🇬🇧 How to set a business in Brazil

Brazil is a place where there are many opportunities for foreigners and the people is usually friendly. The country is cheaper to live than developed countries usually are, and it counts on various comforts and benefits developed countries have. More than that, it’s among the biggest consumers of luxury goods around the globe. This post is to talk about the visas to remain and invest in Brazil, not the ones you need as a tourist. I’ll mention below all the visas available, except the visa for tourism, and then I continue the content for those professionally interested in Brazil, focusing on entrepreneurship.

Brazil adopts a policy of reciprocity regarding visas. This means that nationals of countries that require visas for Brazilian citizens will need a visa to travel to Brazil. According to the Brazilian law, Brazil must agree, on a reciprocal basis, to offer visa waiver to nationals of another country, except for the hypotheses established in the Decree 9.731 / 2019. Brazil has signed visa exemption agreements with about 90 countries.

Visas are classified according to the purpose of the trip to Brazil, and not according to the type of passport presented. (Please note that foreigners without the appropriate visa will be denied entry in Brazil)

Diplomatic Visa: granted to foreign authorities and employees who have diplomatic status and travel to Brazil on an official mission, either on temporary or permanent basis, representing foreign Governments or International Organizations recognized by Brazil.

Official Visa: granted to foreign administrative staff traveling to Brazil on an official mission, either on temporary or permanent basis, representing foreign Governments or International Organizations recognized by the Brazilian government; or to any foreigners traveling to Brazil under official seal of their States.

Courtesy Visa: granted to personalities and foreign authorities in an unofficial trip to Brazil; spouse or partner, regardless of their gender, dependents and other family members who do not benefit from Diplomatic or Official Visa for family reunification; domestic workers of foreign Mission based in Brazil or of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; foreign artists and sportsmen traveling to Brazil for free and eminently cultural events.

Temporary Visa: granted to foreigners in the following situations:

I – Temporary Visa I: research, teaching or academic extension;

II – Temporary Visa II: health care visa;

III – Temporary Visa III: humanitarian visa;

IV – Temporary Visa IV: as a student;

V – Temporary Visa V: paid work visa;

VI – Temporary Visa VI: Working-Holiday Visa: for those who travel primarily for purposes of tourism, with the possibility of undertaking paid employment. Visa granted on the basis of bilateral agreements. There are currently agreements with New Zealand, France and Germany;

VII – Temporary Visa VII: as a minister of a religious confession or as a member of an institute of consecrated life and of a congregation or religious order;

VIII – Temporary Visa VIII – voluntary work visa;

IX – Temporary Visa IX – investor visa;

X – Temporary Visa X – visa for activities of economic, scientific, technological or cultural relevance;

XI – Temporary Visa XI – family reunification visa;

XII – Temporary Visa XII – artistic or sports activities visa;

XIII – Temporary Visa XIII – temporary visas due to international agreements;

XIV – Temporary Visa XIV - temporary visas due to the Brazilian immigration policy;

XV – VICAM - Temporary Visa for foreign doctors (medical training).

The Brazilian government has identified a few cases of foreigners seeking illegal agencies in order to get married to Brazilian citizens, for purposes of obtaining a visa to stay in Brazil. In such cases, the visa will not be granted to the foreign citizen and the Brazilian citizen who took part in such scheme may be punished for fraudulent misrepresentation.

Brazilian market is very attractive and each region has its peculiarities and needs. So, in the south is where we find more white people, mostly descendants of italian and german people, but it’s possible to find people with other origins. For people not used to spicy food, it’s the best region to start living. South and southeast are where most industries are in Brazil, and in these two regions foreigners feel very comfortable. North, northeast and central west have strong regional features. These regions are more friendly than the south, but to have return on investment there you must know what each region needs. If you need tips to develop the strategy for your new business or to develop your career in Brazil, schedule an appointment with me. It can be online. Activities that can be done online as teaching foreign languages can be developed almost anywhere in Brazil as we usually have quick internet in any big city and in most smaller ones.

To open a business in Brazil is easy. Sometimes it takes some time, and you’ll need an accountant to help you. For other small activities there’s a way to open a business very quickly (I need to check if this is quick and easy for foreigners too, but for locals it takes an instant to start the business as a MEI (micro entrepreneur individual). I’ll include more specific content in other posts. In past content you can also find more information on brazilian culture and gastronomy of each region.

Nycka, the nomad