Doing Business in Brazil

10. The Foreigner Work in Brazil

04/17/19

PREFACE

Migratory processes usually become excessively bureaucratic, especially in expatriation cases. Thus, their success depends on a good advisory service.

Such advisory is often provided by a specialized company, which acts like an attorney-in-fact, mediating the relationship between the solicitor and the Brazilian government.

As they work too closely to several governmental bodies, it is crucial for the company interested in these migratory movements to assure the reliability of those who shall provide it with assistance, both regarding technical knowledge and ethics and morals of the practices adopted by the specialized consultancy before public bodies.

Besides, the abovementioned close interaction with governmental authorities brings a recurring discussion into focus: the importance of compliance, in the case at issue, of the immigration one. The involvement of a company in scandals concerning lack of fulfilment of the legislation, in particular, of anticorruption laws (including FCPA), may arise very serious damages to its worldwide operations.

Therefore, in this preface, we stress the importance of knowing the professionalism level and the reputation of the immigration consultancy company in case you use its advisory services.

VISITOR VISA – SUBSPECIES TOURISM AND BUSINESS

Visitors coming to Brazil may obtain a visitor visa for short stay, with no intent of establishing residence, for tourism, business or transit purposes, or to conduct artistic or sports activities.

The visitor visa is an innovation of Federal Law 13445/2017. Such visa replaces the former temporary business visa, including it as one of its subspecies.
The same happened to the former tourist visa, which also became a subspecies of the visitor visa.

Such visitor visa subspecies are largely used by visitors who come to Brazil with specific tourism and business purposes.

The first one is designed to visitors coming to Brazil with the purpose of carrying out activities of touristic, informative, cultural educational or recreational nature, in addition to visits to relatives, participation in conferences, seminars, congresses or meetings, the conduction of voluntary service, or activities of research, teaching or academic extension.

In its turn, the business visa is applicable to those coming to Brazil to attend meetings, fairs, and corporate events, for press coverage or to make films and news articles, to prospect commercial opportunities, to execute contracts, to conduct audits or consultancies, and to work as part of the crew of an aircraft or vessel.

Unfortunately, neither the Brazilian legislation nor the Brazilian authorities have defined yet the activities foreign visitors may exercise in Brazil as auditors and consultants.

Such fact generates a great uncertainty for foreigners and Brazilian companies on the use of this type of visa, considering the high amounts of fines set forth in Federal Law 13445/2017 and its Decree 9199/2017.

The fine amounts are: (a) minimum amount of one hundred reais (BRL100.00) and maximum amount of ten thousand reais (BRL10,000.00) for infractions committed by individuals, and (b) minimum amount of one thousand reais (BRL1,000.00) and maximum amount of one million reais (BRL1,000,000.00) per offense for infractions committed by entities.
The abovementioned sum may be increased fivefold in case of recidivism.

It should be further highlighted that some countries, by force of a reciprocity agreement with Brazil, exempt their citizens from obtaining a prior tourist or business visa for entering the country. In such cases, the international visitor must only indicate in their entry card the condition in which they are entering Brazil.

This is the case of most of the South America and Europe countries, including Switzerland.

The stay duration for this type of visa is of up to 180 days (90 plus 90 days) in the immigration year*. However, depending on the international visitor nationality, such period may be shortened. This is the case of German citizens, for instance, may only use this type of visa in the period of 90 days for each 180 days from the date of the first entry of the international visitor into the Brazilian territory.

*Migratory year – period of twelve months from the date of the first entry of the visitor into the Brazilian territory, as per stipulated in the highest ruling act of the Federal Police.

HIRING FOREIGN WORKERS

A) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WORK VISA – NORMATIVE RESOLUTIONS NO. 03/2017 AND 04/2017

The technical assistance visa is targeted at immigrants coming to Brazil to engage activities in technical work positions, encompassing (i) the mere provision of technical assistance services, or (ii) transfer of international technology. Immigrants in such condition have two different visa modalities: 180 days and 1 year.

