If you buy from AliExpress, Shopee, or any international store and pay with a regular Brazilian credit card, you are losing between 8% and 10% on every single purchase — before the product even ships. That loss has a name: IOF.
This guide explains exactly what IOF costs you, which cards eliminate or drastically reduce it, and how to open each account so your next order from China costs what it actually should.
What Is IOF and Why Does It Hurt So Much?
IOF stands for Imposto sobre Operações Financeiras — Brazil's tax on financial transactions. When you use a Brazilian credit card abroad (or on any international website), the government charges IOF on the currency conversion.
The current rates:
| Card type | IOF rate |
|---|---|
| Credit card (international purchase) | 6.38% |
| Debit card (international purchase) | 1.1% |
| Foreign currency account (loading) | 0.38% |
But IOF is only part of the problem. On top of it, your bank applies its own exchange rate spread — typically 2%–4% above the real interbank rate. Combined, a R$1,000 purchase on AliExpress with a standard Bradesco or Itaú credit card costs you between R$1,083 and R$1,103 in real money.
Over a year of regular international shopping, that difference funds a whole extra order.
The Real Cost: An Example
Say you buy a R$500 item from AliExpress. The interbank rate says it costs exactly R$500. Here is what you actually pay:
| Payment method | You pay | Extra cost |
|---|---|---|
| Standard credit card | R$546 | +R$46 (9.2%) |
| Debit card (standard bank) | R$516 | +R$16 (3.2%) |
| Nomad / Wise account | R$503 | +R$3 (0.6%) |
That R$43 difference per R$500 order adds up fast. Ten orders a year = R$430 lost to fees.
Use our International Purchase Fee Calculator to see the exact number for your purchase amount and currency.
How Low-IOF Cards Work
Cards like Nomad and Wise work differently from traditional credit cards. Instead of converting BRL to USD at the moment of purchase (triggering the 6.38% IOF), you:
- Open a USD (or multi-currency) account
- Load funds from your Brazilian bank account — this triggers only the 0.38% IOF on a currency exchange operation (câmbio)
- Spend from that balance internationally — no additional IOF, because you are already spending in the card's native currency
The net result: instead of paying 6.38% + bank spread, you pay ~0.38% + the provider's conversion fee (typically 0.5%–1%). Total overhead: under 1%.
The Best Cards for International Shopping in Brazil
1. Nomad Global — Best Overall for AliExpress Buyers
Nomad is a Brazilian fintech that gives you a real USD account with a Mastercard. It is the most popular choice for Brazilians who shop frequently on AliExpress, Shopee, and Amazon US.
How it works: You transfer BRL from your Brazilian bank to Nomad, they convert it to USD at a competitive rate (IOF 0.38% applies here), and you get a card balance in dollars. When you buy internationally, no additional IOF is charged.
Key details:
- IOF on loading: 0.38%
- Conversion spread: ~1% (competitive with the dollar comercial rate)
- Card network: Mastercard (accepted on AliExpress, Shopee, Amazon, all major platforms)
- Annual fee: none
- Virtual card: yes, available instantly
- Physical card: yes, delivered in Brazil
Best for: Regular shoppers on AliExpress and Shopee who spend R$500+ per month internationally
Watch out for: The loading spread varies. Always check the current Nomad rate vs the dollar PTAX before loading large amounts.
2. Wise — Best for Variable Amounts and Multiple Currencies
Wise (formerly TransferWise) is a UK-based company with a large presence in Brazil. Their card supports 40+ currencies, meaning you can hold BRL, USD, EUR, and JPY simultaneously and the card automatically uses the right balance for each purchase.
How it works: You fund your Wise account from a Brazilian bank account (PIX or TED). The conversion happens when you load, at the mid-market rate plus a fee of ~0.5%–0.7%. No IOF on the card spend itself since the balance is already in the foreign currency.
Key details:
- IOF on loading: 0.38% (câmbio operation)
- Conversion fee: ~0.5%–0.7% depending on currency
- Card network: Mastercard
- Annual fee: none (card issuance has a one-time fee ~R$20)
- Virtual card: yes
- Physical card: yes
Best for: Shoppers who buy from multiple countries (AliExpress in CNY, European stores in EUR, US stores in USD) and want one card for everything
Watch out for: The card issuance fee is a small one-time cost. Also, Wise charges a fee on ATM withdrawals above a monthly free limit — not relevant for online shopping.
3. Remessa Online Card — Best If You Already Use Remessa
If you already use Remessa Online for international transfers, their prepaid card is worth considering. It follows the same mechanics as Nomad and Wise: load in BRL, spend in the card's currency.
