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07/01/25  @Latam Expat.  Welcome, and congratulations!  If you have all the necessary documents with you to apply for residency at the Federal Police (PF) now -- the gating item is usually a criminal background check less than 90 days old from the country or countries where you've lived for the last five years -- you can save time and effort by applying now.  In the past, there were places in Brazil that could turn around an application like yours in about a month if the documentation was complete.  São Paulo has a reputation for longer delays, but I don't know what the situation is now. 

If you tell the PF that "the intention is to give living in Brazil a chance next year, 2026", they're liable to respond that you should try when you're ready to live here then, so you should not volunteer that information.  If asked directly, though, you should always respond truthfully to questions from the PF.

Regardless, make sure that you're child's documentation is perfect, and that you have duplicate originals or authenticated copies of the birth certificate and any related documents.  Since you'll be traveling, get a Brazilian passport for your child.  That's from the PF, too.

If you leave Brazil without obtaining residency, you're better off getting VITEM XI family reunion visas at a Brazilian Consulate in your home country and returning on those.  The time that you've used up on your Tourist Visas won't count against you then, and the registration process at the PF will be a lot simpler with the right visa.  Confirm this with the Consulate, but chances are that you'll need to show little or no additional documentation besides the VITEM XI.

@Latam Expat Definitely follow @abthree's advice. Being a Brazilian Permanent Resident I may add a few others.

1) Get accustomed to not comparing Brazilian Portuguese to Spanish. I live in a very small village in Northeastern Brazil Use this time to simply learn Brazilian Portuguese. Knowing Spanish is not the advantage you think it is when you are actually here.

2). It took me a year to get my Permanent Brazilian Residency. Half of that was with a very bad lawyer, however it will always take you 2 or 3 times more than than you think.

3). Follow the guidelines and time frame for leaving Brazil and coming back, especially the "Don't Tell" advice. I was physically detained for several hours after I came back to Brazil when I went to Miami for my US FBI Fingerprints etc.  The Customs Agent is on their own in keeping you out no matter what your advisers told you before. I also had every document known to man, but "not done" is "not done"  Being in the process does not carry much weight in Brazil, so make sure if you have the appropriate visa. It was also recommended that you have a refundable return ticket Even if you don't plan on using it. Having a one-way ticket with no Permanent Documentation will not work. 

4). In the end I have one daughter 24, years old who is an American AND a Brazilian Citizen with an American AND Brazilian passport that is actually the reason I am a legal Brazilian Permanent Resident. My wife who is the smartest non-college educated person I know took complete care of her before she could even walk. She took her to Brazil right after she was born in the US. at such an early age that her first language is actually Brazilian Portuguese.

Good Luck!

Roddie in Retirement😎

@abthree

Thank you for the detailed response. If I could ask a few follow-up questions:

i. When you say that the best bet might be to apply for a VITEM XI visa, are you suggesting this visa because Brazilian embassies do not issue permanent residency ("PR") or for a different reason?

ii. If that's the case, my understanding is that upon arrival in Brazil with a VITEM XI, I would request a change in status from temporary to permanent residency ? And if so, is the process at that point any different (documentation or processing time) than if I apply for PR right now?

iii. If you assume I have the documents needed for a VITEM XI ready, any idea on how long embassies take to process [this visa]?

iv. Once the VITEM XI is issued, it's valid for 90 days, meaning that we would need to travel to Brazil within 90 days of receiving the visa and register at PF within that timeframe. Is that right ?

v. Would you mind linking to a reliable/definitive thread here that discusses the requirements for obtaining the child's Brazilian passport and, separately, requirements for requesting PR based on family reunion while in Brazil? I know it's been discussed many times over but am still confused on some details like if an appointment is needed or just walking into PF office is fine and whether the background check from where I've lived the past 5 years (Panama) is sufficient or if a background check from my country of nationality/origin (States) will also be requested?

vi. Lastly, assume we have all our documents in order and apply for PR right now. My understanding in reading some other threads here is that you walk out of PF the same day that you apply with a document that states that you have an ongoing process/applying for PR? And further assume that it takes longer than the period that we're in Brazil for. Can we give a power-of-attorney to someone to pick up our IDs? And then any other thoughts on leaving while the PR is in process, eg any downside?

