Moving to Brazil
6 routes for people from the US, Canada and the UK, each checked against official sources. Find the one that fits, then check it with the source before you apply.
Keep your job, work remotely
Brazil digital nomad visa
Visto temporário VITEM XIV / autorização de residência – nômade digital (RN CNIg 45/2021)
Remote workers for foreign employers or clients earning USD 1,500 a month, or holding USD 18,000 in the bank.
- What you need
- Means of subsistence from a foreign payer of at least USD 1,500 a month, or available bank funds of at least USD 18,000 (RN 45, Art. 5 III). (USD 1,500 a month)
- Alternative to the income test: available bank funds of at least USD 18,000. (USD 18,000)
- Apostilled declaration that you can work remotely; employment or service contract or other proof of the link to a foreign employer or client; proof of means; birth certificate; passport valid 6+ months.
- Travel and medical insurance valid in Brazil for the stay.
- Criminal record certificate, apostilled or legalised (the Amsterdam consulate asks for one issued within 90 days).
- Not for
- People working for Brazilian employers or clients
- Where you apply
- From home or inside the country. Visa at a Brazilian consulate (MRE online form, then e-Consular), or, if already in Brazil, residence authorisation from the Ministry of Justice through MigranteWeb. Register with the Polícia Federal within 90 days of first entry and get a CRNM (migrant ID); you also need a CPF tax number.
- How long it takes
- Not stated on the official page.
- First permit
- Up to 1 year.
- Renewal
- Renewable once for an equal period (up to 1 more year).
- Family
- Dependants can apply for family reunion visas (VITEM XI).
- Your passport
- Visa-based for all three. US and Canadian citizens have needed a visitor e-visa since 10 April 2025; from 1 Sept 2026 consulates issue temporary visas electronically only for nationals exempt from visitor visas (e.g. UK), so US/CA applicants may still need the paper/consular process.
Retire or live on savings
Brazil retirement visa
Visto temporário VITEM XIV – aposentadoria (RN CNIg 40/2019)
Retirees or survivor-pension holders who can transfer at least USD 2,000 a month to Brazil.
- What you need
- Proof of a retirement or survivor pension with a monthly transfer to Brazil of at least USD 2,000. Whether the figure rises for dependants is not stated on the official page. (USD 2,000 a month)
- Visa application form; original birth certificate with parents' names, apostilled and later translated by a Brazilian sworn translator.
- Not for
- People with investment or rental income but no pension (no separate rentista visa was found)
- Pensions under USD 2,000 a month
- Where you apply
- From home, at a consulate. Brazilian consulate with jurisdiction over your residence, via the MRE online form (formulario-mre.serpro.gov.br) and e-Consular. Register with the Polícia Federal within 90 days of first entry and get a CRNM (migrant ID); you also need a CPF tax number.
- How long it takes
- Not stated on the official page.
- First permit
- Visa valid 1 year for first entry; initial stay up to 2 years.
- Renewal
- Can be renewed or converted to indefinite-term residence (Resolução Conjunta CNIg/CONARE 2/2020 governs changes of term); conditions not confirmed.
- Longer term
- Citizenship after about 4 years.
- Family
- Dependants apply for family reunion visas (VITEM XI).
- Your passport
- Visa-based for all three. US and Canadian citizens have needed a visitor e-visa since 10 April 2025; from 1 Sept 2026 consulates issue temporary visas electronically only for nationals exempt from visitor visas (e.g. UK), so US/CA applicants may still need the paper/consular process.
A job offer
Brazil work visa
Visto temporário VITEM V – trabalho (RN CNIg 2/2017 and others)
People hired by a legally established Brazilian employer, which first obtains a residence authorisation from the Ministry of Justice.
- What you need
- Residence authorisation approved by the Ministry of Justice and Public Security before the visa application, arranged by the Brazilian employer (RN 2/2017 for salaried employment).
- Not for
- Remote workers for foreign employers (use the nomad visa)
- Where you apply
- From home or inside the country. Employer applies in Brazil; then visa at the consulate. People already in Brazil can apply for work residence directly with the Ministry of Justice. Register with the Polícia Federal within 90 days of first entry and get a CRNM (migrant ID); you also need a CPF tax number.
- How long it takes
- Not stated.
- First permit
- Initial stay up to 1 year; residence period set by the Ministry of Justice (up to 2 years depending on the job).
