Bring Your Family to Brazil Legally

Family reunion visa applicants must demonstrate that the Brazilian sponsor can financially support the applicant(s).

Financial criteria typically include:

• Sponsor’s proof of income (employment letter, tax returns)
• Sponsor’s bank statements (usually 3-6 months)
• Property ownership documents (if applicable)
• Declaration of financial responsibility from sponsor

The one financial requirement tied to a dependent’s age is proof of economic dependency, and that only applies to stepchildren or siblings qualifying under the age rules above, not to spouses, children or parents generally.

Note: spouse and partner applications may carry additional financial and asset implications, including higher fees. We’ll advise on the full cost during your consultation.

The exact financial requirements may vary, we help ensure your financial documentation meets the specific requirements of your processing consulate.

The family reunion visa application process varies by consulate location and time of year.

Typical processing times:

• Standard processing: 15-90 days when the family member is already in Brazil and applies through a single Federal Police appointment. Longer, closer to several months, for nationals who must apply through a Consulate abroad first.
• Peak season delays: Processing times may extend during holiday periods
• Interview scheduling: May add additional time to timeline
• Additional verification: Complex cases may require additional processing time

We recommend applying at least 90 days before your intended travel date to account for processing times and any potential document corrections needed.

Please note the following with regard to temporary visas and residency permits applications under the family reunification category.

1. Concurrent Applications: Applicants may apply for a family reunification temporary visa or residence permit while their sponsor’s application (for temporary visa or residence permit) is still pending.
2. Contingent Outcome: The outcome of a family reunification temporary visa or residence permit application is contingent on the outcome of the sponsor’s application. If the sponsor’s application is rejected, the family reunification application will be rejected as well.
3. Ineligible Sponsors: Foreign nationals who acquired their resident status through family reunification are not eligible to sponsor other family members into Brazil.
4. Proxy Marriages Excluded: Temporary visas or residency permits under the family reunification category will not be granted based on proxy marriages.
5. Proof of Domestic Partnerships: To prove a domestic partnership, applicants must primarily provide a relevant certificate or official document issued by a competent authority or court in the applicant’s home country. Alternatively, a domestic partnership may be evidenced in a decision rendered by a Brazilian court of competent jurisdiction. In the absence of such official documents, domestic partner status must be evidenced by a certificate or deed issued or attested to by a foreign or Brazilian registrar or notary public. This must be supplemented by affidavits from two persons and additional evidence, including:
   • Certificate of financial dependence from tax authorities
   • Joint insurance policies
   • Proof of joint bank accounts
   • Stipulations of last wills
   • Certificates of birth for foreign children
   • Joint rental agreements
6. Duration: family reunification temporary visas are valid for up to one year. family reunification residency permits will match the length of the sponsor’s residence permit.
7. Federal Police Registration: family reunification temporary visa holders are required to register with the Federal Police in Brazil within ninety days of their first entry into the country.
8. Outstanding Fines: Processing of applications for a family reunification residence permit is contingent upon the full payment of any outstanding immigration fines (e.g, overstay fines).
9. Further Verification: The Federal Police (or other competent authorities) reserves the right to verify an applicant’s circumstances for applications under the family reunification category. This verification may involve conducting personal interviews with both applicants and their sponsors.
10. Paid Employment: Foreign nationals acquiring resident status through family reunification are entitled to pursue paid employment or operate a business in Brazil.
11. Path to Citizenship: Foreign nationals who acquired resident status in Brazil through sponsorship by their Brazilian children or spouse are eligible to apply for Brazilian citizenship (i.e., Brazilian passport), provided all other applicable requirements are satisfied.

Please read below as this information is extremely important. Failure to comply with requirements concerning legalization, apostille certification and sworn translation of documents may result in lengthy processing delays or outright rejection of your application.

1. Legalization of Foreign Documents: Official (i.e., public) documents issued by countries that are not party to the Apostille Convention must undergo legalization at the Brazilian embassy or closest consulate, generally the one with jurisdiction over the applicant’s residence.
2. Apostille Certificates: Since Brazil is a signatory to the Apostille Convention, any official document issued by an authority in a member country must be authenticated with an apostille certificate. Procedures for obtaining an apostille vary by country, therefore applicants are encouraged to consult their local government or administrative authority for specific guidelines.
3. Sworn Translations Required: For all foreign documents, whether official or unofficial, and including apostilles, a certified (sworn) translation performed in Brazil is mandatory under Brazilian law. Failure to comply with this requirement can significantly delay the processing of a family reunification residence permit application.
4. Hard-to-Find Translators: Finding sworn English-to-Portuguese translators is generally much easier in Brazil. However, for documents in languages where translators are scarce (e.g., Middle Eastern, Asian, or certain European languages like Greek, Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish, Danish, or Dutch), a practical alternative is recommended. Consider obtaining a certified or notarized translation of your document from its original language into English. Have the English translation legalized at the Brazilian consulate or certified with an apostille, as applicable. The apostille on the certified or translation should also be in English, if at all possible. Subsequently, use the relevant document, its certified or notarized English translation and the corresponding sworn English-to-Portuguese translation in the application process. This approach can often expedite the process and reduce costs.