Your capital in Brazil. Your VIPER investor visa, structured and filed in English.
ZS Advogados is led by the first American to pass Brazil's Bar — an American who immigrated to Brazil himself and now practices its law, at home in both languages and both legal systems. We work fully in English and Portuguese, and with a power of attorney we structure your investment and handle the filing while you stay exactly where you are. Tell us about your investment, and we'll show you how the process works for your situation.
Message us and we'll answer your questions about your situation and next steps — and set up a consultation if it's the right fit.
Or book a paid 60-min consultation — US$300A full private video session with a Brazil-licensed lawyer (OAB/SP 351.356). Choose a time that works for you.
- 1st American admitted to the OAB
- 1,200+ cases handled
- 15+ years
- OAB/SP 351.356
Tell us about your investment — in English
- We respond within 24 hours
- English & Portuguese
- Your data is protected under LGPD
A residency path for foreign investors in Brazil
Brazil grants residence to foreign investors — the track most people search for as the VIPER or investor visa. It is open to individuals who make a qualifying capital investment in a Brazilian company, or — under a separate modality — in Brazilian real estate at a threshold set by current regulation. The visa extends to qualifying dependents, so your family comes with you.
The work behind it is far more than a form: incorporating or buying into a Brazilian entity (or identifying the qualifying real-estate purchase), remitting your capital through the Central Bank's official channel (RDE-IED registration), building an investment plan with real economic and social substance, and filing with the immigration authorities. Minimum amounts and eligibility criteria are set by federal regulation and do change — so we confirm exactly what applies to your case at the consultation, before you commit a single dollar.
We handle the moving parts that touch each other — corporate structuring, the remittance documentation, the immigration filing, and the post-approval registrations (CPF, CNPJ, CRNM with the Federal Police) — and we coordinate with your accounting and tax advisors so you see the full cross-border picture, not just the visa. You correspond directly with a licensed Brazilian lawyer, in English, and we explain each step and what it costs before we take it.
What we handle for you, end to end
Entity Structuring
We incorporate or acquire the Brazilian entity that receives your capital, and structure it to qualify under the resolution.
Investment Remittance
RDE-IED registration with the Central Bank and the banking documentation that makes your capital count toward the visa.
Immigration Filing
We build the investment plan and file your application with the immigration authorities — most of it handled from abroad via power of attorney.
Post-Approval Steps
CPF, CNPJ, CRNM with the Federal Police, and the ongoing compliance that keeps your residency in good standing.
How Brazil compares for investors
Most people weighing Brazil also look at Portugal, Greece, or Mexico. Here is where Brazil stands, on the three things that usually decide it.
More than one way in
Brazil offers several investor routes — investing in a Brazilian business, a lower threshold for innovation and startups, and a separate real-estate modality (with a reduced figure for the North and Northeast). The amounts are set by federal regulation and do change, so we confirm the current threshold for the route that fits your capital.
Residency from approval
Approval can grant residency without the years of temporary-permit renewals some programs require before status becomes permanent. Brazilian citizenship is a separate path with its own residence period and requirements, which we walk through for your situation.
Your family on one application
A spouse or partner and dependent children join the same application, with no investment required beyond the qualifying threshold. Brazil also allows dual citizenship, so you generally keep your current nationality.
Immigration programs change, and the details that matter depend on your case. We confirm the current thresholds and rules for your specific situation before you commit to anything.
How it works
A clear path from first call to follow-up. The exact steps depend on your investment and the modality that fits it — we confirm the current requirements with you before anything is structured or filed.
- 1
Initial review
We talk through your goals, your capital, and the route that likely fits — and tell you honestly whether we can help.
- 2
Structuring & documents
We help set up or acquire the Brazilian entity (or identify the qualifying purchase) and give you a checklist tailored to your case — gathering, apostilling, and arranging sworn translation of what's needed.
- 3
Capital remittance
We coordinate the official Central Bank investment registration (RDE-IED) and the banking documentation that makes your capital count toward the application.