- Renewal
- Extension via the Polícia Federal before expiry.
- Longer term
- Citizenship after about 4 years.
- Family
- Dependants can apply for family reunion visas.
- Your passport
- Visa-based for all three. US and Canadian citizens have needed a visitor e-visa since 10 April 2025; from 1 Sept 2026 consulates issue temporary visas electronically only for nationals exempt from visitor visas (e.g. UK), so US/CA applicants may still need the paper/consular process.
Invest
Brazil investor visa
Visto temporário VITEM IX – investimento (RN CNIg 13/2017 and 36/2018)
Investors putting R$500,000 into a Brazilian company, R$150,000 into a startup, or R$700,000 to R$1,000,000 into Brazilian property.
- What you need
- At least R$500,000 in a Brazilian company (RN 13/2017). (BRL 500,000)
- Or at least R$150,000 in a Brazilian startup/innovation business (RN 13/2017). (BRL 150,000)
- Or real estate: at least R$700,000 in the North or Northeast, or R$1,000,000 in the Centre-West, Southeast or South (RN 36/2018). (BRL 700,000)
- Prior approval of the residence authorisation by the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, started in Brazil.
- Not for
- People who want to invest from abroad without a representative in Brazil
- Where you apply
- From home or inside the country. Start with the Ministry of Justice in Brazil (often through a representative); the consulate then issues the visa. Register with the Polícia Federal within 90 days of first entry and get a CRNM (migrant ID); you also need a CPF tax number.
- How long it takes
- Not stated.
- First permit
- Indefinite stay (per the Vienna embassy page); visa valid 1 year for first entry.
- Renewal
- Not applicable per the official page; secondary sources say some tiers start temporary.
- Longer term
- 0Citizenship after about 4 years.
- Family
- Dependants get family reunion visas (VITEM XI) on the same terms.
- Your passport
- Visa-based for all three. US and Canadian citizens have needed a visitor e-visa since 10 April 2025; from 1 Sept 2026 consulates issue temporary visas electronically only for nationals exempt from visitor visas (e.g. UK), so US/CA applicants may still need the paper/consular process.
Study Rules need confirming
Brazil student visa
Visto temporário VITEM IV – estudo/estágio
Students enrolled at a Brazilian institution or doing a supervised internship.
- What you need
- Enrolment or internship at a Brazilian institution; full document list not on the official page read.
- Not for
- People who mainly want to work (part-time work compatible with the course is allowed)
- Where you apply
- From home or inside the country. Consulate, or the Polícia Federal if already in Brazil. Register with the Polícia Federal within 90 days of first entry and get a CRNM (migrant ID); you also need a CPF tax number.
- How long it takes
- Not stated.
- First permit
- Up to 1 year.
- Renewal
- Extendable until the course or internship ends.
- Family
- Not stated.
- Your passport
- Visa-based for all three. US and Canadian citizens have needed a visitor e-visa since 10 April 2025; from 1 Sept 2026 consulates issue temporary visas electronically only for nationals exempt from visitor visas (e.g. UK), so US/CA applicants may still need the paper/consular process.
The official page read covers internships and mentions study only in passing; it still says US and Canadian citizens are visa-exempt for short visits, which is out of date.
Treaties and special cases
Brazil family reunion visa
Visto temporário VITEM XI – reunião familiar (Portaria Interministerial 12/2018)
Spouses, stable-union partners (same or opposite sex) and children of Brazilian citizens or of residents in Brazil.
- What you need
- Proof of marriage, stable union or parentage; marriage by proxy is not accepted. Birth certificate apostilled and translated by a Brazilian sworn translator.
- Not for
- Couples married by power of attorney
- Where you apply
- From home or inside the country. Consulate, or the Polícia Federal if already in Brazil. Register with the Polícia Federal within 90 days of first entry and get a CRNM (migrant ID); you also need a CPF tax number.
- How long it takes
- Not stated.
- First permit
- Initial stay up to 1 year; residence period set at Polícia Federal registration.
- Renewal
- Through the Polícia Federal.
- Longer term
- Citizenship after about 1 years.
- Family
- The route is itself family-based.
- Your passport
- Visa-based for all three. US and Canadian citizens have needed a visitor e-visa since 10 April 2025; from 1 Sept 2026 consulates issue temporary visas electronically only for nationals exempt from visitor visas (e.g. UK), so US/CA applicants may still need the paper/consular process.