When I mention things like 'perhaps living in Brazil in 2026' the intention is to help frame our situation - where we have some flexibility but haven't definitively decided, but, like everyone else here, want to figure out the most efficient way to create options for ourselves. Our view is that if we don't use the PR, we don't use it. But if we do end up moving early next year, then we'll be glad we took advantage of these 2 months that we have on the ground and got this bureaucratic process moving (or done).

Also, it's important to note, if we do move, it would be for at least 2-3 years and the intention would be to naturalize. This will also influence our timeline because we're aware that we'd need to be on the ground at least 9 out of 12 months of the year, and if I'm not mistaken, 'year' refers to calendar year, not the rolling 12 months, correct? Meaning the residence requirement for naturalization counts from Jan 1 of any given year (please correct me if that's totally wrong?).

We have friends in SP, but obviously none of them have any idea (like natives in any country) what processes immigrants go through. So I'm grateful that this community exists and helps share information and personal experiences. Thanks again abthree! 

@roddiesho

Hey Roddie! Could you kindly expand on what you meant by "Follow the guidelines and time frame for leaving Brazil and coming back, especially the "Don't Tell" advice." ?

Appreciate the feedback on all else 🤗

Thanks!

07/02/25 @Latam Expat.  I'll respond to your questions out of the order in which you asked them, since some of the later ones require responses while you're still in Brazil:

vi. Lastly, assume we have all our documents in order and apply for PR right now. My understanding in reading some other threads here is that you walk out of PF the same day that you apply with a document that states that you have an ongoing process/applying for PR? And further assume that it takes longer than the period that we're in Brazil for. Can we give a power-of-attorney to someone to pick up our IDs? And then any other thoughts on leaving while the PR is in process, eg any downside?

The PF have a lot of discretion, but if all of your documents really are in order and your answers to their questions are satisfactory, then things should go as you describe them.  At that point, you should give someone you trust a Power of Attorney to pick your CRNMs -- your identity cards -- up for you and have that person send them to you by the most secure method available.  You should then be able to return to Brazil on them, as long as you're not out of the country for more than two years.

v (a). Would you mind linking to a reliable/definitive thread here that discusses the requirements for obtaining the child's Brazilian passport

Here is the official process for obtaining a Brazilian Passport, including for children and infants:

This site provides additional detail that can be helpful in making use of the official site:

Note:  in requesting your child's CPF, make sure that your names match all of your other documents exactly, and will match your names as you will present them to request your CRNMs.  In fact, it would probably be worthwhile to get CPFs for all three of you, if the parents don't have them yet.  Brazilian records are increasingly computerized and compared.

v (b). Would you mind linking to a reliable/definitive thread here that discusses the requirements for  ...  requesting PR based on family reunion while in Brazil?

v (c). whether the background check from where I've lived the past 5 years (Panama) is sufficient or if a background check from my country of nationality/origin (States) will also be requested?

That is completely at the discretion of the PF.  They have a lot of discretion, but remember, what makes this whole process possible is that your Brazilian child has the right under Brazilian law to be raised by his/her parents in Brazil.  So the PF will not be looking for reasons to turn you down, out of respect for your child's rights.  So if you've been living in Panama continuously for the past five years, you have a timely police clearance from the Panamanian authorities, and all your other docs are in order,   it's certainly worth a try. 

This is already quite long, so in the next post I'll respond to your questions on things that can happen outside Brazil.

07/02/25 @Latam Expat.  On to your questions about activities outside Brazil.

i. When you say that the best bet might be to apply for a VITEM XI visa, are you suggesting this visa because Brazilian embassies do not issue permanent residency ("PR") or for a different reason?

Since the current Law of Migration went into effect at the end of November 2017, Brazil no longer issues any "permanent" visas.  All residence visas are now officially "temporary" and are organized in a series whose names end in "-TEM" to signify that.  VITEM XI is the residence visa for family members of Brazilians, and replaced the old VIPER (a true permanent visa) that had the same purpose. 

Anyone arriving in Brazil with the intent of living here still has to register with the Federal Police (PF) and obtain an Authorization of Residency, regardless of visa type.  In the old VIPER days, the PF had to approve residency and issue the equivalent of the current CRNM, generally without requesting any further information.  After some initial confusion in 2017, it's my understanding that the PF now treats VITEM XI holders the same way; people entering on VIVIS (tourist or visitor) visas, however, have to go through the whole process of proving their status referenced in the link above, including Sworn Translations of all their documents except their passport.

VITEM XI is generally valid for a year, and time spent in Brazil previously on  other visas doesn't count against it.  The holder is required to register with the PF, generally within 30 days of arriving in Brazil, although it may be 90 days now; that should be printed on the visa.

Embassy processing times vary, but all VITEM XIs I've ever heard of have been issued in a month or less.

ii. If that's the case, my understanding is that upon arrival in Brazil with a VITEM XI, I would request a change in status from temporary to permanent residency ? And if so, is the process at that point any different (documentation or processing time) than if I apply for PR right now?

You'd be requesting a change in status to "resident"; the VITEM XI documents that you're eligible for residency, but a visa no longer changes your status:  only the PF can do that.  As the parent of a Brazilian that will effectively be "permanent", but that word isn't used anymore.  Until you're 60, your CRNM will have an expiration date -- probably nine years -- and you'll have to renew it then.  After your 60th birthday, its expiration date changes to "indeterminada".  You'll end up with the same status and the same CRNM whether you apply for it now with the documents that you have on hand, later with a VITEM XI, or later on a visitor visa.  You'll just have an easier process with fewer constraints with the right visa.

Also, it's important to note, if we do move, it would be for at least 2-3 years and the intention would be to naturalize. This will also influence our timeline because we're aware that we'd need to be on the ground at least 9 out of 12 months of the year, and if I'm not mistaken, 'year' refers to calendar year, not the rolling 12 months, correct? Meaning the residence requirement for naturalization counts from Jan 1 of any given year (please correct me if that's totally wrong?).

Naturalization is a whole other can of worms!  😂  In brief,  "one continuous year" means one year of continuous residence between the issue date of your CRNM and the date of your petition for naturalization.  What constitutes an acceptable absence, as well as clarification for most other common questions, appear under the buttons here:

Brazil doesn't pressure expat residents to become citizens, and many, perhaps most, do not.  The Portuguese fluency requirement is demanding, but even many who can meet it don't feel the need to be naturalized. 

@abthree

You are awesome! This was really helpful.

Re naturalization and the residency requirement, on the Ministry of Justice website that you linked to, it says, "Para comprovar que o imigrante está estabelecido definitivamente no Brasil pelo prazo de 4 anos será considerado o período entre a data em que passou a residir por prazo indeterminado no País e a data de apresentação do pedido de naturalização."

I understand this to mean that the naturalization clock starts with when a person becomes a permanent resident and not January 1st of any calendar year (meaning my earlier assumption about this was totally incorrect). And to further clarify, this would mean that the 'residence' is measured, in the case of a 1 year naturalization, as a trailing 12 month period from the "date of submission of the application for naturalization", to paraphrase the Ministry of Justice website. For example, if I became a permanent resident on March 10, 2026, the earliest I would be eligible to naturalize would be March 10, 2027, assuming no absence from Brazil for a period greater than 3 months between March 10, 2026 and March 10, 2027.

That said, does one become a permanent resident on the date printed on the ID card (CRNM) or the date that one applies in person at PF or the date of arrival in Brazil, if arriving with a resident visa eg. VITEM XI?

Thank you ad infinitum

07/03/25 @Latam Expat.  Note that as the parent of a Brazilian child, your continuous residence period is reduced to one year. 

"I understand this to mean that the naturalization clock starts with when a person becomes a permanent resident and not January 1st of any calendar year "

That is correct.

" this would mean that the 'residence' is measured, in the case of a 1 year naturalization, as a rolling 12 months period on the date that the 'date of submission of the application for naturalization', to paraphrase the Ministry of Justice website."

Not really, unless you have an absence from Brazil long enough to break your continuity, as explained in the section "Ausências do território nacional".   The earliest that a person in your situation can apply for naturalization is twelve months (maybe plus a day) after the date of your CRNM, either because you've been in Brazil for one continuous year, or been absent for fewer than three months.  If you're absent for four months but have a good explanation and apply thirteen months after your CRNM issue date, I bet they'd accept your application unless you seem to be gaming the system, but I don't know of any cases of that happening. 

