16,"title":17,"description":294,"order":295},"How a foreigner buys a used car in Pernambuco: from a dealer or a private seller, checks, DETRAN transfer, IPVA, insurance and driving licence.",1,{"path":288,"title":5,"description":284,"order":276},{"path":195,"title":298,"description":299,"order":300},"Running a car: IPVA, fines, tolls","What a year of owning a car in Rio costs, IPVA rates, how to pay a fine, toll tags, fuel, renting and limits on bringing a car in.",3,{"path":302,"title":303,"description":304,"order":305},"\u002Fen\u002Fguides\u002Fdocuments\u002Fcin-rg","CIN (RG) and a child's documents","The Brazilian ID card CIN: how to get it for a child, how long it is valid, trips around South America and leaving the country with a child.",5,{"path":307,"title":308,"description":309,"order":310},"\u002Fen\u002Fguides\u002Fdocuments\u002Fcitizenship","Citizenship — naturalisation","How a foreigner becomes a Brazilian citizen: residence period, proof of Portuguese, documents, real timelines and what to do after the portaria.",4,{"path":312,"title":313,"description":314,"order":295},"\u002Fen\u002Fguides\u002Fdocuments\u002Fcpf","CPF — the tax number","How a foreigner gets a CPF: the free route, documents, steps, and the SIM card and bank pitfalls.",{"path":316,"title":317,"description":318,"order":300},"\u002Fen\u002Fguides\u002Fdocuments\u002Fresidence","Residence — grounds and documents","The grounds for a residence permit in Brazil: a child, marriage or stable union, digital nomad, property; the document set and what to check in advance.",{"path":320,"title":321,"description":322,"order":276},"\u002Fen\u002Fguides\u002Fdocuments\u002Frnm","RNM \u002F CRNM — registration with the Federal Police","How to get the CRNM migration card: filing deadlines, fees, booking with the Polícia Federal, documents and real-world timing.",{"path":73,"title":74,"description":324,"order":325},"How to prepare foreign documents for Brazilian offices: apostille, sworn translation, spelling of names and a child's birth certificate.",6,{"path":327,"title":328,"description":329,"order":276},"\u002Fen\u002Fguides\u002Fhealth\u002Fpregnancy-birth","Pregnancy and childbirth","How to register for pregnancy care, where to give birth under SUS or privately, what it costs, how to get the birth certificate, doulas and protection from scammers.",{"path":331,"title":332,"description":333,"order":295},"\u002Fen\u002Fguides\u002Fhealth\u002Fsus-and-private","SUS, the UBS clinic and private insurance","How healthcare works in Brazil for a foreigner: free SUS and the UBS clinic, vaccinations and the certificate, a private health plan and real prices.",{"path":335,"title":336,"description":337,"order":276},"\u002Fen\u002Fguides\u002Fhousing\u002Fbuying","Buying a home","How buying a flat in Brazil works: an off-plan contract, ITBI and cartório fees, the realtor's commission, a consórcio instead of a mortgage and price benchmarks.",{"path":339,"title":340,"description":341,"order":295},"\u002Fen\u002Fguides\u002Fhousing\u002Frenting","Renting a home","How a foreigner rents a flat in Brazil: short-term lets, a long-term contract, deposit, fiador and insurance, payments, furnishing and checks before moving in.",{"path":343,"title":344,"description":345,"order":276},"\u002Fen\u002Fguides\u002Flife\u002Feveryday","Daily life: sockets, transport, shops","Everyday details you learn after arriving: voltage and sockets, public transport and intercity buses in Rio, lift buttons, returning goods and complaints to the city.",{"path":347,"title":348,"description":349,"order":295},"\u002Fen\u002Fguides\u002Flife\u002Fmobile-internet","Mobile service, internet and apps","SIM card and eSIM, home internet, what to do if your CPF is rejected, how to install Brazilian apps and why banking apps dislike a VPN.",{"path":351,"title":352,"description":353,"order":300},"\u002Fen\u002Fguides\u002Flife\u002Fsafety","Safety: phone, cards, scams","How to protect money and your phone in Brazil: a street phone, limits in bank apps, phone insurance, checking the amount on the terminal and scammers' schemes.",{"path":355,"title":356,"description":357,"order":295},"\u002Fen\u002Fguides\u002Fmoney\u002Fbank-account","Bank account, Pix and deposit protection","How a foreigner opens an account in Brazil, what Pix is, the banks and neobanks, the Serasa Score, FGC deposit insurance and what to do when a bank refuses.",{"path":359,"title":360,"description":361,"order":276},"\u002Fen\u002Fguides\u002Fmoney\u002Ftransfers","Sending money to Brazil","How to bring money in from abroad: SWIFT, cash dollars, crypto exchange; real fees, timing and why large sums get frozen.",{"path":363,"title":364,"description":365,"order":295},"\u002Fen\u002Fguides\u002Fprologue\u002Farrival","Entry, extending your visit and the first weeks","The tourist period and extending it at the Polícia Federal, how to fly to Brazil, what an airport transfer costs and where to start after arriving.",{"path":367,"title":368,"description":369,"order":276},"\u002Fen\u002Fguides\u002Fwork\u002Fdomestic-staff","Housekeeper, diarista and nanny","When you need an employment contract with a home helper, what it costs the employer, how a diarista differs from a permanent housekeeper and how to find a nanny.",{"path":371,"title":372,"description":373,"order":295},"\u002Fen\u002Fguides\u002Fwork\u002Fincome-tax","The income tax return (IRPF)","When a foreigner becomes a Brazilian tax resident, who must file an income return, how to prepare the first one and what a late filing costs.",1792334098895]