Brazil allows foreign nationals to live in the country while working remotely for employers or clients abroad. The digital nomad category is governed by CNIg/MJSP Regulatory Resolution (RN) No. 45/2021, issued by the National Immigration Council (CNIg) within the Ministry of Justice and Public Security (MJSP). It provides for a temporary visa and residence authorization initially valid for up to one year, with the possibility of renewal.
Eligibility requires professional activities that can be performed remotely from Brazil, a relationship with a foreign employer or client, and evidence of the means of support required by the regulation. A minimum monthly income of US$1,500 and bank funds of US$18,000 are alternative ways to meet the financial requirement; an available bank balance does not replace evidence of professional activity.
Before choosing this route, applicants need to consider their contract, their actual working arrangements and their intended length of stay. Immigration registration, any applications for family members and tax matters must also be addressed.
Who qualifies as a digital nomad
RN No. 45/2021 defines a digital nomad as an immigrant who can perform work in Brazil for a foreign employer using information and communication technologies. Evidence may include an employment contract, a services agreement or other documents establishing the professional relationship abroad. RN No. 45/2021, Articles 1 and 5.
This category is therefore not limited to employees on a fixed salary. Independent service providers may also qualify if they demonstrate the professional relationship abroad, the ability to work remotely and the required means of support. Applicants with several clients abroad need to present documents that clearly explain those relationships and the sources of their payments.
The regulation contains an express exclusion: a person who works for an employer in Brazil, whether as an employee or otherwise, does not qualify as a digital nomad. Nor does a person covered by another specific CNIg regulation governing work. RN No. 45/2021, Article 1, paragraph 2.
Keeping an executive on a foreign payroll therefore does not resolve the immigration position if the executive is transferred to take up duties at a Brazilian company. The work actually performed must match the legal basis for immigration status; local employment, management of a Brazilian company and investment each have their own requirements.
The contract must allow work from Brazil
The regulation requires applicants to declare that they can perform their activities remotely, in addition to providing documents establishing their foreign professional relationship. It does not prescribe a mandatory contractual phrase such as “work from anywhere in the world” or require the contract to mention Brazil expressly. RN No. 45/2021, Article 5.
The documents must nevertheless be consistent with the application. A contract permitting remote work only within France, for example, does not, on its own, demonstrate that the professional can continue that work while living in Brazil.
Where a geographical restriction applies or the employer’s permission is unclear, it is advisable to provide a contract amendment or a statement from the company confirming that remote work from Brazil is permitted. This is a practical step in preparing the supporting documents, rather than a standard clause expressly required by the RN. The applicant’s own declaration required by the regulation remains necessary.
Minimum income or bank funds
Article 5 of RN No. 45/2021 allows applicants to demonstrate their means of support through either of the following alternatives:
- Monthly income of at least US$1,500, paid by a foreign source; or
- Available bank funds of at least US$18,000.
Applicants do not have to meet both thresholds. The amounts are expressed in US dollars; documents in another currency must allow the equivalent amount to be verified. RN No. 45/2021, Article 5.
The contract, payment records and bank statements must be consistent with one another. Applicants receiving payments under several contracts or through their own company abroad should explain the work performed and how the funds become available to them.
Having US$18,000 in the bank is not enough on its own. This alternative satisfies the financial requirement but does not remove the need for professional documents and the remote work declaration. The category is not a general authorization for anyone with savings or anyone living solely on passive income.
Can you work remotely as a visitor?
Yes. Article 2 of RN No. 45/2021 allows digital nomad activities to be performed while the individual holds visitor status, subject to the visa requirements and permitted length of stay applicable to their nationality.
This allows a professional, for example, to spend a short period in Brazil while continuing to work remotely for employers or clients abroad. It does not permit them to overstay the authorized visit or perform local work excluded from this category.
For a longer stay, applicants should arrange a residence application or another suitable immigration basis. A visitor visa exemption, where available for their nationality, does not amount to permission to live in Brazil indefinitely.
Applying at a consulate or through MigranteWeb
Applicants outside Brazil
The temporary visa application is submitted to the Brazilian consular post with jurisdiction over the applicant. The RN requires a travel document, application form, consular fees, proof of transportation to Brazil, criminal record documents and evidence of digital nomad eligibility. Health insurance valid in Brazil is expressly included in the consular checklist. Applicants must also follow the instructions of the relevant consulate. RN No. 45/2021, Article 3.
After entering Brazil on the temporary visa, applicants must request registration with the Federal Police (PF) within 90 days of entering the country. The visa does not replace this identification and registration step, which leads to issuance of the National Immigration Registration Card (CRNM). Decree No. 9,199/2017, Article 64.
Applicants already in Brazil
Residence authorization is requested from the Ministry of Justice and Public Security through MigranteWeb, the online immigration application system. This route is also available to people who entered as visitors. There is no general requirement to leave Brazil to obtain a consular visa first. RN No. 45/2021, Article 4. See also the official MigranteWeb portal.
For this application, the RN’s checklist includes identification; a document showing the applicant’s parentage, meaning their parents’ names, if absent from the identification document; the application form and fee; a power of attorney if a representative is appointed; criminal record certificates from places of residence over the previous five years and the corresponding declaration; and professional and financial evidence. Applications made in Brazil have their own checklist, which must be checked separately from the consular requirements.