Firstly, we will address the technical assistance visa of 180 days, regulated by the Normative Resolution no. 3/2017. The Brazilian Ministry of Justice, Labor division is responsible for issuing this visa.

We stress that there are two steps for this type of visa. As informed above, the first one is carried out by the Ministry of Justice, Labor division, to whom the Brazilian company intending to keep the immigrant in Brazil shall apply for a prior work residence permit (visa).
Upon the approval of such work residence, a visa authorization is forwarded to the Consulate indicated by the immigrant as the collection point at the beginning of the application for residence permit.

The immigrant shall appear at the Consulate to pick-up their visa bearing their personal documents, such as the original passport valid for at least six months, local criminal record, and birth certificate.

It is crucial for the immigrant to bring to Brazil their birth certificate dully legalized or bearing a duly affixed apostille (which shall depend on the country of origin of the immigrant – German documents shall bear apostilles) for registration before the Brazilian Federal Police and for the issuance of their identification card – CRNM.

It is fundamental to emphasize that immigrants coming to Brazil with this type of visa cannot receive salary in Brazil, and shall keep being paid by the international company. Besides, they shall have no employment relationship in Brazil, but only in their country of origin.

B) EMERGENCY OR URGENCY TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE VISA AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE VISA VALID FOR 01 YEAR – NORMATIVE RESOLUTIONS NO. 03/2017 AND 04/2017

Normative Resolutions no. 03/2017 and 04/2017 address the regulation of two other modalities of technical assistance visa: the emergency or urgency technical assistance visa, and the technical assistance visa valid for 1 year itself.
The application for emergency or urgency technical assistance visa shall also be applied to the Brazilian Ministry of Justice, Labor division. Normative Resolution no. 03/2017 determines that such visa application shall follow a simplified process and that its approval shall occur within the term of up to two business days from the application.

Upon the approval of such work residence permit, a visa authorization is forwarded to the Consulate indicated by the immigrant as the collection point at the beginning of the application for residence permit.
Once more, the immigrant shall appear at the Consulate to pick-up their visa basically bearing their personal documents, such as the original passport valid for at least six months, the local criminal record* and the birth certificate.

*Due to the urgency of the situation, there is a possibility of the Consulate not requiring this document.
Upon their arrival in Brazil, the immigrant shall register themselves with the Federal Police within the recommended term of 30 days in order to obtain their identification card – CRNM. They shall not forget to provide the birth certificate bearing a legalization or an apostille.

The Ministry of Justice, Labor division defines the form to demonstrate the emergency or urgency situation at its discretion and it may reach a high subjectivity level, being only applicable to emergency or urgency situations that offer an imminent risk to life, the environment, and to estate or that may have caused the disruption of the production or provision of services.

This technical assistance emergency or urgency visa is valid for the term of up to 180 days.

Normative Resolutions 03/2017 and 04/2017 also set forth the requirement of provision of technical assistance services for the technical assistance visa valid for 1 year (merely administrative, financial and managerial functions being excluded from the scope of this visa). However, this modality is divided in two types (i) mere provision of technical assistance services based on Normative Resolution 03/2017, and (ii) technical assistance services with transfer of technology (training), based on Normative Resolution 04/2017.

To apply for this visa, the presentation of the following documents is mandatory:
I – in case of equipment purchase and sale with technical assistance, a copy of the document issued and signed by the Brazilian Federal Revenue Service; or

II – in case of technical assistance to equipment as per defined in a contract, the agreement or cooperation agreement, a copy of the executed instrument demonstrating the obligation to provide technical assistance services;

III – in case of technical cooperation among companies of a single group, a declaration of the interested company identifying the parties, and a communication regarding the existing association bond; or

IV – only in case of transfer of technology, a simplified training plan, as per provided for in the contract or agreement, specifying the professional qualifications of the immigrant, the training scope, and its execution form, defining the number of Brazilians to be trained, the place where it shall be executed, the beneficiary company/companies, its duration, and the expected results.

