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Immigration · SPD Advocacia

Are you a foreigner who wants to live in Brazil? Regularize your residence and, if you wish, your naturalization

Brazil's Migration Law provides for residence authorization on several grounds, such as work, study and family reunification, and different types of naturalization. The firm guides you to the right request and follows it until the decision.

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What are the requirements for naturalization?

Ordinary naturalization requires civil capacity, residence in Brazil for at least 4 years, the ability to communicate in Portuguese, taking each person's circumstances into account, and no criminal conviction or being rehabilitated (Law 13.445/2017, art. 65).

The residence period drops to at least 1 year for those who have a Brazilian child, a Brazilian spouse or partner, who provide or can provide relevant service to Brazil, or who stand out for their professional, scientific or artistic ability (art. 66). For those from Portuguese-speaking countries, the Constitution requires one year of uninterrupted residence and good moral character (art. 12, II, a).

Residence comes before naturalization. The Migration Law provides for residence authorization on several grounds, such as work, study and family reunification, each with its own documents.

What the law says

Key points

4 years

Minimum residence for ordinary naturalization.

1 year

Reduced period for those with a Brazilian child, spouse or partner, among other cases.

Portuguese

Communicating in Portuguese is a requirement for ordinary naturalization.

Portuguese-speaking countries

For those from Portuguese-speaking countries: one uninterrupted year and good moral character.

Source: Law 13.445/2017 (Migration Law), arts. 30, 37, 65 and 66; Brazilian Federal Constitution, art. 12, II.

What is your case?

Situations the firm handles

Family

Family reunification

Residence for the spouse, children and other relatives of someone who lives in Brazil.

Law 13.445/2017, art. 37
Work

Residence to work

Requests related to work in Brazil.

Law 13.445/2017, art. 30
Naturalization

Ordinary naturalization

Request with 4 years of residence, or 1 year in the reduced cases.

Law 13.445/2017, art. 65
Long residence

Extraordinary naturalization

For those who have lived in Brazil for more than 15 uninterrupted years with no criminal conviction.

Constitution, art. 12, II, b
Refusal

Refused request

Administrative appeal or lawsuit in the Federal Courts.

Constitution, art. 109, X
Documents

Documents from the country of origin

Apostille, translation and certificates for the request.

See page
This page provides general information, does not replace a review of the case and there is no guarantee of results.

Step by step

How the firm works

  1. Review. We look at the reason for residence, time in Brazil and family.
  2. Documents. Certificates, criminal records, apostille and translations.
  3. Request. Filing with the competent authority and responding to requirements.
  4. Decision. Follow-up until publication and, if needed, an appeal.
5,000+ cases handledTen years of practicePractice before the STJ and STFFeatured in G1, UOL, Estadão and TV Globo

Case review

Let us review your case

Answer the questions one at a time. At the end you can attach documents, which go straight to a folder in the firm's Drive, and send the summary by WhatsApp. Everything is protected by professional secrecy.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

How long do I need to live in Brazil to become naturalized?

As a rule, 4 years of residence. It drops to 1 year for those with a Brazilian child, spouse or partner, among other cases. Those from Portuguese-speaking countries need one uninterrupted year.

Do I need to speak Portuguese?

Yes. Communicating in Portuguese is a requirement for ordinary naturalization, taking each person's circumstances into account.

My request was refused. Can I appeal?

Yes. There is an administrative appeal and, depending on the case, a lawsuit in the Federal Courts.

Can I bring my family?

The Migration Law provides for residence authorization for family reunification, with rules for spouses, children and other relatives.

Can the service be in another language?

Yes. Service is available in English and Spanish. Choose your preferred language in the case review.

How much does it cost?

After the review, the firm sends a written fee proposal, before any engagement. Government fees are paid separately.

Lawyer for naturalization and residence of foreigners in Brazil

SPD Advocacia assists foreigners who live or want to live in Brazil with residence authorization, family reunification and naturalization requests under the Migration Law, and with appeals against refusals.

Responsible lawyers

  • Sidnei Pedro Dias OAB/GO 48.603 · OAB/DF 68.207 · OAB/SP 501.693 · leads the firm’s cases
  • Adrielle Oliveira OAB/GO 76.298 · civil, family, business and international matters
  • Eduardo Prado OAB/GO 59.836 · criminal and electoral law

Online service throughout Brazil and for Brazilians abroad. Own office in Anápolis, Goiás, Brazil: Av. Juscelino Kubitschek, 500, Genesis Office, rooms 1506 and 1507. About the firm →