---
title: "Brazil Retirement Visa Requirements 2026: The US$2,000 Rule"
description: "Brazil retirement visa requirements under RN 40/2019: the US$2,000 pension rule, who qualifies, documents for each route, fees and timing. Filed by an OAB lawyer."
url: "https://getbrazilvisa.com/brazil-retirement-visa"
canonical: "https://getbrazilvisa.com/brazil-retirement-visa"
og_type: "website"
og_title: "Brazil Retirement Visa Requirements 2026: The US$2,000 Rule"
og_description: "Brazil retirement visa requirements under RN 40/2019: the US$2,000 pension rule, who qualifies, documents for each route, fees and timing. Filed by an OAB lawyer."
og_image: "https://getbrazilvisa.com/og-camila.jpg"
twitter_card: "summary_large_image"
crawl_date: 2026-11-14
last_modified: 2026-10-19
language: "en-US"
author: "Camila Araujo Mota"
author_credential: "OAB-licensed Brazilian Immigration Lawyer (OAB/CE 50.065)"
author_profile: "https://getbrazilvisa.com/camila-araujo-mota"
reviewed_by: "Camila Araujo Mota"
publisher: "GetBrazilVisa"
source: "https://getbrazilvisa.com, Path B build-time prerender"
---
# Brazil Retirement Visa Requirements 2026: The US$2,000 Rule and How to Apply

The RN 40/2019 residency route for retirees with US$2,000 a month in pension income transferred from abroad. Requirements, real costs, timelines, and what the consulate needs that MigranteWeb does not. Prepared and filed by Camila Araujo Mota, OAB/CE 50.065. USD 599, one flat fee.

Brazil offers a retiree residency under CNIg Resolução Normativa RN 40/2019, issued in the VITEM XIV temporary visa category, for foreign nationals living on a pension. You show you receive a retirement or survivor benefit, such as Social Security or a government, military or employer pension, and can transfer US$2,000 a month to Brazil (RN 40/2019, art. 1). The first residence period is up to 2 years, and at renewal it can be changed to indefinite residence. If your only income is a pension, this is usually the cleaner fit than the digital nomad visa, which shares the same VITEM XIV code but runs under different rules (RN 45/2021): it asks for less income (US$1,500/month) yet requires proof of remote work for a foreign employer or clients. A guaranteed government pension, military retirement, or VA benefits are ideal qualifying income for the retiree route.

Last reviewed: October 19, 2026 US$2,000/mo pension income Path to permanent residency

![Camila Araujo Mota, OAB-licensed Brazilian immigration lawyer](https://getbrazilvisa.com/assets/camila-headshot-BKQod-ee.webp)

Reviewed by [Camila Araujo Mota](https://getbrazilvisa.com/camila-araujo-mota)

OAB-Licensed Immigration Lawyer · [OAB/CE 50.065](https://cna.oab.org.br/) · Reviewed October 19, 2026

Camila (OAB-licensed Brazilian immigration lawyer) reads every case herself.

Our data454 of the 2,123 approved applicants whose age is published were 45 or older (172 of them 55 or older), against a median age at approval of 36. [See the live tracker →](https://getbrazilvisa.com/brazil-digital-nomad-visa-statistics#who-applies)

![Camila Araujo Mota, OAB-licensed Brazilian immigration lawyer](https://getbrazilvisa.com/assets/camila-headshot-BKQod-ee.webp)

Camila Araujo Mota

OAB-licensed Brazilian immigration lawyer · OAB/CE 50.065 · [verify](https://cna.oab.org.br/)

[5.0](https://getbrazilvisa.com/#reviews)

Registered firm

CNPJ 49.615.316/0001-87 · Brazil

Free assessment

No payment until you qualify

Quick reply

English and Portuguese

A lawyer, not an agency

Confidential lawyer-client relationship

## Brazil Retirement Visa at a Glance

The retirement visa is a residency permit for foreign retirees who live on a pension paid from outside Brazil. It sits under CNIg Resolução Normativa RN 40/2019 and is separate from the [Brazil digital nomad visa](https://getbrazilvisa.com/brazil-digital-nomad-visa), which targets remote workers.

| Legal basis | CNIg RN 40/2019 (VITEM XIV, retiree / pensioner category) |
| --- | --- |
| Who it is for | Foreign retirees and pensioners living on income from abroad |
| Income test | US$2,000 a month per applicant, in foreign currency, transferable to Brazil monthly (RN 40/2019, art. 1) |
| Qualifying income | A retirement or survivor benefit: Social Security, military, government or employer pension, VA benefits; private plans and annuities case by case |
| Duration | Up to 2 years initially, then indefinite residence on renewal |
| Leads to | Indefinite (permanent) residence |
| Where to apply | Brazilian consulate abroad, or MigranteWeb from inside Brazil |
| Documents | Benefit or award letter, bank letter on the monthly transfer, statements, passport, background check (apostilled and sworn-translated); health insurance on the consulate route |

## The US$2,000 Rule, Explained

The "US$2,000 rule" is the income test written into Article 1 of CNIg Resolução Normativa RN 40/2019. It grants the retiree visa to an immigrant who is retired or receives a survivor pension and who proves the monthly transfer to Brazil, in foreign currency, of **US$2,000 or more**. Five details decide most cases.

Official Rule

1.  **It is set in US dollars.** The figure has stood since 2019 and is not indexed to the real, so a weaker real does not lower it. Pages that quote R$6,000 a month are quoting the 2000 rentier rule (RN 45/2000), which RN 40/2019 revoked.
2.  **It is per applicant.** There is no household figure: each principal applicant needs their own US$2,000.
3.  **It can be topped up, but only on top of a benefit.** Article 3 lets other regular income complete a pension that falls short of US$2,000. Rental income, dividends or portfolio withdrawals cannot carry the file alone, however large.
4.  **It sets no amount for dependants.** The resolution never mentions dependants. A spouse and children join through family reunification once your residence exists, not by raising your figure.
5.  **It is about transfer, not just entitlement.** The test is the ability to move the money to Brazil every month, which is why a bank letter confirming the monthly transfer sits next to the award letter.

Practical Interpretation

Case officers keep general discretion over whether the means are enough, so a family of four living on exactly US$2,000 can still draw questions even though nothing in the rule asks for more. If you sit close to the line, a second benefit or an annuity filed alongside the main pension gives the file room. At renewal, the transfers you actually made are what you prove, so remit monthly from the first month and keep the records.

