What is VITEM XIV?
In January 2022, Brazil created a temporary visa specifically for remote workers — people who earn income from a foreign employer or foreign clients while living in Brazil. The legal basis is Resolução Normativa nº 45/2021 from the National Immigration Council (CNIg), and the visa code is VITEM XIV.
It's valid for one year and is renewable for one additional year, for a total of two years. After that, you can switch to a different residency category (family, investment, work) if you want to stay longer — and your time on the Digital Nomad Visa counts toward eventual permanent residency and citizenship.
Who qualifies?
To get the visa, you need to be all four of the following:
- A remote worker. You work for an employer or clients outside of Brazil. Employees, freelancers, and independent contractors all qualify. You cannot use this visa to work for a Brazilian company.
- Earning enough. Either at least USD 1,500 per month in remote income, or at least USD 18,000 in liquid savings. Most people use income; savings is the backup if your monthly is lumpy.
- Insured. You must have valid health insurance covering you in Brazil with at least USD 30,000 of coverage. SafetyWing, Cigna Global, IMG Global, and several Brazilian insurers issue compliant policies.
- Cleared. A clean criminal record from your country of residence (FBI for US citizens, ACRO for UK, etc.), apostilled and sworn-translated into Portuguese.
SafetyWing is the most popular Digital Nomad Visa-compliant policy among nomads. Live pricing below — coverage well above the USD 30,000 threshold the visa requires.
Affiliate link — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Documents you'll need
| Document | What it proves | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Passport | Identity | At least 6 months validity, 2 blank pages |
| Application form (RER) | Visa request | Filled on the official e-Consular portal (SCI) — form expires after 30 days |
| Passport-size photos | Identity | Recent (last 6 months), color, white background |
| Proof of remote work | You work for a non-Brazilian employer/clients | Letter from employer OR contracts with foreign clients |
| Proof of income / savings | ≥ USD 1,500/mo or ≥ USD 18,000 saved | 3 months of bank statements minimum; payslips help |
| Health insurance certificate | USD 30,000+ coverage in Brazil | Must explicitly cover Brazil |
| Criminal background check | Clean record | Apostilled + sworn-translated |
| Birth certificate | Identity / civil status | Apostilled + sworn-translated |
| Marriage/divorce certs (if applicable) | Civil status | Apostilled + sworn-translated |
| Sworn statement / signed declaration | You'll only do remote work | Template provided by your consulate |
| Visa fee receipt | Payment | USD 100–120 + USD 0–200 reciprocity (varies by country) |
- FBI Identity History Summary (US background check, ~$18) — fbi.gov
- ACRO Police Certificate (UK background check) — acro.police.uk
- U.S. State Dept Apostille (federal documents) — travel.state.gov · Form DS-4194 (PDF)
- U.S. state-level apostilles (birth, marriage certs) — NASS state directory
- UK FCDO Legalisation — gov.uk
- Brazilian sworn translators (JUCESP) — jucesp.sp.gov.br
- Brazilian sworn translators (JUCERJA) — jucerja.rj.gov.br
A full per-country breakdown with Canada and Australia links is on the checklist page.
Where do you apply?
You have two options, and the right one depends on whether you're already in Brazil:
From abroad (recommended)
Apply at the Brazilian consulate or embassy nearest to your home address. The application form lives on Brazil's official e-Consular portal (SCI). You upload documents online, then attend an in-person appointment to submit originals and biometrics.
Pros: Cleaner, fewer surprises. Cons: You have to wait at home until the visa is issued.
From inside Brazil
If you're already in Brazil legally (e.g., on a tourist visa or VAF), you can apply via the MigranteWeb portal of the Federal Police. You submit documents online and attend a Polícia Federal appointment.
Pros: Skip the trip home. Cons: Brazilian agencies, in person — be patient and bring everything in triplicate.
How long does it take?
