In January 2022, the Brazilian government launched the Brazil digital nomad visa to encourage digital nomads to visit the country. The temporary residence permit allows foreign workers to live in the country while working remotely for a year. Once it expires, you will have the option to extend it for one more year.
Brazil has a thriving digital nomad community. Nomads are drawn to the country for its beautiful beaches, stunning Amazon rainforest, the colorful De Janeiro carnival, and delicious food. Plus, Brazil offers never-ending adventures – from hiking the lush forests of the Amazon to climbing up to the top of the Christ Redeemer. No matter what you like, you will find something to love in Brazil.
Now that the Brazil digital nomad visa is here, digital nomads can explore the country even further while working remotely. So, if you are a digital nomad and want to experience living in Brazil, read on to find out how to apply for a digital nomad visa.
About the Brazil Digital Nomad Visa
Established in January 2022, the Brazil digital nomad visa is a residence permit allowing foreign digital nomads to live in Brazil while working online. It's a temporary permit valid for one year, which you can extend for another year. The visa applies to remote workers and self-employed individuals working for a company outside the country. But it's important to note that the Brazil digital nomad visa is not a path for acquiring permanent residency in Brazil.
You can apply for the Brazil digital nomad visa through the Brazilian consulate in your country or visit Brazil as a tourist and apply for the digital nomad visa once you arrive. Make sure to apply for the visa before your tourist visa expires to avoid paying the penalty.
When they approve your visa, you must register with the Brazilian Federal Police, who will take your fingerprints and photos for your residence card. The residence card will allow you to live in the country for a year.
Just like with any digital nomad visa, there are requirements and eligibility to fulfill before you can be issued the Brazil digital nomad visa.
Copacabana beach – Rio
Eligibility for the Brazil Digital Nomad Visa
Before you start applying for the Brazil digital nomad visa, make sure you are eligible for it. To be eligible, you must:
- Have the means to work remotely – you must have the means to work remotely to be eligible for the Brazil digital nomad visa. Make sure you can provide a work contract stating you are self-employed or working remotely for a company based outside of Brazil.
- Meet the required monthly income – you also need to show proof you are earning the minimum required monthly income of €1,400 or $1,500.
- Provide a bank statement if you can't prove the monthly income – if you don't meet the monthly income required for the Brazil digital nomad visa, you can submit a bank statement showing you have at least €17,000 or $18,300 at the time of your application.
Requirements for the Brazil Digital Nomad Visa
If you are able to prove you are a remote worker earning the minimum required monthly income for the Brazil digital nomad visa, you can start applying for the visa. Here are the requirements to prepare for your visa application:
- Valid passport – your passport must have the existing pages showing your entry to Brazil and must have two blank pages for the visa stamp.
- Digital nomad visa application form – you can download it from the website of the Brazilian embassy or consulate. Fill out the form completely, print a copy, sign it, and submit it to the Brazilian consulate along with the rest of the required documents.
- Recent photo – the photo should be in color and recently taken with white background.
- Birth certificate – must be apostilled by the authorities in your country.
- Criminal record from your country of residence – must be apostilled by the authorities in your country.
- Health insurance coverage – submit a copy of your health insurance policy that will cover your stay in Brazil.
- Employee contract or bank statement – the contract must prove that you are self-employed or working for a foreign company outside Brazil. It should also state you are earning at least $1,500 per month. If you don't meet the minimum income requirement, you must submit a bank statement showing at least $18,300 in your account.
Applying for the Brazil Digital Nomad Visa
Once you have all the requirements, you can start applying for the Brazil digital nomad visa. Here are the steps:
- Visit the nearest consulate or embassy or Brazil – although the first step to applying for the Brazil digital nomad visa is to fill out the form online through the Brazilian government's website, the application will ultimately require you to submit the application form together with the requirements physically at the nearest consulate or embassy of Brazil.
- Submit all the requirements stated above – refer to the list above and make sure you have them ready before going to the embassy. Submit them on the day of your appointment.
- Wait for an answer – the time it takes to process the Brazil digital nomad visa will depend on the consulate or embassy from where you have submitted your application. It will generally take 30 days for the Department of Justice to evaluate your application and decide whether to approve or reject it. Sometimes, they will call you for additional requirements, and that can extend the processing time even further.
