Unclaimed Money in Brazil
Brazil launched the Sistema de Valores a Receber (SVR) — Values to Receive System — in February 2022, and it has become one of the most successful unclaimed money programmes in the world. Operated by Banco Central do Brasil (BCB), the SVR allows any Brazilian citizen to search for and reclaim money owed by financial institutions including banks, insurance companies, and payment processors.
As of 2025, over R$12 billion has been returned to claimants. The average return per claim varies widely — from a few reais to thousands. The portal is entirely free, requires no middlemen, and pays directly to the claimant's bank account.
How to Use the SVR Portal
🌐
valoresareceber.bcb.gov.br
Brazil's official unclaimed money portal. Log in with Gov.br credentials (CPF + password). The portal shows all funds owed to you from financial institutions — bank accounts, insurance refunds, investment returns, and more.
✓ Primary official portal — start here
🆔
Gov.br Login
You must have a Gov.br account (gov.br/pt-br) to access SVR. Registration is free and uses your CPF. Silver or gold verification level is required to claim funds.
✓ Free registration — use CPF
🏦
Direct Bank Claims
Funds available under R$10 can also be claimed directly from the institution. The SVR portal shows which institution holds the funds and provides contact details.
✓ Small amounts claimable directly
👨👩👧
Deceased Relatives
Heirs can claim SVR funds for deceased relatives. Log in with your Gov.br, select 'Chaves do Pix de pessoas falecidas' or the estate claim option, and provide the CPF of the deceased and estate documentation.
✓ Estate claims supported
What Types of Money Can Be Found
The SVR covers a wide range of financial obligations: current and savings account balances from closed accounts, fees and charges incorrectly collected by banks, insurance premiums to be refunded, amounts from credit card programmes, consortium amounts (consórcio), and Pix keys associated with closed accounts.
The CPF (Cadastro de Pessoas Físicas — individual taxpayer registration) is the key identifier. Every Brazilian's CPF is linked to all their financial relationships. Checking the SVR takes under 2 minutes and costs nothing.
How do I access the SVR portal?
Go to valoresareceber.bcb.gov.br and log in with your Gov.br credentials. If you don't have a Gov.br account, register for free at gov.br using your CPF. You need at least Silver verification to claim funds.
How are SVR claims paid?
Claims are processed within 12 working days. Funds are paid by the financial institution that owes them — either via Pix to your registered key, bank transfer (TED/DOC), or by cheque depending on the institution.
Is there a deadline to claim SVR funds?
There is currently no expiry date for SVR claims. Funds remain available indefinitely. However, the Banco Central has indicated it may introduce deadlines in future, so claiming promptly is advisable.
What is the average SVR claim amount?
Claim amounts vary enormously — from a few centavos to thousands of reais. The average is typically a few hundred reais, though large amounts are commonly found in closed investment accounts or consortium balances.
Also search unclaimed money in
🪙 Also check: Unclaimed Crypto
Search Brazil's SVR Portal Now
Over R$12 billion returned — R$9.7 billion still available. Check your CPF free.
Search BR Databases Free →
Frequently Asked Questions About Unclaimed Money in Brazil
What is Brazil's SVR system and how do I use it?
SVR (Sistema de Valores a Receber — "System of Values to Receive") is a free official portal operated by the Banco Central do Brasil (BCB) that allows Brazilians and former Brazilian residents to search for and claim money held by financial institutions. This includes forgotten bank account balances, unprocessed deposits, credit card fee refunds, insurance refunds, consortium fund quotas, and other financial values. Access SVR at valoresareceber.bcb.gov.br. You log in using your CPF (Cadastro de Pessoas Físicas — the individual tax number) and authentication via the government's Gov.br digital identity system. The service has returned billions of reais to Brazilian citizens since its launch.
What types of money can be found in the SVR system?
SVR covers: balances in accounts closed without full payment, undistributed credit card fee surpluses, bank charges collected without legal basis (tagged fee refunds), unprocessed credits, insurance policy refunds (premiums for policies that were cancelled but not refunded), consortium fund quotas (cotas de consórcio), and investment fund proceeds. Not all financial values are in SVR — pension-related values (FGTS, INSS) and tax refunds are handled by other government systems. SVR covers assets held by institutions regulated by the Banco Central do Brasil specifically.
How do I check for unclaimed FGTS (severance fund) in Brazil?
FGTS (Fundo de Garantia do Tempo de Serviço) is a mandatory employment fund separate from the SVR system. Check your FGTS balance and any outstanding entitlements through the official FGTS app (available on Android and iOS) or at fgts.caixa.gov.br. If you have changed jobs and believe you have FGTS balances from a previous employer that were not transferred or withdrawn, log in with your CPF and worker registration data (NIS/PIS number). FGTS accounts are individual and follow the worker, not the employer. Heirs of deceased workers can claim FGTS balances as part of the estate.
Can Brazilians living abroad or foreign nationals claim Brazilian unclaimed money?
Brazilians living abroad can access SVR using their CPF and a Gov.br account — both can be set up or maintained from outside Brazil, though the process may require a visit to a Brazilian consulate for initial registration if you do not already have a Gov.br account. Foreign nationals who previously lived in Brazil and obtained a CPF can also search SVR. For estate claims, Brazilian inheritance law applies, and a formal inventory (inventário) or extrajudicial succession (escritura de inventário extrajudicial) is typically required. A Brazilian notary (Tabelionato de Notas) or attorney (advogado) can assist from abroad.