- 4
Filing & government step
We prepare the investment plan, file with the immigration authority, and respond to requests. Timelines vary by authority and case, so we keep you updated as things move — much of it handled from abroad via procuração.
- 5
Arrival & follow-up
We guide the after-approval steps — such as your CPF, CNPJ where relevant, and CRNM registration with the Federal Police — and stay available for what comes next.
Not sure which route fits your capital?
Tell us about your investment and we'll walk you through the path that applies to your situation.
What you'll need
Most investor cases draw on the same core documents. Think of this as a starting point — the exact list depends on your modality and structure, and we confirm the current requirements with you.
- A valid passport
- A criminal background check from your home country
- Civil documents (e.g. birth or marriage certificate), apostilled
- A sworn (juramentada) translation of your foreign documents
- A CPF (Brazilian tax ID) — we can help you obtain one
- Proof of address
- A power of attorney (procuração) so we can act on your behalf from abroad
Your case may need more or fewer documents — the corporate and remittance side often calls for additional paperwork. We give you a tailored checklist before you start gathering anything.
Where investors commonly get stuck
A few things trip people up more than others. Knowing them early makes the process smoother — here's what careful handling looks like.
Remitting capital without the official registration
Money that arrives outside the Central Bank's official channel (the RDE-IED registration) can be hard to count toward the application. Sequencing the remittance correctly up front avoids reconstructing it later.
Documents that aren't apostilled or sworn-translated
Foreign and corporate documents often need an apostille and a sworn (juramentada) translation to be accepted. Sorting the right format early avoids back-and-forth.
Treating the visa as just a form
The corporate structuring, the remittance paperwork, and the immigration filing all touch each other. Handling them in isolation is where timelines slip; we coordinate them as one process.
Missing after-approval steps
Registrations like your CPF, CNPJ where relevant, and CRNM with the Federal Police are easy to overlook once approval lands. We flag the sequence so nothing slips.
Useful terms
- VIPER
- The investor residence track foreign investors apply for, granted in connection with a qualifying investment in Brazil.
- RDE-IED
- The Central Bank's registration for foreign direct investment — the official record of capital you bring into Brazil.
- CNPJ
- Brazil's registration number for a company — the corporate counterpart to an individual's CPF.
- CRNM
- The national migration registration card issued to foreign residents in Brazil.
- CPF
- Brazil's individual taxpayer ID — needed for most everyday and legal transactions.
- Procuração
- A power of attorney — lets us act on your behalf so much can be handled remotely.
- Apostille
- An international certification that makes a document from one country valid in another.
- Tradução juramentada
- A sworn translation by an official translator, required for many foreign documents in Brazil.
How our fees work
We quote a clear, written scope and fee before you engage us — no hourly surprises. What moves the price is complexity: the number of documents, whether a matter is contested, how many parties or heirs are involved, and how much needs apostille and sworn translation.
These are indicative estimate ranges only — not a quote or a fixed fee. Every matter is scoped individually, and your actual fee is confirmed in a written proposal before you engage us. Government, notary, registration, and sworn-translation costs are separate.
Meet Your Legal Team
Zachariah Zagol
Founding Partner — OAB/SP
The first American to pass Brazil's Bar Exam. LL.M. from USC. Over 15 years helping foreigners navigate Brazilian law.
Karina Peres Silverio
Partner — OAB/SP 331.050
Specialist in immigration, real estate, and international law. Fluent in English and Portuguese.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum investment required?
Do I need to live in Brazil to maintain the visa?
Can the investment be in real estate?
Can my family obtain residency through my investor visa?
Does the investor visa lead to permanent residency or citizenship?
Can you handle the process if I'm not in Brazil yet?
Do my documents need to be translated and apostilled?
How long does the whole process take?
Which languages do you work in?
Take your investment to a Brazilian lawyer — in English
Bring your situation, and you'll leave with a clear view of the structure, the requirements that apply to you, and exactly what needs your presence in Brazil — in English, before you commit a dollar. Schedule a paid consultation or message us on WhatsApp.