Brazil immigration

Routes for work, family, study, remote work, retirement, investment, Mercosur nationals and asylum under the Migration Law, and the path to Brazilian citizenship.

Brazil added three residence routes for foreigners in 2026, for workers hired for megaevents, Haitian families and Afghans under humanitarian reception. The ministers of Justice and Foreign Affairs signed all three ordinances, and the minister of Labor co-signed the one on megaevents.

Ouviram, a newspaper covering Brazil's economic news, has set out the three ordinances in its guide to Brazil residency rules.

Three new residence routes in 2026

Interministerial Ordinance 68 of September 15, 2026 provides for "the granting of residence authorization for work purposes, prior to the issuance of a visa, to immigrants who come to Brazil to carry out activities linked to the preparation, organization, planning and execution of megaevents."

The ordinance defines a megaevent as "an event of exceptional magnitude and international repercussion" that meets five criteria at once. International reach can come from "the organization, endorsement, sponsorship or support of a recognized international body, such as the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the International Olympic Committee (IOC) or the United Nations (UN)." The size test is "the direct or indirect mobilization of at least fifty thousand participants or visitors, or the generation of a flow of more than five hundred thousand people while it is held."

The Ministry of Sport said the FIFA Women's World Cup will be played in Brazil from June 24 to July 25, 2027, with 32 teams in eight host cities: Belo Horizonte, Brasília, Fortaleza, Porto Alegre, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and São Paulo. According to the ministry, "the Ordinance establishes criteria that allow the procedure to be applied to other megaevents held in the country."

The ordinance names the main fields of work: "civil construction and infrastructure; hospitality, tourism and support services for participants; security, health and emergency care; translation, interpretation and international communication; information technology, telecommunications and technological support; and other specialized activities indispensable to holding the event."

Hiring is temporary, "for a period not exceeding twenty-four months, counted from the signing of the employment contract, subject to a maximum limit of six months after the end of the megaevent."

Specialists who install, operate, maintain or repair equipment for the event follow a separate technical assistance track. Their residence "will be granted for a period of up to one year, extendable for an equal period."

The application goes through the MigranteWeb system at the request of "the megaevent organizer or a third party appointed by it." The Ministry of Justice and Public Security "will decide the applications within ten business days, counted from the date the file is duly completed."

The model contract annexed to the ordinance reads: "The employer shall bear the expenses of repatriating the employee to their country of origin, or to a previously determined place, at the end of the contract."

Ordinance 67 of July 30, 2026 extended the electronic family reunion visa for Haitians created by Ordinance 55 of August 2025. Its new wording reads: "The provisions of this Interministerial Ordinance shall remain in force until December 31, 2026."

The visa serves "Haitian nationals or stateless persons, residing in the Republic of Haiti, who have already obtained prior residence authorization" to join relatives in Brazil. It allows "a single entry into national territory", "will be valid for one year" and "will be sent to the e-mail address provided when filling in the application form."

Holders "must register at one of the Federal Police units within ninety days of the date of entry into national territory, at which time they must request the issuance of their National Migration Registry Card." The ordinance adds: "The immigrant holding the visa is guaranteed the free exercise of work activity in Brazil."

Haitian families also receive "exemption from fees, emoluments and fines for obtaining a visa, registration and prior residence authorization."

Ordinance 66, signed the same day, covers humanitarian reception. Under its first article, the visa and residence "may be granted to a national of Afghanistan or a stateless person who is in Iran, Pakistan or Turkey and who left Afghan territory on or after August 15, 2021."

The applicant "is in a regular migratory situation in the country where the visa is issued", holds no permanent residence there and has spent the last twelve months outside the country of origin. The embassies in Tehran, Islamabad and Ankara process the visas, and applicants hand in their original documents in person. Ordinance 66 is in force until June 30, 2027.

Residence under the 2017 Migration Law

Law 13,445 of 2017, the Migration Law, lists the purposes of residence: "research, teaching or academic extension; health treatment; humanitarian reception; study; work; working holiday; practice of religious activity or volunteer service; making an investment or carrying out an activity of economic, social, scientific, technological or cultural relevance; family reunion."

The same article covers a person who "is a beneficiary of a treaty on residence and free movement", "holds a job offer" or "is a beneficiary of refuge, asylum or protection for stateless persons." Ouviram has broken down immigration to Brazil by country of origin, place of work and refugee status.

Murblz experts compare every route and the property option on the Brazil residence permit page.

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Work visas and job offers

The law grants a temporary work visa to an immigrant who comes "to carry out work activity, with or without an employment relationship in Brazil, provided that they prove a formal job offer from a legal entity operating in the country, this requirement being waived if the immigrant proves a degree in a higher education course or equivalent."

Work visa holders keep "the possibility of changing the place where their work activity is carried out." Murblz experts have described how applications for the Brazil work visa and the digital nomad visa moved online.

