For US citizens
Moving to Brazil from the United States
US citizens need a visit visa before they travel to Brazil. To live here, compare the digital nomad, retirement and investor routes, which are open to every nationality.
In short
US citizens need a visit visa before travelling to Brazil, for stays of up to 90 days. To live here, the digital nomad visa suits remote workers with US$1,500 a month or US$18,000 saved, the retirement visa suits pensions of US$2,000 a month, and the investor visa suits people investing R$500,000 in a company or R$1,000,000 in property.
Side by side
| Visit visa | Digital nomad visa | Retirement visa | Investor visa | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Who it's for | Tourism or business, without being paid in Brazil | Remote workers whose employers or clients are all outside Brazil | Retirees, and people receiving a survivor's pension | People investing their own money from abroad in a company or property |
| Money you must show | Set by the consulate's visa checklist | US$1,500 a month from a payer abroad, or US$18,000 in the bank | US$2,000 a month, transferable to Brazil | R$500,000 into a company, R$150,000 for innovation, or property worth R$1,000,000 (R$700,000 in the North and Northeast) |
| Where you apply | A visit visa, before you travel | The VITEM XIV visa at a Brazilian consulate, or residence from the Ministry of Justice if you're already in Brazil | At a Brazilian consulate, or to the Ministry of Justice from Brazil | From abroad, before the visa, or from inside Brazil |
| How long | Up to 90 days on a visit visa | Up to one year, renewable for the same period | Up to 2 years at first | Company route: indefinite. Property route: 4 years, then indefinite |
| Staying longer | Depends on your visa. Ask the Federal Police before your stay ends | Renew for the same period, with up-to-date documents and your RNM card | Renew before it ends for up to 2 more years, or move to indefinite residence | Company: prove the plan was carried out. Property: keep it, and spend at least 14 days in Brazil in every two years |
Which one fits you
Visit visa
Choose this if you're coming for a trip or a short business stay, up to 90 days.
Continue to my assessmentPassport visa check →Digital nomad visa
Choose this if you work remotely for US or other foreign employers or clients and want to live in Brazil.
Book an attorney for my digital nomad visaDigital nomad visa check →Retirement visa
Choose this if your pension reaches US$2,000 a month and can be transferred to Brazil.
Book an attorney for my retirement visaRetirement visa →Investor visa
Choose this if you'll bring your own money from abroad into a Brazilian company or property.
Book an attorney for my investor visaInvestor visa calculator →
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Official sources
How to apply for a visa, Itamaraty ↗
Digital nomad visa (VITEM XIV), Brazilian consulate in New York ↗
Retirement visa (VITEM XIV), Brazilian consulate in New York ↗
Resolution CNIg nº 13/2017 (company investment), Ministry of Justice ↗
Checked against official sources on October 25, 2026. Emigro gives preliminary guidance, not legal advice, and is not a law firm. Lawyers on Emigro are independent, registered with the OAB, and solely responsible for their advice. Emigro is a private company, not affiliated with the Brazilian government, the Federal Police, Itamaraty, the Ministry of Justice or the Receita Federal.
Common questions
Do US citizens need a visa to visit Brazil?
Yes. US passports need a visit visa before travel, for stays of up to 90 days. Whether you can extend depends on your visa: ask the Federal Police before your stay ends.
Can I work remotely from Brazil as an American?
For short stays, depending on your passport, you may be able to work remotely as a visitor: check yours with the passport visa check. To live here while working for employers or clients outside Brazil, the digital nomad route asks for US$1,500 a month or US$18,000 in the bank.
Do I have to apply from the United States?
No. The digital nomad and retirement routes can be requested at a Brazilian consulate or, from inside Brazil, from the Ministry of Justice. The investor routes can be requested from abroad, before the visa, or from inside Brazil.
More free tools
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