Can an American get a welding job in Brazil?

Question

what kind of jobs can foreigners get in Brazil.

Answer 1

Engineering jobs are hard to come by as there are nearly forty thousand unemployed or underemployed engineers here. I came to Brazil as a metallurgist in 1978. At that time jobs were plentiful. However there was one major hurdle. You cant work in the engineering profession in any capacity unless you are registered with the local Engineering council. To get that, your academic qualifications have to be recognized by a Brazilian university. That was a hurdle that took two years.

Not only does the qualification have to be recognized but if recommended you have to repeat certain courses - in Portuguese. I didnt have whats called the civics course - a study of the political and social organization of Brazil - (well, naturally since I came from abroad) but I had to go and do this course for three months and pass an exam. Others have to do technical courses sometimes. If you dont do it and your engineering qualifications are not recognized,then legally you cant work. So these are all the hurdles to working here in your profession. A private company might just employ you as an engineer but sooner or later somebody in the organization will rat to the Engineering council and you will get a letter threatening to prosecute you unless you register. Thats what happened to me.

An option is to teach English but the pay scales are barely liveable.

Another poster has mentioned the headache of getting a work permit and visa.

If you like to spend time in Brazil I would suggest coming here on extended holidays. Its a beautiful place and I quite understand your wish to live here for awhile. Working here however is another issue altogether.

Answer 2

Foreigners need work permit to do any work in Brazil...and it´s very hard to get one.

Answer 3

You would not make any money welding in Brazil. Most of Brazilians workers are underpaid. Maybe you could have fun and make money doing anything related with turism, but you got to speak Portuguese. If you don't speak the language, forget about living and working there because very few people speak English.