Family reunification allows certain relatives of Brazilian nationals or foreign residents to obtain authorization to live in Brazil on the basis of that relationship. It is available both to people already in the country and to families planning to move together.
Its scope extends beyond marriage: it includes legally recognized unmarried partnerships (união estável), children, parents, grandparents, grandchildren and other situations specified in the regulations. Eligibility depends on the family relationship, the immigration status of the family member on whom the application is based and, in some cases, age, studies or financial dependency.
This guide explains the general rules, documents and procedure. The Hub’s dedicated guides address marriage, unmarried partnerships and residence for the parent of a Brazilian national in greater detail.
Who can obtain residence through family reunification
The right to family reunification is established in Article 37 of the Migration Law and regulated by Interministerial Ordinance No. 12/2018. In administrative terminology, the sponsoring family member (chamante) is the Brazilian national or resident on whom the application is based; the applicant family member (chamado) is the foreign relative applying for residence.
The main categories are:
- Spouse or partner: marriage or a legally recognized unmarried partnership, without discrimination, including same-sex relationships.
- Child: of a Brazilian national or a foreign national holding residence authorization.
- Father or mother: of a Brazilian child or a foreign child holding residence authorization.
- Grandparents and grandchildren: the regulations cover direct-line ancestors and descendants up to the second degree of a Brazilian national or resident.
- Stepchild or sibling: of a Brazilian national or resident, if under 18, up to age 24 with proof of student status, or of any age with proof of financial dependency on the sponsoring family member.
- Person legally responsible for a Brazilian national: a person whose responsibility for a Brazilian national arises from guardianship of a minor (tutela), adult guardianship (curatela) or custody (guarda).
The specific age, study and dependency limits for stepchildren and siblings do not automatically apply to children. Adult children fall within a separate category and must be assessed accordingly. The Federal Police guidance on family reunification presents these categories separately.
Having a relative in Brazil is not enough on its own. The relationship specified in the rules must be demonstrated and the conditions of the category met. Aunts, uncles, cousins and other relatives are not automatically covered by the general list.
The sponsoring family member’s residence status must be checked
Reunification may be based on a relationship with a Brazilian national or a foreign national whose residence was granted on an eligible basis, such as work, investment or retirement. The applicant family member need not have the same nationality as the sponsor.
The general regime contains an important restriction: the sponsor cannot hold residence through family reunification or provisional residence authorization. This rule appears in Article 153(2) of Decree No. 9,199/2017 and prevents successive authorizations based solely on another family reunification residence authorization.
This does not remove the need to examine relationships within the family. For example, the child of someone who received residence as a spouse may have their own relationship as a stepchild of the original sponsor, subject to the corresponding requirements. Another immigration basis may also be available.
Cases involving refugee status, asylum, statelessness or specific programs require examination of their own rules, which are preserved by Article 2 of the Migration Law.
Where to apply
For applicants still abroad
A temporary family reunification visa is requested from the competent Brazilian consular post. At this stage, the documents must show that the sponsor lives or will live in Brazil. The family can therefore arrange to move together; there is no assumption that one member must already be established in the country.
Ordinance No. 12/2018 provides a maximum validity of one year for this visa. After entering Brazil, the holder must register with the Federal Police (PF) within 90 days. The visa’s validity for entry should not be confused with the duration of residence authorization. Ordinance No. 12/2018, Articles 3 and 4.
There is a specific rule for spouses: the Ordinance prohibits issuance of this visa where the marriage was celebrated by proxy, through an authorized representative. This consular restriction must be considered when planning the case; it does not amount to a declaration that the marriage is invalid under civil law. Ordinance No. 12/2018, Article 2(4).
For applicants already in Brazil
An immigrant or visitor may apply to the Federal Police for residence authorization. There is no need to leave the country merely to obtain a family reunification visa if the requirements for the residence authorization sought in Brazil are already met.
The ability to apply for residence does not depend on current immigration status, provided that the legal conditions are satisfied. This does not mean automatic approval or cancellation of any applicable fines. Federal Police — Obtaining Residence Authorization.
