CPF now included
Additional Brazil Visa Services
Beyond our core visa offerings, we provide guidance on specialized visa categories tailored to unique circumstances.
Other Brazil Visa Types
We assist with a range of Brazilian visa applications beyond our primary services. Each visa type has unique requirements based on your nationality, purpose of travel, and intended length of stay.
Transit Visa
Short-term visa for travelers passing through Brazil en route to another destination. Typically valid for stays up to 10 days within airport transit areas or Brazilian territory.
Work Visa (VITEM V)
For foreign nationals hired by a Brazilian company or organisation. The employer drives this process: it needs a work contract and approval from Brazil’s Ministry of Labor and Employment, so it is not something you can apply for on your own. If you work remotely for a company outside Brazil, the Digital Nomad Visa is usually the right route instead.
Retirement Visa
For retirees with a pension of at least US$2,000 a month who want to make Brazil their long term home. See the full breakdown below.
Humanitarian Visa
Granted to individuals fleeing serious human rights violations, natural disasters, or armed conflict. Provides temporary residence with the possibility of extension.
Cultural/Sports Exchange Visa
For athletes, artists, and cultural professionals participating in events, competitions, or cultural exchange programs in Brazil. Requires sponsoring organization documentation.
Religious Activities Visa
For religious workers, missionaries, and volunteers affiliated with religious organizations operating in Brazil. Requires institutional sponsorship and purpose documentation.
Married to a Brazilian, or in a stable union with one? That route sits under our Family Reunion Visa, which leads to permanent residency.
Brazil Retirement Visa
What is the Brazil Retirement Visa?
The Brazil Retirement Visa is a temporary residence visa for foreign retirees who can prove a monthly pension transfer to Brazil of at least US$2,000. It is issued as a VITEM XIV under Brazil’s retiree rules, and it lets you live in Brazil on your pension without needing a job or a Brazilian sponsor.
It suits people who want to spend most of the year in Brazil rather than come and go on a tourist stay. The income requirement is set in US dollars on the official Brazilian consulate retirement visa page, so if your pension is paid in pounds, euros or another currency, it is the dollar equivalent that has to clear the threshold.
Who qualifies for the Retirement Visa?
You qualify if you are retired, or receive a survivor’s pension, and can show that at least US$2,000 a month can be transferred to Brazil. If your pension alone falls short, other regular income can be used to top it up to the required amount.
The key word is pension. The visa is built around retirement income, so rental income or investments on their own are not the basis for this visa, they can only complement a pension. If you are not yet drawing a pension, we will look at whether another route, such as the Digital Nomad Visa or the Golden Visa, fits your situation better.
What documents do you need?
The core documents are a valid passport, proof of your pension and of your ability to transfer at least US$2,000 a month, health insurance valid in Brazil, an apostilled criminal background check from your home country, and an apostilled birth certificate. You also need a completed visa application form and a flight reservation.
A few details catch people out. Book the flight but do not buy the ticket until the visa is confirmed, the consulate asks for a reservation only. Every document issued outside Brazil needs an apostille. And some consulates add their own requirements on top of the standard list, which is one of the reasons we check your specific consulate before anything is submitted.
How long does it take, and which route applies to you?
There are two routes into the Retirement Visa, and which one applies to you changes your timeline. Option A runs through the Ministry of Justice and Public Security (MJSP), then a Consulate abroad, then Brazil’s Federal Police. Option B skips the Consulate and runs through the MJSP straight to the Federal Police.
If there’s no pendency, the MJSP stage itself typically takes around 30 to 40 days. What happens after that depends on appointment availability, not paperwork: Consulates usually stamp the visa on the same day as your appointment, and the Federal Police stage depends on their agenda as well as yours. As a real example, one of our recent retirement visa clients filed on 10 July, had approval published on 20 July, and had the whole process finalized by 13 August.
Can you apply from inside Brazil?
Yes. If you are already in Brazil legally, you can apply for a residence authorisation through the Ministry of Justice and Public Security instead of going through a consulate abroad. The documents are broadly the same. This also changes your Federal Police registration deadline, see below.
When do you register with the Federal Police?
If your visa is issued through a Consulate abroad, you have 90 days after arriving in Brazil to register with the Federal Police and get your CRNM, the national migration registration card you’ll use as ID in Brazil. Miss that window and you’ll be fined. This rule isn’t specific to the Retirement Visa, it applies to any visa a Consulate issues.
If you apply for the residence permit entirely from inside Brazil, with no Consulate involved, the 90 day rule doesn’t apply. Instead, you have 30 days to register with the Federal Police, counted from the day your approval is published in Brazil’s Official Gazette.
Either way, we build your registration deadline into your plan from day one.
How long does the visa last, and what happens at the end?
The residence permit is initially granted for up to 2 years. Before it expires, you choose between renewing it for up to 2 more years, or converting it to indefinite residence. Either way, you’ll need to show you’re still retired and still able to transfer at least US$2,000 a month to Brazil.
Can retirees work in Brazil?
Yes. Unlike the Tourist Visa and the Student Visa, there’s no law or regulation that forbids someone on a Retirement Visa from working in Brazil.
How we help with your Retirement Visa
Inside Fortaleza is not a law firm. We connect you with Gabriel Brandão, Partner and Head of Foreign Investment at J. Magalhães, Brandão & Cruz Advogados, who handles the legal side of your application, while we guide you through the move itself, from choosing the right route and consulate to getting your CPF, which is included free with any visa.
Common Questions About Brazil’s Other Visas
These answers cover the questions we hear most about Brazil’s other visa routes, helping you understand your options before you apply.
You need to show a pension, or survivor’s pension, that lets you transfer at least US$2,000 a month to Brazil. Other regular income can be used to top up a pension that falls slightly short.
No minimum age is listed in the consulate requirements. What matters is that you are retired and receiving a pension that meets the income threshold.
Yes. There’s no law or regulation that forbids it, unlike the Tourist Visa and Student Visa, both of which restrict work.
It’s granted for up to 2 years at a time. At the end of that period, you can renew for up to 2 more years or convert to indefinite residence, as long as you can still show you’re retired and meeting the US$2,000 a month income requirement.
Yes, you will need one for almost everything in Brazil, from opening a bank account to signing a lease. Your CPF is included free when you apply for any visa with us.
Usually not. Marriage or a stable union with a Brazilian falls under the Family Reunion Visa, which can lead straight to permanent residency. Book a consultation and we will confirm the best route for you.
Settle, Succeed, Discover.
Not Sure Which Visa You Need?
Every situation is unique, and choosing the right visa category can be complex. Schedule a free consultation with our team to discuss your circumstances and identify the best visa pathway for your Brazil plans.