Cheaper than the card, Pix expands to 8 countries and becomes an option for travelers

Now Brazilian tourists can use the Pix payment system in commercial establishments in eight countries, which include destinations in South America, North America and Europe. This functionality is accessible directly through bank applications in Brazil, and is made possible by agreements between national fintechs, financial institutions and international machine accreditors.

Currently, the feature is implemented in stores in Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, United States, Portugal, Spain and France. The Central Bank, however, clarifies that there is no official “international Pix” operated by the Brazilian government abroad. Payments are processed by accredited exchange companies, known as eFX, which convert values ​​instantly.

The payment method at international points of sale replicates the model already known in Brazil. The establishment’s terminal displays a QR Code, which is read by the tourist through their bank’s application. The application then displays the final amount already converted into reais, including applicable fees. The transaction is completed with a password or biometrics, and the intermediary company is responsible for converting the currency, transferring it to the merchant in local currency, such as pesos, dollars or euros.

How Pix offers tax savings on international travel

The great advantage of Pix for international use lies in its lower cost compared to a credit card. While international purchases via card incur a 5.38% Tax on Financial Operations (IOF), in addition to using the tourism dollar rate, payments via app use commercial exchange rates, which are more favorable, and have lower taxes. Additionally, this option eliminates the need to carry cash or look for exchange offices at the destination.

The use of this system is concentrated in tourist locations and commercial networks frequently visited by Brazilians. In South America, Pix is ​​accepted in hotels, restaurants, ski centers and border stores in countries such as Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay. In the United States and Europe, its use extends to establishments in cities such as Miami, Orlando, Lisbon, Madrid and Paris.

Companies and agreements that make international Pix possible

The availability of Pix outside the national territory is the result of strategic partnerships between several companies in the financial segment. In Chile, PagBrasil, a fintech, collaborates with the acquirer VirtualPOS to enable payments via QR Code in thousands of terminals. In Argentina, Banco do Brasil established an agreement with Banco Patagonia, allowing direct reading in more than 6 thousand establishments. In Uruguay, Getnet is responsible for offering the service, while in the United States the integration was carried out by Verifone in terminals located in North American cities. The cross-border settlement infrastructure is supported by institutions such as BS2 bank and exchange platforms such as Remessa Online.

Growth of international Pix: sector data indicates high demand

The Central Bank does not publish detailed data on face-to-face payments via Pix made outside of Brazil, as these amounts are recorded within the general balance of foreign exchange transactions and international transfers. Despite this, information from the financial sector itself points to robust growth: PagBrasil reports an average monthly increase of 22.5% in the volume of transactions carried out abroad. The Global Payments Report indicates that the base of 170 million users registered with Pix in Brazil has encouraged international acquirers to adjust their systems to meet the needs of Brazilian tourists.