CRNM / Digital Nomad Visa

Hi ds0007

I am in Brasil on a Digital Nomad Visa (VITEM XIV).

The term of the Temporary Residence is 12 months with a 12 month extension possible on application.

Upon entering Brasil with your Visa - you attend at the Federal Police who take your biometrics and issue you with a CRNM valid for 12 months from the date of entry to Brasil (not the date the visa was granted).

The CRNM is your ticket to normal life - bank account, PIX transfers, local currency credit/debit card, health care at public hospitals etc etc - just like a Brasiliero!!

I have just had my 12 month extension granted with it being published in the Gazette of the Union - you go through the process on the MigranteWeb website ... then attend the Federal Police once again to have a new CRNM card produced for the new 12 month term.

I don't know about bank account cancellations at the expiry of the term - it sounds plausable ... but this is Brasil ... so who knows!!

Hope this helps.

@MikeInRio

Hey Mike, how far before your expiry did you apply for your extension? and did they take your passport?

Did you end up opening a bank accout? I am in a similar situation (retirement visa, just got my CRNM), and I haven’t decided yet which bank account i should get. Here in Bahia, Bradesco is almost everywhere, including in the village where I’m staying, so naturally I tend towards Bradesco. What do you think?

    Hi ds0007
I am in Brasil on a Digital Nomad Visa (VITEM XIV).
The term of the Temporary Residence is 12 months with a 12 month extension possible on application.
Upon entering Brasil with your Visa - you attend at the Federal Police who take your biometrics and issue you with a CRNM valid for 12 months from the date of entry to Brasil (not the date the visa was granted).
The CRNM is your ticket to normal life - bank account, PIX transfers, local currency credit/debit card, health care at public hospitals etc etc - just like a Brasiliero!!
I have just had my 12 month extension granted with it being published in the Gazette of the Union - you go through the process on the MigranteWeb website ... then attend the Federal Police once again to have a new CRNM card produced for the new 12 month term.
I don't know about bank account cancellations at the expiry of the term - it sounds plausable ... but this is Brasil ... so who knows!!

Hope this helps.
   

    -@MikeInRio

I just received my CRNM card last week, and even though my visa (retirement) is only for 12 months, the CRNM has an expiry date of september ’25, eg 24 months since my arrival. I wonder if what means if I renew my visa immediately after expiration…will I still have to go to the federal police to register again, or can I just keep my CRNM card for another year and don’t have to bother until the card is expired (September 2025)?

12/13/23 I just received my CRNM card last week, and even though my visa (retirement) is only for 12 months, the CRNM has an expiry date of september ’25, eg 24 months since my arrival. I wonder if what means if I renew my visa immediately after expiration…will I still have to go to the federal police to register again, or can I just keep my CRNM card for another year and don’t have to bother until the card is expired (September 2025)?
   

    -@Kurterino

The second.  You've been given two years.  See "Parágrafo Único" of Resolução Normativa No. 40:

https://www.in.gov.br/en/web/dou/-/reso … -229901650

    12/13/23 I just received my CRNM card last week, and even though my visa (retirement) is only for 12 months, the CRNM has an expiry date of september ’25, eg 24 months since my arrival. I wonder if what means if I renew my visa immediately after expiration…will I still have to go to the federal police to register again, or can I just keep my CRNM card for another year and don’t have to bother until the card is expired (September 2025)?         -@Kurterino

The second.  You've been given two years.  See "Parágrafo Único" of Resolução Normativa No. 40:

https://www.in.gov.br/en/web/dou/-/reso … -229901650-@abthree

But i will still need to renew my visa after one year,  correct?

12/15/23 But i will still need to renew my visa after one year,  correct?
   

    -@Kurterino

I don't think so.  For the period of your CRNM's validity, you're a legal resident of Brazil, and should be able to enter and leave the country at will on just your passport and your CRNM.

The consular visa let you enter the country to complete the residency process with the Federal Police.   Now that you've done that, the visa has served its purpose. As your CRNM  nears expiration, you'll renew your Authorization for Residency with the PF.

