Brazil was the first country in South America to offer a digital nomad visa, inviting remote workers to live and work for up to one year, with the option to renew. Now, joined by Colombia, Argentina, and Ecuador, Brazil continues to pave the way with a dedicated digital nomad village launched on the idyllic coastline. 

From the minimum income requirements to the application process itself—find out everything you need to know about the Brazil digital nomad visa in our guide to remote working.

What is the Brazil Digital Nomad Visa?

The Brazilian digital nomad visa was the first remote working visa offered in South America, allowing remote workers to live and work in the country for an initial one-year period. Digital nomads enjoying their time in the Portuguese-speaking country are able to renew their remote working visa for an additional year, taking the total time to a two-year nomad stay. 

Why is the Brazil Digital Nomad Visa Better Than a Tourist Visa?

The main benefit of the digital nomad visa over the traditional trip lies in the length of time that you can stay there. Without special permissions, visitors are only permitted to spend 90 days in Brazil, although this can be extended to a maximum of 180 days. Similar to the Schengen requirements, visitors are not permitted to spend more than 180 days out of a 365-day period. With the nomad-specific remote working visa, visitors are able to spend a full year with the option of renewal for another year.

Brazil Digital Nomad Visa Requirements 

The Brazilian digital nomad visa is not open to every remote worker, business owner, or freelancer. Digital nomads must satisfy the following criteria for a successful visa application:

• Valid Passport: The applicant's passport must be valid for the entire visa duration.
• Remote Worker: All applicants must be able to provide evidence of remote work as either a freelancer, foreign business owner, or foreign remote worker. 
• $1,500 USD Minimum Monthly Income: Applicants must prove a minimum income of at least $1,500 USD per month, proven via bank statements. Or, applicants may prove financial stability with a minimum of $18,000 USD in a bank account at the time of application. ‍
• Health Insurance: Applicants must show proof of health insurance with coverage in Brazil. ‍
• Clean Criminal Record: Applicants must pass and be able to provide a copy of a clean criminal record.

How to Apply 

Applying for a digital nomad visa can be a confusing process. The following step-by-step guide breaks down everything from the online application form to the interview with the Brazilian consulate. The Brazilian digital nomad visa can only be applied for outside of Brazil with the initial steps taking place online. Steps may differ according to the home country/state of the applicant, although the basic process is similar. 

Step 1: Collect all Necessary Documents 

The first step when applying for any digital nomad visa is to first collect all necessary documents ready for the online application. When applying for the Brazil remote working visa, the following documents must be provided: 

• Copy of Passport (Valid for a minimum of 12 months)
• Original Birth Certificate
• Proof of Remote Work (Freelancer, foreign business owner, or foreign remote employee)
• Bank Statements (Last six months)
• Proof of Health Insurance
• Certified Criminal Background Check

All documents must be digitized and, where appropriate, translated into either Portuguese or English. 

Step 2: Complete the Visa Application 

The visa application process will differ according to the home destination of applying digital nomads. A full list of local Brazilian consular offices is avaialable online. Applicants can use this document to find the appropriate consular website to locate the “Visa Form.”

The Brazilian digital nomad application form must then be completed with accurate information and the necessary documents uploaded when prompted. The Visa Request Form Receipt (RER) should then be printed and presented at the meeting with the consulate.

Step 3: Attend a Visa Appointment with the Consulate

Following the online portion of the visa application, applicants will then be required to attend a visa appointment with the consulate. Applicants may have to travel to visit their local consulate (which should match the initial online form). All original uploaded documents and the Visa Request Form Receipt (RER) must be presented at the appointment, where they will undergo a short interview with the appointed officer tasked with checking over and verifying the documents and application. 

Step 4: Await Visa Approval

Following the visa appointment, applicants must wait for approval. The current processing time sits at approximately four weeks.

Why Choose Brazil for Your Next Remote Working Trip?

With grand carnival celebrations, Brazil offers unique, exciting environments from the busy urban landscape of São Paulo to the beaches of Rio. Taking a look at the numbers of the 2021 Legatum Prosperity Index, Brazil ranks 68th out of a total of 167 different countries. The annual independent study utilizes more than 100 different indexes to evaluate the performance of different nations.

For Brazil, the highlights of the study include the 21st position ranking for the natural environment and the 50th position for personal freedom. Brazil unfortunately, does not perform well in the categories of safety and security, with a rank of 117th, and in enterprise conditions, with a rank of 114th. 

Remote Work Culture in Brazil

Brazil is a hive of remote working activity, proactively creating infrastructure and pioneering remote working concepts. Brazil offers some of the best internet speeds and reliability in South America and ranks 31st globally for fixed broadband quality. An average fixed broadband download speed of more than 95 Mbps and an average upload speed of over 65 Mbps is complemented by the average mobile download speeds of 32 Mbps and average upload speeds of 10 Mbps. 

A large number of visiting nomads choose São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro as their home destinations, but there’s more to it than the major cities like Brazil’s first digital nomad village of Pipa, similar to the successful project on the Portuguese island of Maderia.

Cost of Living and Quality of Life in Brazil 

Brazil has long been a hotspot for digital nomads looking to get the very most from their money with generally low prices and inexpensive accommodation. The cost of living in Brazil is approximately 50.6% lower than in the United States with rental prices a huge estimated 81.8% lower than in the U.S. for equivalent properties. Ultimately, this translates to the average living costs of an individual remote worker of $490 USD (without rent), a figure that increases to an estimated $1,750 USD (without rent) for a family of four. 

The quality of life in Brazil is ranked as moderate with an index score of 105 out of a potential 240 points. It performs well in both cost of living and climate indexes, but poorly in the property price-to-income ratio, purchasing power, and safety indexes. 

Healthcare in Brazil

Again, using the 2021 Legatum Prosperity Index, Brazil is listed at the 86th position out of 167 different countries included in the study. This health pillar creates an overall picture of the services and outcomes in Brazil, taking into account risk factors, mortality rates, and access to healthcare services

All digital nomads applying for the Brazil digital nomad visa are required to provide evidence of health insurance for a successful application. We would always recommend investing in a nomad-specific service to ensure the best possible coverage when working remotely. 

Conclusion 

The Brazilian digital nomad visa was the first launched in South America and proves to be one of the top options for long-staying remote workers. That’s plenty of time to explore the beautiful country with digital nomads able to spend an initial year in Brazil, with the option of renewing the visa for one additional year, with the new remote working visa. It’s really a dream come true for successful applicants.

A handful of requirements ($1,500 USD per month income, clean criminal record check, health insurance, etc.) and a short application process are the only things standing in the way between you and an unforgettable year in Brazil.