Key details:
- IOF on loading: 0.38%
- Conversion spread: competitive with market rate
- Card network: Mastercard
- Annual fee: none
Best for: People who already have a Remessa account and want to avoid opening a second provider
4. C6 Global — Best for Those Who Want a Traditional Bank
If you prefer staying with a more established financial institution, C6 Bank's international account offers significantly better rates than legacy banks. C6 Global is a USD account similar to Nomad, but backed by C6 Bank (a full Brazilian bank, not a fintech).
Key details:
- IOF on loading: 0.38%
- Card network: Mastercard
- Annual fee: none for C6 account holders
- Integration: works alongside your existing C6 checking account
Best for: C6 customers who want international spending without switching their main bank
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Card | IOF on spend | Loading fee | Card network | Virtual card | Time to open |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nomad Global | 0% | ~0.38% + 1% spread | Mastercard | Yes | ~10 min |
| Wise | 0% | ~0.38% + 0.5–0.7% | Mastercard | Yes | ~15 min |
| Remessa Online | 0% | ~0.38% + spread | Mastercard | Yes | ~10 min |
| C6 Global | 0% | ~0.38% + spread | Mastercard | Yes | ~15 min (need C6 account) |
| Standard credit card | 6.38% | — | Varies | — | — |
| Debit card (major bank) | 1.1% | — | Varies | — | — |
What About Nubank, Inter, and Other Digital Banks?
A common question: does Nubank have IOF?
Yes. Nubank is a credit card. International purchases with Nubank (including Ultravioleta) are subject to the standard 6.38% IOF. Nubank does not charge additional foreign transaction fees beyond IOF and their exchange rate spread, which makes it one of the better traditional options — but it still cannot compete with the sub-1% cost of a USD account card.
Inter has a global account (Inter Global) that works similarly to Nomad — worth checking if you already bank with Inter.
How to Open a Nomad Account (Step by Step)
Since Nomad is the most popular choice for AliExpress buyers, here is the full process:
- Download the Nomad app (iOS or Android)
- Enter your CPF and personal data
- Take a photo of your RG or CNH (front and back)
- Take a selfie for identity verification
- Account approval typically takes 5–15 minutes
- Add money via PIX from any Brazilian bank
- Your virtual card is available immediately in the app
- Request the physical card if you need it (arrives in 5–10 business days)
The entire process takes under 20 minutes and there are no fees to open the account.
Tips for Buying on AliExpress With a Low-IOF Card
Always pay in USD or the store's original currency. When a store offers to charge you in BRL ("we'll convert for you"), always decline and pay in the original currency. The store's conversion rate is almost always worse than your card's rate.
Pre-load a fixed amount. Rather than loading exactly what you need per order, load R$200–500 at a time to reduce the number of conversions (each conversion has a small spread cost).
Check the rate before loading. The interbank dollar rate (PTAX) is published by the Banco Central do Brasil at 13h every business day. Nomad and Wise rates are usually within 1% of this. Avoid loading on days when the spread looks unusually high.
Use the virtual card for online purchases. All four providers above offer virtual cards instantly. There is no reason to wait for the physical card to start shopping.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it legal to use Nomad or Wise in Brazil?
Yes. All four providers listed are regulated financial institutions authorized to operate in Brazil. Nomad and C6 Global are supervised by the Banco Central do Brasil. Wise operates under Brazilian financial regulations. Your account and transactions are entirely legal.
Does using a USD card affect my CPF or tax reporting?
For personal purchases, no. You do not need to declare international purchases to the Receita Federal unless you are importing goods above the declared value limit (currently USD 50 for most international purchases under the Remessa Conforme program). The card transactions themselves are not a tax-reporting event.
Can I use these cards on Shopee and Shein?
Yes. All cards listed are Mastercard and work on any international e-commerce platform that accepts international cards — AliExpress, Shopee, Shein, Amazon, eBay, and others.
What if my package gets taxed at customs?
The IOF savings are on the purchase itself. Customs duty (Imposto de Importação) is a separate issue determined by the declared value of your package. See our Brazil customs guide for how to handle packages held at Correios.
Can I get cashback with these cards?
Nomad and Wise do not currently offer cashback programs in Brazil. For cashback on international purchases, some premium credit cards (like Santander Unique or Itaú Platinum) offer cashback while still charging IOF — the math only makes sense if the cashback rate is above 6.38%, which is rare. For most shoppers, the IOF savings from a USD account card exceed any cashback a traditional card offers.