How to Get an Investor Visa in Brazil
There are a number of reasons a person may find investing in Brazil appealing: the decreased cost of living, the warm weather, the lower expenses involved in owning and operating a business, liberal tax breaks and the fairly low initial investment requirement, to name a few. The investor's visa is considered a type of permanent visa and is issued to those who wish to settle in Brazil for the purpose of establishing or promoting a business. In exchange for a $50,000 outlay, investors gain residency and are allowed to import their possessions duty-free. To apply for your Brazil investor's visa, follow the steps in the guide below.
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Things You'll Need
- Passport
- Visitor's visa to Brazil (if applicable)
- Copies of all educational degrees, diplomas or certificates
- Copies of any documents used in identification
- Current résumé
Instructions
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1
Contact your local Brazilian Embassy or Consulate to determine whether or not you need a visa to enter Brazil as a visitor and the amount of the current visa application fees. If you are from the United States, you will need to get a visa prior to entry. Most South American and European citizens do not need to obtain a visa prior to entry.
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Enter Brazil as a visitor and determine what sort of business you'd like to purchase, build or invest in.
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Hire an attorney from the area you'd like your business to be located. If possible, choose an attorney who specializes in tax law. Work with your legal representative to prepare two copies of a business plan; one in English, one in Portuguese. Include building or expansion details, and duplicates of any social charters, evidence of tax payments and current licenses to operate. Be sure to highlight your personal business qualifications and what your intended level of involvement will be.
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Secure and transfer a minimum of $50,000 (in US currency) into The Brazilian National Bank and begin the initial negotiations and procedures for purchasing or investing in a business. Include copies of these transactions in your application.
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Have your attorney draw up a statement in which you pledge to employ local labor and increase the number of available jobs in your community.
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Make a copy of your current résumé and photocopies of any relevant educational transcripts, diplomas, awards or certificates. Also make copies of all items used for personal identification, such as passports, driver's license and birth certificates for yourself and any dependents.
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Obtain a power of attorney in which you name a legal representative who can act on your behalf in the event you are unable to make decisions regarding your business for any reason.
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Go to The Brazilian National Bank and acquire a foreign capital investor's permit.
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Hire and secure work permits for any high-ranking executives. Have their work contracts validated by the local workforce authority office.
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Gather all of the above documents and travel, with your legal representative, to the nearest Ministry of Labor office and apply, from within Brazil, for your foreign investor visa.
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Wait approximately 30 to 35 days to pick up your new visa.
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Tips & Warnings
A visitor's visa is good for 90 days, allowing you ample time to accomplish the above steps. All consular fees must be paid via U.S. Postal Money Order only. No cash, no checks and no credit cards.
An investor's visa is considered a type of permanent visa and indicates that the applicant has a desired to live in Brazil permanently. However, if after receiving the visa, the visa holder leaves the country for more than two years in a row, the visa will be revoked.
