How to text Brazil: A guide to business communications

Whether you're a business reaching out to customers, a marketer targeting a Brazilian audience, or simply keeping in touch with friends or family in Brazil, understanding the nuances of SMS communication in this vibrant country is essential. Sending text messages (also called SMS) to Brazil is easy, but it requires attention to detail to ensure your message gets delivered. This guide provides all the necessary details for effective texting to Brazil, from phone number formatting to which country codes to use to compliance with local regulations.

Sending a text to Brazil

Brazilian phone numbers typically consist of 11 digits, including a two-digit area code, a nine-digit local number (this can be an 8-digit number for landlines), and sometimes a carrier-specific digit. Grasping this format is crucial for ensuring your messages are delivered accurately.

Brazilian phone number formatting

The format for Brazilian phone numbers includes the country code +55, followed by the two-digit area code, and then the nine-digit local number. For example, a number in São Paulo might be formatted as +55 11 98765-4321.

Brazilian country code

When texting someone in Brazil, the country code +55 must be included. This indicates to the mobile network that the message is intended for a recipient in Brazil. You can add the country code by holding down the "0" key until a "+" symbol appears, or type "0055" before the Brazilian phone number.

Once you’ve formatted the Brazilian phone number correctly, you can enter it into the "Recipient" field on your messaging app and send your message. Again, including the country code is essential. Otherwise, your message may not be delivered to the recipient in Brazil.

Staying compliant while texting Brazil

In response to the increasing use of mobile communications and the sharing of personal information on mobile devices, businesses must capture and archive these communications to comply with the Brazilian General Data Protection Law (LGPD).

The LGPD is similar to the GDPR in Europe. This law emphasizes the importance of protecting personal data and requires businesses to obtain explicit consent from recipients before sending SMS messages. This consent ensures that businesses respect privacy and avoid legal issues related to unsolicited messaging.

Compliance with Brazilian SMS regulations is crucial, especially for commercial messaging. Brazil has specific rules governing SMS communication, overseen by the National Telecommunications Agency (ANATEL). You must have explicit consent from recipients for marketing texts, provide clear opt-out instructions, and adhere to privacy and data protection laws.

5 steps to send a text to Brazil

Now that you’re equipped with the knowledge of formatting guidelines and regulatory compliance, you're ready to send your first text message to Brazil. Follow these steps to dispatch your message:

1. Inspect the number to ensure it's in the correct format.
2. Make sure to include Brazil’s country code (+55).
3. Input the correctly-formatted number into the "Recipient" field.
4. Ensure your message complies with any local or international regulations when sending texts to Brazil.
5. Compose and send your message.

Now that you know how to format and send a text message to Brazil, it's important to follow some best practices to ensure your messages are delivered successfully and comply with local regulations.

Best practices for texting Brazilian numbers

When texting Brazilian numbers, it's essential to adhere to the guidelines set forth by Brazil's LGPD and the regulations of ANATEL. Key to this compliance is obtaining explicit consent from individuals before sending text messages, particularly for marketing purposes. This consent should be actively given, through opt-in mechanisms like sign-up forms or SMS keywords. Data privacy is paramount; only necessary data should be collected, and it must be securely stored and processed. Transparency about the use of personal data, including the purpose and type of messages sent, is also crucial.

The content of the messages should be clear, relevant, and sent at a reasonable frequency to avoid being perceived as spam. Providing recipients with an easy way to opt-out, such as an "unsubscribe" option or a keyword like "STOP," and respecting these requests promptly, is essential. Compliance with ANATEL's specific telecommunications guidelines, including the use of approved channels for messaging, is also necessary. Regularly updating and reviewing messaging practices to align with changes in LGPD and ANATEL regulations is recommended. Given the complexity of these laws, consultation with legal experts in Brazilian telecommunications and data protection law is advisable to ensure full compliance.

In summary, the best practices for texting Brazilian numbers involve a careful balance of legal compliance, respect for privacy, and clear communication. By focusing on explicit consent, data security, transparency, and adherence to regulatory guidelines, organizations can effectively engage with their audience in Brazil while upholding high standards of data protection and ethical communication.

Choosing the right greeting for your text message to Brazil

When crafting text messages for a Brazilian audience, selecting an appropriate greeting is crucial for establishing the right tone and building rapport with your recipients. The choice of greeting in Brazil is not just a matter of language but also an expression of respect and cultural understanding. Therefore, it's important to consider the context and the nature of your relationship with the recipient to choose a fitting greeting.

For a start, general greetings like "Olá" (Hello) or "Oi" (Hi) are widely acceptable and can be used in most informal situations. These greetings are friendly and approachable, ideal for messages that aim to create a relaxed and conversational tone.

In instances where the message is time-sensitive, using greetings such as "Bom dia" (Good morning), "Boa tarde" (Good afternoon), or "Boa noite" (Good evening) can add a personal touch, showing attentiveness and respect for the recipient's time of day.

However, in a business context, especially when initiating contact or in formal communications, it is advisable to lean towards more formal greetings. Starting with a respectful and professional greeting sets a tone of professionalism and can help in establishing credibility. In such cases, greetings that acknowledge the recipient's status or position.

The choice of greeting also depends on the existing relationship with the recipient. For regular customers or individuals who have interacted with your services or products, a less formal greeting might be more suitable to reinforce familiarity and warmth. Conversely, when reaching out to new prospects or professional contacts, starting with a more formal greeting is advisable to maintain a professional demeanor.

Ultimately, the right greeting in your text message to a Brazilian audience is a blend of cultural understanding, context awareness, and relationship recognition. It can set the stage for a successful interaction, whether you aim to establish a new connection, foster an existing relationship, or convey a professional image.

Text Brazil: How to get started

With these tips and recommendations, you're ready to send SMS messages to Brazil with confidence. Whether you're sending a personal message or business communication, understanding the formatting and regulatory compliance is essential to ensure your message gets delivered.

If you’re looking for more guidance on global texting, Telnyx’s team of experts can help you navigate the complexities of international communication. Telnyx is a next-gen communications platform that offers a global private IP network, multi-cloud redundancy, and carrier-grade services. Our developer-friendly SMS API and intelligent features make it easy to build messaging capabilities into your existing apps. We also offer support and guidance to help you grow and scale your business.

With competitive pricing and a wide variety of phone numbers in over 140 countries, Telnyx provides cost-effective messaging solutions with unmatched expertise. Our deliverability reports help businesses optimize their messaging campaigns, while easy implementation and a complete set of features make it easy to get started.