## Who Qualifies: The Retirement Status Test

RN 40/2019 keys on **status**, not age. Article 1 covers a foreign national who is an *aposentado* (a retiree drawing a retirement benefit) or a *pensionista* (a beneficiary of a survivor pension). There is no minimum age in the resolution; a 52-year-old on a military pension qualifies on the same footing as a 70-year-old on Social Security. What the rule does not cover is someone who has simply stopped working and lives on savings: without a retirement or survivor benefit, the retirement route is not available and the digital nomad savings route (US$18,000) or another category has to do the work.

Official Rule

**The three tests, in the order the consulate applies them:**

1.  **Status:** you receive a retirement or survivor benefit, evidenced by the award letter from the paying body.
2.  **Amount:** the benefit, topped up if needed by other regular income, reaches **US$2,000 a month** (RN 40/2019, arts. 1 and 3). The resolution sets no extra amount for dependants.
3.  **Transfer:** the income is paid from outside Brazil and can be transferred to Brazil every month, evidenced by a bank letter confirming the transfer and statements showing the deposits.

Practical Interpretation

A couple on one pension does not need a higher number. Your spouse or partner and any children do not ride on your RN 40 application; once your residence exists they apply through [family reunification](https://getbrazilvisa.com/brazil-family-visa), a separate filing with its own documents. If both of you draw a pension of US$2,000 or more, each of you can apply as a principal instead. Send the figures before you order any apostille.

## Proof of Pension by Type: Social Security, Military, VA, Survivor and Private Pensions

A guaranteed government pension is close to perfect qualifying income for Brazilian residency. It is foreign-source, it is stable, and it is transferable, which are exactly the three things Brazilian immigration looks for. Whether the payment is US Social Security, a military or federal civil-service pension, or VA benefits, the analysis is the same: you are living on a reliable income paid from outside Brazil.

Because that income is so clean, most retirees on a government pension qualify comfortably for the retirement visa, and often for the digital nomad visa too. The decision usually comes down to the income figure and whether you still do any remote work, which we cover in the next section.

Official Rule

**How to document a government pension:**

-   Your official benefit or award letter (Social Security Administration, DFAS for military pay, VA, or your pension administrator) stating the monthly amount
-   Bank statements from the last several months showing the pension actually landing in your account
-   A letter from your bank confirming you can transfer US$2,000 a month to Brazil
-   Bank statements are filed as issued and never apostilled; we confirm whether your award letter needs an apostille and a translation

| Income | Qualifies under RN 40/2019? | Core proof |
| --- | --- | --- |
| US Social Security retirement | Yes, a state retirement benefit | SSA award or benefit letter, statements, bank transfer letter |
| Military retirement pay | Yes, a government pension | DFAS retiree pay statement, statements, bank transfer letter |
| Federal, state or employer pension | Yes | Letter from the pension administrator, statements, bank transfer letter |
| Survivor pension (pensão por morte) | Yes, named in art. 1 itself | Survivor-benefit award letter, statements, bank transfer letter |
| VA benefits | Filed as retirement income | VA award letter, statements, bank transfer letter |
| Private pension, 401(k) or IRA distributions, annuity | Case by case: accepted in practice once you have a formal retirement status and distributions have started; the resolution does not define them | Plan or insurer statement of the payments, plus proof of retirement status |
| Rental income, dividends, portfolio withdrawals, business profits | Only as a top-up to a benefit, never alone (art. 3) | Contracts or statements, filed next to the pension |
| No benefit at all (early retiree living on savings) | No: the rule keys on retirement status | Look at the digital nomad savings route or another category |

Practical Interpretation

The single most common retiree mistake is bringing only the award letter. Immigration wants to see the money move, not just the promise of it. Pair the letter with bank statements that show the recurring deposit and your file becomes very hard to question. If you receive several income streams, a small pension plus Social Security plus an annuity, we combine them so the total clears the threshold.

## Retirement Visa vs Digital Nomad Visa: Which One Fits a Retiree?

Both visas are issued under the same VITEM XIV category, so the label alone does not tell them apart. What separates them is the rulebook and the income source. The retirement visa (RN 40/2019) is built for pension income, while the digital nomad visa (RN 45/2021) is built for people who still work remotely. Here is the honest tension: the digital nomad visa asks for LESS income (US$1,500/month vs US$2,000/month), but its rules require proof of remote work for a foreign employer or clients, so a retiree whose only income is a pension normally does not qualify for it and uses the retiree route instead.

| Aspect | Retirement Visa | Digital Nomad Visa |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Visa category | VITEM XIV (temporary) | VITEM XIV (temporary) |
| Legal basis | CNIg RN 40/2019 | CNIg RN 45/2021 |
| Designed for | Retirees and pensioners | Remote workers and freelancers |
| Income test | US$2,000/month pension income | US$1,500/month foreign income OR US$18,000 savings |
| Income source | Pension, annuity, Social Security, VA | Employer or client income earned abroad |
| Initial duration | Up to 2 years, then indefinite | 1 year, renewable to 2 |
| Best for a pure pensioner | Yes, the clean fit | Normally not eligible (needs remote work for a foreign employer) |
| Best for a retiree who still works remotely | Either can work | Often the simpler qualifier |

Practical Interpretation

A quick rule of thumb. If your only income is a pension of US$2,000/month or more, start with the retirement visa. If you still do paid remote work and want the lower income bar, the digital nomad visa may be simpler. If you are close to the line either way, send us your numbers first. You can also review the full [Brazil digital nomad visa requirements](https://getbrazilvisa.com/requirements-digital-nomad-visa-brazil) and the [cost of the process](https://getbrazilvisa.com/brazil-digital-nomad-visa-cost-2026) to compare.

## How to Apply: Consulate Abroad or MigranteWeb Inside Brazil

You can apply two ways: at a Brazilian consulate in your home country before you travel, or from inside Brazil through the federal MigranteWeb portal after entering as a tourist. Both routes review the same core documents; the difference is where you file and how you enter.

1.  1

    Confirm your income and route

    Send us your pension figures. We confirm whether the retirement visa or the digital nomad visa fits, and how your income reaches the fixed US$2,000 minimum.

2.  2

    Gather and apostille your documents

    Benefit or award letter, bank statements, passport, birth certificate and a background check. The background check and birth certificate are apostilled and then sworn-translated into Portuguese; bank statements never are, and we confirm whether your award letter needs an apostille. This is the longest lead-time step, so start early.