Once residence authorization is granted in Brazil, registration with the PF must be requested within 30 days of publication of the approval. Approval through MigranteWeb therefore does not complete all immigration formalities. Decree No. 9,199/2017, Article 66.
Foreign documents must comply with the rules on apostilles or legalization and translation, subject to applicable exemptions. French public documents covered by the France–Brazil agreement are exempt from apostilles and legalization. Any translation required for the procedure is a separate matter. Decree No. 3,598/2000, Article 23.
Residence period and renewal
The initial period is up to one year. The RN allows renewal for an equal period and does not set a maximum number of renewals. Each application requires fresh evidence that the professional and financial conditions are met; renewal is not automatic. RN No. 45/2021, Articles 3, 4 and 6.
Renewal requires a copy of the CRNM, updated evidence of digital nomad eligibility, a declaration of no criminal record and criminal record certificates from the places where the applicant lived during the temporary authorization, as well as a power of attorney where applicable. The application should be prepared before expiry and its progress monitored through the appropriate channel. RN No. 45/2021, Article 6.
A change of employer or client must not be overlooked: the new documents must show that the work remains compatible with the RN. If the individual is hired by a Brazilian company or moves into another regulated activity, the appropriate immigration basis will need to be assessed.
For temporary residence, the CRNM expires when the residence authorization ends. The process therefore involves more than replacing the physical card: the right to reside must be renewed and the corresponding registration updated. Decree No. 9,199/2017, Article 73, paragraph 4.
Can a spouse and children accompany a digital nomad?
Yes. Residence can provide the basis for family reunification applications by a spouse, a partner in a legally recognized unmarried partnership, children and other family members covered by the regulations. Each person must meet the requirements for their category and submit a separate application. Where family residence is linked to a sponsoring family member, known as the chamante, whose authorization is for a fixed term, it generally expires on the same date as the sponsor’s authorization. Decree No. 9,199/2017, Article 153.
The digital nomad’s application is processed through MigranteWeb. A family application under the general family reunification rules is handled separately by the PF if submitted in Brazil, or by the consulate if a visa is sought. The family member is not added as a dependent to the same MigranteWeb application. MJSP — MigranteWeb Manual, “Dependentes” (Dependents) section.
After the sponsor’s residence has been granted, family applications can be prepared for the stage when the sponsor registers with the PF, with separate documents and application forms for each person. Whether appointments can take place on the same date depends on the local office and scheduling availability. The regulations allow concurrent applications, but family residence may be granted only after the sponsor’s residence has been granted. Ordinance No. 12/2018, Article 6, paragraphs 3 and 4.
The digital nomad visa does not create a tax exemption
RN No. 45/2021 governs immigration status. Tax residence is subject to separate tax criteria, and receiving payments into a foreign bank account does not, by itself, exclude Brazilian taxation.
One of those criteria is reaching 184 days of presence in Brazil, whether consecutive or not, within a period of up to twelve months. This is not a universal grace period: other circumstances relating to entry, work or residence may trigger tax residence earlier. The assessment must consider the professional’s actual circumstances, as explained by the Brazilian Federal Revenue Service — Residents and Nonresidents.
Once tax residence is acquired, salaries, professional fees and other income from abroad must be assessed under Brazilian rules and applicable treaties. The money does not have to be transferred to a Brazilian bank account for taxation to arise.
For individuals who retain ties to France, the France–Brazil Convention for the Avoidance of Double Taxation must be considered both in cases of possible dual residence and in determining the tax treatment of remuneration. The treaty distinguishes employment from independent professional activities; it does not grant a blanket exemption to every French national working remotely in Brazil. Further detail is provided in the guides to tax residence and the taxation of income from abroad.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to earn US$1,500 and have US$18,000 in the bank?
No. These are alternative ways to demonstrate means of support. Under either option, the requirements for remote work and a professional relationship abroad still apply.
Can a self-employed professional qualify?
Yes, provided they demonstrate that they supply services to clients abroad and meet the other requirements. The RN accepts a services agreement as evidence; receiving money from abroad without explaining the underlying activity is not enough.
Does my contract have to mention Brazil expressly?
The RN does not prescribe mandatory wording. If the contract restricts work to another country or leaves uncertainty about international remote work, it is advisable to obtain a contract amendment or a company statement consistent with the intended stay in Brazil.
Can I work for a Brazilian company?
That activity does not fall within RN No. 45, even without an employment relationship. Another authorization suitable for the work in Brazil must be assessed.
Can I apply for residence after entering as a tourist?
Yes. The application can be submitted from within Brazil through MigranteWeb. Following approval, registration with the PF is required and has its own deadline.
Can I renew more than once?
Yes, as long as the conditions for this category continue to be met. Each renewal requires an application and updated documents; the RN does not limit applicants to a single renewal. RN No. 45/2021, Article 6.
Does the visa guarantee that I will pay tax only abroad?
No. Immigration residence alone neither determines tax residence nor creates an exemption. Time spent in Brazil, the circumstances of the move, the nature of the income and applicable treaties all need to be examined.
SCCM’s advisory services for digital nomads
SCCM Advogados advises foreign professionals on the assessment of their activities and contracts, document preparation, visa or residence authorization applications, registration and renewal. This work can be coordinated with applications for family members and an assessment of the tax implications of staying in Brazil.
If the planned activities expand to include employment, company management or investment in Brazil, the team examines the immigration basis appropriate to the new circumstances.
Assess your eligibility for digital nomad residence in Brazil.