Can foreigners work in Brazil? Learn how to hire them step by step

With globalization, remote working and the search for ever more qualified talent, many Brazilian companies have started to look outside the country for professionals. Whether for technical areas, strategic positions or specific projects, a very common question arises: Can foreigners work in Brazil?

The answer is: yes, foreigners can be hired in Brazil, But hiring requires a series of legal, migration, labor and tax precautions. Ignoring these steps can lead to fines, contract nullity and even migration problems for the worker and the company.

In this complete guide CLM Controller Accounting, reference in accounting for hiring foreigners in Brazil, explains everything you need to know to hire a foreign professional legally, safely and without risk.

Can foreigners be hired in Brazil?

Yes. Brazilian law allows foreigners to be hired, provided that they are regular in the country and has authorization to work.

In other words, it's not enough for foreigners to be in Brazil as tourists or students. They need to work:

Why has hiring foreigners become a trend?

More and more Brazilian companies are looking for professionals from abroad for reasons such as:

• Lack of skilled labor in specific areas
• Rare need for technical knowledge
• International projects or global expansion
• Transfer of executives from foreign headquarters
• Multicultural teams and innovation

Startups, technology companies, industries, multinationals and specialized service companies are the ones most in demand for this type of hiring.

But along with opportunity comes bureaucracy, and that's where the importance of a accounting for hiring foreigners in Brazil who understands both payroll and corporate immigration.

Basic requirements for hiring foreigners in Brazil

Before starting the process, your company needs to understand three fundamental pillars:

1. The foreigner must have authorization to work
2. He needs to be regularized in Brazil
3. The company needs to follow all the rules of the CLT as normal

In other words, once regularized, the foreigner has:

• The same rights as a Brazilian
• The same labor obligations
• The same treatment on the payroll

There is no such thing as “half registration” or “special registration”. Either you're in good standing, or you can't be hired.

Foreign work visa Brazil: what it is and why it's essential

The most important point in the process is the call:

Foreign work visa Brazil

Or, technically, Residence Permit for Work Purposes.

This document is what allows the foreigner:

• Enter Brazil (if you are still abroad)
• Or regularize your situation if you are already in the country
• And carries out professional activity legally

Without this visa/authorization, any CLT contract is illegal.

Who applies for the work visa: the company or the foreigner?

In most cases, it is the Brazilian company that initiates the process.

It needs to apply to the Brazilian government for authorization to hire that specific foreign professional.

This request is made through the official government system called:

MigranteWeb - Work and Residence Permit System

The company must present:

• Company data
• Data from abroad
• Justification for hiring
• Contract or job offer
• Professional qualifications for foreigners

The government is considering whether:

• The vacancy really warrants a foreign professional
• If the documents are correct
• If the type of visa is appropriate

Only after approval can the foreigner:

• Apply for a visa at the consulate (if outside Brazil)
• Or complete regularization in Brazil (if you are already here)

Most common types of foreign work visa in Brazil

There are several types. The most common are

• Temporary visa for CLT employment
• Intra-company transfer visa
• Visa for administrator, director or executive
• Partner-investor visa
• Residence by Mercosur agreement
• Visa for specialized technical professionals

Each type requires different documents and criteria. That's why there is no “standard model”. Each contract needs to be analyzed individually, which is exactly the role of the CLM Controller Accounting.

Basic document: foreigner's CPF

Even before completing the entire migration process, the foreigner will need an essential document:

CPF (Individual Taxpayer Registration)

The CPF is required for

• Labor registration
• Opening a bank account
• Contract signing
• Access to the Digital CTPS
• Any tax act in Brazil

The CPF can be obtained:

• At the Brazilian consulate in the country of origin
• By the Federal Revenue Service in Brazil
• At partner service stations

Usually, the foreigner presents:

• Passport
• Registration form
• Migration document, if you are already in Brazil

CLM assists throughout this process to avoid errors and delays.

Can foreigners work in Brazil as tourists?

No. The tourist visa does not authorize paid activity. If the foreigner is working on a tourist visa:

• He could be deported
• The company could be fined
• The contract is considered irregular
• Future entry into the country may be prevented

Therefore, never hire someone just “to get started” while your visa is still pending. This creates a high risk.

What documents do I need to hire a foreigner?

Even before you register, you need to start organizing:

• Valid passport
• CPF
• Protocol or residence card (RNM/RNE)
• Work permit approved
• Contract or formal proposal
• Diplomas and certificates (in some cases translated)

These documents will be used both in the migration process and in the labor registration.

Do registered foreigners have the same rights as Brazilians?

Yes, once a foreigner has been regularized and registered, he or she can:

• Vacations
• 13th salary
• FGTS
• INSS
• Overtime
• Legal additions
• Rights provided for in the CLT and collective agreements

There is no “different” contract because he is a foreigner. The payroll works in exactly the same way.

Is there a limit on the number of foreigners in the company?

The CLT historically provided for the rule that:

• At least 2/3 of the employees should be Brazilian
• And 2/3 of the payroll should be paid to Brazilians

This rule has been relaxed over time, but can still be considered in some scenarios, especially in specific inspections.

