Brazil Digital Nomad Visa: the 2026 guide

Official name

VITEM XIV · temporary visa for digital nomads

Legal basis

CNIg Resolution 45/2021

Income needed

US$1,500/month, or US$18,000 in the bank

Valid for

Up to 1 year, renewable once

Who it's for

Remote workers paid from outside Brazil

Where to apply

Brazilian consulate, or inside Brazil

Who qualifies

Brazil's digital nomad visa is for people who work remotely for an employer or clients outside Brazil, using the internet to do their job. Under CNIg Resolution 45/2021 a digital nomad is an immigrant who can carry out their work in Brazil remotely for a foreign employer.

• Employees of a company based outside Brazil qualify.
• Freelancers and contractors generally qualify too, if they can show a services contract with foreign clients.
• You cannot work for a Brazilian company or be on a Brazilian payroll with this visa. If that's your situation, you need a work residency instead.

The income requirement

You must prove one of the following:

• A monthly income of at least US$1,500 from a foreign source, or
• At least US$18,000 available in a bank account.

Document checklist

Requirements vary slightly between consulates, but this is the core list from the resolution and Brazil's consular guidance:

• PassportValid for at least 6 months, with at least 2 blank pages.
• Visa application formFilled in online at formulario-mre.serpro.gov.br, printed and signed.
• Passport photoRecent, front-facing (many consulates ask for 3.5 × 4.5 cm).
• Criminal record certificateFrom the country where you've lived recently, usually issued within the last 90 days and apostilled.
• Health insurance valid in BrazilMake sure the policy explicitly covers Brazil for the whole stay.
• Declaration of remote workA letter confirming you can do your job remotely. Some consulates require it to be apostilled.
• Employment or services contractWith your foreign employer or clients.
• Proof of income or fundsPayslips, invoices plus bank statements, or a bank statement showing US$18,000+.
• Birth certificateAsked for by some consulates, and always needed when applying from inside Brazil.

Apostille and sworn translation

Documents issued outside Brazil generally need an apostille, the international certification under the Hague Convention, issued in the country that produced the document. Without it, Brazilian authorities may not accept the document.

If you apply inside Brazil, foreign documents must also be translated into Portuguese by a sworn translator (tradutor público e intérprete comercial) registered with a Brazilian Junta Comercial. Consulates abroad set their own language rules, so check before you pay for translations you might not need.

How to apply

Option A: from outside Brazil (consular visa)

1. Fill in the visa application at formulario-mre.serpro.gov.br and print the signed receipt.
2. Book an appointment through the e-Consular system of the Brazilian consulate that covers where you live.
3. Submit your documents and pay the consular fee, which varies by nationality and consulate.
4. Once the visa is issued, travel to Brazil and register with the Federal Police (see below).

Option B: already in Brazil (residence authorization)

If you're in Brazil legally, for example as a visitor, you can request a residence authorization as a digital nomad from the Ministry of Justice instead of a consular visa. The resolution also asks for:

• The residence authorization form and your identity documents
• A birth certificate or other proof of parentage, with sworn translation
• Criminal record certificates from every country you lived in during the last five years, plus a declaration that you have no criminal record
• Proof of payment of the government fee (GRU)
• The same digital nomad proof: remote-work declaration, contract and income or funds

After you arrive

1. Register with the Federal Police (Polícia Federal) to get your RNM, the national migration registration card. Book early, because appointments in big cities fill up. The general rule is to register within 90 days of arrival.
2. Get a CPF, Brazil's tax ID. You need it for almost everything: a phone plan, a bank account, a rental contract.
3. Open a bank account and sort out your housing contract.

Renewal and after two years

The authorization lasts up to one year and can be renewed once for another year, with updated documents and criminal record certificates. To stay longer you'll need a different route, such as family reunion, investment or work residency.

A note on taxes

Spending more than 183 days in Brazil within a 12-month period can make you a Brazilian tax resident, with obligations on worldwide income. Talk to an accountant who knows both countries before you move.

Five mistakes that get applications rejected

1. Bank statements older than the consulate accepts
2. A missing apostille on the criminal record or remote-work declaration
3. Health insurance that doesn't explicitly cover Brazil
4. Names spelled differently across passport, contract and statements
5. An expired criminal record certificate (often valid for only 90 days)

FAQ