As the largest country in South America, Brazil and its largest cities attract expatriates and companies from all over the world. Its vibrant and diverse culture, good quality of life and stunning environment boost the country’s attractiveness for employees. In parallel, Brazil is the major economy in LATAM and continues to be a powerhouse in many sectors. However, to settle and work in Brazil, it is pivotal to have a clear understanding of the work visas possibilities and requirements.
In this article we will outline the requirements for each work visa. See the topics we will cover below:
Table of Contents
Categories of Work Visas in Brazil
All foreign applicants wishing to come to Brazil for work purposes must have a valid passport and an appropriate work permit. Most importantly, to apply to Brazilian visas, you will need to contact the Brazilian Embassy or Consulate of your country.
Permanent VISA (VIPER)
Foreigner workers entitled to permanent residence in Brazil usually seek this visa. It applies to professional researchers, scientists, investors with more than $50,000 invested per person or $200,000 invested per company, managers, and directors.
Although the permanent visa entitles a foreign national to live and work indefinitely in Brazil, it is subject to revision within the third year after its issuance.
On the other hand, holding a permanent visa for more than 4 years allow residents to apply for Brazilian citizenship.
Work VISA (VITEM V)
This temporary visa is the most common working visa. It is usually issued to foreign nationals who travel to Brazil for work purposes. All applicants looking for a work visa in Brazil must be sponsored by a Brazilian employer. They also need to get approval by the Ministry of Labor and Employment. Requirement must be fulfilled by both employer and employee.
It is to be noted that holders of VITEM V visa are eligible to apply for permanent work visa after two years.
Also, is it worth noting that you can only work for your employer. If you do change jobs you’ll need to reapply for a new visa.
Business VISA (VITEM II)
This temporary visa is issues to foreign nationals traveling to Brazil for any of the following reasons:
- Business meetings, participation to an exhibition, trade show or industrial fair.
- Flight crew members who does not hold an international crew card.
- Journalists and anyone travelling for media coverage.
National foreigners with this specific visa can stay for up to 90 days per year. Please note that any person with the Business VISA cannot accept any money from Brazilian companies.
Nomad Digital VISA
Brazil has recently opened its own version of the Digital Nomad visa. The nomad digital visa is a new visa. It is for foreign nationals employed outside and wishing to reside in and work remotely from Brazil. The period of residence will be up to a year and may be renewed if all conditions are met.
Visa fees may vary from a country to another. Generally, it is in the range of $100-$300. To know the exact fee, you may check the Brazilian embassy website of your native country.
Generally, the process will last 30 days. However, this delay may vary according to the volume of processes to be analyzed and any possible requirements that arise during the process.
Work Visa requirements in Brazil
Each procedures of work visas are differents. As the work visa is the most common, please find the requirements below:
- Two years of professional experience in the relevant field and a minimum of 9 years of school-level education, or
- A relevant university degree and one year of relevant experience, or
- A relevant post-graduate degree with no professional experience.
Brazil Work Visa application process
Both employer and employee need to deal with the work visa application procedure. The company will act as a sponsor and will seek approval to the Ministery of Labour. Only companies with a legal entity in Brazil can create this visa application.
If you are looking to hire a Brazilian employee but you don’t own a Brazilian legal entity, you might use an EOR provider. Disover it here.
Employees will need to provide basic informations such as their passport, address, proof of educational and professional experience and so on. Because each embassy has a different approach to visa processing, it’s very important that you talk directly to your local embassy.
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