🇧🇷 Latin America

Brazil business pathways

RN 13/2017: ≥ R$500,000 individual company investment (or ≥ R$150,000 innovation); RN 36/2018 real estate; then VITEM IX.

All countries View visa pathways

Not legal advice

Immigration, tax, and investment rules change. Use this guide to compare pathways, then verify amounts and procedures on official government sites and with qualified counsel. Content reviewed: 2026-08

At a glance

Decision signals for founders and investors considering Brazil.

Company investment (RN 13)

≥ R$500,000 + investment/business plan

Innovation track (Art. 3)

As low as R$150,000 if criteria met

Real estate (RN 36/2018)

R$700k North/Northeast or R$1M elsewhere

Visa

VITEM IX after prior residence authorization

Prior authorization

Coordenação Geral de Imigração Laboral / Portal

Authority

CNIg normative resolutions + MRE consular visa

Which path fits you?

I will invest ≥ R$500,000 in a Brazilian company

RN 13/2017 individual investment + business plan.

Jump to pathway

I have an innovation / science / tech project

Possible R$150,000+ track if Art. 3 conditions are met.

Jump to pathway

I will buy Brazilian real estate at RN 36 levels

R$700k North/Northeast or R$1M in other regions.

Jump to pathway

Visa pathways

Focused on startup, investor, and self-employment routes - not study or tourism visas.

Core pathway

Individual investment in a Brazilian company (RN 13/2017)

Normative Resolution CNIg nº 13/2017 disciplines prior residence authorization for an individual who, with own resources of foreign origin, invests in a Brazilian legal entity in a project with potential to generate jobs or income. Art. 2: investment in foreign currency equivalent to at least R$500,000.00, with an Investment or Business Plan. After prior authorization from the labour immigration coordination (via Portal de Imigração / Ministry of Justice and Public Security processes), apply for VITEM IX (temporary investment visa) at a Brazilian consulate. Prior authorization is not automatic visa approval. Verify the current RN text on portaldeimigracao.mj.gov.br and MRE VITEM IX pages.

Min. capital

R$500,000

Best for: Founders deploying at least R$500,000 into a Brazilian company with a credible job/income-generation plan.

Official RN 13/2017 Art. 2 floor for the general individual company investment route. Innovation route under Art. 3 can be lower (not below R$150,000) when statutory innovation conditions are met. Confirm current application practice on Portal de Imigração.

Investment options

  • ≥ R$500,000 equivalent in foreign currency into a Brazilian PJ (new or existing)
  • Mandatory Investment or Business Plan (RN 13 Art. 4)
  • Evidence of own external-origin resources
  • Job or income generation potential in Brazil

Eligibility

  • Individual investor with own foreign-origin funds
  • Investment ≥ R$500,000 equivalent (general track)
  • Complete Investment/Business Plan as required
  • Prior residence authorization before consular VITEM IX
  • Consular VITEM IX filing after authorization

Process timeline

  1. 1

    Prepare plan & capital path

    Business plan, company structure, and remittance trail from Pakistan.

  2. 2

    Request prior authorization

    File through Portal de Imigração / labour immigration coordination with RN 13 evidence.

  3. 3

    Apply for VITEM IX

    Brazilian consulate/MRE process after authorization — authorization ≠ visa.

  4. 4

    Enter & register

    Complete Federal Police / CRNM steps and operate per the approved plan.

Family

Family accompaniment depends on current migration rules for the authorized residence/visa — confirm on official Portal de Imigração and consular checklists.

Work rights

Authorization is tied to the investment purpose; confirm permitted activities on the residence document.

Route to PR

Temporary residence can lead to longer-term residence when legal conditions and renewals are met — verify current Lei de Migração practice on official portals; do not assume automatic permanent residence.

Route to citizenship

Naturalização has separate residence and language/integration requirements — verify official Brazilian rules and Pakistani dual-nationality law.

