The Brazil digital nomad visa is the VITEM XIV temporary visa, set up by Interministerial Resolution 45 of 9 September 2021. To qualify, you need foreign income of at least US$1,500 a month or US$18,000 in the bank, plus health insurance valid in Brazil. It gives you one year of residence, renewable for the same period, and you can apply at a consulate or from inside Brazil.
Last checked: September 2026
In short:
- Resolution 45/2021 requires income of at least US$1,500 a month from a foreign source, or available bank funds of at least US$18,000.
- Residence is granted for up to one year and can be renewed for the same period. Oliveira Lawyers describe one formal renewal, giving two years in total.
- Foreigners on a temporary visa without a Brazilian employment contract become Brazilian tax resident after 183 days of physical presence within any 12 months, and residents are taxed on worldwide income.
Who it’s for
Remote employees of foreign companies, and self-employed people with foreign clients, who can do their work entirely online from Brazil. The income has to be paid from a foreign source.
Income and financial requirements
| Route | Requirement | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly income | At least US$1,500 a month from a foreign payer | Payslips, contracts, bank statements |
| Savings | At least US$18,000 available in bank funds | Bank statements |
You also need to show that you can work remotely: an employment contract or service agreement with a foreign employer or clients.
Length, renewal and family
- First period: up to one year, whether you apply at a consulate or from inside Brazil.
- Renewal: for an equal period. You apply through MigranteWeb before your current permit expires, and you’ll need your migration registration card and updated criminal record certificates.
- Beyond two years: Oliveira Lawyers (page reviewed July 2026) say some of their clients have got a third year in practice. That isn’t guaranteed by the regulation.
- Family: we didn’t find a separate family income test in Resolution 45. Ask your consulate how dependants are handled before you file.
How to apply
Two routes:
| Route | Where | Insurance | Approx. government cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consular visa | Brazilian embassy or consulate covering your place of residence | Required: health insurance valid in Brazil | US$100 to US$300 depending on the country, per Oliveira Lawyers |
| Residence permit from inside Brazil | MigranteWeb (Ministry of Justice) | Oliveira Lawyers say the in-country route doesn’t need the expensive policy | Under US$40, per Oliveira Lawyers |
Documents (Resolution 45):
- A valid passport or travel document
- Proof of remote work for a foreign employer or clients
- Proof of the US$1,500 monthly income or US$18,000 in funds
- Criminal record certificates from every country you’ve lived in over the past five years
- Health insurance valid in Brazil (for the consular route)
Justworks (2024) describes the consular process as an online application followed by posting your documents to the embassy, with a €120 fee at that consulate once approved (verify). Fees vary by consulate and nationality.
Processing time: for in-country filings, Oliveira Lawyers estimate about 60 days from submission. Consular timing varies by mission.
After arrival: if you came in on the VITEM XIV visa, you must register with the Federal Police (Polícia Federal) within 90 days of arriving. If you got residence from inside Brazil, you have 30 days from approval to register.
Entering first as a visitor: since 10 April 2025, US, Canadian and Australian citizens need an approved e-Visa to visit Brazil, per Oliveira Lawyers. Bear that in mind if you plan the in-country route.
Tax: when you become tax resident
According to PwC’s tax summary (reviewed 23 September 2026), you become a Brazilian tax resident:
| Situation | When you become resident |
|---|---|
| Permanent visa holder | On arrival |
| Temporary visa with a Brazilian employment contract | On arrival |
| Temporary visa without a Brazilian employment contract (the usual case for VITEM XIV) | After 183 days of physical presence, consecutive or not, within a 12-month period |
Residents are taxed on worldwide income, so a nomad who stays past day 183 brings foreign salary and client income into Brazilian tax. Oliveira Lawyers point out that individuals pay monthly through the carnê-leão system. Brazil’s tax treaties and the rules in your home country will decide where you end up paying.
Practical tips and common refusal reasons
- Foreign source only. Income paid through a Brazilian entity doesn’t count towards the US$1,500.
- Five years of criminal records. Applicants who have moved around a lot need a certificate from each country, and these take time.
- Insurance must be valid in Brazil. A travel policy that excludes Brazil, or one that ends before your permit does, won’t pass.
- Count your days. Day 184 within any 12 months makes you a tax resident. Plan your arrival date around your tax year at home.
- Register on time. Missing the 90-day Federal Police deadline is an easy and avoidable problem.
See the full list: Digital nomad visa countries: which countries have one (2026 list)
Related guides: Digital Nomad Visa Index 2026: income requirements for 28 open visa routes, ranked · Visa processing times tracker (2026): real dates from members · Expat health insurance for digital nomads: SafetyWing vs Genki vs Cigna and more
Quick answers
Q: How much income do I need for the Brazil digital nomad visa?
Interministerial Resolution 45/2021 requires at least US$1,500 a month from a foreign source, or at least US$18,000 in available bank funds. You also need proof that you work remotely for a foreign employer or clients, criminal record certificates covering five years, and health insurance valid in Brazil.
Q: How long is the Brazil digital nomad visa valid?
VITEM XIV gives up to one year of residence, renewable for the same period through MigranteWeb before it expires. Oliveira Lawyers describe one formal renewal, making two years, though some of their clients have had a third year. If you enter on the visa, register with the Federal Police within 90 days.
Q: Do digital nomads pay tax in Brazil?
On a temporary visa without a Brazilian employment contract, you become a Brazilian tax resident after 183 days of physical presence within any 12 months. From then on, Brazil taxes your worldwide income, including foreign salary and client fees, usually paid monthly through the carnê-leão system.
Sources
- Normas Brasil: Resolução Interministerial (CNIg) nº 45 de 09/09/2021
- Oliveira Lawyers: Digital nomad visa (VITEM XIV)
- Oliveira Lawyers: Brazil digital nomad visa guide (Portuguese)
- Justworks: Brazil digital nomad visa requirements, a complete guide
- PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries: Brazil, residence
This is general information from the Nomad Forums team, not immigration, tax or legal advice. Rules change; check the official source or a qualified adviser before applying.
Over to you: Did you apply through a consulate or MigranteWeb, and what did the whole process cost and how long did it take? If you’ve renewed, did the Federal Police or the ministry ask for anything beyond the standard list?