The procedure involves preparing documents, completing the form, paying the applicable fees, booking an appointment and attending the Federal Police, followed by monitoring the decision and issuance of the National Immigration Registration Card (CRNM). The practical steps are set out in the official residence authorization service.
Can the family submit applications at the same time?
The regulations allow concurrent applications, subject to the filing channels for each procedure. Family residence can be granted only after the sponsor’s residence authorization has been approved. Ordinance No. 12/2018, Article 5 and Article 6(3) and (4).
For work or investment cases processed through MigranteWeb, the online immigration application system, the sponsor’s application is handled there. Under the general regime, family reunification requires a separate application to the Federal Police if the family member is in Brazil, or to the consulate for a visa application abroad. The family member is not included as a dependent in the sponsor’s work or investment application. Ministry of Justice and Public Security (MJSP) guidance in the MigranteWeb manual.
Once the sponsor’s authorization has been granted, the residence application for a family member already in Brazil may therefore be coordinated with the stage at which the sponsor registers with the Federal Police. Each person has their own application and documents; appointments on the same date depend on scheduling and the local office’s arrangements.
Through the consular route, the family visa may be requested concurrently with the sponsor’s visa, but can be granted only after the sponsor’s visa has been issued. Ordinance No. 12/2018, Article 2(1) and (2).
How long family reunification residence lasts
Where the relationship is with a Brazilian national, residence is granted for an indefinite term. Where the sponsor is a foreign national, the duration follows their immigration status:
- Sponsor with residence for an indefinite term: the family member also receives residence for an indefinite term.
- Sponsor with residence for a fixed term: the family member’s authorization expires on the same date as the sponsor’s authorization.
A family member’s later arrival therefore does not, by itself, entitle them to the full period originally granted to the principal resident. What matters is the expiry date of the authorization to which their application is linked. Decree No. 9,199/2017, Article 153(4) and (5).
If the sponsor’s residence changes from a fixed to an indefinite term, there is a procedure for requesting the corresponding change to the family member’s residence, with evidence that the required conditions are met. The change must be formally processed. Ordinance No. 12/2018, Article 12.
The CRNM is the resident’s identification document. Its expiry should not be confused with the duration of the authorization: residence for an indefinite term may still require replacement of the card. This topic is addressed in the guide Expired CRNM: Renewing the Card and Maintaining Residence in Brazil.
Which documents are required
The list varies according to the relationship and the stage, whether before a consulate or the Federal Police. Preparing a residence application in Brazil normally involves:
- Identification for the applicant and a document identifying their parents, where necessary.
- The sponsor’s identity document, evidence of their immigration status if a foreign national, and a declaration that they live in Brazil.
- Certificates or other documents proving the family relationship, marriage, unmarried partnership, guardianship of a minor, adult guardianship or custody, as applicable.
- Criminal record certificates from the countries of residence during the last five years and a declaration of no criminal record, subject to the applicable exemptions.
- Proof of studies or financial dependency where required for eligibility, and, for spouse or partner applications, a joint declaration that the genuine relationship and shared life continue.
The application form and proof of payment of the applicable fees are also required. The Federal Police document checklist should be consulted for the specific case. The authority may conduct an interview or request additional evidence to confirm the relationship under Ordinance No. 12/2018.
The certificates must make it possible to trace the family relationship. For a grandchild, for example, documents spanning two generations may be needed. Discrepancies in given names, surnames or recorded parentage should be resolved before they affect the assessment.
Foreign documents are subject to the applicable authentication and translation rules. French public documents covered by the France–Brazil agreement are exempt from apostille and legalization requirements under Article 23 of the agreement given effect in Brazil by Decree No. 3,598/2000. This exemption does not remove the need for a sworn translation, prepared by an officially authorized translator, where required in the procedure.
The guide Foreign Documents for Immigration to Brazil: Apostilles, Translations and Requirements explains these formalities and the preparation of certificates issued abroad in greater detail.
