Work Permits, Visas & Immigration Support in Brazil (2026)
Hiring foreign talent in Brazil means navigating an employer-led visa system, a two-step residence-authorisation process, and the country’s 2/3 Rule.
This guide explains how Brazilian work visas work in 2026, and how an Employer of Record can sponsor your people without you setting up a local entity.
Last reviewed: June 2026 · Reflects the Migration Law (Lei 13.445/2017) and its current regulations, the CRNM registry card, and 2026 Federal Police fees and processing times.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Main work visa | VITEM V (temporary) |
| Who sponsors | The Brazilian employer |
| Governing law | Migration Law 13.445/2017 |
| Residence card | CRNM (replaced the RNE) |
| Typical timeline | ~1–3 months end to end |
| Digital nomad route | VITEM XIV |
| Foreign-worker quota | 2/3 Rule (CLT Art. 352) |
| Entity required? | No — via an EOR sponsor |
Employing foreign talent in Brazil
Brazil is one of the world’s largest economies and consumer markets, with more than 210 million people, deep talent pools and a growing technology and startup ecosystem. For employers, the appeal is clear, but moving foreign staff into Brazil is one of the more procedural immigration journeys in Latin America. The framework is employer-led, document-heavy, and tied closely to Brazilian labour law.
Acumen International provides work permit sponsorship and immigration support in Brazil as part of our Global Employer of Record service.
We act as (or coordinate) the sponsoring local employer, prepare and file the residence authorisation, manage Federal Police registration and onboarding, and keep you compliant throughout the assignment, so you can place talent in Brazil without first incorporating an entity.
How the Brazilian work-visa system works
There is no single “work permit” document. Authorisation to work is a chain of approvals tied to a sponsoring employer.
Foreign nationals cannot apply for a Brazilian work visa on their own. The process is driven by the Brazilian employer, who first secures a prior residence authorization for work from the federal immigration authority — the General Coordination of Labor Immigration (CGIL), within the Ministry of Justice and Public Security. Only once that authorization is granted and published in the Official Gazette (DOU) can the worker obtain the corresponding visa.
Two government touchpoints matter throughout: the Ministry of Justice and Public Security (grants the residence authorisation), and the Federal Police (registers the foreign national on arrival and issues the CRNM). Brazilian consulates abroad, under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, issue the entry visa itself.
Brazilian work and residence visa types
| isa | For whom | Key points |
|---|---|---|
| VITEM V Temporary work | Professionals hired under a Brazilian employment contract | Employer-sponsored; requires prior residence authorization. Typically valid up to 2 years, renewable, and convertible to permanent residence. |
| Technical assistance | Specialists providing services or technology transfer, paid by a foreign entity | Work authorization without a Brazilian employment relationship; governed by dedicated normative resolutions. |
| VITEM XIV Digital nomad | Remote workers paid by a foreign employer or clients | Introduced 2022. Cannot be used to work for a Brazilian company. Needs proof of income (~US$1,500/month) or savings (~US$18,000). |
| VITEM XI Family reunification | Family members of a Brazilian or of a legal resident | Not a work visa by name, but holders generally receive work rights as part of their residence. |
| Permanent residence | Long-term executives, investors, and qualifying temporary residents | Available to investors and high-level managers, or by conversion after the qualifying temporary-residence period. |
The work-permit process, step by step
For the standard VITEM V route, the journey runs from employer filing to a CRNM card in hand.
- Residence authorization request. The sponsoring Brazilian employer files the prior work authorization with the Ministry of Justice (CGIL) through the online immigration system, with the employment contract and the candidate’s qualifications.
- Approval & publication. Once approved, the authorization is published in the Official Gazette (DOU).
- Consular visa application. If the worker is abroad, they apply for the VITEM V visa stamp at a Brazilian consulate (via the e-Consular system) and attend any required appointment.
- Entry to Brazil. The worker enters Brazil on the issued visa.
- Federal Police registration. The worker registers with the Federal Police, providing biometrics, to obtain the CRNM. Register within 90 days of arrival if you entered on a temporary visa, or within 30 days of the authorization’s publication if it was granted while you were already in Brazil.
- CPF, CTPS & social security. The worker obtains a CPF (tax ID) and a CTPS Digital (digital work card) linked to the CRNM/RNM number, and is enrolled in INSS social security to begin employment.
The 2/3 Rule and salary proportionality
This is the single most overlooked constraint when scaling foreign hiring in Brazil.
Under Article 352 of the Consolidation of Labor Laws (CLT), the “Law of Two-Thirds” (Lei dos Dois Terços) requires that at least two-thirds of a company’s employees, and two-thirds of its total payroll, be Brazilian nationals.
A related salary-proportionality rule generally prevents a foreign worker from being paid more than a Brazilian performing comparable duties.