"That said, does one become a permanent resident on the date printed on the ID card (CRNM)"

That is the safest assumption:  "O principal documento que atesta a residência por prazo indeterminado no território nacional é o registro realizado na Polícia Federal e a Carteira de Registro Nacional Migratório ou CRNM, ainda que vencida."  from the same site.  The only people with an explicit exception to this are refugees.

@abthree

To bring the discussion of applying for residency full circle, with the explicit intention of naturalizing, there wouldn't be anything gained from applying for PR now versus at some point in 2026, unless the absence from Brazil is < 3 months after receiving the CRNM.

For example. We apply today at PF. We leave Brazil in 2 months with our son. The CRNM is approved/dated 3 months from now, let's call that Oct 1, 2025. We would need to return to Brazil by Jan 1, 2026 to be able to apply for naturalization as soon as Oct 1, 2026 (or Oct 2, 2026, if we add a day), assuming no absence from Brazil whatsoever between at least Jan 1, 2026 and Oct 1st or 2nd, 2026.

So the advantage in this case is only there IF we can make that specific timeframe work. We've at most saved ourselves however long it took to receive the CRNM, in this case 3 months, which was our hypothetical scenario.

One last scenario. Let's say we apply for residency while in Brazil and receive our CRNM in 3 months' time. But we don't return to Brazil for an entire year, eg. Oct 1, 2026. Our 1 year residency would start counting towards naturalization from Oct 1, 2026, meaning the earliest we could apply for naturalization in that scenario would be Oct 1, 2027, correct? This is what I had meant by the 'trailing' 12 month period.

Please correct me if any of the assumptions here are off. Thanks once more.

07/03/25 @Latam Expat.  Based on your plans, I don't think that there's much point in applying for residency until you're actually ready to live in Brazil. 

When I applied for naturalization, the Petition was still presented on paper.  Now it's online, but I imagine that the required information is still the same; someone who has applied online can correct me in the unlikely event that it has become less demanding.  Here's what I had to provide, under penalty of law:

1. length of time I had been a legal resident of Brazil;
2. date of my Authorization for Residency;
3. the dates for all the periods that I had been absent from Brazil during that time, and the reasons for each absence.

You can see how this could complicate any of your scenarios.

Whatever you decide, you should definitely make sure that the baby's documents are complete and in order before you go, and keep them updated with the Brazilian Consulate in the country where you'll be living until you return; it's my understanding that a baby's passport needs to be replaced pretty frequently during the first few years as the child grows. 

We've only spoken in passing about the requirement to prove your ability to communicate in Portuguese, but this is every bit as critical as the continuous residency period, so I feel the need to mention it again.  Your Naturalization Petitions will be rejected if they don't include either a certificate that the applicant has achieved a rating of at least Intermediate on both the written and oral parts of the CelpeBras examination, or documentation of successful completion of a Portuguese for Foreigners course approved by the Ministry of Education and Culture as achieving the same result. 

The Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul maintains a library of all previous editions of CelpeBras here; it's worth taking a look to understand the seriousness of the requirement:

@abthree

Once more, thank you so much for the detailed and thoughtful responses to these very specific questions

The Portuguese language requirement is very well understood to be essential for naturalization in Brazil. Our thinking, as we gather the facts of what's required [for naturalization] is that we would enroll in a University or similar course, not just for the sake of naturalization but to integrate and meet Brazilians and other immigrants and to do so at our earliest availability.

Not to annoy, but for the sake of clarity, could you kindly comment if my understanding of the residency clock is incorrect? You wrote that when applying for naturalization, one would indicate the date that permanent residency (PR) began and need to explain any absences between the PR date and the date of application for naturalization.

Do you mean that if someone held PR on Jan 1, 2026 while living abroad (meaning, outside of Brazil), returned to Brazil on Jan 1, 2027 would NOT be able to apply for naturalization on Dec 31, 2027 due to the absence in 2026? Or do you mean to say that this would create uncertainty and leave accepting/rejecting the application up to the discretion of the Ministry of Justice? I think you alluded to this in an earlier reply, but I'm not sure if this was what you meant exactly...

