LatAm Expat & Nomad Daily Guide — Thursday, November 5, 2026
As of 12:45 a.m. US Eastern Time (ET) · 2:45 a.m. Brasília, Thursday 5 November 2026 · US National Hurricane Center outlooks issued overnight, exchange rates to the latest published rate, prediction markets at 12:38 a.m. ET
00Do Today
Countries are sorted by urgency, and each checklist runs visa, weather, authorities, then money. Every item links to the block with the details.
Mexico Act Now
Colombia Today
Panama and Costa Rica Today
Brazil Note
Argentina Note
Chile and Peru Note
01Weather Watch
Rain Risk for Central America Outlook
A broad low-pressure area offshore of Central America is producing a large area of disorganized cloudiness and showers, and the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) gives it a 40% chance of becoming a tropical depression within 48 hours and 60% within 7 days. Whether or not it develops, the center says it could bring areas of heavy rain to portions of Central America through this weekend.
Atlantic Low Far From Our Countries Outlook
The NHC’s Atlantic outlook watches a non-tropical low-pressure area a few hundred miles south of Bermuda, far from our countries. It gives that system a 30% chance of forming within 48 hours and 50% within 7 days.
02Today’s Clock
Every time is shown in US Eastern Time first, then in local time. Thursday’s big event is Mexico’s interest-rate decision in the afternoon.
03Money Today
Brazilian Real BRL
Mexican Peso MXN
Colombian Peso COP
Peruvian Sol PEN
Argentine Peso ARS
Chilean Peso CLP
All six currencies firmed against the US dollar in the latest rates, so a dollar buys fewer units of local currency than a day earlier. The Mexican peso gained the most, about 1.1%, and Brazil’s real the least, about 0.3%.
04Status Board
Brazil Interest Rate
13.75%, the central bank’s Selic benchmark rate, after a cut in September13.75%, held on Wed 4 Nov by a unanimous vote of its rate-setting committee, CopomThe hold ended a run of five 0.25-point cuts, and the statement gave no signal on the next move; the next meeting is 8 and 9 December
Mexico Interest Rate
6.5%, the central bank’s policy rate6.5%, unchanged until the decision todayDecision due at 2:00 p.m. ET; bettors on Polymarket favour no change, but about 18% expect a cut, as the prediction-markets block shows
Brazil São Paulo City Inflation
0.51% for September, the IPC-Fipe index of São Paulo city prices from the Fipe economic research foundationOctober reading was due Wed 4 Nov at 3:00 a.m. ET (5:00 a.m. Brasília); the calendar forecast was 0.7%, and we could not confirm the published figureRead the figure on the Fipe website before relying on it
Colombia Interest Rate
12.25%, the central bank’s policy rate12.25% held on Fri 30 Oct, by four votes to three; the three others wanted a rise of 0.25 pointHeld after a split vote; the minutes are due today at 5:00 p.m. ET
Brazil Unemployment Rate
5.4% (April to June)5.2% (July to September), published Fri 30 OctLower than the previous quarter, and IBGE (Brazil’s statistics office) calls it the lowest for a July-to-September quarter in its series, which starts in 2012
Colombia Unemployment Rate
9.4% in August8.0% in September, published Fri 30 OctLower than August and than the 8.2% of September 2025
05Visas, Residency and Tax
Colombia Deadline Passed
Holders of a permanent-resident visa issued under the earlier rules had to transfer it before 31 October 2026, under the Foreign Ministry’s Resolution 9316 of 2024, the rule that set the deadline. The ministry says the process is done entirely online and is required to obtain the foreigner ID card (cédula de extranjería) from Migración Colombia, the immigration agency.
The 31 October deadline has passed, and we found no extension. If you have not finished, ask the ministry’s visa office what applies to your case.
File photo: central Bogotá, Colombia, seen from the Colpatria tower.06What Prediction Markets Say
As of 12:38 a.m. ET (2:38 a.m. Brasília), 5 November 2026
07The Calendar Ahead
08Frequently Asked Questions
What Did Brazil’s Central Bank Decide on Wednesday?
The central bank held its benchmark Selic rate at 13.75% on Wednesday 4 November 2026, according to the central bank’s statement. That statement called the moment challenging and said it demands serenity and caution.
When Does Mexico’s Central Bank Announce Its Rate Decision?
The decision is due today, Thursday 5 November, at 2:00 p.m. ET (1:00 p.m. Mexico City), as listed by the Rio Times economic calendar, and the rate now stands at 6.5%. Bettors on Polymarket, a crypto-based prediction platform, put no change at about 82%.
Is a Storm Threatening Central America This Week?
The US National Hurricane Center gives a low-pressure area offshore of Central America a 40% chance of becoming a tropical depression within 48 hours and 60% within 7 days. Whether or not it develops, the center says it could bring areas of heavy rain to parts of Central America through this weekend.
09Go Deeper
All Rio Times Dossiers
Brazil Market Report
Mexico Market Report
Colombia Market Report
Colombia Visa Transfer Deadline
Brazil
Sources: Rio Times economic calendar; US National Hurricane Center; Banco Central do Brasil; RT market data; Superintendencia Financiera de Colombia; Banco Central de la República Argentina; DolarApi; Banco Central de Chile; IBGE; DANE; Banco de la República; Cancillería de Colombia; Polymarket.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI ·