A Cuban resident in Brazil shared a video on TikTok on Monday with three practical tips for fellow countrymen planning to emigrate to that country, after receiving a message from a young person in Cuba asking for guidance to avoid making mistakes during the process.
The content creator, identified as Vibras Latinas on the account @vibraslatinas1, recorded the video on a Sunday and directed it not only to the young man who wrote to him but also to all Cubans who see Brazil as a migration destination.
The first piece of advice is to learn Portuguese before arriving. "At least learn the basics of Portuguese; save yourself some trouble and avoid awkward moments, because sometimes the language can clash a bit with the Brazilians when you get here, and often Brazilians don't have the patience to communicate," he warned.
The second piece of advice emphasizes caution: do not trust promises of assistance from people you know online or from fellow countrymen offering accommodation or help upon arrival. "Don't trust anyone who tells you they are going to make everything perfect for you, that they're going to give you this, that they're going to do that," he warned, adding that "the knife can come from behind" even among those who present themselves as friends.
To illustrate the environment he describes, the creator turned to a Russian saying: "Moscow doesn't believe in tears, and Brazil is becoming, at least for the Cuban community, just that."
The third piece of advice is the most controversial: distance yourself from Cuban circles and mingle with Brazilians. "Try to stay away from Cubans, try to build a life away from Cubans. Connect with Brazilians, as they are the ones who will help you break free from that circle," he said, arguing that many compatriots replicate "the same intrigue, the same envy" in Brazil that they left behind in Cuba.
The creator himself acknowledged the harshness of the advice: "It may be a bit selfish of me, because it's true, not all Cubans are bad, not all Cubans are consumed by malice, envy, or pain, but the majority or many Cubans are."
The video also mentions that Boa Vista, the capital of the state of Roraima, is the main entry point for Cubans into Brazil, a fact that aligns with official figures: that city received 7,567 asylum applications from Cubans in the first four months of 2026.
Other Cubans living in Brazil have shared similar experiences on social media. A Cuban resident in that country revealed common mistakes made by newcomers and warned that she would trust "almost no one" upon arrival, in a testimony that resonated widely within the migrant community.
"I believe I am speaking a reality that is currently shocking many people," the creator concluded, before wishing the young man who wrote to him from Cuba a "safe journey" and "many blessings."
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