The Brazilian company applying for the visa shall inform the Ministry of Justice, Labor division the place(s) where the immigrant shall execute their activities, communicating any changes.

This visa (residence permit) is valid for the term of up to one year, and may be extended for an equal term only once.
The abovementioned time limitation is not applicable to contracts that contain a warranty clause due to their nature or object, however, their validity term shall be observed.

Brazilian companies that comply with the following requirements are entitled to apply for this technical assistance visa (residence permit):
I – To receive technical assistance or transfer of technology services;

II – To integrate the same economic group of the international company that employs the immigrant who simultaneously provides the services or transfer of technology to several companies that receive the technical assistance or transfer of technology services in Brazil; or

III – To be the intermediate of the international company that employs the immigrant as per contract with express exclusive dealing clause within the Brazilian territory.

This application for work residence permit may be presented in the following forms: (i) prior, where, upon the approval by the Ministry of Justice, Labor division, the immigrant shall appear before the Brazilian Consulate indicated in the work residence permit (visa) application for the pick-up of the visa, or (ii) local, where, upon approval by the Ministry of Justice, Labor division, the immigrant shall appear before the Federal Police to confirm their new immigration status in Brazil within 30 days after the publication of its approval by the Ministry of Justice,
Labor division.

In the abovementioned case (i), it is further mandatory to register with the Federal Police within the recommended term of 30 days from the entry of the immigrant in Brazil.
Where applicable, in both cases it is mandatory to present the birth certificates, bearing legalizations or apostilles, of the immigrant and their relatives. Again, where applicable, in case (ii) above, it is further mandatory to present the criminal records, bearing legalizations or apostilles, of the holder and their relatives over 18 years old.

C) TRAINEE VISA – NORMATIVE RESOLUTION NO. 19/2017

The professional training visa commonly called “trainee visa” is aimed at the training of foreign professionals at parent company or subsidiary companies in Brazil. This visa attends international visitors coming to Brazil to be trained at a company of the same economic group of their employers in their country of origin.

Under this visa, foreign professionals may have no employment relationship with the Brazilian company, but only with the company abroad. It means that it is not possible for them to receive salaries in Brazil.

The main feature of this visa is the requirement that both companies shall pertain to the same economic group, directly or indirectly. Among other documents, the relationship may be demonstrated by the articles of incorporation of the Brazilian company or by an Annual Report that presents the companies under the group.

An innovation brought up by the Normative Resolution no. 19/2017 is the obligation to demonstrate the existing bond between the immigrant and the international company that pertains to the same economic group as the Brazilian company. Besides, there is the requirement for the simplified training plan containing the reasons for the need of training the immigrant in Brazil, specifying the scope, its execution form, the place where it shall be performed, the delivering company/companies, its duration, and the expected results.

The relatives of the holder of this visa may accompany them.

This visa may be issued for the period of up to two years and may not be extended.

This application for work residence permit may be presented in the following forms: (i) prior, where, upon the approval by the Ministry of Justice, Labor division, the immigrant shall appear before the Brazilian Consulate indicated in the work residence permit (visa) application for the pick-up of the visa, or (ii) local, where, upon approval by the Ministry of Justice, Labor division, the immigrant shall appear before the Federal Police to confirm their new immigration status in Brazil within 30 days after the publication of its approval by the Ministry of Justice, Labor division.

In the abovementioned case (i), it is further mandatory to register with the Federal Police within the recommended term of 30 days from the entry of the immigrant in Brazil.
Where applicable, in both cases it is mandatory to present the birth certificates, bearing legalizations or apostilles, of the immigrant and their relatives. Again, where applicable, in case (ii) above, it is further mandatory to present the criminal records, bearing legalizations or apostilles, of the holder and their relatives over 18 years old.

