Foreign Currency Accounts in Brazil: 2026 Guide

Brazil is taking another practical step toward modernising its foreign-exchange framework. Under BCB Resolution No. 575, a broader group of companies and non-resident entities will be eligible to maintain foreign-currency deposit accounts in Brazil from 1 October 2026.

For international groups, the change is relevant because it may reduce unnecessary currency conversions, improve cash-flow visibility and make some cross-border funding and investment operations more efficient. It does not, however, turn Brazil into a fully dollarised payments environment. Eligibility, permitted transactions, documentation, bank onboarding and compliance controls will still matter.

Foreign executives should therefore treat the new rule as a treasury-planning opportunity—not as a shortcut around Brazil’s exchange, tax, accounting or anti-money-laundering requirements.

What the Central Bank announced

The Central Bank of Brazil announced BCB Resolution No. 575 on 18 June 2026. According to the Central Bank, the measure expands access to foreign-currency deposit accounts while preserving the safeguards of Brazil’s regulated foreign-exchange market.

The new categories of eligible account holders include:

Brazilian legal entities that export goods;
Brazilian private-law entities with debt contracted abroad;
companies established in Brazil with direct non-resident equity participation; and
non-resident legal entities holding receivables arising from external credit transactions or direct investments in Brazilian companies.

The rule is scheduled to take effect on 1 October 2026. Financial institutions authorised to operate in the foreign-exchange market will still determine their commercial offering, onboarding procedures and risk appetite. In other words, regulatory eligibility does not guarantee that every bank will offer the same account, at the same time, or under the same conditions.

The Central Bank also made clear that existing restrictions on using foreign currency for domestic payments remain in place. The reform is designed to improve the operation of authorised international transactions, not to replace the Brazilian real in ordinary local commerce.

Why this matters for foreign-owned companies

Many Brazilian subsidiaries receive capital, borrow from overseas group companies, pay cross-border service charges or purchase imported goods. In a conventional flow, funds may be converted into reais when received and converted again when a foreign-currency obligation becomes due. Each conversion can create spreads, fees, timing exposure and additional reconciliation work.

A foreign currency account in Brazil may allow an eligible company to retain qualifying funds in the relevant currency and align them more closely with future obligations. The potential benefits include:

Fewer unnecessary conversions

Where the permitted transaction flow allows it, matching foreign-currency receipts and payments can reduce the number of conversions. The actual saving depends on the bank’s pricing, account fees, transaction profile and the currencies involved.

Better treasury visibility

Maintaining a regulated onshore foreign-currency balance may give regional and global treasury teams a clearer view of liquidity allocated to Brazil. This can help with cash forecasting, funding schedules and internal controls.

Improved alignment of assets and liabilities

A Brazilian company with external debt may be able to hold funds in the same currency as the liability. This does not eliminate foreign-exchange risk, but it can support a more deliberate hedging and liquidity strategy.

More efficient investment and credit flows

Foreign investors and lenders may find certain settlement structures more operationally efficient. The correct treatment will depend on the legal nature of each flow, its registration and reporting requirements, and the documents supporting the transaction.

Companies evaluating these structures should connect treasury planning with their broader Market Entry in Brazil model. Banking should not be designed in isolation from the entity, tax, accounting and operating structure.

What the new rule does not change

The announcement is significant, but its limits are equally important.

First, Brazil continues to restrict the general use of foreign currency for domestic payments. A foreign-currency account is not permission to invoice or settle every local transaction in dollars or euros.

Second, banks must continue to apply know-your-customer, beneficial-ownership, source-of-funds and anti-money-laundering controls. The Central Bank specifically noted that cash withdrawals and cash deposits are prohibited for the newly eligible accounts and that the origin of funds must be demonstrated.

Third, tax and accounting consequences do not disappear. Exchange gains and losses, funding costs, withholding taxes, deductibility, accounting classification and regulatory reporting must still be assessed. Intercompany loans, service fees, royalties and other related-party flows may also require a review under Brazil’s Transfer Pricing rules.

Finally, the account itself does not replace the documentation required for foreign direct investment or external credit operations. The transaction’s substance, contracts, corporate approvals and regulatory records remain central.

A practical readiness plan before 1 October

International groups do not need to wait until the effective date to begin. A focused readiness review can determine whether the new structure is useful and what must be prepared.

1. Map cross-border cash flows

List capital contributions, intercompany loans, export proceeds, imports, service payments, royalties, dividends and other international flows. Record the currency, frequency, value, counterparty and expected settlement date.

2. Confirm eligibility by entity and transaction

Determine which Brazilian or non-resident entity fits an eligible category. Do not assume that the group’s foreign ownership alone resolves every question; validate the legal holder and the intended use of the account.

3. Quantify the business case

Compare current conversion spreads, bank fees, hedging costs and administrative effort with the estimated cost of the new account. The goal is to identify measurable value, not merely to adopt a new banking product.

4. Speak with authorised financial institutions

Ask when the product will become available, which currencies will be supported, what transactions will be permitted, how pricing will work and which documents are required. Compare at least two institutions where practical.

5. Prepare the compliance file

Organise the ownership chart, corporate documents, powers of attorney, board or shareholder approvals, financial statements, contracts, investment or loan records, source-of-funds evidence and expected transaction profile.

6. Align accounting and controls

Define the chart-of-accounts treatment, exchange-rate sources, reconciliation procedures, approval limits and month-end responsibilities. The process should integrate with the company’s Accounting and BPO in Brazil calendar.

7. Review intercompany documentation

If the account will support related-party loans, services or other cross-border transactions, confirm that contracts, pricing, invoices and transfer-pricing documentation are consistent with the actual flow.

8. Test the operating model

Before moving material balances, simulate the complete process: receipt, documentation, approval, bank settlement, accounting entry, regulatory reporting and management reporting. Assign an owner to each control.

Questions executives should ask their Brazil team

Which legal entity would hold the account, and why is it eligible?
Which receipts may remain in foreign currency?
Which payments may legally be made from the account?
What documents will the bank require before each type of transaction?
How will exchange gains and losses be calculated and reported?
Are any flows subject to withholding tax or transfer-pricing requirements?
Who will reconcile the account and approve transactions?
Does the projected saving justify the additional governance?

These questions should be answered jointly by treasury, finance, tax, accounting and legal stakeholders. Where a formal interpretation is required, appropriately qualified legal or tax counsel should confirm the position.

Turning regulatory change into operating advantage

BCB Resolution No. 575 can give eligible foreign-owned businesses a more flexible tool for managing international cash flows in Brazil. The greatest value will come from disciplined implementation: selecting the right entity, documenting the permitted use, negotiating with banks, integrating accounting controls and measuring the economics of the new structure.

GESCON helps international companies evaluate banking, funding, accounting, tax and operational requirements as part of a coordinated Brazil strategy. If your organisation is considering a foreign-currency account or reviewing its cross-border treasury model, contact GESCON to build a practical readiness plan before the rule takes effect.