What is Brazil's Digital Nomad Visa (VITEM XIV)?

Remote workers employed by or contracted to companies outside Brazil. It lasts 1 year, renewable once for an equal period — up to 2 years in total. None. Resolução CNIg nº 45/2021 creates a standalone two-year residence that does not convert to an indefinite-term one and builds nothing toward it. At the end of the second year you either leave or qualify separately under a work, investment or family route. Guides that fold nomad time into a four-year clock are describing the naturalisation residence requirement, which is a different thing and needs an underlying qualifying residence.

What is Brazil's Work visa (VITEM V)?

People employed by a Brazilian company, which must obtain a prior work authorisation. It lasts granted for an initial 2 years, renewable for a further 2 or converted to indefinite term. Good, and shorter than most people expect. Under Decreto 9.199/2017 the two-year work residence can be changed to an indefinite-term residence (residência por prazo indeterminado) at the end of it, applied for through the Federal Police — not a four-year wait. Naturalisation is a separate clock, four years of residence in the ordinary case.

What is Brazil's Investor visa (VITEM IX)?

Founders and investors putting capital into a Brazilian company. It lasts granted for up to 4 years initially in most cases, and convertible to permanent. One of the faster routes: investor residence converts to permanent on satisfying the investment and job-creation conditions.

What is Brazil's Retirement visa (pensioner)?

Retirees with a transferable pension. It lasts granted as residence, renewable, with a route to permanence. Yes — retiree residence is renewable and convertible to an indefinite-term residence. Naturalisation is a separate four-year clock in the ordinary case.

GlobeQuest

Moving from Ukraine to Brazil

What your passport gets you at the border — and what it takes to actually stay.

Ukraine

BrazilShort stay

Visa-free · 90 days

Ukraine passport holders can enter Brazil without a visa and stay up to 90 days.

This is short-stay visitor policy only. It does not let you work, study or settle in Brazil — that needs a residence permit.

Passport Index · updated 17 February 2026Brazil's official immigration service

Long stay

How you actually move to Brazil

Digital nomadHigh confidenceVerified July 2026

Digital Nomad Visa (VITEM XIV)

Remote workers employed by or contracted to companies outside Brazil.

What you need

Proof of income of at least USD 1,500 per month, or at least USD 18,000 in available savings
An employment contract or client contracts with non-Brazilian entities
Police clearance certificate
Health insurance valid in Brazil
Proof of the remote working arrangement

How long it lasts: 1 year, renewable once for an equal period — up to 2 years in total.
Path to permanent residence: None. Resolução CNIg nº 45/2021 creates a standalone two-year residence that does not convert to an indefinite-term one and builds nothing toward it. At the end of the second year you either leave or qualify separately under a work, investment or family route. Guides that fold nomad time into a four-year clock are describing the naturalisation residence requirement, which is a different thing and needs an underlying qualifying residence.
Cost: Consular visa fee plus the CRNM residence-card fee after arrival.
Processing time: Most consulates issue the visa in 2–6 weeks once documents are complete; the CRNM card then takes a further 4–8 weeks with the Federal Police.

Worth knowing

The visa is only half the process. You must register with the Federal Police within 90 days of arrival to get the CRNM card, and until you have it, opening a bank account or signing a long lease is difficult.
The income bar is among the lowest of any digital nomad programme worldwide, and Brazil's cost of living makes USD 1,500 go a long way — the combination is the real draw.
Crossing 183 days of presence within any twelve-month period on a temporary visa makes you a Brazilian tax resident — and Brazil then taxes worldwide income, with no special expatriate regime. This is the trap most nomad guides omit, and on a two-year visa you will cross it.
The residence authorisation can also be requested from inside Brazil through the Ministry of Justice if you are already here, which is not true of most Brazilian routes.
Getting a CPF (Brazilian tax number) early makes everything else easier; it can be obtained before the CRNM.

Sources:Itamaraty — Portal Consular (visas)Polícia Federal — Migration services Portal de Imigração — Resolução CNIg/MJSP nº 45/2021 (digital nomads)

Work / sponsoredMedium confidenceVerified July 2026

Work visa (VITEM V)

People employed by a Brazilian company, which must obtain a prior work authorisation.