D) VISA/RESIDENCE PERMIT WITH EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT IN BRAZIL – NORMATIVE RESOLUTION NO. 02/2017

 

One of the main work visas/residence permits is the residence permit with employment contract in Brazil. This type of residence permit is designed for companies wishing to locally contract immigrant professionals to work at their facilities.
Considering that the immigrant shall have an employment contract in Brazil, they shall be subjected to the labor and social security legislations of Brazil, having the same rights and obligations as a Brazilian employee.

It is crucial for the company to learn all costs involved in a contracting of this type, including paying attention to bilateral agreements in order to avoid a double taxation, as the tax and social security aspects of this type of residence permit become apparent, especially when the alien receive split-salary (part of their salary in Brazil and the other abroad).

Additionally, one of the main labor aspects of this contract is that the immigrant shall mandatorily be included in the payroll in up to 30 days from their first entry into the country with the work visa, in case of prior residence permit, or within the term of 30 days from the publication of the approval in the Official Gazette, in case of local residence permit.

The residence permit with employment contract may be issued for the period of up to 2 years. After such period, the immigrant shall be eligible for an extension of the initial term of residence or to an amendment to the residence term for an indeterminate period, and may or not keep bound to the company that firstly applied for it.

It is important for the immigrant to demonstrate a few minimum requirements for the Ministry of Justice, Labor division to authorize their trip to Brazil, i.e., (i) professional experience, and (ii) minimum schooling of 12 years. Such proofs shall follow the “formula” below:

– Proof of master or doctorate degree, with no need for proving professional experience.

– Proof of graduate course completion, with a minimum of 360 hours + 1 year of professional experience.
– Proof of higher education + 2 years of professional experience.
– Proof of specific training in technical level occupation + 3 years of professional experience.
Proof of 12 years of schooling + 4 years of professional experience.
– Proof of minimum experience of 3 years in a profession whose artistic or cultural activity does not depend on educational training.

The dependents of the candidate (spouse and children) may accompany them in their assignment in Brazil and may also work in Brazil.

This application for work residence permit may be presented in the following forms: (i) prior, where, upon the approval by the Ministry of Justice, Labor division, the immigrant shall appear before the Brazilian Consulate indicated in the work residence permit (visa) application for the pick-up of the visa, or (ii) local, where, upon approval by the Ministry of Justice, Labor division, the immigrant shall appear before the Federal Police to confirm their new immigration status in Brazil within 30 days after the publication of its approval by the Ministry of Justice, Labor division.

In the abovementioned case (i), it is further mandatory to register with the Federal Police within the recommended term of 30 days from the entry of the immigrant in Brazil.
Where applicable, in both cases it is mandatory to present the birth certificates, bearing legalizations or apostilles, of the immigrant and their relatives. Again, where applicable, in case (ii) above, it is further mandatory to present the criminal records, bearing legalizations or apostilles, of the holder and their relatives over 18 years old.

INVESTMENT IN BRAZIL

A) VISA/RESIDENCE PERMIT FOR DIRECTORS, OFFICERS OR EXECUTIVES (POSITIONS APPOINTED BY VIRTUE OF THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION) – NORMATIVE RESOLUTION NO. 11/2017

A specific visa also supports Brazilian companies intending to have an immigrant in a position appointed by virtue of the Articles of Incorporation for such purpose.
The immigrant who comes to Brazil supported by this Normative Resolution shall receive a work residence permit for director, as they shall have mobility to represent their company, especially for executing documents on its behalf.

One of the main requirements for the issue of this type of residence permit is the direct external investment in Brazil. For such, the Brazilian company shall be capable to demonstrate that it receives an international investment of at least BRL150,000.00 to apply for this type of residence permit.

Where the invested amount corresponds to BRL150,000.00 to BRL599,999.99, the company shall undertake to create 10 job positions in the two years following the residence permit grant, condition that shall be mandatorily fulfilled if the immigrant intends to renew their CRNM card

On the other side, if the amount corresponds to BRL600,000.00 or more, the validity of the immigrant’s CRNM shall be equal to 9 years, and it shall not be necessary to prove the creation of any job position for its renewal.

