União Estável/Stable union with German partner?

@seamonster12

I have only been involved in one stable umion here in Brazil, and that was between 2 Brits, both of whom already had permanent visas. Nevertheles I think I can shed some light.

Firstly you are absolutely heading in the correct direction - collate all your paperwork as you have described, and bring it with you. I am certain you will not need it all, but you never know in Brazil...! I also think there are other, perhaps simpler, ways to get a family reunion visa, but why risk it when you are so well planned, researched and organised?

Secondly the Official Translator (and it must be an officially licensed one) will want to see the original documents here in Brazil, not electronic copies, as he does not know you - but they are usually pretty quick.

Thirdly, make the appointment initially with the Cartorio, and they will tell you what docs they want - so you do not waste money translating the ones you do not need.

Finally, yes I do think you can achieve the Stable Union within your timeframe. But get started as soon as you get here...! Good luck to you both!

@seamonster12

Seems through to me, similar what I went through to get formally married in Brazil.

It might be useful for you to see Google's take on the process, which (for example) says you need to bring two witnesses to the cartorio, which you do not list. Also you ask about a pre-nup. You are not getting married, so I don't think you'd need a prenup.

There's also a YouTube video guide to the docs needed and the process.

https://www.google.com/search?q=stable+ … p;ie=UTF-8

@Peter Itamaraca

> Secondly the Official Translator (and it must be an officially licensed one) will want to see the original documents here in Brazil, not electronic copies, as he does not know you - but they are usually pretty quick.

Two years ago I had my documents translated by a Tradutor Jurado (even though I didn’t need to, but that is besides the point): I did everything via WhatsApp and she never asked to see the original documents (with the apostille). I sent her pictures of the documents (birth certificate and stuff like that), paid her with Pix and a couple of days later I could pick up the translated documents. I guess I could have asked her to send me the translated documents on Whatsapp and print them out myself, but then her official stamp wouldn’t have had her original signature, it would have been visible that it’s a copy. But I remember quite vividly that I picked up the envelope at the reception of their office and I never even saw the translator, just the person at the reception desk. I guess the thinking is that the people who ask for a sworn translation will check the authenticity of the apostille themselves?

08/12/26 @seamonster12.  As @Peter_Itamaraca and @alexanderstephenlange have written, your list looks quite thorough to me.

To be safe, you should contact the cartório that you plan to use beforehand to confirm your document list, your timing (as Peter says, 90 days should be more than sufficient if you get started as soon as you arrive in Brazil, and all your documents are in order.  I would not recommend trying to rely on a rental contract, particularly a foreign one, to prove your relationship to the PF -- get a União Estável document from a cartório.

Ask the cartório whether Sworn Translations provided over the Internet with electronic signatures are acceptable.  They're done from scans and print out as official documents; I generally use them, but if the cartório will have an issue with them, you want to determine that upfront.  As Peter said, a local Sworn Translator should be able to turn your docs around pretty quickly if required; if you go that route, they may still be willing to work from scans that you send them.

It's my understanding that you will need to have your witnesses physically present at the cartório when you sign the união estável documents, but that's one of the things that you can confirm in advance with them.

The cartório should have a form that you can fill out to record your "regime de bens".  No prior documented agreement should be required, but again, confirm with them.

The PF doesn't like to deal with stale documents, but the 90 day limit is a rather flexible guideline.  If it's clear that you two collected your documents in Germany as close to your departure date as was practical and started working on your união estável as soon as you arrived in Brazil, the PF should be understanding if your documents are a week or two (or even more) older than 90 days, especially if there are delays in your getting a PF appointment.

As long as your application for Permanent Residency is submitted to the PF before your partner's 90 days end, you don't have to worry about her being hit with a visa overstay:  the application for Permanent Residency stops her visa clock until final resolution.

Finally, you as the "Chamante", i.e., the Brazilian citizen "calling" your foreign partner to live with you in Brazil, are going to be required to sign a document for the PF "under penalty of law" stating that you actually DO live in Brazil, not just that you have a right to live in Brazil.  This is one reason that you do NOT want any document indicating a German residence in your document package.  The practical chances of being caught are pretty slight, but if that bothers you, keep in mind that she can come to Brazil for up to 90 days in every 180 period, so in effect for 2 separate periods of 90 days each per year on her Visitor Visa.  If you two can get the things done in Brazil that you want to do on that schedule, then you really don't have to bother with Permanent Residency at all until you two decide to live here for good.

08/12/26 @seamonster12.

Finally, you as the "Chamante", i.e., the Brazilian citizen "calling" your foreign partner to live with you in Brazil, are going to be required to sign a document for the PF "under penalty of law" stating that you actually DO live in Brazil, not just that you have a right to live in Brazil. This is one reason that you do NOT want any document indicating a German residence in your document package. - @abthree

Doesn’t this have implications concerning their taxes? If I understand the OP correctly, they are planning to stay in Brazil only part of the year, which means that they would not have to pay all of their taxes in Brazil. But if they can’t openly declare their German residence, they won’t be able to pay taxes according to a treaty or invoke double-taxation in order to reduce their taxes owed in Brazil, right?

@Peter Itamaraca
> Secondly the Official Translator (and it must be an officially licensed one) will want to see the original documents here in Brazil, not electronic copies, as he does not know you - but they are usually pretty quick.