3.  3

    Choose consulate or MigranteWeb

    Apply at your nearest Brazilian consulate before you fly, or enter Brazil on a tourist entry and file through MigranteWeb from inside the country.

4.  4

    Submit and pay the government fee

    File the application, upload documents, and pay the processing fee (a GRU for the in-country route). We track the file and respond to any requests.

5.  5

    Register with the Federal Police

    After approval, register at the Polícia Federal within the required window to receive your CRNM residency card.

Practical Interpretation

Most retirees who are already comfortable traveling prefer the MigranteWeb route: enter on a tourist entry, then file from inside Brazil while you scout a city to live in. Retirees who want everything settled before they move often prefer the consulate route. Neither is universally better; it depends on your timeline and how you like to organize a move.

For the consulate route, the [Brazilian consulate finder](https://getbrazilvisa.com/find-brazilian-consulate) shows which post has jurisdiction over your address. For the in-country route, our [MigranteWeb step-by-step walkthrough](https://getbrazilvisa.com/vitem-xiv-migranteweb-step-by-step) shows each screen of the portal; the request type differs, the mechanics do not.

## Documents and Apostille

Your criminal background check and your birth certificate have to be apostilled in the issuing country and then sworn-translated into Portuguese by a certified translator (a tradutor juramentado). Skipping either step on those two is the most common reason a file stalls. Bank statements are never apostilled, and we confirm whether your pension or benefit award letter needs one.

-   Valid passport with at least 6 months of remaining validity
-   Proof of retirement income: pension, Social Security, VA, or annuity award letter
-   Bank statements showing the monthly income actually transferred to you
-   A bank letter confirming you can transfer US$2,000 a month to Brazil
-   Consulate route only: health insurance valid in Brazil for the length of the stay (RN 40/2019, art. 2, III), plus the consular application form and fee
-   Criminal background check from your country of residence, apostilled
-   Birth certificate, apostilled in the issuing country (the FBI check goes through the US Department of State)
-   Sworn Portuguese translation of the background check and birth certificate, including their apostille pages
-   Proof of address in Brazil once you arrive (rental contract or host declaration)
-   Passport photos to the required specification

Country-by-country apostille steps are in our [apostille guide](https://getbrazilvisa.com/brazil-digital-nomad-visa-apostille-guide); US retirees order the background check through the [FBI Identity History Summary](https://getbrazilvisa.com/fbi-background-check-for-brazil-visa), which is the version the Department of State will apostille.

## Your Status While the Request Is Pending, and the 90-Day Background Check Window

Two rules decide how you sequence the move, and neither is on most retirement-visa pages. The first protects you; the second trips people up.

Official Rule

**Filing regularises you.** Once a residence request is protocolled through MigranteWeb, the applicant is treated as in regular migratory status while it is under analysis. Brazil's Migration Law guarantees the migrant the right to have a residence request processed and to remain regular during it (Lei 13.445/2017, art. 4, XV, applied through the protocol the portal issues). In practice that means a retiree who enters on a tourist entry and files before the 90 days run out is not overstaying while the file is open, and the protocol is the document that proves it.

**The background check is read as valid for 90 days.** Consulates and the Federal Police treat a criminal background check as current for roughly 90 days from its issue date. The apostille itself never expires, but a check issued in March for a July filing is stale on arrival and has to be re-issued and re-apostilled.

Practical Interpretation

The sequence that works: confirm eligibility first (free), then book the trip, then order the background check and its apostille about four to six weeks before the filing date, not before the flight. For the consulate route the same window applies to the appointment date. We time the document orders against the date you will actually file, which is the single most common thing a retiree gets wrong when doing it alone.

Before you decide

## Why we recommend applying with a lawyer

You can file the Brazil digital nomad visa yourself, and people are approved that way. Camila strengthens your application package, personalised to you, and helps you avoid the lengthy **cartas de exigência** that immigration officers send. Two real ones, from people who applied on their own:

Carta de exigência

3 pages · 9 items · May 2026

Proof of income, the contract and the passport never sent.

Read the letter

Carta de exigência

2 pages · 5 items · July 2026

Translations sent without the originals, and a blank justification.

Read the letter

Names, process numbers and timestamps have been removed. Everything the Ministry asked for is exactly as it was written.

### What Camila does on your case

-   A written petition

    A legal argument for your case citing RN 45/2021, signed under OAB/CE 50.065.

-   Sworn translations

    By a tradutor público, filed with the originals.

    Asked for in both letters
-   Forms checked before filing

    The justification filled in, the right form, a payment slip that matches.

    3 errors in the letters
-   Your Brazilian criminal records

    Federal, plus one per state you have lived in. Camila obtains them.

-   Your document list, in order

    What each is, where to get it, how long it takes, what needs an apostille.

-   A lawyer who has read your file

    Answers from the lawyer holding your case, not a help desk.

-   The filing, and what comes back

    She files as your representative and answers the Ministry in your name.

The Federal Police step, after approval

Approval is not the last thing that happens. Your residence has to be registered in person with the Polícia Federal before your RNM card exists.

**The documents are not the ones you already sent.** The Federal Police ask for their own set.

**What is required differs by state.** São Paulo does not ask for what Florianópolis asks for.

**The appointment is the hard part.** Slots open without warning and go fast. Camila books yours.

## What It Costs

Two sets of costs: the government's, and ours. The government fees are the same for every applicant and are paid directly to the bodies that charge them. Our fee is the same flat amount as for the digital nomad and family routes.

| Item | Amount | Paid to |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Residence authorisation analysis (MigranteWeb route) | R$168.13 | Federal government (GRU) |
| CRNM card issuance | R$204.77 | Polícia Federal (GRU) |
| Consular visa fee (consulate route) | About US$100 to US$290 by nationality | The Brazilian consulate |
| Apostilles and sworn translations | Varies by document count and country | Apostille authority and a tradutor juramentado |
| GetBrazilVisa Full Service | USD 599, paid once | GetBrazilVisa |

The USD 599 covers the whole application end to end: the eligibility read, the document list for your consulate or for MigranteWeb, review of every document before it is filed, the filing itself, replies to any request for more information, and the Federal Police registration step. It is paid once when you sign, on either route, and there is no second payment on approval. Government fees, apostilles and translations are paid directly to those bodies and are not included.

