Residency pathway
Residency in retirement
Regular retirement or pension income can support a long-term residency option in Brazil.
In short
CNIg Normative Resolution 40/2019 governs the temporary visa and the residence authorisation based on retirement or survivor’s pension benefits. The core requirement is evidence of a monthly transfer to Brazil of at least US$ 2,000 in foreign currency. Residence is granted initially for up to two years; renewal is governed by a separate resolution.
Who this pathway suits
- Retirees and pensioners with regular income from abroad
- Couples wishing to spend part of the year in Brazil
- People who have already invested in the country and are now considering a more stable presence
- Those who prefer a documentarily simple path, without a corporate structure
What becomes possible
- Residence authorisation for an initial term of up to two years, renewable
- Possibility of living in Brazil partially or permanently
- Inclusion of dependants, assessed case by case
- Access to Brazilian documents and to civil life in the country
- After the required residence period, possible access to naturalisation
General requirements
- Evidence of retirement or of receiving a survivor’s pension
- Monthly transfer to Brazil of at least US$ 2,000 in foreign currency
- Other regular sources of income may top up the amount where the benefit alone does not reach it
- Health insurance valid in Brazil
- Civil documentation and criminal record certificates, apostilled and translated
- Meeting the general procedural requirements of Normative Resolution 01/2017
Economic and personal context
For many European families this is the most direct entry point. It combines well with a real estate investment: the property solves housing and can generate income, while the pension supports the immigration ground. The pathways are not mutually exclusive — assessing both together is usually more efficient than choosing blind. One detail is easily missed: the requirement is a monthly transfer to Brazil, not merely income held abroad. The flow into the country has to be demonstrable.
How it works, step by step
- 01
Review of income and requirements
We analyse the nature and regularity of your benefit, check whether it reaches the required US$ 2,000 per month and, if it does not, which other regular sources of income can top up the amount.
- 02
Preparing the documents
We coordinate obtaining benefit statements, certificates and other documents, with apostille and sworn translation.
- 03
Filing the application
We prepare and file the residence authorisation application, or the temporary visa request where applicable.
- 04
Federal Police registration and CRNM
Once granted, we support migration registration and issuance of the CRNM.
Documents usually required
- Residence authorisation application form
- Valid travel document
- Official evidence of retirement or survivor’s pension benefits, apostilled and translated
- Evidence of the capacity to transfer at least US$ 2,000 per month to Brazil
- Evidence of other regular sources of income, where used to top up the amount
- Health insurance valid in Brazil
- Proof of parentage, apostilled and translated
- Criminal record certificates from countries of residence over the last five years
- Proof of payment of the fee (GRU)
Spouse and family
Spouses and dependants are generally included through the family reunification rules. As this pathway rests on income, the capacity to support the family group must be demonstrated clearly.
Registration and the CRNM
Residence authorisation, migration registration and the CRNM are distinct stages of the same path, and it is worth telling them apart.
The residence authorisation is the act by which the Ministry of Justice and Public Security recognises the right to reside. Registration is then carried out with the Federal Police. Only afterwards is the CRNM — Carteira de Registro Nacional Migratório — issued, the migrant’s identification document in Brazil.
The CRNM is not a synonym for the residence authorisation: it is the document evidencing the registration that follows from it. In practice, it is the CRNM that lets you open accounts, sign contracts and prove your status in the country.
What happens after approval
- Registration with the Federal Police and issuance of the CRNM
- Maintaining the conditions that supported the grant
- Observing the initial term of up to two years and the renewal application
- Organising civil and banking life in the country
How PlanBrazil supports you
- We coordinate the preliminary review of income and eligibility
- We conduct the legal review with our lawyer partner
- We organise documents, apostilles and sworn translations
- We coordinate, with authorised financial institutions, account opening and transfer of funds
- We support the procedure, registration and issuance of the CRNM
- We remain your local point of contact for everyday matters
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to transfer my pension to Brazil?
Yes. The rule requires evidence of a monthly transfer to Brazil of at least US$ 2,000 in foreign currency. Holding the income abroad is not enough: the flow into the country is part of the requirement.
What if my pension does not reach US$ 2,000?
The resolution allows other regular sources of income to top up the required amount. What must be shown is the capacity to transfer the minimum each month — not that it comes from a single source.
Does a survivor’s pension also count as a ground?
Yes. The resolution treats retirement and survivor’s pension together, with the same threshold of US$ 2,000 per month.
How long does the residence granted last?
The initial term is up to two years — both for those entering on a temporary visa issued by a consulate and for those applying while already in Brazil. Renewal is governed by a separate resolution and should be checked against the text in force as the term nears its end.
Can I combine this with a real estate investment?
Yes, and it often makes sense. These are distinct grounds that can coexist; which one serves as the basis of the application depends on your situation and objectives.
Can my spouse also obtain residency?
As a rule, through the family reunification rules, with their own documents and evidence of means of support.
Do I have to live in Brazil all year?
Not necessarily, but the rules on presence and on loss of the authorisation must be observed according to the ground applicable to your case.
Legal basis
Related services
Check whether this pathway applies to your case
In an initial conversation, we analyse your income and check how it fits the rule in force.