Brazil creates a visa for foreign “digital nomads”

Earlier this week, The Brazilian Report highlighted a worrying trend for the country’s tech sector: after years seeing promising talents move abroad, the rise of remote work has led to a wave of Brazilians going to work for foreign startups, while still remaining in the country. However, Brazil’s Justice Ministry is hoping that a new visa program could help turn the tide, attracting so-called ‘digital nomads’ from around the world.

At the end of January, the Justice Ministry published a resolution introducing a brand-new work visa category for these globetrotting remote workers, following in the footsteps of dozens of countries around the world, including Germany, Portugal, and Mexico.

For the purposes of this new residence permit, a digital nomad is any foreigner who works remotely for an employer based abroad, with or without a formal employment contract between the parties. The Justice Ministry stresses that the visa is mainly aimed at workers in IT, innovation, and tech.

Justice secretary José Vicente Santini, in charge of the National Immigration Board, said the measure will help attract foreign capital to Brazil while also boosting tourism. “The salaries of digital nomads come from abroad, and the funds brought in by these immigrants will help move the domestic economy,” he said. “This is an important step for Brazil to promote one of the most modern models of labor that exists.”

Major immigration law firm Fragomen estimates that there are currently 35 million digital nomads around the world and forecasts the number to hit 1 billion by 2035. Of this group, around 40 percent earn more than BRL 34,000 per month — just over 28 times Brazil’s minimum wage.

How to get one?

While a standard tourist visa in Brazil has a duration of 90 days with an optional 90-day extension, the digital nomad visa allows foreigners to live and work in the country for an entire year — and can be renewed for an extra year.

What’s more, the visa can be applied for both within and outside Brazil. Individuals already in the country on a tourist visa can request to switch to a digital nomad permit before the end of their stay, essentially permitting a total residence of two and a half years in Brazil. 

According to the resolution, digital nomad visa applicants must submit the following documents to either the Brazilian consulate abroad, or the Federal Police within the country:

• A valid passport
• A valid birth certificate
• Criminal record certificate
• Statement by the applicant attesting to their ability to carry out their work remotely
• Proof of a link with a foreign employer
• Proof of means of financial subsistence, from a foreign source. Applicants must prove they have access to a monthly income equal to or greater than USD 1,500, or total funds of at least USD 18,000.