Additionally, to file the process before the Ministry of Justice, Labor division, the immigrant shall be already appointed to the position they intend to assume in an amendment to the Articles of Incorporation, and their take of office shall be subjected to the issue of the work residence permit for directors by the Ministry of Justice,
Labor division.

The visa shall be issued for 2 years (in case the investment amount is between BRL150,000.00 and BRL599,999.99), or for up to 9 years (for investment corresponding to or surpassing BRL600,000.00), being necessary to renew the immigrant’s CRNM card after such period.

In this case, it will be necessary to demonstrate that the immigrant is still in the position indicated in the first visa application, for which they were appointed by virtue of the Articles of Incorporation.

The dependents of the candidate (spouse and children) may accompany them in their assignment in Brazil and may also work in Brazil.

This application for work residence permit may be presented in the following forms: (i) prior, where, upon the approval by the Ministry of Justice, Labor division, the immigrant shall appear before the Brazilian Consulate indicated in the work residence permit (visa) application for the pick-up of the visa, or (ii) local, where, upon approval by the Ministry of Justice, Labor division, the immigrant shall appear before the Federal Police to confirm their new immigration status in Brazil within 30 days after the publication of its approval by the Ministry of Justice, Labor division.

In the abovementioned case (i), it is further mandatory to register with the Federal Police within the recommended term of 30 days from the entry of the immigrant in Brazil.
Where applicable, in both cases it is mandatory to present the birth certificates, bearing legalizations or apostilles, of the immigrant and their relatives. Again, where applicable, in case (ii) above it is further mandatory to present the criminal records, bearing legalizations or apostilles, of the holder and their relatives over 18 years old.

CONCURRENCY

Immigrants for whom this type of residence permit was issued may take offices for which they are appointed by virtue of the Articles of Incorporation, provided that such positions are in the same economic group of the first residence permit applicant.

For such, a process called concurrency is required, in which the Ministry of Justice, Labor division analyses the concerned documents and approves the new position of the immigrant, with no the need to leave the country and obtain a new visa.

In possession of the abovementioned authorization, the immigrant may take office in their new position.

B) VISA/RESIDENCE PERMIT FOR INDIVIDUAL INVESTOR – NORMATIVE RESOLUTION NO. 13/2017

The Brazilian immigration legislation further sets forth the possibility of visa/residence permit issue for investors looking to invest in their personal assets in Brazil.

Considering that the investor applying for this type of visa needs mobility in order to represent their company, just like the person occupying a position appointed by virtue of the Articles of Incorporation, a work residence permit for investor shall be issued for the immigrant.

The individual investor visa/residence permit has two main requirements. The first one is the need for an investment of at least BRL500,000.00 deriving from the personal account of the immigrant applying for the visa/residence permit. Such BRL500,000.00 shall be characterized as direct external investment, enabling the issue of screenshots of the Declaratory Electronic Registry of Foreign Direct Investment – RDE-IED by the computerized information system of the Central Bank of Brazil – SISBACEN.

This visa may be issued with an investing amount lower than BRL500,000.00, however, it shall not be lower than BRL150,000.00. For such purpose, the legislation established the condition that the company should have received one of the following benefits:

I – Investment, financing, or resources targeted at supporting innovation in governmental institution;
II – Being located inside a technology park;
III – Being incubated or being a graduated enterprise;
IV – Being a finalist in a governmental program for startups support; or
V – Receiving benefits from a startups accelerator in Brazil.

Another essential requirement is the submission of an investment plan informing the destination of the invested amount, as well as foreseeing the generation of job positions in Brazil. Such generation of job positions is essential to the maintenance of the visa/residence permit, as it is a sine qua non condition for the renewal of the CRNM card of the immigrant.

The visa/residence permit shall be issued with a validity of 3 years, and the immigrant shall renew their CRNM card after such period. That is the moment when they shall demonstrate the generation of jobs.

