Life as a digital nomad in Brazil

06/28/21

Brazil generally does not welcome digital nomads.  There is no special visa, and anyone pursuing this option will almost certainly be doing it on a tourist visa (VIVIS), either paper or electronic.  Brazilian tourist visas prohibit paying work, although if digital nomads follow all the other rules of their visas and especially if they do not overstay their permitted time, they will probably not be detected.

Portuguese citizens enjoy Equality of Rights and Duties with Brazilians, so they pass relatively easily to permanent status.  Special rules also apply to citizens of Mercosul countries that give them additional flexibility.  For all others, the specific tourist visa regime will depend on citizenship.  Maximum permitted stay is never more than 180 days per year; citizens of some countries are permitted 180 continuous days, others are required to take their time in 90 day increments, separated by departures from Brazil.  Specific requirements by country appear here, in the "VIVIS" column:

https://www.gov.br/pf/pt-br/assuntos/im … 140120.pdf

Only holders of Brazilian visas that permit residency are able to open bank accounts, so that option is closed to digital nomads.  Also, it's nearly impossible to lease an apartment on a tourist visa.  Within limits set by individual banks, it is possible to withdraw cash to live on from Brazilian ATMs with a debit card from a foreign bank, as long as the foreign bank and the Brazilian bank share a common network.  It's also possible to rent a place through AirB&B, and the options in any major city include apartments with wifi.  Foreign credit cards are widely, but not universally, accepted.

Visitors who overstay tourist visas are fined R$100 (one hundred Reais) per day of overstay, to a maximum of R$10,000 (ten thousand Reais).  Fines are assessed and payable on departure from Brazil.  If visitors opt not to pay on departure, they are allowed to depart.  The fine remains on their record and accrues interest, and both fine and interest are payable immediately on return to Brazil, before admission to the country.

As Abthree stated, non-residents are not permitted to work, or to simply have a bank account, and being in Brazil while using income generated outside of the country and transferred into Brasil could raise issues about not paying income tax, especially since you are not allowed to work. Brasil, rightfully so, is pretty on top of financial transactions.