Some of the aspects of getting down to Brazil may take a little lead-time, and in order to avoid stressing, try to get the process rolling at least a few months in advance. A sub-tip: trying to get out of Brazil during the first week of January will cost you, and if you are planning on rocking Reveillon in Rio, you will need to get a return ticket months in advance (or just stay through January, in which case you might as well stay for Carnaval, in which case you will never leave).