Can a person with family reunification residence work?
Yes. The beneficiary may engage in paid activity in Brazil on equal terms with Brazilian nationals, subject to the applicable law. They do not need a separate immigration authorization based on employment simply to work. Ordinance No. 12/2018, Article 9.
Professional requirements remain applicable, such as registration with a professional regulatory body or recognition of a degree, where relevant. Residence also does not replace the registrations and other obligations required to establish or manage a company.
What happens if the family relationship changes
Divorce, dissolution of an unmarried partnership or other significant changes require a review of the immigration basis. It should not be assumed that an unexpired card indefinitely preserves residence once its conditions have ceased to exist.
At the same time, loss of authorization does not result from automatic cancellation of the CRNM: it requires an administrative procedure, with the right to be heard and to present a full defense. The Decree also provides for notification to the Federal Police when the conditions supporting residence cease to exist. Decree No. 9,199/2017, Articles 135 and 137.
There may be another basis for remaining in Brazil. Article 160 of Decree No. 9,199/2017, for example, allows a new residence authorization for an indefinite term for someone who previously held authorization through family reunification, provided that they have resided in the country for at least four years, demonstrate means of support and submit a certificate showing no criminal record. This route does not apply where the requirement for the previous status ceased to be met because of fraud.
The appropriate alternative depends on the resident’s history and the relationships that remain. Changes in family circumstances should therefore be assessed before the document expires or a renewal is sought.
Family residence, nationality and tax residence
Residence through family reunification does not make a foreign national Brazilian. Naturalization requires a separate application and fulfillment of its requirements. Having a Brazilian spouse or child may affect eligibility, but does not automatically confer nationality. This topic is explained in the guide Brazilian Naturalization: Requirements, Timeframes and Documents.
Tax status also requires a separate assessment. The family’s immigration planning should consider when each member becomes a tax resident in Brazil and the consequences for income and assets abroad, addressed in the guide Tax Residence in Brazil for Foreign Nationals: When It Begins and What Changes.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to be married to apply for family reunification?
No. A legally recognized unmarried partnership can also support an application, provided that it is evidenced under the applicable rules. The regulations also provide for other family relationships, guardianship of minors, adult guardianship and custody.
Can an adult child apply for residence?
Yes. The category for a child of a Brazilian national or resident does not have the same age limit as the categories for stepchildren and siblings. The parent-child relationship must be proved, and the sponsor’s status and the other requirements must be checked.
Can I apply for residence if I entered as a tourist?
Yes, if you meet the family reunification requirements. The application may be submitted to the Federal Police in Brazil; entry as a visitor does not, by itself, prevent authorization.
Can I work with family reunification residence?
Yes. The category allows paid activity without a second residence authorization based on work. The legal requirements for the professional activity continue to apply.
Is residence always granted for an indefinite term?
No. If the foreign sponsor has residence for a fixed term, the family member’s authorization expires when the sponsor’s does. Residence is for an indefinite term when reunification is with a Brazilian national or a resident who already holds that status.
How can the family member’s application be coordinated with the sponsor’s?
When the sponsor uses MigranteWeb, family reunification proceeds through a separate application to the Federal Police or consulate. In Brazil, the family member’s application may be coordinated with the sponsor’s registration stage, after the sponsor’s authorization has been granted, subject to the requirements and the local office’s appointment arrangements.
Can someone who obtained family residence sponsor another family member?
The general regime prohibits this when the sponsor’s own residence is based on family reunification. It is necessary to check whether there is a direct relationship with the original sponsor or another immigration basis, without assuming that a further authorization can be granted in a chain.
How SCCM can help
SCCM advises foreign nationals and families on identifying the immigration basis, preparing documents and coordinating individual or simultaneous applications. The assessment considers each family member’s circumstances, residence periods and the stages both abroad and in Brazil.
Planning how to secure lawful immigration status for the family in Brazil makes it possible to organize the move, obtain certificates in advance and align family members’ residence with their plans for life, work or investment.