- Enter Brazil and register with the Brazilian Federal Police – once they approve your visa, you can use it to enter Brazil. If you are already in the country, all you need to do is to register with the Brazilian Federal Police. You must register within 90 days of receiving the permit. After the registration, they will give you a temporary foreign residence card that you must keep with you at all times.
Living as a Digital Nomad in Brazil
There are many reasons why a lot of digital nomads are moving to Brazil. The massive country offers tons of variety in terms of adventures, landscapes, entertainment, beaches, cities, and more. Some popular areas for digital nomads in Brazil are Rio de Janeiro, Florianopolis, and São Paulo. Each features a unique charm, offering everything a digital nomad needs to live and work remotely.
Rio de Janeiro is the former capital of Brazil. It's home to beautiful beaches, including the famous Copacabana beach, where you can relax and enjoy cocktails after work. You will also have plenty to explore during your work break. Visit popular attractions like the Christ the Redeemer statue and Sugarloaf Mountain.
Living in Rio de Janeiro could cost you around $2,000 per month, with less than half of that will go to your rent. The average monthly rent for a studio in Rio is $900. Take note that Rio is a massive city, and slums are evident as you explore the city. It's best to avoid bringing expensive gadgets when going around the city. You can enjoy decent Wi-Fi and find plenty of cafes and co-working spaces to work if you want a change of scenery.
Florianopolis is another place in Brazil where you can find several digital nomads. It's a charming island off the coast of Brazil with stunning beaches and beautiful mountains to explore on a hike. Compared to Rio, Florianopolis is safer, especially for foreign tourists.
Florianopolis has a thriving nightlife. It has excellent bars and clubs, perfect for socializing and meeting your fellow digital nomads. Also, there are plenty of outdoor activities to enjoy here, allowing you to live a healthy work-life balance.
If you prefer a city living while being a digital nomad in Brazil, Sao Paulo may be perfect for you. The massive urban metropolis is home to 20 million people and is Brazil's economic powerhouse. You can expect the cost of living to be higher in Sao Paulo, but if you base yourself outside the city, you can find a place to rent for around $600 per month. Also, as with any modern city, traffic can be worse on most days. So, if you need to go out and explore, avoid the rush hour.
If you are holding a Brazil digital nomad visa, one of the benefits you can enjoy is free public health care, which is available for all residents, including foreigners. But if you prefer to get medical treatment from private hospitals or clinics, you can use your health insurance.
While Brazil is not the cheapest country to live in on a digital nomad visa, it still has a lower cost of living than many countries worldwide, another reason why many digital nomads are moving to this country.
Sao Paulo
Other Visa Options for Digital Nomads to Stay in Brazil
There are three visa options that digital nomads can use if they want to stay longer in Brazil. The main option is the Brazil digital nomad visa, which lets you stay in the country for a year. But if you are not eligible, you can try other options.
The most popular option is the tourist visa. Citizens of several countries, including the United States, Canada, the UK, and several European countries, do not need to apply for a visa to enter Brazil. Depending on your nationality, you should be able to stay in the country for a maximum of 90 days or three months.
If you are from a country whose citizens need a visa to enter Brazil, you can apply for short-term stay visas, such as tourist, business, or transit visas.
FAQs on the Brazil Digital Nomad Visa
How Much Will It Cost to Apply for the Brazil Digital Nomad Visa?
The application fee for a Brazil digital nomad visa is $100, although it can vary depending on where you send in your application.
How Long Can I Stay in Brazil while Holding the Digital Nomad Visa?
The digital nomad visa will let you stay in Brazil for one year. If you want to extend your stay, you can apply for an extension of the visa for another year.
How Long is the Processing Time for the Brazil Digital Nomad Visa?
It will generally take 30 days for the Department of Justice to evaluate your application and decide whether to approve or reject it. Sometimes, they will call you for additional requirements, and that can extend the processing time even further. The processing time will also depend on the embassy or consulate where you choose to submit your Brazil digital nomad visa application.
Multiple Countries With Digital Nomad Visa
South America is slowly opening up to digital nomads with countries like Brazil, Ecuador and Colombia having a digital nomad visa and Argentina working on one. For the full list of countries with digital nomad visas check:
