Foreign citizens can apply for Brazilian citizenship in accordance with the Nationality Law which stipulates the main ways and conditions to obtain this status. Naturalization remains the main way to secure a Brazilian passport, however, it implies 4 different procedures.
Our lawyers in Brazil can assist you in the process of obtaining Brazilian nationality by following the suitable naturalization process as per your preference.
The main pathways to citizenship in Brazil
People who meet the requirements can apply to become citizens of Brazil by any of the following paths:
- ordinary naturalization;
- extraordinary naturalization;
- special or provisional naturalization;
- conversion of provisional to definitive naturalization.
The Brazilian residency requirements for both ordinary and extraordinary naturalization vary prior to application, while provisional citizenship is usually employed when a parent petitions on behalf of his/her child/children. Later on, provisional naturalization may be converted to full Brazilian nationality.
Our lawyers in Brazil can offer detailed information on each pathway through which those who immigrate to Brazil can apply for citizenship.
Citizenship in Brazil by Jus Solis and Jus Sanguinis
The Brazilian nationality law recognizes the right of Jus Solis and Jus Sanguinis. Jus Solis is the land right of a person that guarantees to an individual the citizenship of the country where he/she was born. So every child who is born within the territory of Brazil can apply for citizenship irrespective of his/her parent’s nationality. Jus Saguinis is the blood right of a person. It ensures a person the right to citizenship in this country if one of the parents is Brazilian.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Types of residence permits available |
– temporary, – permanent. |
|
Availability for citizenship by naturalization |
Yes |
|
Citizenship by naturalization options |
– ordinary, – extraordinary, – provisional, – special. |
| Availability of citizenship by marriage (YES/NO) | Yes, marriage is an option to obtain citizenship in Brazil. |
| Availability of citizenship by descent (YES/NO) |
Yes, citizenship by descent/ancestry can also be obtained by certain categories of people. |
| Availability of citizenship by investment (YES/NO) |
There is no direct citizenship by investment program. |
| Time frame to obtain citizenship by naturalization |
Living in Brazil for 4 uninterrupted years. |
| Time frame to obtain citizenship by marriage |
One year |
| Time frame to obtain citizenship by investment |
Citizenship by investment is available after 4 years of permanent residence. |
| Brazilian citizenship application processing time (approx.) | 12 – 15 months |
| Dual citizenship permitted (YES/NO) |
Yes, Brazil allows dual citizenship. |
| Language requirement |
Yes, those who apply for a Brazilian passport must have a good command of Portuguese. |
| Visa-free travel to other countries (approx. number of countries) |
More than 130 countries |
| Advantages of becoming a Brazilian citizen |
– voting rights, – access to the public healthcare and education systems, – plenty of business and employment opportunities, – possibility to reunite with family members quickly. |
| Support in applying for citizenship in Brazil | Yes, we can assist with the application for Brazilian citizenship. |
Citizenship in Brazil by ordinary naturalization in 2024
To get Brazil nationality by ordinary naturalization, an individual needs to fulfill the following requirements:
- No previous criminal conviction in the country of origin nor Brazil;
- Proficient in Portuguese to an extent;
- Four years of permanent residency in Brazil;
- Civil capacity, as per Brazilian law. If you need more information about acquiring citizenship in Brazil by naturalization in 2024, consult with our lawyers. They will guide you throughout the whole procedure of getting citizenship. Besides this, there are also other doors to becoming a citizen of this country. For instance, if you are a spouse to a Brazilian national, you may be eligible for citizenship. Get in touch with our lawyers to learn details of its procedure.
Citizenship in Brazil by extraordinary naturalization
A person of any nationality with no prior criminal record who has established permanent residency in Brazil for the past 15 years without any interruption can get Brazil nationality by extraordinary naturalization. Individuals who have already been rehabilitated under the current legislation in Brazil can also qualify for citizenship in 2024.
Citizenship in Brazil by special naturalization
The special Brazilian naturalization is granted to the spouse or partner of:
- A person who is working abroad for the Brazilian state;
- A member in activity of the Foreign Service;
- An individual currently working in a diplomatic mission, or in a Brazilian consulate office;
- An individual who worked in a diplomatic mission or in a Brazilian consulate office for more than ten years constantly.
For obtaining citizenship in Brazil by special naturalization in 2024, an individual must be legally married for five years or more, must have civil capacity, must communicate in Portuguese and must not bear any prior criminal record.
