As the largest country in South America, Brazil has several major cities and active communities, all full of expatriates. Thanks to a vibrant culture, beautiful beaches, and stunning environmental draws, many of your team members may want to move to Brazil to work in your new location. However, you must first obtain a work visa for your international employees before they can begin working in Brazil.
Types of work visas in Brazil
All international workers need a residence permit and a work visa to be hired in Brazil.
There are different types of work visas in Brazil, including:
- Residence Permit – Employment NR 2: This temporary visa is the most common working visa and is usually issued to international individuals entering Brazil, for technical assistance, research skills, or professional services for an employment contract or other agreement. Employees in this category must get approval by the Ministry of Labor and Employment. A Temporary Residence Visa can lead to Permanent Residence after 2 years of continuous employment.
- Visit Visa (Vivis): International individuals traveling to Brazil for business typically apply for this visa. However, they cannot be remunerated by any companies in Brazil. This visa is valid for up to 10 years and allows visits for up to 90 days per year. It is important to note that such visa only permits certain activities. Should the visit involve the provision of technical assistance, installation, or maintenance of repair services, a separate work visa will need to be applied for.
- Temporary Residence (Mercosur): The Temporary Residence (Mercosur) is only available to nationals from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Nationals from Venezuela are no longer permitted to benefit from the Mercosur; however, there is a very similar residence permit based on the Border Countries Agreement that benefits Venezuelan and Surinamer nationals. The Temporary Residence Visa can lead to Permanent Residence after 2 years on the Residence Permit.
Requirements to obtain Brazil work visas
Each work permit has its own requirements. Employees cannot apply for a work visa until they have a Temporary or Permanent Residence Visa. They will also need to have a job lined up since a prospective employer must start the application process. If the individual changes jobs throughout their time in Brazil, they will have to apply for a new permit.
Typically, Brazil gives out temporary work visas and residence permits first. Temporary permits usually last up to 2 years and can be reissued once. After those 4 years, an employer can apply to switch the temporary permits to permanent options that allow employees to live and work in Brazil.
Application process
Both employers and employees need to handle the Brazil working visa application process. Employers must submit all potential employees’ documents translated into Portuguese to the General Coordination of Immigration Department. The documents then go to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which tells the embassy in Brazil or consulate in the employee’s country of residence to start the work visa process. Employees then have to submit all documents to the local embassy.
Only legal entities in Brazil can create a visa application. Brazil-based companies have to show the following documents to start the work permit process for employees:
- Work Permit Application form
- Applicant and Candidate form
- Company statutes or contractual alterations registered with the Commercial Board or Public Civil Registry
- Document proving the appointment of the legal representative of the applicant
Employees will need to provide information on their addresses, a copy of their passport, proof of education and professional experience, and more. Keep in mind that the visa fees vary by country.
Other important considerations
The terms of the residence and work permits will determine whether employees can bring family members to Brazil. It is possible to apply for a family reunification visa to make spouses and dependents permanent residents. However, the employee will need to prove that they lived in the region of the embassy they apply at and fulfill other eligibility criteria.
Discover how G-P can help you manage your global teams.
At G-P, we’re committed to breaking down barriers to global business, enabling opportunity for everyone, everywhere, and helping companies tap into the fullest potential of their workforce. We help you maintain full compliance with local laws and ensure everything from hiring and onboarding to paying your team is quick and easy, regardless of where they are in the world.
Find out more about how our Global Growth Platform™ can help you grow your team across the globe.
–
For this particular location, G-P may offer support processing certain work visas and permits. Contact us today to assess your specific needs.