Inside the app

## From “Do I qualify?” to your visa, in one app

Answer a few questions for free, get a lawyer’s decision before any offer, then follow every paper of your case in one place.

![Opening frame of the app tour: the question Do I qualify? and the app's first intake screen](https://getbrazilvisa.com/assets/app-tour-poster-1600-DowgSvNQ.webp)

1.  **Answer one question at a time** About five minutes. No call, no fee.
2.  **Get your first read** Nomad and retirement: when you finish. Investor and family: same day, by Camila.
3.  **A lawyer decides, in writing** Camila Araujo Mota, OAB/CE 50.065, reads it herself. No offer before her decision.
4.  **One price, paid once** USD 599 for Full Service, signed and paid in the app. Government fees are separate.
5.  **Follow your case, paper by paper** See whose move it is, talk on every paper, and watch Camila seal each one.

5 minutes · no fee

Retirement visa, prepared and filed by Camila

Full Service: **$599**, paid once when you sign. Same price in Brazil (MigranteWeb) or abroad (consulate). Camila, our OAB-licensed immigration lawyer, personally handles your case.

## Clients who got their Brazil visa with Camila

**5.0 stars from 11 verified Google reviews.** Real applicants on the VITEM XIV digital nomad visa, in their own words. Every review below is posted publicly on our [Google Business Profile](https://share.google/aXvWUzYKyrRLGwQnF) or on [Trustpilot](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/getbrazilvisa.com).

![Elizabeth, GetBrazilVisa client, in her video testimonial](https://getbrazilvisa.com/assets/elizabeth-testimonial-poster-DYt8ov_t.webp)2:08

Approved from inside Brazil, on a US passport.

Elizabeth · American · In-country application

Client videoApproved August 2026

![Storm, a GetBrazilVisa client, holding his approved Brazil digital nomad visa outside the Consulate General of the Federative Republic of Brazil in South Africa](https://getbrazilvisa.com/assets/storm-brazil-consulate-south-africa-D-LJzMSv.webp)Visa in hand

Visa collected at the Brazilian consulate in South Africa.

Storm · VITEM XIV · Consulate route

Client photoApproved August 2026

Trustpilot review

“I had a great experience with GetBrazilVisa. As a crypto guy, one of my biggest concerns was providing proof of assets. In my experience, processes in Brazil don’t always accommodate crypto holdings well, so finding a team that could help me make it work was a huge relief.”

Jhonathan Wong (Verified Customer)

Posted on TrustpilotSeptember 2026

Google review

“Best experience with a Lawyer I have had, successfully allowed me to get my Digital Nomad residence in Brazil. I applied with her for the Brazil digital nomad visa from in-country as a US Citizen with W2 employment.”

Ethan Emick

Verified by Google2 weeks ago

Google review

“without the help of camila and her legal team, I surely would have failed this visa process. The forms and requirements, And all the documents are so complicated you really need a legal advisor to help you do it correctly.”

Riley Eusden

Verified by Google1 month ago

Google review

“Camila kept my applications organized, ensured everything was filed on time, secured and prepared me for my appointments with the Federal Police, and made sure I had every document I could possibly need.”

Seth Rush

Verified by Google2 months ago

Trustpilot review

“I am an American living in Rio de Janeiro. I work remotely for an American company. I decided to apply for a digital nomad visa that would allow me to stay in Brasil for another year (rather than have to leave the country every 6 months). GetBrazilVisa was the best service I could have been introduced to.”

Philip (Verified Customer)

Posted on TrustpilotJuly 2026

![Marjorie and Joshua, GetBrazilVisa clients, holding their approved Brazil digital nomad visas after collecting them from the Brazilian consulate in Manila](https://getbrazilvisa.com/assets/marjorie-joshua-brazil-consulate-manila-Cwe-yFMM.webp)Approved together

Approved together at the Brazilian consulate in Manila.

Marjorie and Joshua · VITEM XIV · Consulate route

Client photoApproved August 2026

Approval times vary by consulate and by case. [Read all 11 reviews on Google](https://share.google/aXvWUzYKyrRLGwQnF) · [Trustpilot](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/getbrazilvisa.com)

## Retirement Visa vs Golden Visa: Two Passive-Income Routes

Retirees with capital sometimes ask whether to invest instead. The [golden visa (VIPER)](https://getbrazilvisa.com/brazil-investor-visa) grants residency through an investment of BRL 500,000 in a Brazilian company or BRL 1,000,000 in real estate (BRL 700,000 in the North and Northeast), and the company route is permanent from day one. The retirement route asks for nothing to be invested; it asks that a pension keep arriving. For most pensioners the retirement visa is the simpler file and the cheaper one, and the golden visa is worth a look only if you were going to buy property in Brazil anyway and want permanent status immediately rather than after the initial period.

Start my free assessment

Camila reads every case herself.

## Path to Permanent Residency

The first residence period is up to 2 years on both routes (RN 40/2019, arts. 3 and 4). At renewal, RN 41/2019, which amended the general renewal rule (RN 30/2018), lets a retiree ask to change the term to indefinite residence instead of renewing for another fixed period. The test at that point is the same one you passed at the start: you are still retired or a pensioner, and you can still transfer US$2,000 a month to Brazil.

Two practical consequences. First, remit the money monthly from the day you arrive and keep the records, because at renewal the transfers you actually made carry more weight than a letter about what you could transfer. Second, indefinite residence and citizenship run on different clocks: naturalization has its own residence requirement under the Migration Law, so do not read "2 years to permanent" as "2 years to a passport". The full map of permanent routes is in our [Brazil permanent residency guide](https://getbrazilvisa.com/brazil-permanent-residency-path).

