Your Brazil work visa, handled in English — for the professional and the employer.
ZS Advogados is led by the first American to pass Brazil's Bar — a lawyer who immigrated here himself. We act for foreign hires and the companies sponsoring them, and with a power of attorney much of it gets handled while you stay where you are. Tell us your situation, and you'll know exactly where you stand under Brazilian law.
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
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- We respond within 24 hours
- English & Portuguese
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Two readers, one process — and we speak to both
A Brazilian work visa is rarely a solo effort. The professional has questions about their role, their family, and what life in Brazil will look like. The employer has a hire to bring on board and a process to get right. We handle both sides at once. There are several pathways: an employer-sponsored visa, initiated by the Brazilian company doing the hiring; an intra-company transfer, for employees moving within a multinational group to a Brazilian affiliate; and technical-assistance visas, for short- or medium-term service and training assignments. If you're a remote worker serving a foreign employer or client, that's a separate route — see our Digital Nomad Visa Brazil page.
Here's the part most foreigners worry about, answered plainly: the lawyer leading this firm has been the foreigner in Brazil. Zac Zagol immigrated here, then became the first American to pass Brazil's Bar exam (OAB). He has stood where you're standing — the paperwork, the language, the not-knowing — and has spent 15+ years handling Brazilian legal matters for others, 1,200+ cases in all. You correspond with your lawyer directly, in English. Nothing about your case gets lost in translation.
We take on employers and individual applicants alike — choosing the right visa, assessing eligibility, preparing and filing documents, and handling post-approval registrations such as CPF and the CRNM with the Federal Police. We coordinate with accounting and labor advisors on Brazilian tax and employment obligations, and we tell you upfront, honestly, what genuinely requires someone's presence in Brazil and what doesn't. With a power of attorney (procuração), much of this gets handled while you stay where you are.
Common Work-Based Pathways
Employer-Sponsored Visa
For foreign professionals with a formal employment offer from a Brazilian company.
Digital Nomad Visa
For remote workers serving employers or clients outside Brazil under RN 45/2021.
Intra-Company Transfer
For employees moving within a multinational group to a Brazilian affiliate.
Technical Assistance
Short- or medium-term technical service and training assignments in Brazil.
How it works
A clear path from first call to follow-up — for the professional and the employer alike. The exact steps depend on the pathway and your case, so we confirm the current requirements with you before anything is filed.
- 1
Initial review
We talk through your situation — who the employer is, where they sit, and what you'll be doing in Brazil — flag the likely pathway, and tell you honestly whether we can help.
- 2
Documents
We give you a checklist tailored to your case and help you gather, apostille, and arrange sworn translation of what's needed — coordinating with the employer where the process is sponsored.
- 3
Filing
We prepare and submit the application to the relevant Brazilian authority and handle the paperwork — much of it remotely via procuração where possible.
- 4
Government step
We track the process and respond to requests. Timelines vary by authority, consulate, and case, so we keep both the professional and the employer updated as things move.
- 5
Arrival & follow-up
We guide the after-arrival steps — such as registering with the Federal Police and obtaining a CPF — and stay available for what comes next.
Not sure which pathway fits?
Tell us your situation — as the professional or the employer — and we'll walk you through the route that applies to you.
What you'll need
Most work-based cases draw on the same core documents, with the employer contributing the sponsoring paperwork where the pathway requires it. Think of this as a starting point — the exact list depends on your situation, 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
- Employment or assignment documentation from the sponsoring company, where the pathway is employer-based
Your case may need more or fewer documents. We give you a tailored checklist before you start gathering anything.
Where foreigners commonly get stuck
A few things trip people up more than others on work-based cases. Knowing them early makes the process smoother — here's what careful handling looks like.
Picking the wrong pathway for the situation
An employer-sponsored route, an intra-company transfer, and remote-work arrangements each follow different rules. Matching the right one to your facts up front avoids starting over later.
Documents that aren't apostilled or sworn-translated
Foreign documents often need an apostille and a sworn (juramentada) translation to be accepted. Sorting the right format early avoids back-and-forth later.
Professional and employer working out of sync
When the hire and the sponsoring company prepare their pieces separately, paperwork can arrive mismatched. We coordinate both sides so the file comes together cleanly.
Missing after-arrival steps
Steps like registering with the Federal Police and getting a CPF are easy to overlook in the first weeks. We flag the sequence so nothing slips.
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
Which work-based visa fits my situation?
Do I need a Brazilian employer to sponsor me?
How long does the work-visa process typically take?
What are the income or contract requirements?
Can my family come with me?
Can you handle my case if I'm not in Brazil yet?
Do my documents need to be translated?
We're a company hiring a foreign professional — can you act for both of us?
Which languages do you work in?
Talk to a lawyer who has been the foreigner too
Whether you're the professional being hired or the company doing the hiring, tell us your situation — in English. Bring your case; leave with a clear view of the right work-visa pathway, what it involves, and what to expect. Message us on WhatsApp or book a consultation and review it directly with a bilingual lawyer who knows this terrain.