# Brazilian Cover Letter Format: The Carta de Apresentação in English

Source: https://digitalcvmaker.com/cover-letter-format/br
Last updated: 2026-10-01

In Brazil, a cover letter, the carta de apresentação, is often optional, but a short, tailored one can make your application stand out. Many candidates send it in the body of an email or paste it into a portal rather than attaching a separate document. Keep it brief, friendly and professional, name the role, connect your experience to the advert and, if requested, state your salary expectation.

## At a glance

| Item | Detail |
| --- | --- |
| Length | Short: half a page, or three brief paragraphs in an email. |
| Greeting | “Dear Ms Souza” or “Dear Mr Souza”; “Dear Hiring Team” if no name is listed. |
| Sign-off | “Kind regards” or “Best regards”, then your name, phone and LinkedIn. |
| Layout | Subject line, greeting, three short paragraphs, sign-off and contact details. |
| How it is sent | Usually the email body or a portal text box; a PDF only when requested. |

## When a cover letter helps in Brazil

Many Brazilian companies recruit through online platforms where the CV and a few screening questions are all that is required. A cover letter is therefore often optional. It still helps in several situations: when you apply by email to a named recruiter, when you are changing career or relocating, when you send a speculative application, and when the advert asks for a brief presentation. In these cases, a few well-chosen paragraphs show that you read the advert and explain what the CV alone cannot.

## Email format

Because so many applications in Brazil are made by email, the letter often lives in the body of the message. Use a subject line with the job title and any reference code, for example “Application: Marketing Analyst, ref. MKT-07”. Greet the recruiter by name if possible, write three short paragraphs and end with your full name, phone number with area code and LinkedIn link. Attach your CV as a PDF with your name in the file name. Check the email on a phone before sending, since many recruiters read on mobile.

## Tone: friendly but professional

Brazilian business culture is relationship-oriented, and a warm, polite tone is welcome. That said, the letter should remain professional: avoid slang, emojis and overly casual greetings in a first contact. Show genuine interest in the company by mentioning its products, projects or reputation in a specific way. Keep claims modest and concrete; one or two examples of results from your recent work are more persuasive than a list of personal qualities. Close by thanking the reader and saying you would be glad to talk further.

## Salary expectations and contract type

Some Brazilian adverts ask candidates to state their salary expectation, the pretensão salarial, in the email or letter. When requested, give a monthly gross figure or a narrow range, and mention whether it refers to formal CLT employment or a contractor arrangement if the advert offers both. Do not ignore the request, since some recruiters filter out applications that leave it blank. When the advert does not mention salary, leave it out of the letter and wait for the recruiter to raise the subject.

## International applicants

If you are applying from abroad or relocating to Brazil, use the letter to explain your situation briefly. State your visa or residence status, when you will be available and your Portuguese level. Employers in Brazil often need to understand whether a work authorisation process is required before they can move forward. For roles in multinational companies where English is the working language, emphasise your experience with international teams, but still mention any Portuguese you speak, since it helps with daily work and with colleagues outside your own team.

## Sample cover letter

Replace the text in square brackets with your own details, and swap the examples for real results of yours.

> Dear [Hiring manager's name],
>
> I am writing to apply for the position of [Role] at [Company name], which I found on your careers page. I have five years' experience in digital marketing for consumer brands, with a focus on performance campaigns and analytics, and I would be glad to bring that experience to your team in São Paulo.
>
> In my current role I manage paid media and email campaigns for an online retailer. I restructured our campaign reporting so that marketing and sales could see results in one place, and I worked with the content team to test new landing pages, which improved conversion on our main product lines. Your advert highlights experience with data-driven campaigns and close work with sales, and both describe my daily work.
>
> I am interested in [Company name] because of your growth in new regions of Brazil and your focus on customer experience. My Portuguese is fluent, my English is advanced, and I am available to start after a thirty-day notice period. As requested, my salary expectation is included in the application form.
>
> My CV is attached as a PDF. Thank you for your time, and I would be happy to talk further.
>
> Kind regards,
>
> [Your name]

## Tips

- Write the letter in the email body when applying by email, with a clear subject line and the CV attached as a PDF.
- Keep it to three short paragraphs; Brazilian recruiters often read applications on their phones.
- Answer a request for salary expectations with a monthly gross figure instead of leaving it blank.
- Sign off with your phone number including the area code and a LinkedIn link, so the recruiter can reach you quickly.

