Can foreigners inherit property in Brazil

Yes. Foreign nationals may inherit Brazilian real estate under Brazilian succession law and applicable international treaties. Inheritance does not require prior Brazilian residency, but it requires probate proceedings (inventário) in Brazil, identification and qualification of all heirs, settlement of estate debts and taxes, and registry update at the Registro de Imóveis to transfer or divide title.

Inheritance rights

Cross-border inheritance adds complexity: foreign heirs must provide apostilled death certificates, foreign civil documents, sworn translations, and often coordinate with Brazilian co-heirs in judicial or extrajudicial partition agreements. Properties remaining in undivided estates (condomínio hereditário) may not be individually sold or transferred until partition is complete and each heir's share is registered.

Cross-border complexity

A property attorney in Brazil guides foreign beneficiaries through probate, partition negotiation, and individual property registration — enabling heirs to hold, rent, or sell inherited assets with clear title and compliant repatriation of funds when sale proceeds are remitted abroad under Central Bank rules.