Retirement Visa for Brazil

@thetracelfox thank you for your very detailed account. I am assuming that you are now applying for your initial 2 year temporary visa. Is that correct?

@ibdegen

Correct, this is the first go at it and i received two years.

05/09/25 @thetravelfox.  That's great -- congratulations!

Hello, I’m new here and would want to see if anything has changed since the last year updates. I’m planning on collecting and filing required in a couple of months.

Also I saw multiple comments about birth certificate. Do you know what should be done if my birth certificate was issued outside of USA and all other documents do belong to USA? Yes, it was officially translated and apostilled. Is it enough?

Another question, is it correct that any kind of work is prohibited by this type of visa? Even volunteering without getting paid just to have some socialization and fun?

Thanks!

01/13/26 @Salamandra.  Welcome!  There have been some updates to the rules on Retirement Visas since the last time we discussed them here.  These are the current requirements as they appear on the website of the Brazilian Consulate General in Chicago, which is generally kept pretty up-to-date.  You should double-check the site of the Consulate where you'll be requesting the visa, though, for any differences:

https://www.gov.br/mre/pt-br/consulado- … -vitem-xiv

With respect to your birth certificate, note that you'll need a document set consisting of:

1. the original birth certificate
2. Apostille of the competent authority in the issuing country
3. Signed, notarized translation of the birth certificate into English, if in another language
4. Apostille from the US state where the translation was notarized on the translation.

Check with the Consulate on whether the originals will be returned to you; if not, you should have a second set for the Federal Police in Brazil.

Applicants presenting US birth certificates will need an apostilled copy for the Federal Police in Brazil to register the visa when they arrive.  The Federal Police will require Sworn Translations into Portuguese (generally done in Brazil) for the documents presented to them, including the apostilles.

The question on work is an interesting one.  The terms of the old (pre-2017) retirement visa prohibited work for pay; I'll double check, but I think that the law for the current retirement visa is silent on the subject; presumably what is not forbidden is allowed.   You can confirm that at the  Department of Labor in your state once you're settled in Brazil, but either way there should be no problem with your doing unpaid volunteer work,

Good morning all.

Since my last post here in October 2024, a lot has happened.  I managed to find a really nice apartment in São José about 15 minutes by Uber from the centre of Florianópolis  - much cheaper here on the continent, quieter too!  I've opened bank accounts, transferred the proceeds from the sale of my apartment to Brasil, and hope to be able to buy a place later this year or next - if I can get my residency renewed.  Getting my household goods here was something else, why are all removal companies such blasted liars?  I've never rented in my life and I HATE it - I prefer having my own place.

Which brings me to my questions:

My CRNM is due for renewal in September this year, but everything I read about the renewal process seems to leave me more confused! Might be old age, I'm not sure.

1.    For what exactly am I applying?

        a)        Visa renewal

        b)        Permanent residence

I can't seem to find any definitive answer, and the PF in SC don't seem to reply to my emails.

My guess is that it is this: Substituir Carteira de Registro Nacional Migratório - (Renovar prazo de validade da carteira com classificação PERMANENTE), but I'm not 100% sure.  Would someone who's done this possibly be able to advise me?

My biggest issue is trying to find the correct list of documents required, because the documents I have are not apostilled, the Consulate in South Africa not having required apostilles.  Also, if I need apostilles or a new police clearance certificate those could take six months or more to obtain from South Africa (if lucky) and then I would imagine they still need sworn translations.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

I can't seem to edit my post above.

Could it be this option: Obter Autorização de Residência " Solicitar residência" , " Renovar residência" , " Transformar residência" ?

02/09/26 @kilobravo.  It's great to read that things are going so well for you. 

You'll be renewing your Authorization for Residency with the Federal Police, not a visa.  Once you got into Brazil and got your CRNM, the visa had done its job, and from now on all of your interactions are with the PF for Authorizations for Residency. 

If your CRNM says "Permanente" on it, or shows a validity of "Indeterminada", the process for you is the first one you cited, "Substituir Carteira de Registro Nacional Migratório", here:

https://www.gov.br/pt-br/servicos/obter … migratorio

That's probably the right one, but if your CRNM says "Temporário" on it, then the process  "Obter Autorização de Residência" may apply to you, here:

https://www.gov.br/pt-br/servicos/obter … migratorio

You're going to need Apostilles on, and Sworn Translations with, all your South African documents, as well as a fresh police clearance certificate.  If you anticipate this becoming an issue, or if neither of the processes above seem to fit your situation to you, it would probably be worthwhile to review your your case with an attorney, who may be able to come up with some workarounds. 

All the best!

@abthree

Thanks for your response, much appreciated.

I find it weird that I cannot find anyone who has ever seemed to apply for the renewal of a CRNM on a retirement visa, have all those who succeeded lapsed into dementia?

An update from me:

I contacted the PF here in Floripa, who sent me a link:

(https://forms.office.com/Pages/Response … lIV0dBTi4u)

to a form that I was supposed to fill in, that automatically generates sub-options depending on what option you select, which in my case was:

Renovação de Autorização de Residência (Renewal of Residence Permit for those who already have a Foreigner's Card - CRNM)

Which seemed the only logical option.  However, of the thirteen sub-options offered for that selection, not one applied to a retirement visa!  All the options presented were either related to MERCOSUL countries, family reunion or refugees.

I have now asked the PF to help me clarify if I selected the wrong option (doubtful) and if not, why there's no sub-option for my particular request.  Once I hear back, I'll update my post.  Maybe it will help the next person.

I would not be surprised if their website is not up to date as I had a similar problem with my states (DETRAN) website which was hopelessly out of date when I was attempting to do business with them. I don’t think there is a lot of urgency involved when trying to get the bugs out of there fantasy world of doing everything online. Sounds like you’re on the right track, unfortunately a visit to one of their offices may be in your future: 

@bepmoht

I wouldn't be surprised, I have e-mailed the PF about it, but no response yet, probably enjoying Carnaval!