Family reunion

Article 37 grants the family reunion visa or residence to an immigrant who is a "spouse or partner, without any discrimination", a "child of an immigrant holding residence authorization", or a person "who has a Brazilian child or a child who is an immigrant holding residence authorization."

The list continues with an "ascendant, descendant up to the second degree or sibling of a Brazilian or of an immigrant holding residence authorization", and a person "who has a Brazilian under their guardianship or custody." Murblz experts have described the route for parents in the guide to giving birth in Brazil.

Digital nomads

A 2021 resolution of the National Immigration Council defines a digital nomad as an immigrant who, "remotely and using information and communication technologies, is able to carry out their work activities in Brazil for a foreign employer."

The income test is "a monthly amount equal to or greater than US$1,500.00 (one thousand five hundred dollars) or availability of bank funds of at least US$18,000.00 (eighteen thousand dollars)", from "a foreign paying source." The initial residence period "will be up to one year" and "may be renewed for an equal period."

Requirements and taxes are covered on the Brazil digital nomad visa page. Ouviram has mapped coworking spaces from the city center to Campeche for digital nomads in Florianópolis.

Retirees

A 2019 resolution grants the temporary visa to a retiree or survivor's pension beneficiary "who proves the monthly transfer to Brazil of an amount, in foreign currency, equal to or greater than US$2,000.00 (two thousand dollars)." The pension can be topped up with "other regular sources of income."

The initial residence period "will be up to two years." Retirees, like digital nomads, present "health insurance valid in national territory." Income tax for new residents is covered in the guide to taxes in Brazil.

Investors and property buyers

The law grants the investment visa to an immigrant "who contributes resources to a project with the potential to generate jobs or income in the country."

A 2017 resolution sets the business threshold at $110,000 (500,000 reais), invested "upon presentation of an Investment or Business Plan." For an entrepreneur who invests "in innovation, basic or applied research, of a scientific or technological nature", the floor is $31,000 (150,000 reais). The resolution states: "The residence period provided for in this Resolution shall be indefinite."

A 2018 resolution covers property worth at least $210,000 (1,000,000 reais), "located in an urban area", built or under construction. The minimum "may be up to 30% lower" for property in the North and Northeast regions. There the floor is $150,000 (700,000 reais).

The investor may buy "more than one property as owner, provided that the sum of all the properties corresponds to the amount" required. Residence "will be 04 (four) years", after which it "may be changed to an indefinite period." The investor "must remain in national territory for at least 14 (fourteen) days, consecutive or not, in each two-year period."

Ouviram has compared the Brazil investor visa with the routes for startup founders and digital nomads. Property options and prices are in the guide to investment property in Brazil.

Mercosur nationals

Decree 6,975 of 2009 brought into force the residence agreement for nationals of Mercosur, Bolivia and Chile. Under it, "nationals of a State Party who wish to reside in the territory of another State Party may obtain legal residence in the latter."

Consulates and migration services "may grant temporary residence of up to two years." It "may be transformed into permanent residence" when the holder applies to the migration authority "90 (ninety) days before its expiry."

Study and research

The study visa serves an immigrant who intends "to come to Brazil to attend a regular course or carry out an internship or a study or research exchange." The research and teaching visa "may be granted to the immigrant with or without an employment relationship with the Brazilian research or teaching institution."

Refuge and asylum

The humanitarian visa "may be granted to a stateless person or to a national of any country in a situation of serious or imminent institutional instability, armed conflict, large-scale calamity, environmental disaster or serious violation of human rights or international humanitarian law."

An applicant for refuge, asylum or protection as a stateless person "shall be entitled to provisional residence authorization until a response to their application is obtained." Ouviram has explained how asylum in Brazil differs from refugee status and who decides each claim.

From residence to citizenship

Ordinary naturalization requires "residence in national territory for a minimum period of 4 (four) years" and the ability to "communicate in the Portuguese language, taking into account the conditions of the applicant."

The period falls to "at least 1 (one) year" for an applicant who has "a Brazilian child" or "a Brazilian spouse or partner." The shorter term also applies to those who "have rendered or are able to render relevant service to Brazil" or are recommended "by their professional, scientific or artistic capacity."

Extraordinary naturalization goes to "a person of any nationality established in Brazil for more than 15 (fifteen) uninterrupted years." Murblz experts have described the steps in the guide to Brazilian citizenship.

How to apply

The Federal Police service states that residence authorization "is granted to the immigrant who wishes to work or live in Brazil, either temporarily or permanently, provided that they meet the special requirements of the Migration Law and its regulation." The federal services portal gives its estimate: "Up to 180 calendar days is the estimated time for providing this service."

Murblz experts choose the route and the authority for each member of the family: a consulate abroad, the Ministry of Justice or the Federal Police in Brazil. The list of documents and the filing are handled at a consultation with Murblz experts. Monthly budgets for one person, a couple and a family are set out in the guide to the cost of living in Brazil.

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