## Tax, Healthcare and Cost of Living: The Short Version

This page covers the visa. Life after the visa, what it costs, where to live, how healthcare and taxes work, is in our complete guide to [retiring in Brazil](https://getbrazilvisa.com/retire-in-brazil). The three points every retiree asks about first:

-   **Tax:** once you are a Brazilian tax resident, generally after 183 days in a 12-month period, Brazil can tax worldwide income including your pension, at progressive rates up to 27.5%, and there is no comprehensive US-Brazil income tax treaty. Speak with a cross-border tax professional before you cross that line. Detail: [taxes for retirees in Brazil](https://getbrazilvisa.com/retire-in-brazil#taxes) and our [2026 Brazil tax guide](https://getbrazilvisa.com/blog/brazil-digital-nomad-tax-guide-2026).
-   **Healthcare:** the public SUS is open to legal residents, and most foreign retirees also carry private insurance, priced by age. Detail: [healthcare for retirees in Brazil](https://getbrazilvisa.com/retire-in-brazil#healthcare); for the consulate route, which policies are accepted is in our [Brazil visa health insurance guide](https://getbrazilvisa.com/brazil-digital-nomad-visa-health-insurance).
-   **Cost and cities:** a US$2,000 pension goes a long way outside the priciest parts of São Paulo and Rio. Budgets for a retired couple and the cities retirees choose are in [the cost of retiring in Brazil](https://getbrazilvisa.com/retire-in-brazil#cost) and [the best places to retire in Brazil](https://getbrazilvisa.com/retire-in-brazil#best-places).

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the US$2,000 rule for the Brazil retirement visa?

It is the income test in CNIg Resolução Normativa RN 40/2019, art. 1: a foreign retiree or survivor-pension beneficiary qualifies by showing they can transfer at least US$2,000 a month to Brazil, in foreign currency. The figure is per applicant, it is set in US dollars, and it has not changed since 2019, so a weaker real does not lower it. Pages that quote R$6,000 are quoting the revoked 2000 rule. If your benefit is below US$2,000, other regular income can top it up (art. 3), but income with no retirement or survivor benefit behind it does not qualify on its own.

### Can I use my US Social Security or military pension to qualify for a Brazil retirement visa?

Yes. US Social Security, a military or federal pension, a state or employer pension and VA benefits are filed as the retirement income RN 40/2019 asks for. Private pensions, 401(k) or IRA distributions and annuities are accepted in practice when you can show a formal retirement status, but the resolution does not define them, so we review those case by case. You document the benefit with the official award letter, statements showing the monthly deposits, and a bank letter confirming you can transfer US$2,000 a month to Brazil. Bank statements are never apostilled; we confirm whether your award letter needs an apostille.

### Should a retiree apply for the retirement visa or the digital nomad visa?

It depends on your income. Both visas are issued in the same VITEM XIV category, so they are told apart by their rules, not their name. The retirement visa (RN 40/2019, US$2,000/month) is the clean fit if your only income is a pension or Social Security, because it is built for exactly that. The digital nomad visa (RN 45/2021, US$1,500/month) has a lower income bar but requires proof of remote work for a foreign employer or clients, so a pure pensioner normally uses the retirement route. A retiree who also does some remote work may qualify for either one. Send us your numbers and we will tell you which fits.

### How much income do I need for the Brazil retirement visa?

US$2,000 a month per applicant, in foreign currency, transferable to Brazil every month (RN 40/2019, art. 1). The amount is fixed in US dollars in the resolution. A benefit below US$2,000 can be topped up with other regular income, such as a second pension or an annuity. Case officers keep general discretion over whether the means are enough, so a large household living on exactly US$2,000 can draw questions.

### How long is the Brazil retirement visa valid, and can it become permanent?

The first residence period is up to 2 years on both routes (RN 40/2019, arts. 3 and 4). At renewal you can ask to change the term to indefinite residence by showing you are still retired or a pensioner and can still transfer US$2,000 a month (RN 41/2019, which amended the general renewal rule, RN 30/2018). Make the monthly transfers from the start and keep the records, because at that stage the transfers themselves are what you prove.

### Do I have to pay Brazilian tax on my US pension?

Once you are a Brazilian tax resident, generally after 183 days in a 12-month period or from when you establish residence on a residence authorisation, Brazil can tax worldwide income including pensions at progressive rates up to 27.5%. The US and Brazil have no comprehensive income tax treaty, so relief usually comes through foreign tax credits rather than an exemption. Speak with a cross-border tax professional before you cross the 183-day line; we are immigration counsel, not tax advisers.

### Is there a minimum age for the Brazil retirement visa?

No. RN 40/2019 sets no age threshold. Eligibility turns on already receiving a retirement or survivor benefit, so a 50-year-old drawing a military pension qualifies on the same basis as a 70-year-old on Social Security. Someone who has stopped working but has no benefit does not qualify under this rule and should look at the digital nomad savings route or another category.

### Can I bring my spouse or children on the retirement visa?

Yes, but not on the same filing. RN 40/2019 sets no extra income for dependants, because they do not ride on your application: once your residence exists, your spouse or stable-union partner and your children apply through family reunification, a separate request with its own documents, such as an apostilled and translated marriage, stable-union or birth certificate. If your spouse draws their own pension of US$2,000 or more, they can apply as a second principal instead.

### Can I apply for the retirement visa from inside Brazil?

Yes, through MigranteWeb, after entering on a tourist entry. Once the request is protocolled you are in regular migratory status while it is analysed, so filing before your 90 days run out means you are not overstaying while the file is open. The alternative is to apply at a Brazilian consulate in your home country before you travel. Both routes review the same core documents.

### Is health insurance required for the retirement visa?

Only on the consulate route. RN 40/2019 lists health insurance valid in Brazil among the consular documents (art. 2, III); the in-country MigranteWeb request does not require it. Whichever route you use, carrying an international policy for your first months until a local plan is in place is sensible, because private hospitals expect it and premiums rise with age.

### How long do the apostilles stay valid?

An apostille never expires. The 90-day window applies to the criminal background check itself, counted from its issue date. Order the background check and its apostille four to six weeks before the date you will actually file, not months before the flight, or you will pay for them twice.

### Is the Brazil retirement visa a VITEM XIV?

Yes. Brazilian consulates issue the retirement visa as a VITEM XIV, the same code as the digital nomad visa; the Hartford consulate, for example, publishes a single page titled "VITEM XIV - Retirement visa and Digital Nomad Visa". The two are told apart by the resolution behind them, RN 40/2019 for retirees and RN 45/2021 for digital nomads, which is what appears on your residence authorisation and CRNM card.

### Can I work in Brazil on the retirement visa?

RN 40/2019 says nothing either way. The safe reading, which most immigration firms share, is that the retirement basis assumes you live on transferred pension income and does not authorise a job with a Brazilian employer. If you want to work in Brazil, the residence basis should change, for example to a work-based residence. Working informally can cause trouble at renewal, when you have to show you are still retired.

