But, if I want to work in Brazil, do I need a visa? Yes! According to Brazilian immigration laws, every foreign professional must have a valid work visa in Brazil. Employees should also obtain work licenses and be backed up by a privately approved and incorporated firm.
If you haven’t finalized the incorporation process yet, you can support the representative with outsourced management or a Global Employer of Record.
Types of work visas in Brazil
A work visa and a residence permit are required for any personnel working in Brazil. There are several types of work visas available in Brazil, including:
Permanent work visa (Visto Permanente)
This visa is typically sought by foreign workers who have been granted permanent residency in Brazil. Professional researchers, scientists, investors with more than $50,000 per individual or $200,000 per company, managers, and directors are all affected. Some VITEM V visa holders in this category can apply for a permanent work visa after two years.
VITEM V visa
This is the most popular working visa, and it is usually provided to foreign citizens who are entering Brazil to provide technical help, research abilities, or professional services in exchange for a work contract or other agreement. Employees in this category must get Ministry of Labor and Employment permission.
VITEM II visa (Business Trip)
A VITEM II visa is required for foreign nationals traveling to Brazil for business. However, they are unable to receive funds from Brazilian businesses. This visa is valid for up to ten years and allows for a maximum of 90 days of stay per year.
Requirements to obtain Brazil work visas
Each Brazil work permit, including the VITEM V visa, has its own set of restrictions. The majority of your employees will need to meet the requirements of this visa because it is the most common. They must have at least nine years of schooling and two years of relevant professional experience in the field in which you’re recruiting them, or:
- One year of working experience and a suitable university degree
- No suitable postgraduate degree and no professional experience
Employees must first obtain a temporary or permanent resident visa before applying for a work visa. They’ll also need to have a job lined up because the application procedure must begin with a prospective employer. If the person changes jobs during their stay in Brazil, they will need to apply for a new visa.
Brazil is known for issuing temporary work visas and residency permits first. Temporary permits are typically valid for two years and can be renewed once. After four years, an employer can request to have the temporary permits converted to permanent visas, allowing employees to live and work in Brazil.
Application Process
The application process for a working visa in Brazil must be handled by both employers and employees. All potential employees’ documents must be translated into Portuguese and submitted to the General Coordination of the Immigration Department. The paperwork is subsequently sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which instructs the Brazilian embassy or consulate in the employee’s home country to begin the work visa application procedure. Employees must then submit all documentation to the embassy in their home country.
A visa application may only be created by legal entities in Brazil, which implies your company must work with a worldwide PEO or have a registered subsidiary there. To begin the work permit process for employees, companies must present the following documents:
- Application form for a Work Permit
- Candidate and Applicant forms
- Registered with the Commercial Board or the Public Civil Registry, company statutes, or contractual changes
- A document certifying the applicant’s legal representative’s appointment
Employees will be required to supply address information, a copy of their passport, proof of education and professional experience, and other information. Keep in mind that visa fees differ from nation to country. Nationals of the United States, for example, must pay $290, whereas citizens of the United Kingdom must pay $225.
Other important points to consider
If you can bring family members to Brazil, it depends on the terms of your residency and work licenses. You can apply for a family reunification visa to make spouses and dependents permanent residents if your employees are American citizens. However, the employee must demonstrate that they lived in the embassy’s region and meet other eligibility requirements.