Digital Nomad: what you need to apply for the VITEM XIV visa

More and more foreigners are choosing Brazil as a place to live while continuing to work remotely for companies or clients based outside the country. To do this legally and with peace of mind, the Brazilian Government offers the so-called digital nomad visa (VITEM XIV).

The VITEM XIV allows foreigners to legally reside in Brazil for up to 1 year, with the possibility of renewal for an additional year, provided certain requirements are met. One of the most important points for this visa is proving that the foreigner meets the legal requirement regarding the source of their income.

What should the income be?

To qualify as a digital nomad, the foreigner must prove:

• A minimum monthly income of US$ 1,500.00, coming from a foreign company; or

• Available bank savings of at least US$ 18,000.00.

It is not necessary to meet both requirements at the same time — proving just one of them is enough.

In addition to the amount, it is essential that this income come from an activity performed remotely, using information and communication technology, for a foreign company or client.

In other words, the work cannot be tied to a Brazilian company nor involve providing services in person within the country.

What documents can prove foreign income?

There is no single, closed list, but certain documents are typically accepted to demonstrate the remote work relationship and the income:

• Bank statements from the last few months, showing recurring deposits;

• Employment contract or service agreement with the foreign company;

• Pay stubs issued by the employer;

• A letter from the employer confirming the employment relationship and the possibility of remote work;

• Contracts with clients, for freelancers or self-employed professionals with multiple income sources;

• Income tax return from the country of origin, when applicable.

Ideally, these documents should be consistent with one another: the amounts on the bank statements should match what is described in the contract or payment receipts, and everything should clearly indicate that this is foreign income tied to remote work.

These documents do not need to be apostilled, since they are issued by private institutions, but they must have a sworn translation into Portuguese in order to be accepted by the Brazilian Government.

Every case is different

Each professional profile has a different way of proving the same requirement: an employee working abroad, a freelancer, a self-employed professional with multiple clients, a partner in a foreign company, a retiree with passive income.

This is exactly where many applications run into trouble: submitting the wrong document, an incomplete one, or one that doesn't clearly show the remote work relationship can lead to the visa being denied.

We are a team of lawyers specialized in Brazilian immigration law, and we are here to help you.

We assess each foreigner's specific situation to determine whether they meet the requirements for the digital nomad visa and, most importantly, guide them on exactly which documents need to be prepared, tailored to the particulars of each case.

This way, it is possible to significantly reduce the chances of denial and avoid unnecessary back-and-forth during the process.

If you are a foreigner and want to live in Brazil while working remotely for a company or clients abroad, contact us and let's assess your case together.

Click here to schedule a consultation, or here for a quote on our services.