Family Reunion visa for unmarried couples

   
Bonus question: does owning a house also qualify for a long term visa? Because he does own one.
   

Possibly - it depends on the price he paid for the house, or more importantly, what is declared as the purchase price in the escritura. If it has a value of over 1 million reais, or 700,000 reais in NE Brazil, then he could apply for a Golden Visa. It does not matter that the purchase was made some time ago, he can still apply now.

  10/14/23  Thankfully, I’ve received my retirement visa a few weeks ago. It’s unfortunately only for 12 months, but hopefully the renewal will be (or at least seem) easier. A friend of mine is trying to get a Family Reunion visa and was about to prepare to get married to his long-time girlfriend, when we noticed that for this type of visa, it is stated explicitly (on our embassy’s website) that the Brazilian government treats married and unmarried couples with no discrimination whatsoever (for this type of visa). It’s even the first sentence in the list of requirements. However, there are no clear requirements listed about how an applicant has to prove his relationship with a Brazilian, it just says that he must prove it. Does anyone have any knowledge or firsthand experience in this matter? Bonus question: does owning a house also qualify for a long term visa? Because he does own one.         -@Kurterino

Congratulations on getting your visa!

In your friend's case, the Embassy and the Federal Police should accept either a declaration of união estável sworn and filed with a cartório in Brazil, or an equivalent formal relationship ("Civil Union", "Domestic Partnership", etc.) documented with the authorities of his country.  Please note that, in order to register a União Estável at a cartório, both parties must be single.  Being divorced is not a problem as long as they present the Marriage Certificate(s) and Divorce Decree(s) from the previous marriage(s), but either party still being married to someone else will be an impediment.

In the absence of that documentation, the rule of thumb that the Polícia Federal usually follows is proof of at least one year of cohabitation, as evidenced by leases, utility bills, etc.

As for the bonus question, @Peter Itamaraca is an expert on this.  The specific authority he's referencing (to which he referred me) is this:

https://portaldeimigracao.mj.gov.br/pt/nav-guiada/rn-36

Note that this is an Authorization of Residence, not a visa:  the application process takes place at the Polícia Federal in Brazil, without a preliminary step at a Consulate abroad.

    Thankfully, I’ve received my retirement visa a few weeks ago. It’s unfortunately only for 12 months, but hopefully the renewal will be (or at least seem) easier.
A friend of mine is trying to get a Family Reunion visa and was about to prepare to get married to his long-time girlfriend, when we noticed that for this type of visa, it is stated explicitly (on our embassy’s website) that the Brazilian government treats married and unmarried couples with no discrimination whatsoever (for this type of visa). It’s even the first sentence in the list of requirements. However, there are no clear requirements listed about how an applicant has to prove his relationship with a Brazilian, it just says that he must prove it. Does anyone have any knowledge or firsthand experience in this matter?
Bonus question: does owning a house also qualify for a long term visa? Because he does own one.
   

    -@Kurterino

House title of deed, and utility bills under both of your names.  If you pay for water & sewer, have her to c over electricity. Save all bills and paid receipts.