The Ministry of Justice, Labor division shall assess the job positions generation program. The visa/residence permit renewal application shall be filed in up to 90 days from the end of the granted term of 3 years.

It should be noted that during the first 3 years of the immigrant in Brazil the validity of their visa shall be subjected to the operation of the constituted company. It means that the immigrant may not withdraw the invested value of the constituted company, nor modify its purpose.
The dependents of the candidate (spouse and children) may accompany them in their assignment in Brazil and may also work in Brazil.

This application for work residence permit may be presented in the following forms: (i) prior, where, upon the approval by the Ministry of Justice, Labor division, the immigrant shall appear before the Brazilian Consulate indicated in the work residence permit (visa) application for the pick-up of the visa, or (ii) local, where, upon approval by the Ministry of Justice, Labor division, the immigrant shall appear before the Federal Police to confirm their new immigration status in Brazil within 30 days after the publication of its approval by the Ministry of Justice, Labor division.

In the abovementioned case (i), it is further mandatory to register with the Federal Police within the recommended term of 30 days from the entry of the immigrant in Brazil.

Where applicable, in both cases it is mandatory to present the birth certificates, bearing legalizations or apostilles, of the immigrant and their relatives. Again, where applicable, in case (ii) above it is further mandatory to present the criminal records, bearing legalizations or apostilles, of the holder and their relatives over 18 years old.

C) VISA/RESIDENCE PERMIT FOR INDIVIDUAL INVESTOR – NORMATIVE RESOLUTION NO. 36/2018

It was published on November 21, 2018, by the Brazilian Immigration Council, the Normative Resolution No. 36.

The Normative Resolution No. 36
discipline the granting of residence authorization permit as a result of real estate investment in Brazil.

This is an innovative residence hypothesis which presents an additional option for the immigrant as an investor. It is important to mention that under the protection of old Immigrant Law, this possibility of request has not exist.

According to Normative Resolution No. 36, residence authorization might be presented prior (issuance of temporary visa), as well as locally (for immigrant investors who are in Brazil).

As requirements for application based on real estate investment, the following points should be considered:

– Own resources for real estate investment in Brazil;
– Acquisition of real estate in urban areas;
– The value of the investment must be equal to or higher than R$ 1,000,000.00 (one million Reais);
– The acquisition of more than one property could be done once the value of all properties corresponds to the amount equal to or higher than R $ 1,000,000.00 (one million Reais);
– Specific documents must be presented to prove ownership acquisition (real estate already built or in construction);
– The co-ownership will be admitted, once the minimum investment amount is observed (per immigrant).

It is important to highlight that the immigrant investor must stay in the country for at least 30 (thirty) days during the granted term of residence’s permit, counted from the registration´s day at Federal Police.

The term of stay for this modality of residence will be 2 years, and then it could be modified (after this initial period) for an indeterminate stay, according to the Normative Resolution nº 30.

VISA/RESIDENCE PERMIT BASED ON FAMILY REUNION

Resident immigrants or foreign visitors may also apply for visas or residence permits for themselves or for some of their relatives based on a process called “Family Reunion”.
The following persons may apply for this type of residence:

1. spouse or partner, with no discrimination, under the Brazilian legal system;
2. son/daughter of a Brazilian or of an immigrant who was benefited with residence authorization;
3. people who have Brazilian children;
4. people whose children were benefited with residence authorization;
5. ascendants of up to second degree of a Brazilian or of an immigrant who was benefited with residence authorization;
6. descendant of up to second degree of a Brazilian or of an alien who was benefited with residence authorization;
7. a brother or sister of a Brazilian or of an immigrant who was benefited with residence authorization; or
8. people who have a Brazilian under their tutorship, curatorship or guardianship.