### What does GetBrazilVisa charge for the retirement visa?

USD 599, paid once when you sign, on either the consulate or the MigranteWeb route. It covers the eligibility read, the document list, review of every document before filing, the filing, replies to any request for more information, and the Federal Police registration step. Government fees (R$168.13 for the analysis and R$204.77 for the CRNM card on the in-country route, or the consular fee abroad), apostilles and translations are paid directly to those bodies.

## Other routes to living in Brazil

GetBrazilVisa handles four residency routes for foreigners. If this page is not your case, one of these is.

Whichever route fits, it is prepared and filed by our [Brazilian immigration lawyer](https://getbrazilvisa.com/brazil-immigration-lawyer).

[

### Digital Nomad Visa (VITEM XIV)

Remote income from outside Brazil. One year, renewable once.

](https://getbrazilvisa.com/brazil-digital-nomad-visa)[

### Marriage & Family Reunion (VITEM XI)

Married to, in a união estável with, or a parent or child of a Brazilian.

](https://getbrazilvisa.com/brazil-residency-by-marriage)[

### Golden Visa (VIPER)

BRL 500,000 in a company (permanent at once) or BRL 1,000,000 in property (700,000 North and Northeast).

](https://getbrazilvisa.com/brazil-investor-visa)[

### Which Brazil visa do I need?

The four routes side by side, with the eligibility test for each.

](https://getbrazilvisa.com/which-brazil-visa-do-i-need)[

### Retiring in Brazil: cost, cities, healthcare

The lifestyle guide: cost of living, best places, pension transfer.

](https://getbrazilvisa.com/retire-in-brazil)[

### Permanent residency path

From temporary residency to a permanent card.

](https://getbrazilvisa.com/brazil-permanent-residency-path)

### Start with Camila

Camila Araujo Mota, OAB-licensed Brazilian immigration lawyer, personally reviews every case. Answer a few questions, free, and she tells you where you stand.

Start my free assessment

Camila reads every case herself.

Sources: CNIg Resolução Normativa RN 40/2019 (retiree residency), Resolução Normativa CNIg nº 45/2021 (VITEM XIV digital nomad), Lei nº 13.445/2017, Lei de Migração ([planalto.gov.br](https://www.planalto.gov.br)), Polícia Federal ([gov.br/pf](https://www.gov.br/pf)), Portal de Imigração ([portaldeimigracao.mj.gov.br](https://portaldeimigracao.mj.gov.br)). Last reviewed: October 19, 2026.

This page provides general informational content about Brazilian retiree residency and is not legal advice. Immigration rules, income thresholds, and tax treatment are fact-specific and can change without notice. Consult qualified counsel and a cross-border tax professional for advice specific to your situation. Last reviewed: October 19, 2026.

