Brazil country guide
MERCOSUR or regional mobility · Last checked 2026-08-08
Acordo de Residência do MERCOSUL
Current nationality of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, or Uruguay
Brazil’s MERCOSUR residence route gives covered regional nationals temporary residence for up to two years, with a separate timely application to change to residence for an indefinite term.
- Country
- Brazil
- Applicant basis
- Current nationality of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, or Uruguay
- Responsible authority
- Polícia Federal, or the competent Brazilian consulate for an overseas visa application
- Official route status
- Current official route
- Information available
- Detailed guide
- Last checked
- 2026-08-08
Supported requirements
What the current source supports
- Prove qualifying nationality through a valid passport, identity card, or consular nationality certificate. Acquired nationality must generally have been held for at least five years under the agreement.
- Provide the current application, birth or marriage or consular civil record with parentage, and the criminal-record certificates and declarations required for the countries where the applicant lived during the prior five years.
- An applicant abroad may seek the applicable temporary residence visa through a Brazilian consulate. A person already in Brazil may apply directly through the Polícia Federal without a prior visa, subject to the current route and document rules.
- Pay the current residence-processing and CRNM issuance charges when applicable, schedule with the Polícia Federal, and appear at the unit serving the applicant’s Brazilian residence for identity and biometric registration.
- To seek an indefinite term, apply during the 90 days before the temporary status expires and provide the temporary-residence record, current identity evidence, Brazilian criminal record, lawful means for the applicant and cohabiting family, and the current charges.
Applicant scope
Who this route generally serves
- Generally designed for
- Nationals of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, or Uruguay who want to establish residence in Brazil under the MERCOSUR Residence Agreement.
- Legal basis named by the authority
- Decree 6.975/2009 promulgating the MERCOSUR Residence Agreement, Law 13.445/2017, and the current Polícia Federal and Ministry of Justice residence procedures.
Route lifecycle
What to confirm from application onward
- Financial basis
- No investment or income threshold applies to the initial nationality-based temporary grant. A later indefinite-term application requires lawful means sufficient for the applicant and cohabiting family without a universal amount stated in the agreement.
- Government service fees
- Current PF guidance lists R$168.13 for residence processing under code 140066 and R$204.77 for CRNM issuance under code 140120 when applicable. Confirm exemptions and live amounts before payment.
- Administrative service targets
- The general PF service page estimates up to 180 calendar days overall and up to 30 days for CRNM delivery. These are service estimates, not approval guarantees.
- Initial status
- Temporary residence for up to two years.
- Renewal
- The temporary status is not simply renewed. A qualifying holder may request change to residence for an indefinite term during the 90 days before expiry; missing that deadline subjects the person to Brazil’s ordinary migration law.
- Dependents
- Qualifying non-MERCOSUR family members may receive residence for the same period after providing the required relationship documents and clearing admissibility requirements. Approval remains applicant-specific.
- Work rights
- The agreement permits employment and self-employment on the same legal conditions as nationals, subject to Brazil’s profession, licensing, tax, and other generally applicable laws.
- Presence considerations
- The cited route package does not state one route-specific minimum-presence rule. General migration-law loss and cancellation rules still apply.
- Permanent residence
- Residence for an indefinite term is a separate application during the pre-expiry window and is not automatic after two years.
- Citizenship relationship
- Brazilian naturalization is a separate process under the Migration Law and does not follow automatically from MERCOSUR residence.
Official evidence
Sources for this route
Residência para nacionais do MERCOSULMinistério da Justiça e Segurança Pública · PT · Last checked 2026-08-08Documentação necessária — Acordo MERCOSULPolícia Federal · PT · Last checked 2026-08-08Obter Autorização de ResidênciaPolícia Federal · PT · Last checked 2026-08-07Decreto 6.975/2009 — Acordo sobre Residência para Nacionais do MERCOSULPresidência da República · PT · Last checked 2026-08-08Lei 13.445/2017 — Lei de MigraçãoPresidência da República · PT · Last checked 2026-08-08
General planning information only—not legal, tax, or investment advice. A listed route does not determine eligibility. Verify current rules with the responsible authority before acting.