Your VITEM XIV application, in 30 boxes.

Week 1 Decide & prepare.

• Confirm you qualify Remote income from outside Brazil ≥ USD 1,500/mo OR ≥ USD 18,000 in savings; clean criminal record; no Brazilian employer.
• Decide where you'll apply From abroad (consulate, recommended) or from inside Brazil (MigranteWeb / Polícia Federal). If you'll apply from inside Brazil and you're from the US / Canada / Australia / Mexico / France or another visa-required country, you'll first need a Brazilian tourist e-visa just to enter.
• Locate your consulate Find the Brazilian consulate covering your home jurisdiction (consulate finder). Bookmark the official e-Consular portal (SCI).
• Decide if you want a lawyer Optional but recommended for tricky cases. See our directory of lawyers.

Weeks 2–3 Gather documents.

• Passport with 6+ months validity Renew if it expires within 6 months. You'll need at least 2 blank pages.
• Get your criminal background check FBI Identity History Summary (US), ACRO (UK), CPIC (Canada), AFP (Australia). Order early — these can take 2 weeks. Direct links in the resource box below.
• Pull 3 months of bank statements Showing salary deposits, freelance payments, or savings ≥ USD 18,000.
• Get a remote-work letter From your employer (employees) OR copies of contracts with foreign clients (freelancers). Must be on letterhead, signed, dated.
• Buy compliant health insurance USD 30,000+ coverage explicitly including Brazil. SafetyWing, Cigna Global, and IMG Global all have compliant policies. SafetyWing is the cheapest for nomads under 40; Cigna is the better fit for older applicants or anyone with pre-existing conditions.
• Pull birth certificate (long-form) Order a fresh certified copy from your state/country of birth.
• Marriage / divorce certificates (if applicable) Needed for spouse visa or to prove civil status. Long-form certified copies only.
• Recent passport-size photos Color, white background, taken in the last 6 months. Bring 2–4 originals.

Week 4 Apostille & translate.

• Apostille your background check For US FBI checks, this is done by the US Department of State. Some services (like Monument Visa) handle it for you in 5–7 days.
• Apostille your birth certificate Done by your state's Secretary of State (US) or competent authority in your country.
• Apostille your marriage / divorce certificates Same process. Skip if not applicable.
• Get sworn translations into Portuguese Use a tradutor juramentado registered in a Brazilian state Junta Comercial. Lists are public; many translate by email + courier. Directories below.

Week 5 Submit your application.

• Create your e-Consular (SCI) account Open the official Brazilian visa portal, choose "VISA" → "Start New Application", and create your applicant profile.
  Open e-Consular portal (SCI) →
• Fill the visa application form (RER) Same portal as above. Include your VITEM XIV details, Brazilian address (use your future Airbnb or hotel for now), and intended length of stay. Heads up: the RER form expires after 30 days — submit to the consulate within that window or you'll need to refill it.
  Open the RER form →
• Upload all documents PDF scans of every required item plus the sworn statement (declaração) provided by your consulate.
• Pay the visa fee ~USD 100 visa fee + reciprocity fee if applicable. Card payment on most portals.
• Book your in-person appointment Bring originals of every document, your passport, and the printed application. Some consulates also do biometrics on the spot.

Weeks 6–8 While you wait.

• Apply for a CPF (free, online, takes minutes) Brazil's tax ID. Apply free of charge at the Receita Federal foreigner portal — number often arrives in under an hour. Full step-by-step in our visa guide.
• Decide your first city Browse our 20 city guides. Floripa, Rio, and São Paulo are the most foreigner-friendly starting points.
• Book initial accommodation Plan for 4–8 weeks at first via Airbnb or a coliving (Selina, Outsite). Don't sign a long-term lease before you've visited.
• Buy your flight ONLY after the visa is stamped in your passport. Major hubs: GRU (São Paulo), GIG (Rio), FLN (Florianópolis), REC (Recife).

After you arrive Settle into Brazil.

• Register with the Federal Police within 90 days Mandatory. Book online and select "Registro de imigrante" or "Solicitação de CRNM". Bring passport, visa, apostilled docs, proof of Brazilian address, two passport photos, and the GRU fee receipt (R$204.77 in 2026).
  Open servicos.dpf.gov.br →
• Get your CRNM card (residence card) The CRNM (Carteira de Registro Nacional Migratório) is your Brazilian foreigner ID for the duration of the visa. Here's how it works:
  1. At your Federal Police appointment, you do biometrics (fingerprints + photo) and pay the issuance fee (~R$204.77 in 2026).
  2. You leave the appointment with a protocol document (Protocolo de Registro) — this is a temporary printed proof of residency, valid for ~180 days.
  3. The physical card is printed and either mailed to your registered Brazilian address or held at the PF office for pickup. Timing: typically 30–90 days.
  4. In 2026, your status is also visible in the Gov.br digital ID system shortly after biometrics — you can show the digital version on your phone while waiting for the card.
  5. Renew the CRNM 60–90 days before the date printed on the card — same office, same site.
• Open a Brazilian bank account Nubank, Inter, and C6 are the easiest digital banks for foreigners. You'll need CPF + CRNM + proof of address. While you're waiting on those, Wise gives you a multi-currency account that holds USD/EUR/BRL and lets you receive your foreign salary and convert to BRL at the real exchange rate — useful as a bridge before your Brazilian bank opens.
• Get a Brazilian SIM card Optional Skip if your home plan has a generous Brazil roaming allowance, or grab an eSIM for the first weeks (Airalo or Holafly — Airalo's Brazil eSIMs start around USD 5 for 1GB). Otherwise, Vivo, Claro, and TIM all sell prepaid SIMs to foreigners with CPF for R$30–80/month. A local number makes Pix, banking 2FA, and ride-hails noticeably smoother.
• Sign up for SUS (optional) Brazil's universal health system. Available to all residents at no cost. You'll still want private insurance, but SUS is your safety net.
• Talk to a Brazilian tax accountant Especially if you'll cross 183 days in any 12-month period. Get advice before you become tax resident.

Tips & references Useful links.

Country-specific links for the background check, apostille, sworn translation, and a live insurance quote — referenced from the phases above.

i. Background check — by country.

ii. Apostille — official authorities.

iii. Sworn translation — Brazilian directories.

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