I suppose that if you let your CRNM expire while you're out of Brazil you'll need to get a new visa from a consulate to return,  but otherwise the Foreign Ministry is out of the picture.

@sshearing At Policia Federal, they advise you to apply within the last 90 days before expiry.

As your new residence permit will be valid for another year most probably from the date it was officially accepted and published at DOU (and not a one-year extension from the date of your current Crnm) applying too early might be a bit of disadvantage on counting days.

i found somewhere close to last 60 days a good timing, not too early but still allowing enough time for possible delays.

You get to keep your passport all times with you, just bring the original and a copy of it to the policia federal appointment.

@rocade thanks for thw reply! my issue is .. is that i am leaving brazil to go back to the UK on the 15th of august and my visa runs out while i am away on thw 20th of sept, i am concerned i wont be let back in 🫣

@sshearing Sorry, I just got this post. FYI I was not let back in thru Sao Paulo with two days left on my Visa. It took my Brazilian wife negotiating and sending documents from our home in Northeastern Brazil. The final part was a high-ranking official in Brasilia on Easter weekend who finally gave it the okay after several hours.

Either have a Plan B. or do not risk it.

As I always say it is not what you read or heard but the final decision as by the 250lb. 6ft. Customs Agent blocking your path and not letting you in.

Roddie in Retirement

@sshearing As you have plenty of time maybe you can try to apply early - there was someone in the forum who applied 4 months before expiry.

In case you couldn’t sort it out before you leave:

You would probably not have a big problem entering back: You have been a resident already, your residence has expired and you are coming back as a tourist

But then you’d have to apply for a new residence permit  before your tourist stay is over, which means you’ll need a few more documents than you would for a renewal application, such as apostilled birth certificate and apostilled background check from the uk.

The current time for the applications to be reviewed initially is 7 to 8 weeks.  If there are any issues where you need to submit additional documents, that is currently taking 4-7 days more after submission then allow a week for approval and publication in the DOU.  I tried to have my application expedited by sending an email and was told I needed to be patient and just wait as the processing is delayed. 

@californiainbrazil

Thanks California, thats really helpful.

@rocade

thats what i am hoping, i should be able to able to show the preliminary documents if not a fully authorised visa

@sshearing Don' forget my advice. I have been waiting 7 months.

Roddie in Retirement

When is the residency renewal official -- (a) the day the approval is published in the DOU or (b) when I go pay the GRU fee and go to the Federal Police for the protocol number and CRNM renewal?  Also, how long do I have to go tot the Federal Police after the renewal is published in the DOU?

@californiainbrazil The official renewal date (the new date on the CRNM card) in my experience has always been counted from the DOU publish date, even though I got the perception that the officer processing your documents in person at policia federal may have some flexibility on this.

I don't know the exact official/legal answer for your last question; but after DOU, I would pay the GRU asap and make the police appointment for a date no later than 30 days, just in case - similar to the 30 days limit on uploading new documents when requested.

If you extend a tourist visa, do you need to apply for a CRNM then? Or should you wait till you start a work/digital nomad visa?

I've read you should get a CRMN if you want to stay longer than 90 days, but no one told us this in the first 90 days on a tourist visa. Is it necessary to do then? Will they fine you if you apply in the 2nd 90 days? Or do you only apply for it on a work visa? Can't find more information on this.

@emeraldoor

You can extend your 90 days tourist stay for another 90 days and then you'd leave if you're not obtaining a residence permit (CRNM). But you don't necessarily need to apply for a CRNM if you're not staying longer than 180 days.

Digital nomad permit - If you're a digital nomad, you do the paperwork and get a residence permit (CRNM). I haven't heard of a restriction about applying in the second 90 days, but you'd need to complete it in time to avoid fines.

Work permit - If you're working for a Brazilian company, they'd provide better info about how they can sponsor you, I don't know if it's straightforward to apply while already in the country.

You may have read that you must apply for a CRNM when you're on a work/nomad visa, that's correct but that's when you already arrive in Brazil with a visa from the consulate in your own country.