## How Brazil compares

| Country | Length | Greeting | Sign-off |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [India](https://digitalcvmaker.com/cover-letter-format/in) | Three to four short paragraphs, well under one page. | Dear Mr/Ms [Surname]; Dear Hiring Manager when no name is known. | Regards, Best regards or Yours sincerely, followed by your full name and phone number. |
| [US](https://digitalcvmaker.com/cover-letter-format/us) | Under one page, roughly 250 to 400 words in three or four paragraphs. | Dear Ms. Rivera or Dear Hiring Manager; avoid To Whom It May Concern. | Sincerely, followed by your typed full name. |
| [UK](https://digitalcvmaker.com/cover-letter-format/uk) | One page, roughly 250 to 400 words, in three or four paragraphs. | “Dear Ms Patel” with a name; “Dear Sir or Madam” or “Dear Hiring Manager” without. | “Yours sincerely” after a named greeting, “Yours faithfully” after Sir or Madam. |
| [UAE](https://digitalcvmaker.com/cover-letter-format/ae) | Under one page, usually 250 to 350 words in three or four paragraphs. | “Dear Mr/Ms [Surname]”, or “Dear Hiring Manager” if no name is given. | “Yours sincerely” with a name; “Kind regards” is fine for email applications. |
| [Canada](https://digitalcvmaker.com/cover-letter-format/ca) | One page, roughly 250 to 400 words in three or four paragraphs. | Dear [Hiring manager’s name], or Dear Hiring Manager, if no name is available. | Sincerely, or Kind regards, followed by your full name. |
| [Australia](https://digitalcvmaker.com/cover-letter-format/au) | One page, roughly three to five paragraphs; shorter is fine in an email. | “Dear” plus title and surname when known; otherwise “Dear Hiring Manager”. | “Kind regards” is most common; “Yours sincerely” suits more formal applications. |
| [Singapore](https://digitalcvmaker.com/cover-letter-format/sg) | One page, typically 200 to 350 words across three or four paragraphs. | “Dear Ms Lim” when named; otherwise “Dear Hiring Manager”. | “Yours sincerely” for formal letters, “Best regards” for email applications. |
| [Ireland](https://digitalcvmaker.com/cover-letter-format/ie) | One page, about 250 to 400 words, split into three or four paragraphs. | “Dear Ms Byrne” when you know the name; otherwise “Dear Hiring Manager”. | “Yours sincerely” for a named reader, “Yours faithfully” after “Dear Sir or Madam”. |
| [Germany](https://digitalcvmaker.com/cover-letter-format/de) | One A4 page, usually three to four short paragraphs. | “Dear Ms Weber” or “Dear Dr Weber”; “Dear Hiring Team” without a name. | “Kind regards” or “Yours sincerely”, followed by your typed name. |
| [Spain](https://digitalcvmaker.com/cover-letter-format/es) | Half a page to one page; three or four short paragraphs. | “Dear Ms García” or “Dear Mr García”; “Dear Hiring Team” if no name is given. | “Kind regards” or “Yours sincerely”, then your full name and phone number. |
| [France](https://digitalcvmaker.com/cover-letter-format/fr) | One A4 page, with three main paragraphs and a short closing. | “Dear Sir or Madam”, or “Dear Ms Martin” when you know the recipient. | “Yours faithfully” or “Yours sincerely”, matching a formal French closing line. |
| [Italy](https://digitalcvmaker.com/cover-letter-format/it) | Up to one A4 page; three or four paragraphs. | “Dear Dr Rossi” where a title is known; “Dear Hiring Manager” otherwise. | “Kind regards” or “Yours sincerely”, followed by your full name. |
| [Portugal](https://digitalcvmaker.com/cover-letter-format/pt) | Under one page; three or four concise paragraphs. | “Dear Ms Silva” or “Dear Mr Silva”; “Dear Sir or Madam” without a name. | “Kind regards” or “Yours sincerely”, with your name and phone number. |
| **Brazil** | Short: half a page, or three brief paragraphs in an email. | “Dear Ms Souza” or “Dear Mr Souza”; “Dear Hiring Team” if no name is listed. | “Kind regards” or “Best regards”, then your name, phone and LinkedIn. |

## Questions about Brazil cover letters

### Is a cover letter required for jobs in Brazil?

Usually not. Many Brazilian companies recruit through online platforms where the CV and screening questions are enough. A short letter is still worth writing when you apply by email, change career, relocate or send a speculative application, because it explains your motivation and shows that you read the advert carefully.

### Should my cover letter for Brazil be in Portuguese?

Follow the language of the advert. English letters are common for multinational and technology roles, while most local companies expect Portuguese. If you write in English for a Portuguese-language advert, mention your Portuguese level so the recruiter understands how you would work with local colleagues and clients.

### How do I state my salary expectation in Brazil?

Only when the advert asks. Give a realistic monthly gross figure or a narrow range, based on research for similar roles in the same city and sector, and say whether it refers to formal employment or a contractor arrangement. Keep it to one sentence, and be ready to discuss benefits during the interview.

## Sources

- [Ministério do Trabalho e Emprego](https://www.gov.br/trabalho-e-emprego/) — Government of Brazil
- [Autoridade Nacional de Proteção de Dados (ANPD)](https://www.gov.br/anpd/) — Government of Brazil