---

## Structured data

```json
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://getbrazilvisa.com/#organization","additionalType":["https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q613142","https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4830453"],"name":"GetBrazilVisa","alternateName":["Get Brazil Visa","GetBrazilVisa.com"],"url":"https://getbrazilvisa.com","slogan":"Brazil's dedicated digital nomad visa specialists","description":"Brazil's dedicated Digital Nomad Visa (VITEM XIV) specialist service. Every application personally reviewed by OAB-licensed immigration lawyer Camila Araujo Mota.","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://getbrazilvisa.com/logo.webp","width":200,"height":60},"foundingDate":"2024","numberOfEmployees":{"@type":"QuantitativeValue","value":2},"founder":[{"@id":"https://getbrazilvisa.com/#camila"},{"@id":"https://getbrazilvisa.com/#hassan"}],"employee":{"@id":"https://getbrazilvisa.com/#camila"},"memberOf":{"@type":"Organization","name":"OAB - Ordem dos Advogados do Brasil (via Camila Araujo Mota, OAB/CE 50.065)","url":"https://www.oab-ce.org.br/"},"sameAs":["https://www.instagram.com/getbrazilvisa/","https://www.youtube.com/@getbrazilvisa","https://www.trustpilot.com/review/getbrazilvisa.com","https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/getbrazilvisa","https://www.google.com/maps/place/?q=place_id:ChIJK3yhFp0p_SgR_yfAEFVphG8"],"contactPoint":{"@type":"ContactPoint","contactType":"customer service","availableLanguage":["English","Portuguese","Spanish"]},"address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","addressCountry":"BR","addressLocality":"Fortaleza","addressRegion":"CE"}},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://getbrazilvisa.com/#website","url":"https://getbrazilvisa.com","name":"GetBrazilVisa","alternateName":"Get Brazil Visa","description":"Brazil's dedicated Digital Nomad Visa (VITEM XIV) specialist service. OAB-licensed attorney Camila Araujo Mota personally reviews every application step by step.","publisher":{"@id":"https://getbrazilvisa.com/#organization"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https://getbrazilvisa.com/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https://getbrazilvisa.com/#camila","name":"Camila Araujo Mota","givenName":"Camila","familyName":"Araujo Mota","honorificPrefix":"Dra.","additionalType":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q40348","jobTitle":"Immigration Lawyer & Co-Founder","description":"Licensed Brazilian immigration attorney (OAB/CE 50.065). Built her practice on the VITEM XIV digital nomad visa and now files all four Brazilian residency routes for foreigners: digital nomad, retirement, marriage and family reunion, and investor. Co-founder of GetBrazilVisa. Personally reviews every application step by step.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https://getbrazilvisa.com/#camila-portrait","url":"https://getbrazilvisa.com/camila-araujo-mota-lawyer.jpg","contentUrl":"https://getbrazilvisa.com/camila-araujo-mota-lawyer.jpg","width":1262,"height":1070,"caption":"Camila Araujo Mota, Brazilian immigration lawyer, OAB/CE 50.065"},"url":"https://getbrazilvisa.com/camila-araujo-mota","identifier":[{"@type":"PropertyValue","propertyID":"OAB-CE","name":"OAB-CE Professional License Number","value":"50.065","url":"https://cna.oab.org.br/Cnabusca/Resultado.aspx"}],"knowsAbout":["VITEM XIV","Brazil Digital Nomad Visa","Brazilian Immigration Law","MigranteWeb","Normative Resolution CNIg 45/2021","Apostille Convention (Hague)","Brazilian Federal Police RNM","Brazilian Consulate Procedures"],"hasCredential":{"@type":"EducationalOccupationalCredential","name":"Brazilian Bar Association License","credentialCategory":"Professional License","identifier":"OAB/CE 50.065","competencyRequired":"Brazilian Immigration Law","dateCreated":"2023","recognizedBy":{"@type":"Organization","name":"OAB - Ordem dos Advogados do Brasil, Seccional Ceará","alternateName":"OAB-CE","url":"https://www.oab-ce.org.br/","sameAs":["https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1339733","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_Attorneys_of_Brazil"]},"validIn":{"@type":"AdministrativeArea","name":"Brazil"}},"memberOf":{"@type":"Organization","name":"OAB-CE: Brazilian Bar Association, Ceará Section","url":"https://www.oab-ce.org.br/"},"hasOccupation":{"@type":"Occupation","name":"Immigration Lawyer","occupationLocation":{"@type":"Country","name":"Brazil"},"experienceRequirements":"Brazilian Bar Association License (OAB)"},"alumniOf":{"@type":"EducationalOrganization","name":"Universidade Federal do Ceará","url":"https://www.ufc.br/","sameAs":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1888527"},"worksFor":{"@id":"https://getbrazilvisa.com/#organization"},"addressLocality":"Fortaleza","addressCountry":"BR","sameAs":["https://www.linkedin.com/in/camila-araujo-mota"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https://getbrazilvisa.com/#hassan","name":"Hassan Yassine","jobTitle":"Co-Founder","worksFor":{"@id":"https://getbrazilvisa.com/#organization"},"sameAs":["https://www.linkedin.com/in/hassanyassine"]},{"@type":"LegalService","@id":"https://getbrazilvisa.com/#service","additionalType":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q613142","name":"GetBrazilVisa: Brazil's Digital Nomad Visa Specialists","alternateName":"Get Brazil Visa","description":"Brazil's dedicated Digital Nomad Visa (VITEM XIV) specialist service. OAB-licensed attorney Camila Araujo Mota personally reviews every application: documents, income proof, apostilles, and translations, step by step. 95%+ approval rate, 30-day average processing.","url":"https://getbrazilvisa.com/","priceRange":"$599","serviceType":["Brazil Digital Nomad Visa (VITEM XIV) application","Brazil Retirement Visa (RN 40/2019) application","Brazil Residency by Marriage and Family Reunion (VITEM XI) application","Brazil Investor Visa (VIPER) application, quoted individually"],"provider":{"@id":"https://getbrazilvisa.com/#organization"},"areaServed":{"@type":"Country","name":"Worldwide"},"knowsAbout":["VITEM XIV","Brazil Digital Nomad Visa","MigranteWeb","Brazilian Immigration Law","Normative Resolution CNIg 45/2021"],"offers":{"@type":"Offer","price":"599","priceCurrency":"USD","availability":"https://schema.org/InStock","url":"https://getbrazilvisa.com/#pricing"},"hasOfferCatalog":{"@type":"OfferCatalog","name":"GetBrazilVisa Full Service: one flat fee for the digital nomad, retirement and family reunion routes","itemListElement":[{"@type":"Offer","price":"599","priceCurrency":"USD","availability":"https://schema.org/InStock","url":"https://getbrazilvisa.com/#pricing","itemOffered":{"@type":"Service","name":"Full Service","description":"End-to-end VITEM XIV handling across three stages: full dossier preparation, CPF and health-insurance guidance (pre-application); full MigranteWeb submission or consulate liaison with an attorney's legal petition (application); daily status monitoring, Federal Police and CRNM guidance, and handling of any follow-up requests immigration raises on the application (post-application). USD 599, paid once; the same price for the MigranteWeb and consulate routes, and the same flat fee for the retirement visa and residency by marriage or family reunion. Investor visa cases are quoted individually."}}]},"hasMap":"https://maps.google.com/?cid=8035663449209972735","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","addressCountry":"BR","addressLocality":"Fortaleza","addressRegion":"CE"}},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://getbrazilvisa.com/brazil-retirement-visa#webpage","url":"https://getbrazilvisa.com/brazil-retirement-visa","name":"Brazil Retirement Visa Requirements 2026: The US$2,000 Rule","description":"Brazil retirement visa requirements under RN 40/2019: the US$2,000 pension rule, who qualifies, documents for each route, fees and timing. Filed by an OAB lawyer.","inLanguage":"en-US","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://getbrazilvisa.com/#website"},"about":{"@id":"https://getbrazilvisa.com/#service"},"publisher":{"@id":"https://getbrazilvisa.com/#organization"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://getbrazilvisa.com/brazil-retirement-visa#breadcrumb"},"speakable":{"@type":"SpeakableSpecification","cssSelector":["h1",".quick-answer","#faq h2","#who-qualifies h2","#what-it-costs h2"]},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://getbrazilvisa.com/og-camila.jpg","contentUrl":"https://getbrazilvisa.com/og-camila.jpg","width":1200,"height":630,"caption":"Camila Araujo Mota, Brazilian immigration lawyer, OAB/CE 50.065"},"datePublished":"2026-07-01T00:00:00-03:00","dateModified":"2026-10-19T00:00:00-03:00"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://getbrazilvisa.com/brazil-retirement-visa#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://getbrazilvisa.com/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Which Brazil Visa Do I Need?","item":"https://getbrazilvisa.com/which-brazil-visa-do-i-need"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Brazil Retirement Visa Requirements 2026: The US$2,000 Rule and How to Apply","item":"https://getbrazilvisa.com/brazil-retirement-visa"}]},{"@type":"Article","@id":"https://getbrazilvisa.com/brazil-retirement-visa#article","headline":"Brazil Retirement Visa Requirements 2026: The US$2,000 Rule and How to Apply","description":"Brazil retirement visa requirements under RN 40/2019: the US$2,000 pension rule, who qualifies, documents for each route, fees and timing. Filed by an OAB lawyer.","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https://getbrazilvisa.com/brazil-retirement-visa#webpage"},"url":"https://getbrazilvisa.com/brazil-retirement-visa","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://getbrazilvisa.com/og-camila.jpg","contentUrl":"https://getbrazilvisa.com/og-camila.jpg","width":1200,"height":630,"caption":"Camila Araujo Mota, Brazilian immigration lawyer, OAB/CE 50.065"},"author":{"@id":"https://getbrazilvisa.com/#camila"},"reviewedBy":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https://getbrazilvisa.com/#camila","name":"Camila Araujo Mota","jobTitle":"Immigration Lawyer & Co-Founder","url":"https://getbrazilvisa.com/camila-araujo-mota"},"publisher":{"@id":"https://getbrazilvisa.com/#organization"},"datePublished":"2026-07-01T00:00:00-03:00","dateModified":"2026-10-19T00:00:00-03:00","inLanguage":"en-US","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://getbrazilvisa.com/#website"},"about":{"@id":"https://getbrazilvisa.com/#service"},"keywords":"brazil retirement visa, brazil retiree visa, brazil pensioner visa, retire in brazil, RN 40 2019, US pension brazil residency","articleSection":"Immigration Guide"},{"@type":"FAQPage","@id":"https://getbrazilvisa.com/brazil-retirement-visa#faq","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"What is the US$2,000 rule for the Brazil retirement visa?