Two years ago I had my documents translated by a Tradutor Jurado (even though I didn’t need to, but that is besides the point): I did everything via WhatsApp and she never asked to see the original documents (with the apostille). I sent her pictures of the documents (birth certificate and stuff like that), paid her with Pix and a couple of days later I could pick up the translated documents. I guess I could have asked her to send me the translated documents on Whatsapp and print them out myself, but then her official stamp wouldn’t have had her original signature, it would have been visible that it’s a copy. But I remember quite vividly that I picked up the envelope at the reception of their office and I never even saw the translator, just the person at the reception desk. I guess the thinking is that the people who ask for a sworn translation will check the authenticity of the apostille themselves? - @Kurterino

The fact that you had to collect the docs in person proves my point - even though it appears she did not actually see them, she was "theoretically" following the requirement to have physical sight of them, by you bringing the originals to collect the translations. She could not receive them, translate them, and send them to you, all electronically, which is the question.

Just to clarify on the Official Translator question, the rules are that they have to have physical sight of what they are translating, at some point in the process. Some may pretend not to adhere to this, but I do not think many would risk their license (and therefore income) to ignore this. PDF versions of the translations are quite acceptable, (as are physical copies), (both with all the stamps, of course!).

I have a guy (!) who I have worked with for nearly 20 years, and maybe I can get away with some things now that others cannot. But I would not rely on it...

08/13/26 Doesn’t this have implications concerning their taxes? If I understand the OP correctly, they are planning to stay in Brazil only part of the year, which means that they would not have to pay all of their taxes in Brazil. But if they can’t openly declare their German residence, they won’t be able to pay taxes according to a treaty or invoke double-taxation in order to reduce their taxes owed in Brazil, right?
- @Kurterino

I don't see how:  the Justice Ministry (Polícia Federal) and the Finance Ministry (Receita Federal) don't usually compare notes on routine immigration cases.  But the PF DO have to consider a document if it's shoved in their faces, so why take the risk?  The German lease may be useful to hold in reserve in case the cartório asks for more proof of the relationship in order to issue the União Estável document, but that would surprise me.

Some expats spend, in my view, far too much time agonizing about Brazilian income taxes, but one tax exposure that this situation may create is that if the partner spends 183 days or more during any year in Brazil after obtaining Permanent Residency, she will theoretically be subject to Brazilian income taxes.  But even if that happens, the amount of income tax she pays in Germany should offset any small Brazilian exposure.

I am sure they will need to provide a proof of address, so the rental contract will serve this purpose.

@Kurterino @abthree

Thanks for your replies and for your concern about our tax situation. We already work closely with two accountants (one in BR, one in DE).

I'm currently a fiscal resident of both Germany and Brazil and pay taxes in both countries, which sucks. My partner is a fiscal resident of Germany and will remain so, as she will only receive German income for the time being. She will spend less than 183 days of the year in Brazil, most likely around 160 or so days. I will spend over 183 days in Brazil starting in 2028 and earn my income solely in Brazil, so my goal is to eventually stop being a tax resident of Germany.

This is an experiment we're doing, but are aware that is a bit of a transition phase. In an case, with the advancement of AI both our jobs are threatened and it is possible that in a couple of years all of this will change.

08/13/26 I am sure they will need to provide a proof of address, so the rental contract will serve this purpose. - @Peter Itamaraca

Not the one in Germany:  "Our rental contract in Germany has both our names. Would that count for something?"

08/13/26 I am sure they will need to provide a proof of address, so the rental contract will serve this purpose. - @Peter Itamaraca
Not the one in Germany: "Our rental contract in Germany has both our names. Would that count for something?"
- @abthree

I think the German proof of address will work for the Stable Union, if not for the Permanent Visa, so long as at least one of them is a Brazilian citizen...

08/15/26  I think the German proof of address will work for the Stable Union, if not for the Permanent Visa, so long as at least one of them is a Brazilian citizen... - @Peter Itamaraca

At the cartório probably, if their declaration and the statements of the witnesses still aren't sufficient to obtain the declaration.  Inadvisable at the PF, though.  I'd have it on hand with a Sworn Translation just in case, but not show it to the tabelião if the cartório balks.

Christmas, you will be operating during Brazil's most intense holiday shutdown season (o recesso de fim de ano).

To pull this off without getting trapped by closed offices, you must adjust your timeline for the Christmas-to-Carnival bottleneck.

Make sure you have all your papers in order. I know this from experience from a country that goes in to lockdown over the festive season.

@seamonster12

I work with individual taxation in Brazil, so just one point to add on the tax side.

The day count may not be the deciding factor here. Under Receita Federal's current rules, someone who obtains permanent residence becomes a Brazilian tax resident on the date of arrival, or on the date the permanent status is granted, if that comes first. The 184-day test (not 183) only applies where no such status exists. So if the family reunion route succeeds, staying around 160 days a year would not, by itself, keep her outside the Brazilian net.

Also worth flagging: the tax treaty between Brazil and Germany has produced no effect since 1 January 2006. A credit for German tax is still possible, since Receita Federal expressly waives proof of reciprocity for Germany, but it is capped, and without a treaty there is no tie-breaker if both countries treat her as resident.

Worth putting to your advisers before the timing is fixed.