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Quick answer
Quick answer: To sell to Brazilians abroad, offer in Portuguese with pricing in foreign currency (dollars, euros, pounds), recognize that the audience lives differently from Brazil, segment ads by country and language simultaneously, and set up a checkout that accepts foreign credit cards without invisible exchange fees.
Where are the Brazilians who buy digital products abroad?
Approximately 5.3 million Brazilians live abroad as of 2025, according to Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Itamaraty). Top destinations are the United States (2.07 million), Portugal (574 thousand), Paraguay (263 thousand), Japan (210 thousand), and United Kingdom (190 thousand).
This audience left Brazil but wants to understand the context of who they are buying from. An American born in São Paulo wants to buy in Portuguese because it is their native language. A Portuguese citizen with Brazilian citizenship wants to hear an accent and references they understand. The opportunity is to speak with them in Portuguese, not English or Spanish, because Portuguese is the bridge no one else offers.
- Largest community: United States, with 2.07 million Brazilians. Highest CPM, stronger purchasing power, but an audience that also consumes in English.
- Europe: Portugal (574 thousand) and United Kingdom (190 thousand) are markets with Portuguese-speaking audiences. Dialogue in Portuguese works better than Spanish or English.
- Asia: Japan has 210 thousand Brazilians, mostly in established communities. A Portuguese offer opens a different market from the mainstream.
Does selling in Portuguese with local currency work?
Yes. Portuguese is your competitive advantage, local currency is transparency. Brazilians abroad want to buy in Portuguese because it is their language, but they pay in foreign currency because that is what they earn.
Charging in dollars, euros, or pounds is correct. Charging in Brazilian real for someone with a foreign card forces an invisible exchange fee that the buyer sees on their statement and distrusts. Copy in Portuguese with pricing in foreign currency makes it all clear: "This is the price in dollars you pay with your US credit card, no hidden fees."
| Scenario | Approval | Conversion | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portuguese + price in reais | Can drop | Low | Forces invisible exchange fee, buyer distrusts |
| Portuguese + price in local currency | High | High | Clear, trustworthy, expected |
| English + price in dollars | High | Medium | Works, but loses Portuguese identity |
| Spanish + price in dollars | High | Low | Confuses because Portuguese is not Spanish |
Test the Portuguese offer first with a few ads to understand cost and conversion. Then expand to other languages if you want, but Portuguese with local currency is the starting point that works.
Users spend most of their time on other sites. This means that users prefer your site to work the same way as all the other sites they already know.
How do I segment ads for Brazilians abroad?
Choose the destination countries (where they live), restrict by Portuguese language in your audience, and run ads in Portuguese with copy about those who left Brazil. Facebook lets you segment by location and language at the same time.
- Location: Start with all of the US, or by state (Florida, California, Texas have more Brazilians). Then expand to Portugal, United Kingdom, Japan.
- Language: Portuguese in your audience language settings. Facebook has "Portuguese" as an option.
- Copy: In Portuguese, with references for those abroad. "Brazilian in the US", "working abroad", "earning in dollars". Make clear you understand their reality.
- Measurement: Track cost, approval, and LTV for each country. US, Portugal, and UK are different.
- Landing page: In Portuguese too. Do not mix with an English page. The buyer wants Portuguese from start to finish.
What changes in checkout when the card is foreign?
The checkout needs the currency the buyer recognizes daily. If you charge in dollars, a US card works easily. If you charge in Brazilian real to someone with a foreign card, it forces an invisible exchange fee that makes them distrust.
- Correct currency: Cards from those in the US work well in dollars. Cards from Portugal in euros. Cards from the UK in pounds. Automatic conversion by IP makes this clear.
- No surprise: The buyer sees their currency before completing payment. No invisible exchange fees on the statement later.
- Security: A foreign card on a Brazilian platform sometimes triggers fraud alerts. Test a real purchase with a US card before scaling traffic.
- Refund: If you refund, return in the same currency you charged. A refund in reais for payment in dollars creates a second exchange.
What payment methods work with a foreign credit card?
Credit card is primary. Apple Pay and Google Pay reduce mobile friction. PIX does not work for foreigners because it is a Brazilian system.
- Card: Visa, Mastercard, American Express work in nearly every country. Test a real card before scaling.
- Apple Pay: Brazilians in the US use Apple Pay daily. Offering it at checkout reduces friction and increases mobile conversion.
- Google Pay: Same as Apple Pay. Works in US, Europe, Japan. Growing more each day.
- PIX: Does not work for those with accounts outside Brazil. Do not offer it.
- Bank transfer: Works but is slow. Leave it as an option, not primary.
Where Mundpay fits into selling to Brazilians abroad
Mundpay detects the buyer's IP, converts pricing to the local currency of their country, and offers Apple Pay and Google Pay. The buyer sees the amount in their local currency without exchange surprises. Test a real purchase with each country's card before running a campaign.
A foreign credit card buying in Portuguese is the pattern for Brazilians abroad. Apple Pay and Google Pay also reduce risk because the buyer's wallet already validated the card before payment.
Sources consulted
In summary: How to sell digital products to Brazilians abroad
- Approximately 5.3 million Brazilians live outside Brazil. Largest groups are in the US (2.07 million) and Portugal (574 thousand).
- Offer in Portuguese with pricing in local currency (dollars, euros, pounds), not reais, to avoid invisible exchange fees.
- Segment ads by destination country and Portuguese language. Copy that speaks to those who left Brazil increases connection.
- Credit card is primary. Apple Pay and Google Pay work well because the buyer already uses them in the US, Europe, etc.
Frequently asked questions
Where are the Brazilians who buy digital products abroad?
According to Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Itamaraty), approximately 5.3 million Brazilians live abroad as of 2025. Top destinations are the United States (2.07 million), Portugal (574 thousand), Japan (210 thousand), and United Kingdom (190 thousand). This audience speaks Portuguese at home and pays with foreign credit cards.
Does selling in Portuguese with local currency pricing work?
Yes. Brazilians abroad want to buy in Portuguese because it is their native language. Charging in dollars, euros, or pounds in Portuguese builds trust because the buyer sees their currency and language. The focus is not translating the page, but recognizing this audience exists.
How do I segment ads for Brazilians abroad?
Choose the destination countries (where they live), restrict by Portuguese language in your audience, and run ads in Portuguese with examples of those who left Brazil. Facebook allows you to segment by country and language simultaneously. Test cost and conversion in each country to see what performs best.
What changes in checkout when the card is foreign?
The checkout needs the currency the buyer recognizes. If you charge in dollars, a US card works easily. If you charge in reais for a foreign card, it forces an invisible exchange fee that makes the buyer distrust. Show the currency of the country where they live, not Brazil.
What payment methods work best with a foreign credit card?
Credit card is primary. Apple Pay and Google Pay reduce mobile friction because the buyer already uses them in the US, Portugal, etc. PIX does not work for foreigners (it is a Brazilian system). Offer card and digital wallets, be clear you charge in local currency.