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"It is the income test in CNIg Resolução Normativa RN 40/2019, art. 1: a foreign retiree or survivor-pension beneficiary qualifies by showing they can transfer at least US$2,000 a month to Brazil, in foreign currency. The figure is per applicant, it is set in US dollars, and it has not changed since 2019, so a weaker real does not lower it. Pages that quote R$6,000 are quoting the revoked 2000 rule. If your benefit is below US$2,000, other regular income can top it up (art. 3), but income with no retirement or survivor benefit behind it does not qualify on its own."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Can I use my US Social Security or military pension to qualify for a Brazil retirement visa?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes. US Social Security, a military or federal pension, a state or employer pension and VA benefits are filed as the retirement income RN 40/2019 asks for. Private pensions, 401(k) or IRA distributions and annuities are accepted in practice when you can show a formal retirement status, but the resolution does not define them, so we review those case by case. You document the benefit with the official award letter, statements showing the monthly deposits, and a bank letter confirming you can transfer US$2,000 a month to Brazil. Bank statements are never apostilled; we confirm whether your award letter needs an apostille."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Should a retiree apply for the retirement visa or the digital nomad visa?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"It depends on your income. Both visas are issued in the same VITEM XIV category, so they are told apart by their rules, not their name. The retirement visa (RN 40/2019, US$2,000/month) is the clean fit if your only income is a pension or Social Security, because it is built for exactly that. The digital nomad visa (RN 45/2021, US$1,500/month) has a lower income bar but requires proof of remote work for a foreign employer or clients, so a pure pensioner normally uses the retirement route. A retiree who also does some remote work may qualify for either one. Send us your numbers and we will tell you which fits."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How much income do I need for the Brazil retirement visa?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"US$2,000 a month per applicant, in foreign currency, transferable to Brazil every month (RN 40/2019, art. 1). The amount is fixed in US dollars in the resolution. A benefit below US$2,000 can be topped up with other regular income, such as a second pension or an annuity. Case officers keep general discretion over whether the means are enough, so a large household living on exactly US$2,000 can draw questions."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How long is the Brazil retirement visa valid, and can it become permanent?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The first residence period is up to 2 years on both routes (RN 40/2019, arts. 3 and 4). At renewal you can ask to change the term to indefinite residence by showing you are still retired or a pensioner and can still transfer US$2,000 a month (RN 41/2019, which amended the general renewal rule, RN 30/2018). Make the monthly transfers from the start and keep the records, because at that stage the transfers themselves are what you prove."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Do I have to pay Brazilian tax on my US pension?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Once you are a Brazilian tax resident, generally after 183 days in a 12-month period or from when you establish residence on a residence authorisation, Brazil can tax worldwide income including pensions at progressive rates up to 27.5%. The US and Brazil have no comprehensive income tax treaty, so relief usually comes through foreign tax credits rather than an exemption. Speak with a cross-border tax professional before you cross the 183-day line; we are immigration counsel, not tax advisers."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Is there a minimum age for the Brazil retirement visa?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"No. RN 40/2019 sets no age threshold. Eligibility turns on already receiving a retirement or survivor benefit, so a 50-year-old drawing a military pension qualifies on the same basis as a 70-year-old on Social Security. Someone who has stopped working but has no benefit does not qualify under this rule and should look at the digital nomad savings route or another category."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Can I bring my spouse or children on the retirement visa?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes, but not on the same filing. RN 40/2019 sets no extra income for dependants, because they do not ride on your application: once your residence exists, your spouse or stable-union partner and your children apply through family reunification, a separate request with its own documents, such as an apostilled and translated marriage, stable-union or birth certificate. If your spouse draws their own pension of US$2,000 or more, they can apply as a second principal instead."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Can I apply for the retirement visa from inside Brazil?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes, through MigranteWeb, after entering on a tourist entry. Once the request is protocolled you are in regular migratory status while it is analysed, so filing before your 90 days run out means you are not overstaying while the file is open. The alternative is to apply at a Brazilian consulate in your home country before you travel. Both routes review the same core documents."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Is health insurance required for the retirement visa?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Only on the consulate route. RN 40/2019 lists health insurance valid in Brazil among the consular documents (art. 2, III); the in-country MigranteWeb request does not require it. Whichever route you use, carrying an international policy for your first months until a local plan is in place is sensible, because private hospitals expect it and premiums rise with age."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How long do the apostilles stay valid?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"An apostille never expires. The 90-day window applies to the criminal background check itself, counted from its issue date. Order the background check and its apostille four to six weeks before the date you will actually file, not months before the flight, or you will pay for them twice."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Is the Brazil retirement visa a VITEM XIV?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes. Brazilian consulates issue the retirement visa as a VITEM XIV, the same code as the digital nomad visa; the Hartford consulate, for example, publishes a single page titled \"VITEM XIV - Retirement visa and Digital Nomad Visa\". The two are told apart by the resolution behind them, RN 40/2019 for retirees and RN 45/2021 for digital nomads, which is what appears on your residence authorisation and CRNM card."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Can I work in Brazil on the retirement visa?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"RN 40/2019 says nothing either way. The safe reading, which most immigration firms share, is that the retirement basis assumes you live on transferred pension income and does not authorise a job with a Brazilian employer. If you want to work in Brazil, the residence basis should change, for example to a work-based residence. Working informally can cause trouble at renewal, when you have to show you are still retired."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What does GetBrazilVisa charge for the retirement visa?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"USD 599, paid once when you sign, on either the consulate or the MigranteWeb route. It covers the eligibility read, the document list, review of every document before filing, the filing, replies to any request for more information, and the Federal Police registration step. Government fees (R$168.13 for the analysis and R$204.77 for the CRNM card on the in-country route, or the consular fee abroad), apostilles and translations are paid directly to those bodies."}}]}]}
```