Pros

  • Published R$500,000 general investment floor in RN 13
  • Clear two-step structure: prior authorization then VITEM IX
  • Applies to new or existing Brazilian companies receiving external investment

Watch-outs

  • Prior authorization does not guarantee the consular visa
  • Plan quality and job/income potential are examined
  • FX and remittance documentation must match “own external resources”
  • RN texts and competent bodies have evolved — use current Portal pages
Portal de Imigração — RN 13/2017 (PDF)
Lower capital track

Innovation / science / technology investment (RN 13/2017 Art. 3)

RN 13/2017 Art. 3 allows prior residence authorization when the investment is below R$500,000 but not less than R$150,000, for an entrepreneur who intends to settle in Brazil to invest in innovation, basic or applied research of a scientific or technological character. The receiving venture must meet at least one listed condition (e.g. government innovation support/funding, location in a technology park, incubation/graduation, finalist in a government startup programme, or benefit from a Brazilian startup accelerator — per Art. 3 §1). Additional originality/market criteria appear in the resolution. Always read the full official RN text.

Min. capital

R$150,000

Best for: Tech/science founders who can document innovation criteria and invest at least R$150,000 but below the general R$500,000 floor.

Floor under Art. 3 when innovation/science/tech purpose and listed ecosystem conditions are demonstrated. Not an automatic discount — evidence of the Art. 3 conditions is essential. Verify on the official RN and Portal de Imigração.

Investment options

  • ≥ R$150,000 and < R$500,000 with innovation/science/tech purpose
  • Incubator, tech park, government innovation support, accelerator, or other Art. 3 §1 conditions
  • Investment/Business Plan still mandatory
  • Same prior-authorization then VITEM IX sequence

Eligibility

  • Purpose: innovation or scientific/technological research activity
  • Investment not below R$150,000 and below the general R$500,000 floor
  • Demonstrate at least one Art. 3 §1 condition (incubator, tech park, gov support, etc.)
  • Prior authorization + VITEM IX

Process timeline

  1. 1

    Qualify the innovation criteria

    Secure incubator/tech-park/gov-support evidence that matches Art. 3.

  2. 2

    File prior authorization

    Submit plan + R$150k+ investment proof via official channels.

  3. 3

    VITEM IX

    Consular visa after authorization.

  4. 4

    Execute the innovation plan

    Operate in Brazil consistent with the authorized purpose.

Family

Confirm dependent rules on official portals for your authorization type.

Work rights

Tied to the authorized investment/innovation activity — verify the residence document.

Route to PR

Same framework as other temporary investment residence — verify renewal and permanence rules officially.

Route to citizenship

Separate naturalisation process after meeting legal residence conditions.

Pros

  • Officially published lower floor (R$150,000) for qualifying innovation cases
  • Aligned with Brazil’s startup and research ecosystems when criteria are real

Watch-outs

  • Art. 3 conditions are substantive — accelerator marketing copy is not enough
  • Still need a full plan and prior authorization
  • Typographical quirks exist in older RN PDFs — rely on official Portal copies
Portal de Imigração — RN 13/2017 Art. 3
Property route

Real-estate investment (RN 36/2018)

Normative Resolution CNIg nº 36/2018 (as cited on official MRE VITEM IX pages): individual investment of own foreign-origin resources in Brazilian real estate — one or more properties built or under construction — with total value equal to or greater than R$700,000.00 in the North and Northeast regions, or equal to or greater than R$1,000,000.00 in other regions of the country. Prior residence authorization then VITEM IX. Confirm the full RN text and current filing channel on Portal de Imigração / MRE.

Min. capital

R$700,000 (N/NE) or R$1,000,000 (other regions)

Best for: Investors purchasing qualifying Brazilian property at the regional value floors who want investment-based temporary residence.

Regional floors published via RN 36/2018 / MRE VITEM IX summaries. Confirm which municipalities count as North/Northeast and whether multiple properties may be aggregated — only per official RN/guidance.

Investment options

  • ≥ R$700,000 total in North or Northeast regions
  • ≥ R$1,000,000 total in other Brazilian regions
  • Built or under-construction properties with own external funds
  • Prior authorization then VITEM IX

Eligibility

  • Individual with own foreign-origin capital
  • Meet the applicable regional real-estate value floor
  • Prior residence authorization
  • Consular VITEM IX after authorization

Process timeline

  1. 1

    Select region & properties

    Ensure the purchase meets R$700k or R$1M floors for that region.

  2. 2

    Prior authorization

    File with property and fund-origin evidence on official channels.

