Brazilian companies with operations abroad will gain greater flexibility to manage foreign-currency resources under new rules issued by the Central Bank of Brazil.

Resolution 575 expands the range of legal entities allowed to open and operate foreign-currency deposit accounts in the country. The measure covers companies whose activities involve international trade, external borrowing and foreign direct investment, bringing Brazil’s financial infrastructure more closely in line with the needs of businesses operating across borders.

The regulation will take effect on October 1, 2026. 

Broader access

The new eligible account holders include Brazilian goods exporters, locally incorporated private companies with external debt and Brazilian companies with direct foreign participation in their capital.

The rules also cover non-resident companies that have extended credit to Brazilian residents or hold a direct equity interest in a company based in Brazil. 

Foreign-currency accounts were previously available mainly to financial institutions, diplomatic missions and companies in a limited number of sectors or activities. By broadening access, the Central Bank is adapting the regulatory framework to the increasingly international nature of Brazilian companies’ funding, investment and commercial relationships.

More efficient flows

The change can simplify cash management for businesses that regularly receive or make payments abroad.

An exporter that receives revenue in dollars, for example, may also have expenses, financing commitments or investments denominated in the same currency. Holding funds in a foreign-currency account in Brazil can reduce the need to convert those resources into BRL and subsequently purchase foreign currency again to meet international obligations.

The same principle applies to companies with external financing or foreign shareholders. The accounts may allow them to manage interest payments, debt amortization and investment-related flows more efficiently, reducing operational steps and improving their ability to match foreign-currency assets and liabilities.

The resolution also waives the requirement to enter into a foreign-exchange transaction for certain transfers to and from foreign-currency accounts, including transactions involving conversion between two foreign currencies. Conversion into BRL will continue to require a formal foreign-exchange transaction. 

Defined purposes

The accounts will remain subject to limits based on the account holder’s activities.

For goods exporters, funds must come from export revenue or other transfers received from abroad. Accounts linked to external credit or foreign direct investment may only be used for transactions connected to those operations.

Cash deposits and withdrawals and transactions using checks will not be permitted. Companies covered by the external credit and foreign investment provisions must also demonstrate that they have eligible transactions in place and keep the relevant information updated in the Central Bank’s reporting systems.

Regulatory oversight

The greater flexibility will be accompanied by new reporting requirements for financial institutions that provide foreign-currency accounts.

Banks and other institutions authorized to operate in Brazil’s foreign-exchange market will report monthly information to the Central Bank, including account identification, currency, opening and closing balances and total credits and debits during the reporting period. 

The framework seeks to combine simpler international financial flows with continued regulatory oversight. By allowing more resources to remain within Brazil’s financial system, the measure may also encourage companies to use domestic institutions for services currently contracted abroad.

The Central Bank’s Resolution 575 forms part of the implementation of Brazil’s Foreign Exchange Legal Framework, established by Law 14,286 of 2021. The legislation introduced a broader modernization of the country’s foreign-exchange rules and gave the Central Bank authority to gradually simplify requirements as market and regulatory conditions evolve.