No points system: Brazil works through purpose-based VITEM visas issued by consulates and residence authorisations granted under CNIg Normative Resolutions — with a fast two-year Mercosur track for South Americans.
Overview
Brazil has no points system. Selection runs on the Migration Law (Lei 13.445/2017) and its regulation (Decreto 9.199/2017): you qualify under a specific purpose-based route, most of which are defined in Normative Resolutions (RNs) of the National Immigration Council (CNIg) under the Ministry of Justice and Public Security. Temporary visas (VITEM) are issued abroad by Itamaraty's consulates through the e-Consular system — VITEM IV (study), VITEM V (work), VITEM IX (investor), VITEM XI (family reunion), VITEM XIV (digital nomad), among others. Many routes can instead be applied for inside Brazil as a residence authorisation, filed in the MigranteWeb system and concluded at a Polícia Federal unit. Investors need R$500,000 under RN 13/2017 (R$150,000 for innovation ventures since RN 49/2024); digital nomads need US$1,500/month foreign income or US$18,000 in funds under RN 45/2021. Nationals of eight South American countries use the Mercosur Residence Agreement instead — two years' temporary residence convertible to permanent. Verified against gov.br/mre, gov.br/pf, portaldeimigracao.mj.gov.br and planalto.gov.br as of June 2026.
Main Routes at a Glance
| Route | Legal basis | Core requirement | Initial duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work (employer-sponsored) | VITEM V / CNIg RNs | Employer files residence authorisation request in MigranteWeb before the consular visa | Per contract; renewable |
| Investor (business) | RN 13/2017 (CNIg) | R$500,000 foreign-currency investment in a Brazilian company + investment/business plan; R$150,000–500,000 possible for innovation, science or technology ventures (RN 49/2024) | Up to 2 years, then indefinite |
| Investor (real estate) | RN 36/2018 (CNIg) | Urban property of R$1,000,000 or more with external funds — threshold may be 30% lower (≈R$700,000) only in the North and Northeast regions | Up to 2 years, renewable, then indefinite |
| Digital nomad | RN 45/2021 (CNIg) / VITEM XIV | Remote work for a foreign employer + US$1,500/month foreign income OR US$18,000 in available funds + health insurance valid in Brazil | Up to 1 year, renewable for 1 more |
| Family reunion | VITEM XI / Decreto 9.199 | Sponsor is a Brazilian national or migrant with residence authorisation | Tied to sponsor's status |
| Study | VITEM IV | Enrolment at a Brazilian institution | Course duration |
| Mercosur Residence Agreement | Decreto 6.975/2009 / VITEM XIII | Nationality of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru or Uruguay + clean criminal record | 2 years, convertible to permanent |
Who Decides What
- Consulates (Itamaraty / MRE): Embassies and consulates issue all visas, including VITEM temporary visas, with applications lodged through the e-Consular portal (econsular.itamaraty.gov.br). Consular fees vary by visa type and nationality (reciprocity).
- Ministry of Justice and Public Security (MJSP): Work-related and investment residence authorisations are requested in the MigranteWeb system and decided on the basis of CNIg Normative Resolutions; for several routes (e.g. VITEM V work, VITEM IX investor) this prior residence authorisation must be granted before the consulate can issue the visa.
- Polícia Federal: Receives in-country residence authorisation applications, conducts the mandatory migrant registration, and issues the CRNM (Carteira de Registro Nacional Migratório). Standard fees: R$168.13 to process a residence authorisation request (code 140066) and R$204.77 to issue the CRNM (code 140120).
- CNIg (Conselho Nacional de Imigração): Sets the substantive criteria through Normative Resolutions — RN 13/2017 (investor), RN 36/2018 (real-estate investor), RN 45/2021 (digital nomad) and others, all published on portaldeimigracao.mj.gov.br.
- No quotas, no draws: There is no annual cap, points test or invitation round in any of these routes — if you meet the RN's criteria and documentation, the route is open year-round.
The Mercosur Track — South America's Shortcut
- Who qualifies: Nationals of the Mercosur Residence Agreement states applied by Brazil — Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay (Venezuela, Guyana and Suriname are not covered; border-resident rules apply instead).
- What you get: A two-year temporary residence authorisation requested directly at the Polícia Federal, with no job offer, investment or income threshold — the core requirements are identity, clean criminal record, and the PF fees.
- Conversion to permanent: Within the 90 days before the two-year authorisation expires, you can apply to convert to residence of indefinite duration, showing your CRNM, criminal record certificates, a declaration of no criminal record anywhere in the previous five years, and lawful means of subsistence for you and your family.
- Document advantage: Under Decreto 6.975/2009 documents from Agreement states are exempt from sworn translation (consular legalisation rules still apply), which removes a significant cost from the file.