  3. 3

    VITEM IX

    Consular application after authorization.

  4. 4

    Complete registry & stay compliance

    Property registry and immigration document formalities in Brazil.

Family

Confirm dependents on official checklists for the authorization/visa.

Work rights

Investment-purpose residence — confirm whether separate work authorization is needed for employment.

Route to PR

Verify current rules for converting or renewing investment residence toward longer stay.

Route to citizenship

Naturalisation is separate from property investment residence.

Pros

  • Published regional BRL floors on official MRE materials
  • Alternative to company-equity investment for some capital profiles

Watch-outs

  • Property investment ≠ automatic right to work in any occupation
  • Under-construction projects carry delivery and immigration-evidence risk
  • Always verify RN 36 full text on Portal de Imigração
MRE — Visto Temporário IX (Investimento)

Compare pathways

Scan capital, innovation requirements, and fit in one table.

Pathway Minimum (official) Key extra test Visa step
RN 13 company R$500,000 Business/investment plan; jobs/income potential Prior auth → VITEM IX
RN 13 innovation R$150,000 Art. 3 innovation/ecosystem conditions Prior auth → VITEM IX
RN 36 real estate R$700k N/NE or R$1M other Qualifying property purchase Prior auth → VITEM IX

Route to PR & citizenship

Brazil uses prior residence authorization plus temporary visa (VITEM IX) for many investors. Longer-term residence and nationality are separate legal steps.

Prior authorization then visa

MRE materials stress that Ministry of Justice/Public Security prior authorization is required before VITEM IX, and authorization does not mean automatic visa approval.

Temporary to longer stay

Follow Portal de Imigração guidance for registration (CRNM), renewals, and any residence alterations. Do not assume PR is automatic after purchase or investment.

Nationality

Naturalização requires meeting statutory residence and other conditions. Confirm dual-nationality implications for Pakistan.

Corporate representative track

MRE also describes VITEM IX for certain administrators of companies making external investment under RN 11/2017 — a different profile from the individual RN 13 investor. Verify if that fits your group structure.

After you arrive

Operational checklist once the visa is granted.

  1. 1 Complete Federal Police registration / CRNM as required for your status
  2. 2 Obtain CPF and open Brazilian banking with investment proofs
  3. 3 Register the company at Junta Comercial and federal tax systems as applicable
  4. 4 Keep the Investment/Business Plan evidence for renewals or inspections
  5. 5 If real estate: ensure registry (cartório) matches the authorized amounts
  6. 6 Comply with FX declarations for inbound investment
  7. 7 Map tax residency (Brazil vs Pakistan) with cross-border counsel

Living costs & runway

Rough monthly estimates for a relocating founder (excluding R$150k–R$1M+ investment capital). Costs vary by city — treat as estimates and verify locally.

São Paulo

USD $1,500 – $2,600 (est.)

  • Housing (1-bed) USD $800 – $1,500
  • Food & groceries USD $300 – $450
  • Transport USD $50 – $100
  • Utilities & mobile USD $100 – $180
  • Misc / coworking USD $150 – $300

Florianópolis

USD $1,200 – $2,100 (est.)

  • Housing (1-bed) USD $650 – $1,200
  • Food & groceries USD $280 – $420
  • Transport USD $40 – $80
  • Utilities & mobile USD $90 – $160
  • Misc / coworking USD $120 – $250

Pakistan founder checklist

Practical prep before you book consulate appointments or move capital.

  • Choose RN 13 company, RN 13 innovation, or RN 36 real estate before moving capital
  • Draft the Investment/Business Plan to official expectations (mandatory under RN 13)
  • For innovation: document incubator/tech-park/gov-support/accelerator criteria under Art. 3
  • Obtain prior residence authorization before booking a VITEM IX consular appointment
  • Remember: prior authorization ≠ visa approval
  • Prepare apostilled Pakistani police/civil documents for consular and PF steps
  • Structure remittances so “own external-origin resources” are auditable
  • Budget BRL investment plus legal, notary, and PF fees
  • Re-read Portal de Imigração RN PDFs and MRE VITEM IX pages before filing

Official sources

Still building from Pakistan?

Strengthen your local company setup before relocating capital or applying.

All countries Pakistan setup guide Contact us