Brazil's digital nomad visa, known as VITEM XIV for digital nomads, gives people who work remotely for foreign employers or clients a temporary residence of one year, which can be renewed for a second year. Brazil launched it in 2021 under National Immigration Council Resolution 45, and it is issued through Brazilian embassies and consulates.
The financial test is one of the lowest of any major nomad program. Brazilian consulates ask for proof of at least US$1,500 a month in income from a foreign source, or at least US$18,000 in available funds as an alternative.
The low bar comes with conditions. You must work for an employer or clients outside Brazil, register with the Federal Police after arrival, and keep an eye on Brazil's tax rules, which can apply after 183 days. The figures below were checked against official Brazilian government pages in October 2026.
Key takeaways
- VITEM XIV for digital nomads grants an initial one-year residence that can be renewed once for another year.
- The usual financial test is US$1,500 a month from a foreign source, or US$18,000 in bank funds, as listed by Brazilian consulates.
- You cannot use this visa if you work for a company in Brazil. The employer or clients must be abroad.
- After arrival, holders register with the Federal Police to get a national migration ID card.
- A temporary visa holder generally becomes a Brazilian tax resident after 183 days in Brazil within any 12-month period.
Who can get Brazil's digital nomad visa
Brazil defines a digital nomad as a person who can carry out their work remotely from Brazil, using information technology, for an employer or clients located abroad. Both employees and independent contractors qualify, as long as the work relationship is with a foreign party.
The line is firm on one point. If you work for a company in Brazil, the digital nomad visa is not the right category. Local employment requires a different visa with a work authorization.
There is no nationality restriction in the rules. Applicants file at the Brazilian consulate that covers their place of residence. Since April 2025, citizens of the United States, Canada and Australia also need a visa for tourist trips to Brazil, but that change does not alter the digital nomad route, which has always required a consular visa.
Brazil digital nomad visa requirements
Exact lists vary slightly from one consulate to another, so the checklist below combines the requirements that Brazilian missions publish. The Brazilian embassy in Doha's VITEM XIV page and the consulate in Amsterdam's page are two examples.
| Requirement | Detail (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Income | At least US$1,500 per month from a foreign paying source |
| Alternative | At least US$18,000 in available bank funds |
| Work proof | Employment or service contract with a foreign employer or client |
| Remote work statement | Signed declaration that you can work remotely from Brazil |
| Health insurance | Medical cover valid in Brazil for the stay |
| Criminal record | Police certificate, usually legalized or apostilled |
| Passport | Valid at least six months, with two blank visa pages |
| Other | Application form, photo, birth certificate at some consulates |
Proving the income
Most applicants show the monthly income with recent payslips, invoices and bank statements that match. The savings route suits people with irregular freelance income but solid reserves. Either way, the money should come from outside Brazil, since the program is built around foreign income.
Health insurance
Consulates ask for health or travel insurance that includes medical cover and is valid in Brazil, either specifically or worldwide. Check that the policy period covers your planned stay, not just the first few weeks. Our guide to private health insurance costs by country can help with budgeting.
Criminal record certificate
Most consulates require a police certificate from your country of residence, and some also ask for one from other countries where you lived recently. Certificates usually need an apostille or legalization, and some consulates only accept certificates issued within the last 90 days. Order this early, because it is often the slowest document to obtain.
How to apply, step by step
- Find your consulate. Apply at the Brazilian consulate that has jurisdiction over your place of residence and read its own checklist.
- Fill in the online form. Brazil uses an electronic visa application form. Print the receipt if your consulate asks for it.
- Submit documents and pay the fee. Fees differ by consulate and currency. For example, the Doha embassy lists QAR 400, and fees are generally non-refundable.
- Receive the visa. Once approved, the visa is placed in your passport or issued electronically, depending on the consulate.
- Enter Brazil and register. After arrival, you go to the Federal Police to register and request your national migration ID card (CRNM). Decree 9,199/2017 gives temporary visa holders 90 days from entry to request registration. Some consulate pages give a shorter deadline, so the deadline stated with your visa also matters.
- Get a CPF. Brazil's individual taxpayer number is needed for leases, phone plans, banking and most day-to-day tasks. Many people request it at the consulate before travel or online after arrival.
Renewing for a second year
The initial residence period is one year. It can be renewed once, for one more year, by applying in Brazil before the first year ends. Renewal generally requires showing that you still meet the same conditions, including the foreign work relationship and the income or funds test.
Brazil digital nomad visa tax rules
Brazil taxes its residents on worldwide income, at progressive rates that reach 27.5% at the top. The question for nomads is when they become resident.
Under the rules of the Federal Revenue Service (Receita Federal), a foreigner who holds a temporary visa and does not have a Brazilian employment contract generally becomes tax resident once they have spent 183 days in Brazil, consecutive or not, within any 12-month period. From that point, income from abroad generally becomes taxable in Brazil. Residents who receive income from foreign sources typically pay tax on it monthly through a system called carnê-leão.
A one-year visa that can be renewed means many holders will cross the 183-day line. Some points that often come up:
- No US treaty. Brazil has no income tax treaty with the United States. Americans in Brazil usually rely on US relief such as the foreign earned income exclusion or foreign tax credits, which our guide to FEIE versus the foreign tax credit explains.
- Treaty countries. Brazil has tax treaties with a number of other countries, and their tie-breaker rules can matter if both countries treat you as resident.
- Leaving properly. People who become Brazilian tax residents and later leave usually need to file an exit declaration to end that status.
Your home country's rules also still apply. Whether you stop being resident there depends on its own tests, not on your Brazilian visa. Our explainers on the 183-day rule and on tax residency for digital nomads set out the general principles. People in this position often ask a Brazilian adviser before day 183, not after.
Practical points for life in Brazil
Banking can be slow at first. Many Brazilian banks require a CPF and a migration ID before they open an account, so plan to rely on your home bank or an international account for the first weeks. Our guide to bank accounts for digital nomads covers the common issues.
Brazil is large and its cities are very different. São Paulo has the business scene, Florianópolis is popular with remote workers, and Rio de Janeiro mixes both. Cost of living and safety vary a lot by neighborhood.
For a comparison with other programs in the region and beyond, see our complete list of digital nomad visas in 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do I need for the Brazil digital nomad visa?
Brazilian consulates ask for at least US$1,500 a month from a foreign source. As an alternative, you can show at least US$18,000 in available bank funds.
How long can I stay in Brazil on the digital nomad visa?
The initial residence is one year. You can renew it once for another year, for a total of two years, if you still meet the conditions.
Can I apply for the Brazil digital nomad visa from inside Brazil?
The standard route is a consular visa from your country of residence. Brazil also has a residence authorization process handled inside the country, but eligibility depends on your current status, so check with the authorities before relying on it.
Will I pay tax in Brazil as a digital nomad?
You may. A temporary visa holder without a Brazilian employment contract generally becomes tax resident after 183 days in Brazil within any 12-month period, and residents are taxed on worldwide income. A Brazilian tax adviser can confirm your position.
Can my family come with me?
Yes. Family members can usually apply for related visas. Consulates ask for documents that prove the relationship, such as marriage and birth certificates, and charge separate fees.
Important: This article is general information, not tax, legal or financial advice. Rules change often and depend on your personal circumstances. Speak with a qualified professional in each relevant country before you act.