Citizenship in Brazil by temporary naturalization
This type of naturalization is granted to children or adolescents who have established permanent residency in Brazil before the age of ten. Such individuals can apply for citizenship but the request must be made through the legal representatives of the applicant. You should be aware that a “permanent” visa (visto permanente or visto definitivo) does not give permanent residence status from the time it is issued to a foreign national. A visto permanente should be viewed as a visa that starts you on the path to citizenship and permanent residency. Even though there are several kinds of vistos permanentes, retirement or investment visas are the most likely possibilities. If you are interested in getting any one of the Brazilian residence permits, get in touch with our lawyers.
Citizenship by marriage in Brazil
While marrying a Brazilian citizen does not guarantee citizenship, it can shorten the waiting period, allowing you to apply after only one year rather than the required 4. This is why, it represents a good option for those who are wed to Brazilian nationals.
If you can show that you’re providing the Brazilian government with substantial services, your residency requirement can be lowered to just two years rather than the usual 4 year-requirement.
Our Brazilian lawyers can advise on the procedure and documents to present in such cases.
Steps to apply for Brazilian nationality
Here are the main steps to complete when applying for citizenship in Brazil:
- file relevant documents in accordance with your situation;
- wait a review of your application;
- check in with the Federal Police in person following pre-approval.
The Naturalization Ordinance will be published in the Official Gazette following final approval. At the same time, requests for all Brazilian documents will be accepted.
Application procedure for naturalization
It is suggested that carry out the application procedure of naturalization in Brazil with the assistance of our Brazilian lawyers. The application for getting citizenship in this country implies the obtaining of several approvals from different Brazilian institutions and a problem at any level might cause unnecessary delay. The application for Brazil nationality is initially addressed to the Ministry of Justice, and it should be submitted to one of the Federal Police units. This unit will further process the application and forward it to the Department of Migration for analysis. In case of any discrepancy in the documents, the applicant will be given one month to resolve those problems. Once the application of naturalization is accepted, the Department of Migration will forward it to the National Secretary of Justice for a final decision. The Department of Migration will also issue a reasoned opinion related to the application and send it to the National Secretary of Justice for a final decision. The result of the naturalization application will be published in the Official Federal Gazette of Brazil. After this, the naturalized person will get his/her first national identity card.
You can trust the services of our experienced attorneys in Brazil. They will help you in every possible manner to obtain Brazilian nationality.
Timeframe to obtain Brazilian citizenship
Generally speaking, in order to obtain a Brazilian passport, you must:
- have resided in Brazil for at least 4 years;
- possess a high level of Portuguese language;
- have no pending criminal convictions.
Traveling outside of Brazil is not regarded to have disrupted the statutory period of residency, as long as the total of all such leaves from Brazil does not exceed 12 months. In Brazil, having property is not seen as adequate evidence of one’s actual place of residence.
One year instead of the 4 years required for Brazilian residency could apply if:
- you were born and raised in a Portuguese-speaking country;
- your spouse or child is a Brazilian national.
The period can be reduced to 2 years subject to the Minister of Justice’s discretion, provided that the applicant possesses one the following qualities:
- relevant professional, scientific, or artistic aptitude;
- has rendered or is in a position to render relevant services to Brazil.
In accordance with the current law, applicants for extraordinary naturalization must have lived continuously in Brazil for at least 15 years prior to submitting their application. The main conditions are for them to not have been convicted of a crime during that time or can provide evidence of their rehabilitation.
Feel free to address our law firm in Brazil for details on your particular situation.
Dual citizenship in Brazil
Brazil permits dual citizenship under specific circumstances. For example, if you are a US citizen seeking to become a citizen of Brazil, you can keep your American nationality. This is possible under a treaty between the two countries in which the first citizenship of a person is permitted after obtaining the second nationality. Where similar agreements are in place, a foreign national can retain his/her first passport.
Facts about the Brazilian population
According to the latest statistics:
- at the beginning of 2024, the country’s population was 220.1million;
- there were 96.7 males to 100 women;
- the density of the population is 26.3 inhabitants per square kilometer.
With 84.8 million residents, the Southeast Region accounts for 41.8% of all Brazilians. 39.9% of all Brazilians live in the 3 most populous states: Sao Paulo, Minas Gerais, and Rio de Janeiro. Furthermore, if you like to explore beautiful countries, then you should know that Brazil is one of them. Brazil has a 7,491-kilometer-long coastline. This implies that there is a large number of beaches to select from. Brazil shares boundaries with several other South American nations, including Bolivia, Paraguay, Peru, and many others. As a result, Brazil is a fantastic starting point for exploring the South American continent. If you are planning on moving to Brazil, the services of our immigration lawyers are at your disposal.
You can contact our law firm in Brazil to obtain Brazil nationality in 2024 without any hesitation.