07/04/25 @Latam Expat

Do you mean that if someone held PR on Jan 1, 2026 while living abroad (meaning, outside of Brazil), returned to Brazil on Jan 1, 2027 would NOT be able to apply for naturalization on Dec 31, 2027 due to the absence in 2026? Or do you mean to say that this would create uncertainty and leave accepting/rejecting the application up to the discretion of the Ministry of Justice? I think you alluded to this in an earlier reply, but I'm not sure if this was what you meant exactly... - @Latam Expat

It's not annoying, but I don't like to speculate here, and you're asking me to speculate.  So by way of illustration, I'll speculate about an imaginary foreigner named Pierre who has nothing to do with you.  Pierre will have a son in Brazil with his foreign wife in December 2025, get a CRNM on the basis of his son's birth on January 1, 2026 and immediately return to his country.  He'll come back to Brazil on January 1, 2027 and petition for naturalization on December 31, 2027. 

It's obvious to the PF officer who does the initial review of Pierre's petition that he had his CRNM for a year before he actually started to live in Brazil.  As far as the officer is concerned, the obvious intent of the law is that foreigners will apply for residency at the time that they're ready to live in Brazil, and Pierre is gaming the system.  That's an assumption that not written anywhere, so he can't turn Pierre down for that. But he also knows that Pierre made at least one false statement in obtaining his CRNM:  the proof of address that Pierre provided for his application was false because Pierre was just passing through and didn't have a bona fide address in Brazil.  He could make an issue of that if he wants to.

On the other hand, the officer knows (because he can look in the Immigration records) that Pierre really HAS lived in Brazil for one continuous year.    He hasn't caused any reportable trouble.   Most importantly, Pierre's son is a Brazilian, and has an ironclad right to have his parents live with him in Brazil.  That will ultimately be the decisive point, but the officer still has three options:

1. He can mutter to himself "Damn entitled foreigners!", smile, and send the petition on for further review and approval, with no more than the usual delays.  This is the most likely outcome, especially if Pierre and his wife are pleasant and cooperative and their paperwork is in order.
2. He can give Pierre a bad hour about jumping the gun, then send the case on for review and approval, again with no additional delays.  That's unlikely unless Pierre is unpleasant and demanding.
3. If Pierre is a real pain in the ass, he can start finding things wrong with the paperwork and demand that they be fixed. If there's nothing wrong with the paperwork, he can send the petition on with a notation that there's a problem with the initial CRNM.   That will result in additional questions and delays.  Pierre will probably end up paying a lawyer to sort it all out, which he will:  the kid's rights in this will eventually trump almost everything else.  But it will be costly and time-consuming.

They all live happily ever after ... eventually.

@abthree

What is your personal view on obtaining a lawyer to help with the residency and/or naturalization application in Brazil?

Is there any restriction on having a Portuguese-speaking friend - a non-lawyer - attend appointments at PF with you to help ease the communication barrier?

Duly noted on the illustration with Pierre

07/04/25  What is your personal view on obtaining a lawyer to help with the residency and/or naturalization application in Brazil?
Is there any restriction on having a Portuguese-speaking friend - a non-lawyer - attend appointments at PF with you to help ease the communication barrier?
- @Latam Expat

I think that a lawyer is a good idea, especially if you have a trustworthy Portuguese-speaking friend who can recommend someone that s/he thinks is trustworthy in turn.  Not many Brazilian attorneys specialize in Immigration Law; if you can't find one, a young general attorney whose legal education is current, is a quick study, and still likes researching unfamiliar topics can be a good choice.

Taking an affable, non-confrontational Portuguese-speaking friend along to the PF to help with communication is also an excellent idea

07/04/25 The Portuguese language requirement is very well understood to be essential for naturalization in Brazil. Our thinking, as we gather the facts of what's required [for naturalization] is that we would enroll in a University or similar course, not just for the sake of naturalization but to integrate and meet Brazilians and other immigrants and to do so at our earliest availability.

- @Latam Expat

Not just any course will do.  It's great that you really want to learn the language,  but if you've looked at those old CelpeBras exams, you saw you'll need far more proficiency for naturalization than you would to navigate and enjoy daily life.

The course discussed in this thread has been confirmed by several members as being accepted by the PF without CelpeBras.  I hope that by the time you're ready we'll know about others, but right now this is the only one I'm sure about:

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