The immigrant shall receive a residence permit, enabling them to exercise all civil rights in the country.
After such term, the foreigner shall have a personal stay no longer bound to the Brazilian or resident immigrant.
This visa/residence permit may be obtained both outside the country, at a Brazilian Consulate section abroad, and within Brazil, at the Federal Police station of the couple’s residence jurisdiction.

In case it is issued abroad, it is important to keep in mind that each Consulate may decide at its discretion to require any additional documents it deems necessary to issue the visa, thus, each one has their own list of documents (and, still, they may require supplementary documents) for this purpose.

Inside the country, at the Federal Police station, the immigrant may hand their documentation and, concurrently, proceed with their register in order to obtain their provisory identification document.

BRAZILIAN DOCUMENTS

A) NATIONAL REGISTRY OF FOREIGNERS – CRNM

In Brazil, the identification document for immigrants is called CRNM card. This document is obtained upon the registration of the immigrant with the Federal Police.

In case the immigrant enters in Brazil having a temporary visa issued by a Brazilian Consulate section abroad, such registration shall mandatorily take place in up to 90 days from the first entrance of the immigrant in Brazil. Any failure in fulfilling this requirement may result in the cancelation of the visa.

Although it is possible to make such registration within the term of 90 days, we recommend all immigrants coming to Brazil with working purposes to obtain it in the maximum term of up to 30 days, in order to avoid labor issues.
It should be stressed that the immigrant shall receive a provisory document, called “Protocolo CNRM” (CRNM Protocol) until the issue of their permanent card.

B) REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE

“Certidão de Registro” (Registration Certificate) is a document containing personal information regarding such immigrants that is issued by the very Federal Police and demonstrates that the immigrant was duly registered in its system.

A few Registry of Commerce units currently require the submission of this document along with contractual amendments that demonstrate the take of office by the immigrants who have work residence permits based on positions for which they were appointed by virtue of the Articles of Incorporation, or that were based on investment.

C) INDIVIDUAL TAXPAYERS’ REGISTER – CPF

Issued by the Federal Revenue Service of Brazil – RFB, this is the fiscal and tax document of Brazilians and immigrants. For being a register, this document is merely a numerical sequence.

Although bearing this document is not mandatory, it is important for the immigrant to know this number, as they may be inquired about it.

It should be noted that, for being a tax and fiscal register, the CPF is a mandatory document for all immigrants above 8 years old.

D) SOCIAL SECURITY CARD – CTPS

It is one of the most important documents for immigrants intending to be locally contracted in Brazil. CTPS is a little blue booklet where all labor features of their employment relationship are noted down.
Without this document, companies are not able to register the immigrant in the payroll, which may result in delays in the payment of their salary and other difficulties.
The bodies responsible for issuing this document are the Regional Labor Authorities.

E) NATIONAL DRIVERS’ LICENSE – CNH

This is the licensing document for driving motor vehicles in Brazil. Immigrants may drive for up to 180 days with their drivers’ license issued in their countries of origin, however, after such period, it is mandatory for them to obtain a CNH.

People born in countries that are contracting parties of the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic may validate their licenses in Brazil through a process conducted by the Brazilian National Traffic Department – DETRAN.
In case the immigrant does not come from one of these countries, they may not validate their drivers’ license and it will be necessary to take practical and theoretical tests to obtain this document.

F) WORK RESIDENCE PERMIT RENEWAL PROTOCOLS

Immigrants subjected to work residence permit renewal processes have yet another document that complements their identification documents in Brazil.

It happens because, in most of the cases, after the filing of such process, the CRNM of the immigrant already lost its validity. Therefore, it is important for immigrants to always bear the renewal protocol, as it shall demonstrate their legal stay in the country.

It should be stressed that many airport agents and even police officers do not know about the validity of this document, however, it is essential for the very immigrant to know that it proves their legal stay in the country in case of arguments with such agents.

1. The Brazilian identification card for immigrants is called CRNM.

 


Authors: Renê Ramos e Suzana Maria Marques da Fonseca

EMDOC Serviços Especializados

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