Can a self-employed person sponsor a work visa for themselves?

I don't have an answer for "sponsoring yourself" but I think a more realistic option would be checking the investment/entrepreneurship residence permits instead. You would have to shape and present your business plan either as an innovative startup with R$150,000 or a regular business that can create jobs with R$500,000 investment.

https://portaldeimigracao.mj.gov.br/pt/ … ew=default

This is the official website that guides you through alternatives. As you are already in Brazil, with a residence permit, looking to adjust status, you would select:

Brasil -> Sim -> Alterar Finalidade -> Investidor Pessoa Fisica, you’re presented with three options. I believe the first two options you might be worth checking out if it could be of interest to you.

10/14/24 @drsebas88.  That's a pretty high, steep mountain that you propose scaling!  I have my doubts that it's even possible, but here are some thoughts about determining that.

Ordinarily my first suggestion would be to pulse your professional network of individuals and organizations in Brazilian mental health care to understand your options and what might be feasible. Since you say that you've only moved here recently, you probably haven't had the chance to set up much of a network, but if you have, this would be a good time to gather information.  If you have any contacts in Brazilian NGOs in the field, starting out being sponsored by one of them and eventually spinning off on your own may be something to consider.

Regardless, you're going to need to talk to a Brazilian attorney with experience in setting up professional services businesses.  During your very first meeting, you should be able to find out whether a foreigner in your situation can even set up a business in Brazil of the kind you're considering:  if the answer is "no", there's no point in incurring additional legal fees.  If the answer is "yes", then you'll need to understand the process and timeline, and you'll need an opinion on whether you'll be able to do business based on your (presumably) US professional credentials, or will be required to validate your credentials with Brazilian authorities.  Validation of professional credentials in Brazil can be a long, expensive, and frustrating process, but it's required in many fields.

How's your Portuguese?  This is a rigorously monolingual country, and without a professional-level command of the language I don't see a reasonable possibility of success, even if you cast your net widely enough to pick up English-speaking Brazilians across the whole country.

The best plan may be to spend your first year as a DN building your network, working on your Portuguese if it's not already excellent, and deciding whether you really want to stay here for the long haul; if you still do, you can launch your plan during your first extension with a much better information base. 

@drsebas88

Unfortunately the answer is a simple no - otherwise everyone would have done it.

Yes, you can set up a company and invest R$150,000 with a guarantee to create at least 10 jobs, or R$500,000 with no such guarantee, but I sense that this may not be an option for you?

Well, companies of all types have "principals".......presidents, secretary treasurers, etc, and regardless of the path you choose, it's your name that's going to appear on the newly minted registration documents causing the PF reveiwing your visa application to question the validity of same, resulting in the use of a fine toothed comb for vetting in the absence of a significant financial commitment as Peter stated. Fraud by gringos is very highly frowned upon here.......politicians OTOH no problem.

@drsebas88 to live for an extended time or work / own a business in Brazil takes a lot of work. It is not easy and will require you to provide lots of documentation and commitment to the immigration process to obtain the correct visa's etc. It is also necessary if you plan on staying, working or owning a business in Brazil.

Roddie in Retirement🕵

@abthree Thanks for your thoughtful response. I will definitely consult an attorney to see if it is feasible, I talked with one casually who said that it is possible (but "no" is not a very common answer here, haha)-so I planned to consult someone professionally, just thought I'd start here.

The idea of working with NGOs here is well-taken; however, I'm really not wanting to work for anyone else, so perhaps in expanding my network as you suggest I could do some consulting/independent contractor work. I am not looking to set up a professional service business as in my limited research it seems that people in my situation cannot set up businesses in healthcare-which is why this would be coaching/consulting, which would not require a professional credential.

As you mention, I am still pretty early in my DN, so I will still be feeling things out - but I think it's never too early to explore options available If I find out anything, happy to report back here

10/14/24 @drsebas88.  Thanks for the clarifications.  As you say, it's never too early to explore options.  If the options that you explore include accepting payment from Brazilian clients while living in Brazil as a Digital Nomad, be sure to review that in detail in your discussions with your attorney before committing yourself to anything.  That would violate the terms of your visa and if discovered, could result in having your visa and residency permit canceled, at the very least.  This is an area where, turning the old saw on its head, asking for forgiveness is no substitute for asking for permission (although permission isn't available).

Hello,
I recently moved to Brazil on a digital nomad visa. I am self-employed and work in mental health and coaching with US residents. I am seeing an opportunity to do some great work here, but to do this I would need more time than what a digital nomad visa would allow even with the one year extension. Is it possible to set up a coaching/consulting company here and have that company sponsor a work visa for me (I guess essentially sponsoring a work visa for myself). If it is, are there other considerations or things I should be thinking about in terms of the process?

Thank you! - @drsebas88

Not a chance in hell. 

They will see through this.  Brazilian Immigration Bureaucrats comb through this stuff. 

But if you are undecided, and the bureaucratic morass is discouraging ,I would advise you to try other avenues. 

The way things are in America, they are on a self sabotage tour of epic proportions.  And it has nothing to do with partisan politics or such..  it is time to jump ship.