Visas & Customs Requirements

Employment:

A business or permanent residence visa is required for most foreign visitors. Visa applications can typically be processed within a few days. To obtain a visa, one must be the administrator, manager, or director of an established or new Brazilian professional or business corporation; be a foreigner who intends to remain permanently in Brazil and to invest foreign funds in productive activities; be a researcher or high-level specialist; be a retired foreigner, over 50, who will transfer the monthly equivalent of at least $2,000 USD to Brazil; be married to a Brazilian citizen, or have dependent Brazilian offspring.

A Temporary V General Work Permit is required to work in Brazil and must be submitted by a Brazilian sponsor. The Brazilian Consulate will notify foreign nationals of their acceptance. It takes roughly two months to process the permit and is valid for two years. Requirements for the work permit mandate that the expatriate must receive at least a portion of the salary in Brazil and must pay the appropriate taxes within Brazil.

Employment Situation:

Since World War II, the level of employment in Brazil has coincided generally with the expansion of the country's labor force. However, there have been considerable changes in the occupational structure.

Currently, Brazil is going through a period of great transformation that envolved from new demands from society and the accelerated transformation of the Brazilian businesses to increase their efficiency and productivity, contributing to a more solid base for the growinf Brazilian economy.

The Brazilian workforce is rejuvenating itself. Currently, the job market is more attractive for people between the ages of 25 and 39 years old. Additionally, the structural transformation of the Brazilian economy is creating a more competitive environment as the different industries incorporate technological innovations and new managerial techniques, resulting in more strict requirements for more qualified workers.

Teaching Positions:

If you are a native English speaker, you may be able to find an English-teaching part-time job; but don't expect that to save your holidays. The pay will be under-the-table without contract. There is also a growing demand for Spanish language classes, especially in the major cities. In both cases, it's always much more lucrative to find work privately rather than through schools. This can be done by advertising in newspapers or weeklies or by putting up signs on the notice boards at universities.