Plan for 4 to 8 weeks end-to-end. The Ministry of Justice has reduced its document review window to 15–30 days, but you'll spend additional time on:
- Gathering and apostilling documents (1–3 weeks)
- Sworn translations into Portuguese (1 week)
- Booking the consulate appointment (highly variable)
- The consulate's own review window (typically 2–4 weeks)
Costs
Budget realistically. Here's a typical North American applicant's cost stack:
| Item | Typical cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Visa application fee | USD 100–120 |
| Reciprocity fee (varies) | USD 0–200 |
| FBI background check | USD 18 + apostille |
| Apostilles (3–5 docs) | USD 60–150 |
| Sworn translations | USD 200–500 |
| Health insurance (annual) | USD 600–1,500 |
| Lawyer (optional) | USD 1,000–2,500 |
| Total estimate | USD 2,000–4,500 |
Getting your CPF — do this early
The CPF (Cadastro de Pessoa Física) is Brazil's national tax identification number — the equivalent of a US SSN or UK NIN. You need it for almost everything practical: opening a bank account, signing a lease, buying a SIM card, paying utility bills, booking domestic flights, even buying concert tickets. The good news: it's free, and you can get it from anywhere in the world before you ever set foot in Brazil.
The three ways to get a CPF
1. Online from abroad
Receita Federal's online portal accepts applications from foreigners residing outside Brazil. If your profile is straightforward, the CPF number can be issued within minutes. Free of charge.
2. At a Brazilian consulate
If the online form rejects you (it sometimes does for certain nationalities or document combinations), book an appointment at the Brazilian consulate covering your home address. Takes ~1–4 weeks. Also free.
Find your consulate:
gov.br/mre →
3. After you arrive in Brazil
Once on the ground, you can request a CPF at any branch of Banco do Brasil, Caixa Econômica Federal, or the Correios (post office). Bring your passport. Fee is around R$7. Issued same-day or within 48 hours.
What you'll need
- Your passport (number, issuing country, expiration)
- Your full legal name exactly as it appears on the passport — including all middle names
- Your parents' full names (mother and father), even if they are deceased. This is required by Brazilian civil law and is non-negotiable.
- Your date and country of birth
- A residential address (your home address abroad is fine for the online form)
- An email address — your CPF number is delivered there
Step-by-step for the online application
- Open the official Receita Federal page: CPF for Foreigners — it has an English option in the upper-right.
- Fill in your details exactly as written in your passport. Use the same accent marks (or lack of) — mismatches with your passport cause the most rejections.
- Confirm your data on the review screen.
- If accepted, you'll receive a protocol number immediately. Save it.
- Within minutes to 72 hours you'll get an email confirming your CPF number. If your CPF doesn't arrive within 5 business days, fall back to the consulate route.
Verifying your CPF later
Once you have a number, you can check its status (active / pending / suspended) anytime at Receita Federal's status check page. Keep the number written down — Brazilians ask for it routinely (waiters at restaurants ask "CPF na nota?" to register your purchase for tax credits).
After arrival in Brazil
Once you land with the visa, three things must happen:
- Register with the Federal Police within 90 days. This is mandatory and converts your visa into a residence registration. You'll book a slot on the Polícia Federal website and bring your apostilled documents, proof of address, and visa.
- Confirm your CPF is active. If you got it abroad, double-check the status (see CPF section above). If you didn't, head to a Banco do Brasil, Caixa, or Correios branch on day one.
- Open a Brazilian bank account. Nubank, Inter, and C6 are the most foreigner-friendly digital banks. Wise also works for receiving USD/EUR and converting to BRL — most US/EU nomads use Wise as their bridge account before their Brazilian bank is open.
Taxes — read this carefully
Brazil considers you a tax resident if you spend more than 183 days within any 12-month period in the country. Tax residency means your worldwide income may be taxable in Brazil, with credits available under any tax treaty between Brazil and your home country.
The good news: Brazil does not currently have a special tax regime for digital nomads, but its progressive income tax (0–27.5%) is often comparable to or lower than the US, UK, and most of the EU. The bad news: the rules are complex and reporting is annual on the DIRPF.
Renewal — getting your second year
Your initial visa is good for one year. Roughly 30–60 days before it expires, you apply for a one-year extension at the Federal Police. You'll need to show that you still meet the income/savings and insurance criteria, plus an updated background check.
After the second year, the Digital Nomad Visa cannot be renewed again. To stay longer, you'll need to convert to a different residency basis — most commonly the property investor route, retirement, or family reunion.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Skipping apostilles. The single most common reason applications get bounced.
