Brazil at a Glance
Working in Brazil
São Paulo is responsible for much of Brazil’s economic growth.
Brazil’s economic success and ongoing growth make working in Brazil an attractive option for expats from all over the globe. For instance, the oil and gas industry as well as the booming financial sector in cities such as São Paulo hold interesting opportunities for expats keen on working in Brazil.
Working in Brazil: Expat Jobs
Nevertheless, those who consider working in Brazil should have a thorough plan before leaving their home country: The market is highly competitive for self-made expats, and every year a number of expats return home early because working in Brazil did not turn out to be what they expected. Expats should be especially aware of the fact that working in Brazil is usually possible only with sufficient knowledge of Portuguese.
Expats working in Brazil are typically transferees from foreign companies and multinationals which operate local branches in the country. Finding a job without the backing of an HR department can prove very difficult, and self-made expats working in Brazil are rather rare. Most of the foreign expatriates working in Brazil are employed in areas such as engineering or the high-tech sector. The petrochemical industry, based mainly in Rio de Janeiro and the Cidade do Petróleo (city of petroleum) Macaé, is also a popular employer for foreign nationals working in Brazil.
Working in Brazil: Short-Term Visa
There are two types of visa which enable foreign nationals to start working in Brazil. The first is a category V visa, which is valid for working in Brazil in a specific position for a limited period of time as stated in the visa. With a category V visa, expats are not permitted to change jobs while working in Brazil. Dependent family members may accompany the visa holder to Brazil, although they are not automatically allowed to start working in Brazil themselves.
Even though these temporary visas are readily issued for intra-company transfers, they are significantly harder to come by for expats seeking opportunities for working in Brazil independently. In order to be considered for such a visa, the applicant needs to have a signed contract with a Brazilian employer. Only after this contract has been examined and approved by the Brazilian Ministry of Labor will the visa application be further processed by the immigration authorities.
Working in Brazil: Long-Term Visa
Self-made expats planning to start working in Brazil often try to apply for a permanent visa instead of the temporary one described above. This has the definite advantage that it does not only allow the holder to stay in Brazil indefinitely, but also to change jobs without running the risk of losing their permit for working in Brazil.
On the other hand, acquiring a permanent visa is even more difficult than receiving a temporary permit for working in Brazil. Most importantly, applicants need to convince the Brazilian authorities that they possess highly specialized skills which would benefit the Brazilian economy.
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