What you need

A Brazilian employer that applies for work authorisation from the Ministry of Labour and Employment before the visa is issued
A degree plus relevant experience, or substantial experience without one, depending on the category
Compliance with the two-thirds rule: Brazilian companies must generally maintain two Brazilian employees for every foreign one, in headcount and payroll
Documents legalised and sworn-translated into Portuguese

How long it lasts: Granted for an initial 2 years, renewable for a further 2 or converted to indefinite term.
Path to permanent residence: Good, and shorter than most people expect. Under Decreto 9.199/2017 the two-year work residence can be changed to an indefinite-term residence (residência por prazo indeterminado) at the end of it, applied for through the Federal Police — not a four-year wait. Naturalisation is a separate clock, four years of residence in the ordinary case.
Cost: Employer-borne authorisation costs plus your consular and CRNM fees.
Processing time: Months, dominated by the Ministry of Labour authorisation and by document legalisation.

Worth knowing

The two-thirds rule constrains small Brazilian companies from hiring foreigners at all.
Sworn translation (tradução juramentada) must be done by a translator registered in Brazil — translations done abroad are commonly rejected, which is the classic avoidable delay.

Sources:Itamaraty — Portal Consular (visas)Portal de Imigração — autorização de residência laboral

InvestmentMedium confidenceVerified July 2026

Investor visa (VITEM IX)

Founders and investors putting capital into a Brazilian company.

What you need

Investment commonly set at BRL 500,000 in a Brazilian company, with a reduced threshold around BRL 150,000 for innovation, research or startup activity accompanied by a strong plan
Registration of the foreign capital with the Central Bank
A business plan showing job creation or productivity gains

How long it lasts: Granted for up to 4 years initially in most cases, and convertible to permanent.
Path to permanent residence: One of the faster routes: investor residence converts to permanent on satisfying the investment and job-creation conditions.
Cost: The investment plus incorporation, accountancy and legal costs.
Processing time: Several months including company formation and Central Bank registration.

Worth knowing

The reduced innovation threshold is significantly less well known than the BRL 500,000 headline and is the route most tech founders should be looking at.
The capital must be registered with the Central Bank as foreign direct investment; transferring money without that registration does not count.

Sources:Itamaraty — Portal Consular (visas)Polícia Federal — Migration services

RetirementMedium confidenceVerified July 2026

Retirement visa (pensioner)

Retirees with a transferable pension.

What you need

Proof of a pension or retirement income, commonly cited around USD 2,000 per month, transferable to Brazil
Police clearance and health documentation
Registration with the Federal Police on arrival

How long it lasts: Granted as residence, renewable, with a route to permanence.
Path to permanent residence: Yes — retiree residence is renewable and convertible to an indefinite-term residence. Naturalisation is a separate four-year clock in the ordinary case.
Cost: Consular and CRNM fees.
Processing time: Weeks to a few months at the consulate.

Worth knowing

The income must be a pension, not general investment income — Brazil distinguishes the two, unlike some Latin American neighbours.
Brazil taxes residents on worldwide income, and there is no special expatriate regime. Model this before relocating a pension.

Sources:Itamaraty — Portal Consular (visas)

FamilyMedium confidenceVerified July 2026

Family reunion (spouse, partner or parent of a Brazilian)

Spouses and stable partners of Brazilian citizens or residents, and parents of Brazilian children. The fastest route Brazil offers.

What you need

Proof of marriage or a stable union (união estável), which Brazil recognises broadly
Or proof of a Brazilian child
Documents legalised and sworn-translated

How long it lasts: Granted as residence, often directly permanent for spouses and parents of Brazilian children.
Path to permanent residence: Often immediate permanent residence. Naturalisation is possible after just 1 year of residence for those with a Brazilian spouse or child, against 4 years otherwise — one of the shortest such clocks anywhere.
Cost: Modest fees; no financial threshold.
Processing time: Weeks to a few months, and it can be filed from inside Brazil with the Federal Police.

Worth knowing

The stable-union route does not require marriage and is recognised for same-sex couples, which makes Brazil unusually accessible on family grounds.
Being able to file from within Brazil, rather than at a consulate abroad, is a significant practical advantage over most other routes here.

Sources:Polícia Federal — Migration services Itamaraty — Portal Consular (visas)

On the ground