- Work rights: Mercosur residents have full labour-market access from day one — no employer sponsorship needed.
Permanence and Citizenship
- Indefinite residence: Most two-year temporary authorisations (investor, Mercosur, family) convert to residence of indefinite duration (prazo indeterminado) on renewal if the underlying condition is maintained.
- Ordinary naturalisation: Under art. 65 of Lei 13.445/2017 — four years' residence in Brazil, capacity to communicate in Portuguese, and no criminal conviction (or rehabilitation). Applications are filed electronically via gov.br and decided by the MJSP (Portaria 623/2020 sets the procedure).
- One-year track for Lusophone nationals: The Federal Constitution (art. 12, I, b) requires only one year of uninterrupted residence plus good character for nationals of Portuguese-speaking countries (Portugal, Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, São Tomé and Príncipe, East Timor, Equatorial Guinea).
- Statutory reductions: Lei 13.445 allows the four-year period to be reduced to as little as one year in defined cases, including having a Brazilian child or a Brazilian spouse/partner.
- Dual citizenship: Brazil does not require renunciation of your existing nationality on naturalisation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Brazil have a points-based skilled migration system like Australia or Canada?
No. Brazil selects entirely through purpose-based routes defined in the Migration Law (Lei 13.445/2017), Decreto 9.199/2017 and CNIg Normative Resolutions. There is no points test, no occupation list draw, no annual quota and no invitation round. If you fit a route — employer-sponsored work, investment, study, family reunion, digital nomad, Mercosur nationality — and assemble the documents the relevant Normative Resolution requires, you can apply at any time. Skilled workers without a Brazilian employer generally have no standalone route; the practical alternatives are the digital nomad visa (foreign employer), the investor resolutions, or the Mercosur Agreement if you hold a qualifying nationality.
How much do I need to invest to get Brazilian residence as an investor?
Two routes. Business: RN 13/2017 requires a foreign-currency investment of at least R$500,000 in a Brazilian company, registered with the Central Bank, plus an investment or business plan; since RN 49/2024 (25 June 2024) the MJSP can accept R$150,000–500,000 for ventures in innovation, basic or applied research of a scientific or technological character. Real estate: RN 36/2018 requires urban property totalling R$1,000,000 or more bought with external funds — the threshold can be up to 30% lower (about R$700,000) only when the property is in the North or Northeast regions. Both grant up to two years' residence, renewable and convertible to indefinite duration if the investment is maintained.
What are the requirements for Brazil's digital nomad visa?
RN 45/2021 (CNIg) created the route, processed as VITEM XIV at consulates. You must work remotely for a foreign employer or foreign clients using information and communication technologies, and prove either foreign-source income of at least US$1,500 per month or available bank funds of at least US$18,000. Consular checklists also require a declaration that you can perform your work remotely, your employment or service contract, health insurance valid in Brazilian territory, and a criminal record certificate. Residence is granted for up to one year and renewable for an equal period. You cannot work for a Brazilian employer on this visa.
I'm Argentinian — do I need a visa or investment to live in Brazil?
No. As a national of a Mercosur Residence Agreement state (Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru or Uruguay) you can apply directly at a Polícia Federal unit in Brazil — or for a VITEM XIII visa at a consulate first — for a two-year temporary residence authorisation. There is no income threshold, job offer or investment requirement; the essentials are identity documents, criminal record certificates and the PF fees (R$168.13 processing + R$204.77 CRNM). In the 90 days before the two years expire you can convert to permanent residence by showing clean criminal records for the previous five years and lawful means of subsistence. You can work from day one.
How does the employer-sponsored work route actually proceed?
In two stages. First, the Brazilian employer files a residence authorisation request in the MigranteWeb system, which is examined within the Ministry of Justice and Public Security against the applicable CNIg Normative Resolution (employment contract route, technical assistance, intra-company transfer, etc.). Only after that authorisation is granted does the worker apply for the VITEM V visa at the Brazilian consulate through e-Consular, presenting the authorisation. After arrival, the worker must register with the Polícia Federal within 90 days of entry to receive the RNM number and CRNM card. The residence is tied to the sponsoring employer; changing employers requires a new authorisation.
How long until I can apply for Brazilian citizenship?
Ordinary naturalisation under art. 65 of Lei 13.445/2017 requires four years of residence with indefinite-duration status, the capacity to communicate in Portuguese, and no criminal conviction. The Constitution cuts this to one year of uninterrupted residence plus good moral character for nationals of Portuguese-speaking countries. The Migration Law also reduces the four years to as little as one year in defined cases, such as having a Brazilian child or spouse. Applications go through the MJSP's electronic system on gov.br under Portaria 623/2020, with Portuguese proven by Celpe-Bras or other accepted certificates. Brazil permits dual citizenship, so you keep your original nationality.