If you're already in Brazil as a tourist, and want to get a permit, the residence application itself is the same process as obtaining the CRNM.

Hi everyone- I have my digital nomad visa and now have stayed longer than 183days in Brazil and I own a home here (but less than the required for an investment visa). I earn money through a US company but now I have to pay brazilian taxes right?

Can anyone help me with this process and to suggest a tax company who can do brazil and US taxes? I want to minimize being double taxed and have some strategies to keep my taxes low.

Thanks!

03/20/26 @*HernameisRio*.  If you've been in Brazil for 183 days in the same tax year, you may have some Brazilian tax liability.  As long as you've been paying taxes on all your earnings in your home country, though, your Brazilian taxes may be quite minimal, thanks to Brazil's laws on double taxation. 

Your Brazilian friends may be able to put you in touch with a local Brazilian accountant who can give you reliable advice.

Thanks @abthree. Unfortunately no one has a great resource for me, so year is why im reaching out here for help. I also have heard the US does Not have a tax treaty with Brazil so I think that makes my tax situation worse... do3s anyone know about the Carme Leao payments?

03/22/26 Thanks @abthree. Unfortunately no one has a great resource for me, so year is why im reaching out here for help. I also have heard the US does Not have a tax treaty with Brazil so I think that makes my tax situation worse... do3s anyone know about the Carme Leao payments? - @*HernameisRio*

I've read that a tax treaty has been negotiated between Brazil and the United States, but is held up at the US end.  Given the current frictions between the two countries, I wouldn't count on it going into effect anytime soon.   However, Brazil's own laws against double taxation should protect you against overpaying, even in the absence of a tax treaty. 

Carnê Leão is the method used by people like self-employed professionals who don't have Brazilian income taxes withheld by an employer to pay estimated taxes, like the estimated quarterly payments that self-employed people make in the US, except in Brazil they're monthly.  "Carnê" is the Portuguese word for a coupon book which was once used to make the payments, although it's all online now. 

If you decide to voluntarily sign up for Carnê Leão, the Receita Federal will certainly be glad to accept your payments, but there's a strong possibility that if you do it without qualified professional advice you'll end up overpaying.

03/22/26 Thanks @abthree. Unfortunately no one has a great resource for me, so year is why im reaching out here for help. I also have heard the US does Not have a tax treaty with Brazil so I think that makes my tax situation worse... do3s anyone know about the Carme Leao payments? - @*HernameisRio*
I've read that a tax treaty has been negotiated between Brazil and the United States, but is held up at the US end. Given the current frictions between the two countries, I wouldn't count on it going into effect anytime soon. However, Brazil's own laws against double taxation should protect you against overpaying, even in the absence of a tax treaty.
Carnê Leão is the method used by people like self-employed professionals who don't have Brazilian income taxes withheld by an employer to pay estimated taxes, like the estimated quarterly payments that self-employed people make in the US, except in Brazil they're monthly. "Carnê" is the Portuguese word for a coupon book which was once used to make the payments, although it's all online now.

If you decide to voluntarily sign up for Carnê Leão, the Receita Federal will certainly be glad to accept your payments, but there's a strong possibility that if you do it without qualified professional advice you'll end up overpaying.
- @abthree

Ugh yeah its so confusing and I dont want to overpay. I work remotely in Brazil for a US company so maybe that is why some were saying I would need the carne leao. Im a w2 and the us company takes out money already so I hope I don't have to pay brazil monthly. I would much rather pay at the end and have time to figure out my plan but I didnt want to be charged fines for not paying here in brazil. but it is so confusing with what do to and who to get help from.

03/23/26 @*HernameisRio*  Note the Frequently Asked Questions section at the end of this article.  It confirms what I've said above (and my own experience), that US taxpayers (Brits and Germans, as well) enjoy a substantial savings on taxes because of reciprocity, in spite of not having a tax treaty.  You want to make sure that you obtain that benefit:

https://nomadoffshoreacademy.com/taxati … in-brazil/