Central Bank expands access to foreign currency accounts in Brazil; see what changes

Central Bank of Brazil (BC).
Adriano Machado/ Reuters
The Central Bank (BC) announced this Thursday (18) new rules that expand access to accounts in foreign currency in Brazil. The measure is part of the regulation of the Foreign Exchange Legal Framework and aims to facilitate international operations, reduce costs and make the foreign exchange market more modern.
The new rules come into force on October 1, 2026. Until then, banks and other institutions authorized to operate in the foreign exchange market will have time to adapt their systems.
According to the Central Bank, the change does not alter the prohibition on the use of foreign currencies, such as the dollar and euro, for day-to-day payments within Brazil and also does not interfere with the exchange rate.
Now on g1
Who can have accounts in foreign currency
Today, only some groups can maintain accounts in foreign currency in the country, such as financial institutions, embassies and companies in specific sectors.
With the new rules, the following will also be able to have this type of account:
companies that export products to other countries;
companies that have loans or other debts contracted abroad;
companies with investor participation foreigners;
legal entities from outside Brazil that carry out credit operations or direct investments in the country.
According to the Central Bank, the expansion follows the growth of commercial and financial relations between Brazil and other countries..
What changes in practice
The change will allow more companies linked to international business to maintain resources in foreign currencies, such as the dollar and euro, in accounts opened in Brazil.
Another new feature is that some transfers of resources between these accounts can be made without the need to contract an exchange transaction, which should make the process simpler and cheaper.
According to the BC, the new rules can bring benefits such as:
more ease in managing resources received or sent abroad;
better management of exchange rate fluctuations;
reducing costs in international operations;
increasing the competitiveness of companies that do business with other countries;
attracting financial operations that are currently carried out abroad to Brazil
There will be specific rules
The The Central Bank informed that the use of these accounts will continue to be subject to rules and controls.
In the case of exporting companies, for example, the resources held in these accounts must be related to export activities and other movements permitted by regulation.
In external credit and foreign investment operations, transactions must follow the rules already required by the Central Bank for this type of operation.

Source: G1