How to Get Brazilian Citizenship: Requirements, Process, and Benefits

Brazilian citizenship is available to all native-born and naturalized residents of the country. According to the local constitution, Brazilian children are automatically entitled to a passport, regardless of where they were born. An applicant for legal status must be proficient in the Portuguese language, be a legal resident of the country, and have a legal source of income.

Brazilian citizenship gives the opportunity to live in an economically developed country, to cross the border indefinitely and to participate in the political life of the state. Brazil allows dual citizenship, so there is no need to give up the existing passport when obtaining the new legal status.

Benefits of Brazilian Citizenship and Passport

Brazilian citizenship offers the following advantages:

• The right to reside in an actively developing country that is among the top 10 countries in the world in terms of GDP and foreign investment attraction strength;
• Access to free health care and education;
• The opportunity to have two ID cards;
• Visa-free travel to 162 countries in the world;
• Simplified procedure for obtaining an entry permit to the USA;
• The right to participate in the political life of the country.
• The ability to hold dual or triple citizenship, as Brazil does not require renunciation of your original nationality.
• Recognition of Brazilian citizenship by descent and marriage.

Brazil Citizenship Requirements in 2025

One must meet the legal requirements to obtain a Brazilian passport. An applicant for legal status is required to provide proof of the following:

• Being of legal age;
• No criminal record or problems with the law;
• Financial solvency;
• Portuguese language skills and knowledge of the Constitution;
• No dangerous diseases to the population;
• Intention to reside in the country.

Foreigners who meet residency requirements, Brazilian-born children, and persons whose parents (or at least one) have legal status in the state may apply for Brazilian citizenship.

Ways to Get Brazilian Citizenship

The Brazilian nationality can be obtained by naturalization in the state, by descent, by right of the soil, or for special services rendered to the country. Once the immigration requirements are met, the applicant can apply for a passport.

Citizenship by Birth

Birth in Brazil gives the child an immediate right to a passport, regardless of the legal status of the parents. Only the children of diplomatic personnel who perform direct duties on the territory of the country cannot acquire a document at birth. According to the Constitution, foreign-born children whose parents (or at least one of them) is a citizen can inherit legal citizenship. In order to obtain the status, the Brazilian abroad must confirm the fact of birth at the competent embassies of the country.

This is known as Brazilian citizenship by birth (jus soli) and includes children born on Brazilian soil, even if the parents are not citizens.

Temporary Citizenship

Minors under the age of ten who are migrants residing in Brazil can obtain temporary legal status. The process is free and the children’s legal representatives apply on their behalf. The child’s application, submitted within two years of reaching the age of majority, allows the temporary legal status to be extended to permanent legal status.

Acquired Citizenship

If you are wondering how to get citizenship in Brazil, the most common method is naturalization after legal residence.

A Brazilian passport under the conditions of standard naturalization can be obtained by foreigners who have legally resided in the country with the status of permanent residence for four years or more, have a stable income, a basic understanding of the basics of the state and master the Portuguese language at a conversational level. The legal grounds for staying in the country could be:

• Employment;
• Higher education;
• Family reunification;
• Entrepreneurial activity;
• Investment in the Brazilian economy;
• Humanitarian or other reasons.

Brazil also allows citizenship without strict requirements for social integration and language proficiency. The acquisition of status under simplified procedure is possible through the so-called extraordinary naturalization, after 15 years of residence in the country.

Expedited Naturalization

An accelerated procedure is available for certain categories of applicants. Reducing the time required to become naturalized to one year is foreseen for:

• Parents of natives of the country;
• Spouses and partners of Brazilians;
• Applicants from Portuguese-speaking countries.

A simplified procedure for acquiring the status after 2 years of legal residence in Brazil is available to stateless persons and applicants who have rendered special services to the country in the fields of sport, science or culture.

In order to obtain citizenship under the standard or expedited procedure, it is necessary to demonstrate continuity of residence in the country. Thus, when calculating the period of residence, the total duration of the applicant’s absence in Brazil may not exceed:

• 12 months in a four-year period;
• 6 months during the two-year naturalization period;
• 3 months per year of residence in the country.

Citizenship, residency or business relocation anywhere in the world:

• Live and travel freely around the world;
• Open up new business opportunities;
• Give your children the best education at the best universities in the world.

 

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How to Become a Brazilian Citizen: Step by Step Procedure

In order to obtain a Brazilian passport, a foreigner must become a legal resident and meet the immigration requirements. The process of becoming a citizen includes obtaining a visa, obtaining a residence permit, and applying for citizenship once the main requirements have been met.

Visa Issuance

Brazil issues study, work, investor and other types of visas. The document is issued by diplomatic consulates in the foreigner’s place of residence. To obtain a visa, the applicant fills out an application form on the website of the Brazilian Ministry of Internal Affairs and submits the printed form along with the dossier to the consulate. It takes about ten days for the documents to be reviewed. The entry permit is valid for up to one year. The government fee is about EUR 17.

Registration of a Residence Permit / Permanent Residency

To apply for Brazilian residency, the applicant submits a request to the Federal Police through online prior registration on the website of the authorized body. The document is issued by the Ministry of Justice in the case of a valid visa and a legal ground for being in the country. The legitimate purpose of residing in the country may be higher education, employment, family reunification, religious, investment or entrepreneurial activities. Within 30 days from the date of obtaining a residence permit, a foreigner must register at the local police station. On the basis of the approved residence permit, the applicant applies for a National Migration Record Card with Permanent Classification (CRNM).