A single sponsored hire rarely triggers a problem, but a small Brazilian operation sponsoring several foreign workers can quickly breach the ratio. Employers should plan Brazilian hiring alongside foreign sponsorship and keep documentation showing compliance at all times.
Salary and qualification thresholds
Brazil does not set a universal minimum salary for foreign professionals, but the Ministry of Labor expects the salary to meet or exceed the market rate for the role so that the hire does not displace local workers. In practice, employers often guarantee remuneration above roughly R$7,500 per month to evidence a specialized appointment. Candidates typically need a relevant higher-education degree and/or several years of demonstrable professional experience, supported by apostilled and translated qualifications.
Documents required for a Work Permit in Brazil
Exact checklists vary by consulate and visa category, always confirm with the specific Brazilian consulate before assembling the file.
For a VITEM V application, expect to provide:
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Valid passport | At least 6 months’ validity; copy of the biodata page. |
| Visa application form | Completed online (e-Consular), dated and signed. |
| Passport photographs | 3.5 cm × 4.5 cm, colour, white background, face forward. |
| Employment contract / job offer | From the sponsoring Brazilian employer. |
| Proof of qualifications | Degrees, certificates and references; apostilled and sworn-translated into Portuguese. |
| CV / résumé | Showing relevant experience and education, typically for the last 5 years. |
| Criminal background certificate | From each country of residence in the last 5 years; apostilled, translated, and usually issued within 90 days. |
| Proof of legal status | If applying from a country other than your nationality. |
| Yellow fever certificate | Only if you have recently travelled from specified risk countries. |
| Power of attorney | If a third party files on the applicant’s behalf. |
Foreign civil and academic documents must usually carry a Hague Apostille and a sworn Portuguese translation; missing legalisation is one of the most common causes of delay or refusal. Budget two to four weeks for legalisation in the home country.
Brazil work visa processing times and fees
| Item | Indicative 2026 figure |
|---|---|
| Prior residence authorization (Ministry of Justice) | ~30–45 days |
| Consular visa issuance | ~5–10 business days |
| Residence/processing fee | R$168.13 |
| CRNM card issuance fee | R$204.77 |
| Consular visa fee (varies by nationality) | ~R$550–R$1,600 |
Federal fees are paid via a GRU payment slip and are updated annually by the Ministry of Justice. Total elapsed time from filing to a registered CRNM is commonly one to three months, though it can run longer for complex nationalities or document chains.
Launch Teams in Brazil
Acumen International sponsors work permits and manages the full immigration process in Brazil as your Employer of Record, so your people start on time and you carry none of the compliance burden.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main work visa for Brazil?
The VITEM V is Brazil’s principal temporary work visa, for foreign nationals hired under a Brazilian employment contract. It is employer-sponsored: the employer first obtains a prior residence authorization for work from the Ministry of Justice, after which the worker collects the visa at a consulate abroad.
How long does it take to get a work permit in Brazil?
In 2026, the prior residence authorization typically takes around 30–45 days at the Ministry of Justice, then roughly 5–10 business days for visa issuance at a consulate. Allow one to three months end to end, depending on nationality, document legalisation and the visa category.
Can we hire a foreign worker in Brazil without your own local entity?
Yes. Work visas must be sponsored by a local employer, but you don’t need your own entity if you use an Employer of Record that is already an established Brazilian employer. The EOR sponsors the visa, files the residence authorization and runs compliant payroll, while you direct the work.
What is the 2/3 Rule in Brazil?
Under Article 352 of the CLT, at least two-thirds of a company’s employees, and two-thirds of its payroll, must be Brazilian nationals. A related salary-proportionality rule generally prevents a foreign worker from being paid more than a Brazilian in comparable work. It limits how many foreign workers an employer can sponsor.
Is there a minimum salary for a Brazilian work visa?
There is no single statutory minimum for all foreign professionals, but the salary must match or exceed the market rate for the role and the worker’s qualifications. Employers often offer above roughly R$7,500 per month to evidence a specialized hire and satisfy salary-proportionality rules.
Sources
- Brazilian Migration Law (Lei nº 13.445/2017) and its implementing Decree (Decreto # 9.199/2017), as subsequently amended.
- Normative resolutions of the National Immigration Council (CNIg) governing work residence authorisations, technical assistance and the digital nomad visa.
- Consolidation of Labour Laws (CLT), Article 352 — the two-thirds rule and salary proportionality.
- Ministry of Justice and Public Security / General Coordination of Labour Immigration (CGIL); Federal Police (CRNM registration); Ministry of Foreign Affairs (consular visa issuance).
- 2026 federal fee schedule (residence processing R$168.13; CRNM issuance R$204.77), published by the Federal Police / Ministry of Justice.
Note: This guide is general information, not legal advice, and reflects legislation as understood in June 2026. Brazilian immigration fees, forms and processing times change frequently, and requirements vary by consulate, nationality and visa category. Verify current requirements with the relevant Brazilian authorities before acting.