How to receive a USD salary in Brazil and pay lower fees

Consider someone earning $4,000 per month from a foreign employer.

At a total cost of 6%, they lose about $240 every month, or nearly $2,900 per year, to fees, FX spreads and taxes.

With Ruvo, USD-to-BRL conversion starts at 0.9% for individuals (PF) and 0.3% for businesses (PJ). On the same income, that means paying as little as $432 per year as a PF or $144 per year as a PJ, saving up to $2,736 annually compared to a typical 6% solution.

The biggest mistake is converting to reais before the money reaches you.
Instead, receive your salary directly in USD using US banking details. With Ruvo, you receive an account number and routing number that can be added to your employer's payroll system or platforms such as Deel, Rippling, and Gusto.
Your salary arrives directly in dollars, avoiding the expensive exchange rates often applied by traditional banks. See our guide to choosing the best account to receive USD.

Receiving your salary in dollars does not mean you must convert it immediately.
Holding a USD balance allows you to exchange only the amount you need, when you need it. You can convert gradually, wait for a more favorable rate, or keep part of your income in dollars as savings.
When you need reais, funds can be sent instantly to any Pix key in Brazil via Pix.

For many professionals, spending is a larger source of cost than receiving.
Advertising expenses, software subscriptions, travel, and other international purchases are often paid in dollars. Traditional Brazilian bank cards typically add 3.5% IOF plus a foreign exchange markup of 2% to 7%.
The Ruvo card spends directly from your USD balance with 0% IOF and 0% FX spread, helping you avoid those extra charges altogether.

Speed matters too.
Traditional international transfers can take several business days to settle, leaving your money stuck in transit while exchange rates move.
With instant settlement, your salary is available as soon as it arrives, giving you immediate access to spend, save, or convert on your own terms.
For a practical example, see our breakdown of a Brazilian developer earning $5,000 per month and how much can be saved by reducing fees.