The state fee for applying for a residence permit is EUR 32. The cost of the migration card is approximately EUR 40. The period for consideration of the application is 130-180 days. A temporary residence permit is issued for a period of up to one year. To renew the document, the applicant must confirm the relevance of the migration basis and pay the fee for the issuance of a new migration card.

Immigration lawyers know which countries are most profitable for obtaining residence permits.

Test Requirement

Applicants for legal status through the standard naturalization process must obtain a certificate of Portuguese language proficiency. The document is issued by the Ministry of Education with the assistance of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The certificate can be obtained after passing an examination, which is held every six months and consists of a written and an oral part.

It is possible to be exempted from the requirement to provide data on language proficiency if you have:

• A certificate of primary, secondary, tertiary or post-graduate education from a nationally recognized institution;
• A certificate of education in a Portuguese-speaking country.

In order to demonstrate successful integration into society, the applicant must provide data on the fulfillment of the residence requirement. Rental contracts, utility bills, medical records and statements may be submitted as evidence of integration into the community.

Document Collection and Preparation

The Migration Act requires that all documents issued outside Brazil be translated into Portuguese and notarized. An apostille is also required to validate foreign certificates and declarations. The basic list of documents required for Brazilian citizenship includes:

• Application form;
• National Migration Card;
• Certificate of registration as a taxpayer;
• Certificate of no criminal record obtained in the country of residence and citizenship;
• Proof of residence in Brazil (lease or ownership of housing);
• Certificate of the Portuguese language proficiency;
• A receipt for the payment of the government tax;
• Proof of the legal ground for staying in the country.

Children under the age of 18 must present a birth certificate. Additional documents may be required at the discretion of the staff of the authorized body when applying for citizenship.

Application for Citizenship

The dossier for the official registration of the legal status of Brazil is approved by the Ministry of Justice. The application form can be downloaded from the official website after pre-registration. The application is submitted through the digital platform Naturalizar-se. The document must be completed in Portuguese, a copy can be provided by the government agency or by the lawyers of the migration company (if a cooperation agreement has been signed). The personal profile on the website of the competent authority can be used to track the file review process.

It takes up to six months to process an application. There is an administrative fee of approximately EUR 250 for submitting a request. In case of a positive decision by the competent authority, a decree granting the status is published on the official portal.

How Much it Costs to Obtain Brazilian Citizenship?

Administrative fees are the most significant costs involved in obtaining a passport. The table shows the fixed rates of government fees for immigration services as of the year 2023.

This table doesn’t consider the cost of moving, rent, living expenses and related costs.

How to Get a Brazilian Passport After Citizenship

Once you become a citizen, you can apply for a Brazilian passport, one of the strongest in Latin America. Here’s how long it takes and what steps are required.

After the issuance of the decree granting Brazilian citizenship, the foreigner may execute internal documents. To make a request, persons naturalized after November 21, 2017, must provide the publication date of the decree. If the applicant is unable to provide the necessary data, he/she may request a certificate of naturalization. The timeframe for issuing the document is between 5 to 20 working days.

ID cards identify the person within the state, while a foreign passport is intended for traveling abroad. A passport looks like a book with a blue cover and electronic data of the owner. The following procedures must be followed by the applicant to process the ID card:

1. Submit an online application at the Federal Police website;
2. Pay the state fee;
3. Schedule an appointment with an authorized agency to submit documents in person;
4. Visit the office, submit the dossier and take biometric data;
5. Receive the document at the selected authority in the country.

The time required to obtain a Brazilian passport is between six to ten working days.

Does Brazil Allow Dual or Triple Citizenship?

Brazil recognizes dual citizenship, so naturalization in the country does not require the renunciation of an existing status. However, Brazilian territory does not provide for multiple legal status, which is based on intergovernmental agreements on the equal legal status of several documents. In the case of the missing dual citizenship agreement, the applicant may obtain a second passport, which provides additional social opportunities but is not recognized by the other country. Brazil does not notify foreign countries of the status granted on its territory. If necessary, the applicant should independently notify the competent authorities of his or her home country of the acquisition of a Brazilian passport.

Refusal and Revocation of Brazilian Citizenship

You may be denied Brazilian citizenship by the competent authorities for one of the following reasons:

• Providing false information;
• Failure to meet the deadline for submitting the file;
• An open criminal record;
• Failure to comply with the rules of residence in the country.

The decision to deny the status may be appealed in court within two months from the date of receipt of the notice of refusal of the application. The appeal is filed through the online platform of the authorized body. Illegal residence in Brazil is subject to administrative fines and deportation.

Assistance in Obtaining Brazilian Citizenship

Brazilian legislation is constantly changing. Without the necessary experience, it can be difficult to keep up with the immigration regulations. In order to minimize the risk of rejection by the authorized services, it is recommended to contact international lawyers who will review the dossier and help to avoid mistakes, when applying for Brazilian citizenship. Once the contract is signed, the company’s specialists will provide support at all stages of the immigration process.

With the help of professional lawyers, the applicant acquires a second citizenship, which opens new opportunities for professional development and visa-free travel to multiple countries around the world.