- Using a translator who isn't on the Brazilian sworn-translator list. Brazilian authorities only accept sworn translations.
- Booking your flight before the visa is in your passport. Don't.
- Forgetting the 90-day Polícia Federal registration. Missing this can invalidate your residence and create future re-entry issues.
- Insurance with no Brazilian coverage. A "global" policy that excludes Brazil won't qualify. Get explicit confirmation.
Wait — do I need a tourist e-visa to enter Brazil?
This is the single most confusing point for new applicants, so worth answering clearly. The tourist e-visa and the Digital Nomad Visa are different things. The Digital Nomad Visa (VITEM XIV) is the long-stay visa this page is about. The e-visa is a short-stay visitor permit — and depending on your nationality, you may need it just to enter Brazil for any reason, including to apply for the Digital Nomad Visa from inside the country.
Who needs the tourist e-visa
Brazil reinstated visitor-visa requirements in stages during 2025–2026. As of April 2025, an electronic visa is required for citizens of:
- 🇺🇸 United States
- 🇨🇦 Canada
- 🇦🇺 Australia
And as of January 2026, the rule was extended to:
- 🇲🇽 Mexico
- 🇫🇷 France
- And several other nationalities — check the official portal for your country's status.
If you hold a passport from any other country (most of the EU, UK, Japan, etc.), the visa-waiver agreement remains in place — you can enter Brazil for short stays without a visa.
How the e-visa works
Quick facts
- Cost: R$257 (~USD 51)
- Processing: 48–72 hours typically; up to 10 business days
- Validity: Multiple entries, up to 90 days per visit, max 180 days within any 12-month window
- Purposes covered: Tourism, business, sports, artistic performances, airport transit
- Where to apply: Official VFS portal (link below)
Watch out for
- You must have the e-visa before boarding. Airlines will not issue a boarding pass without a validated e-visa code.
- The e-visa does not let you work in Brazil — it's a tourist/business visit permit. To work remotely or live long-term, you still need the Digital Nomad Visa.
- Use only the official site. Many lookalike sites charge inflated fees for the same submission. The government's official portal is at brazil.vfsevisa.com.
Apply for the Brazil tourist e-visa →
Common scenarios
- "I'm a US citizen and want to visit Brazil for 2 weeks." Apply for the tourist e-visa. You don't need the Digital Nomad Visa.
- "I'm a US citizen and want to apply for the Digital Nomad Visa from inside Brazil." You'll need the tourist e-visa to enter the country first, then file the Digital Nomad Visa via MigranteWeb / Polícia Federal.
- "I'm German and want to apply for the Digital Nomad Visa." You don't need a tourist e-visa to enter, but you still need the Digital Nomad Visa to live and work remotely from Brazil. Apply through your local Brazilian consulate.
- "I'm Canadian and got the Digital Nomad Visa from a consulate at home." You don't need a separate tourist e-visa — your Digital Nomad Visa is your entry document.
Frequently asked questions
Can I work for my US employer while in Brazil?
Yes — the Digital Nomad Visa is specifically designed for this. As long as your employer is outside Brazil, you keep working for them on your existing contract.
Can I freelance for Brazilian clients on the side?
Technically no — the Digital Nomad Visa restricts you to non-Brazilian sources of income. If you want to invoice Brazilian clients, you'd need a different visa basis or to set up a Brazilian company (with separate tax obligations).
Do my spouse and kids count?
Yes. Spouses and dependent children up to 24 (if studying) can apply for accompanying visas. You'll need apostilled marriage and birth certificates, and you may need to show higher income (typically +25–50% per dependent).
Will the Digital Nomad Visa lead to permanent residency?
Not directly, but time spent on the Digital Nomad Visa counts toward the four years required for naturalization. Most people switch into a long-term residency category (family, investment, retirement) before the Digital Nomad Visa expires.
Do I need a lawyer?
No — many people file successfully on their own. A lawyer is most useful if (a) your case has any complications (income from multiple sources, dependents, prior visa denials), or (b) you simply want a smoother experience. See our directory of lawyers.
This guide is informational and current as of 2026. It is not legal advice. Always confirm requirements with the Brazilian consulate covering your jurisdiction and consult a licensed Brazilian immigration lawyer for case-specific guidance.