How to get a Digital Nomad Visa for Brazil
- Esther Twisk
- Mar 15
- 6 min read
Updated: Apr 14
If you’re thinking about living and working remotely in Brazil, you’ve probably heard about the Digital Nomad Visa (VITEM XIV). It allows you to stay in Brazil for up to a year, with the option to renew for another year. Sounds great, right? But how do you actually get it?
In the fall of 2023, I went through the process myself, applying for the visa from the Netherlands. While the procedure may be different if you’re applying from another country or from within Brazil, I’ll share exactly how it worked for me - including what to expect, what documents you’ll need, and some useful tips to make the process smoother.
Spoiler alert: It wasn’t overly complicated, but it did require patience, and quite a bit of paperwork.
Requirements for the Brazilian Digital Nomad Visa
Here’s what I needed to apply for my Digital Nomad Visa back in 2023:
1. Passport
Valid for at least six months and with at least two blank pages.
2. Passport photo
One 3.5 cm x 4.5 cm photo, front view (standard passport photo)
3. Visa application form
You’ll need to fill this out online first. After submitting, you’re required to print the receipt, attach your photo and scan and sign it, to bring to the consulate along with the other documents.
4. Certificate of Good Behavior (VOG)
Issued by the Ministry of Justice, apostilled, and valid for 90 days. If applying from the Netherlands, you first need a declaration from the Brazilian consulate before requesting your VOG. Luckily, this was easy in my case - I just sent an email and received it within a day.
5. Birth certificate
In an international model and either legalized or - if issued outside your home country - apostilled at a courthouse.
6. Proof of travel & medical insurance
Which should clearly state coverage in Brazil or worldwide.
7. Proof of being a digital nomad (all three documents required):
Declaration of remote work capability – A self-written, signed statement confirming that you can work remotely using digital tools (in English or Portuguese).
Important: This document needed to be notarized (at a municipality) and then apostilled at a courthouse. Quite the hassle, to be honest.
Employment or service contract – Proof of a work contract with a foreign employer (didn’t need an official translation). Since I work as a freelancer, I provided a client declaration, which was accepted.
Proof of income – either:
A monthly income of at least US$ 1,500 OR
Savings of at least US$ 18,000 in a bank account.
Important:
Visa requirements can change, and they might also be different depending on where you apply. Before gathering all your documents, I advise you to always check the official website of the Brazilian consulate in your country for the most up-to-date information. When you come from the Netherlands, you can use this link.
Making an appointment at the consulate
It took me about a month to gather all the required documents and get them signed, stamped, and scanned. Once everything was ready, it was time to schedule an appointment at the consulate.
I was able to do this online via e-consular. I created an account, filled in my details, and uploaded all the scanned documents I had collected over the past month. Then came the waiting game - the consulate first needed to check and validate all my documents before getting back to me with possible appointment dates.
This part felt a bit nerve-wracking, but luckily, it went faster than expected. Just two days after submitting my documents, I received an email with a few follow-up questions and a link to choose my preferred appointment time. A week later, I was at the consulate, ready to finalize my application.
The process was straightforward, but timing can vary of course, depending on the consulate and workload. So if you’re applying, I’d recommend planning ahead and allowing extra time, just in case things take longer than expected.
Getting my Digital Nomad Visa
My appointment at the Brazilian Consulate in Amsterdam went smoothly. In total, I was there for about 1.5 hours and had to bring all my documents printed and ready for review. After verifying everything, I made the payment and my visa was issued on the spot - complete with my CPF number.
The CPF number
Let me tell you a bit more about the CPF:
If you plan to live in Brazil, you’ll need an Individual Taxpayer Registry number (CPF). And trust me, you’ll need it for almost everything. From buying a SIM card and ordering tickets online to opening a bank account or even booking a restaurant - expect to be asked for your CPF all the time.
Normally, you’ll have to apply for one separately, either online or in person at the Receita Federal (Brazil’s tax office). But in my case, the consulate handled it for me when issuing my visa - a huge time-saver. If you're applying for the visa, it’s definitely worth checking if your consulate offers the same service, as it saves you an extra step once you arrive in Brazil.
Next step: registration with the Federal Police
With my Digital Nomad Visa in hand, I thought I was set. But before I left the consulate, they informed me that upon arrival in Brazil, I’d need to register with the Federal Police within 90 days.
Why? Nobody could really tell me, but when I asked ChatGPT this was the answer I got:
‘Registering with the Federal Police is necessary to receive your RNM (Registro Nacional Migratório) number (formerly known as RNE - Registro Nacional de Estrangeiro). This acts as your official residency document in Brazil and is required for staying in Brazil legally beyond your initial entry period, opening a bank account, signing rental contracts, accessing public services, and getting a Brazilian driver’s license.’
So, worried that I might not be allowed to stay in Brazil after 90 days, I went ahead and got it. Spoiler: It turned out to be a lot of hassle for basically nothing. These were the steps I took:
Scheduled an appointment on the Polícia Federal website. The earliest slot was about a month away.
Paid the registration fee – this had to be done in person at Banco do Brasil with cash.
Gathered the required documents, including:
A copy of my passport
My visa approval document
Proof of residence in Brazil
The payment receipt
Two recent passport-sized photos
Attended my appointment at the Polícia Federal, which turned out to be a shared session with about 300 other people. After waiting 2.5 hours, it was finally my turn to submit my documents and complete biometric registration (fingerprints and a photo).
Received a temporary RNM protocol (protocolo do RNM), while my official RNM card was being processed.
Did I actually ever need it? No. Six months later, long after I had already left Brazil, I got an email saying that my RNM card was ready for pickup. By that time, I had travelled in and out of Brazil multiple times, and nobody ever asked for it.
So, unless you’re planning to get a Brazilian driver’s license, extend your visa, or open a bank account, I honestly couldn’t tell you what you need the number for.
How much did everything cost?
For the visa itself, I paid €110 at the consulate. Besides that, there were various costs for obtaining, notarizing, and apostilling the required documents, which added another €132.
As for the RNM registration, I don’t remember the exact amount I paid, but the average cost is currently around €25.
All in all, the process wasn’t super expensive, but it did come with a few unexpected costs, especially for document legalization. So if you're planning to apply for a Digital Nomad Visa, it's good to budget extra for administrative fees.
Final thoughts
Would I recommend getting a Digital Nomad Visa for Brazil? Yes, but only if you plan to stay for 6 months or more. If you’re just coming for a short period, the 90-day tourist visa might be a better, simpler option. But if you want to fully immerse yourself in Brazil, the VITEM XIV gives you the freedom to live, work, and explore without constantly thinking about visa limitations.
A few final tips if you’re applying:
Check the most up-to-date requirements at your local consulate. Rules can change!
Start early. Gathering all the documents, getting them notarized, and scheduling appointments takes time.
Ask if your consulate includes a CPF number with the visa - it saves you the hassle in Brazil.
Be patient. Bureaucracy in Brazil (and at consulates) can be unpredictable.
Want to know what it was like to live and work in Brazil? Read it in my blog here:
For me, the Digital Nomad Visa was absolutely worth it. Brazil is an incredible country to live and work remotely, and having the visa gave me peace of mind to fully enjoy it. If you’re thinking about applying - go for it!
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