For this reason, companies wishing to hire several foreigners should carry out a preliminary analysis with a specialized accounting in hiring foreigners in Brazil.

Why not do it yourself?

Hiring a foreigner involves:

• Labor law
• Migration law
• Tax obligations
• eSocial records
• Payroll
• International regularization

Any error can lead to this:

• Fines
• Visa rejection
• Delays of months
• Labor lawsuits
• Serious migration problems

That's why this is a typical bottom-of-the-funnel service: those looking for it already have a real case and need professional help.

Learn how to hire a foreigner to work in Brazil [Step by step]

In the first part of this super complete guide to CLM Controller Accounting, we saw that foreigners can be hired in Brazil, as long as it is regularized with valid work visa, CPF, e up-to-date migration documents.

Now, let's go deeper into the process with a complete step-by-step, This article covers all the practical precautions, obligations and documents required to register a foreigner correctly and without risk.

If your company is ready to hire international talent, read on - you'll see that, with the right support, the process can be much more agile and secure.

1. obtaining a CPF

O CPF (Individual Taxpayer Registration) is the first essential document for foreigners wishing to be hired by a Brazilian company.

Without a CPF, foreigners cannot:

• Be registered;
• Open a bank account;
• Income tax returns;
• Signing formal contracts in Brazil.

How to obtain a CPF:

• If you are outside Brazil: apply directly to the Brazilian consulate in your country of origin;
• If you're already in Brazil: go to a Receita Federal, Correios or Banco do Brasil office with a valid passport.

A CLM Controller can help with the whole process of applying for and regularizing your CPF.

2.Applying for a Work Permit (Visa or Residence)

This is the stage most important. The company must request it, in advance, a Residence Permit for Work Purposes with the Ministry of Labor and the Federal Court.

This request is made on the portal:

https://migrante.mj.gov.br/login

Who requests it:

A contracting company in Brazil.

Documents required:

• The company's electronic form;
• Copy of employment contract or offer of employment;
• The company's technical justification for hiring the foreigner;
• Copy of the foreign professional's personal documents (passport, CV, diplomas);
• Proof of CNPJ registration;
• Proof of the company's good standing and tax compliance.

In some cases, such as intra-company transfers or visas for directors/partners, specific documents are required.

After approval:

• If the foreigner is outside Brazilhe requests the visa at the brazilian consulate from their country and travel with a visa already issued;
• If the foreigner already in Brazil (for example, as a tourist or resident), the process is concluded with the regularization of migratory residence directly in Brazil.

Important: never hire before the authorization is in force. This is illegal and can lead to penalties for the company.

3. entry into Brazil and issuance of the RNM (National Migratory Registration)

After obtaining the authorization and visa, the foreigner enters Brazil and has to up to 90 days in order to register with the Federal Police and obtain your license:

📄 RNM (National Migratory Register) - document that replaces the old RNE (National Register of Foreigners).

This registration formalizes residence and provides a unique identification number in the country.

4.Issuing the Digital Work Permit

With a valid CPF, RNM and visa, foreigners can now be formally employed with a formal contract, just like any other worker.

The work card (CTPS) is now digital, issued automatically as soon as the employment relationship is registered with eSocial.

How to register:

1. Access eSocial system with a digital certificate;
2. Enter the worker's details, including:

• Full name;
• Nationality;
• CPF;
• MRI number;
• Date of admission;
• Salary and position;
• Type of contract.

1. The system generates the digital CTPS automatically;
2. Employees can access their portfolio via the app “Digital Work Permit".

5. mandatory documentation for registration

The company must keep the following documents on file:

• Passport with work visa (if applicable);
• RNM or regularization protocol;
• CPF;
• Digital Work Permit (generated by the system);
• Signed employment contract;
• Proof of residence;
• Diplomas or certificates (with sworn translation if necessary);
• Declaration of the employee's awareness of Brazilian legislation.

These documents must be available for inspection by the Ministry of Labor, the IRS or the Labor Court.

6. foreigners' labor rights

Once hired, the foreigner has the same rights as any Brazilian worker, according to the Consolidation of Labor Laws (CLT).

The company must guarantee:

• Salary according to floor or collective agreement;
• Annual leave;
• 13th salary;
• FGTS;
• INSS;
• Transport vouchers, meal vouchers (where applicable);
• Termination according to CLT rules;
• Time recording, when required.

There is no such thing as a “half contract” for foreigners. All labor legislation is applied fully.

7 Quotas and legal restrictions

A CLT provides, in art. 352, which private companies should at least maintain:

• 2/3 of its Brazilian employees, both in terms of the number of employees and the value of the payroll.

This rule can be relaxed by collective agreements or by special authorization, but it is still taken into account in labor audits.

Attention: Companies that intend to hire several foreigners should plan well, especially in labor-intensive sectors.

CLM Controller takes care of everything for you

Hiring a foreign professional may seem complicated, but with the right support, your company can take advantage of this opportunity safely and in full legal compliance.

A CLM Controller Accounting offers complete accounting solutions for hiring foreigners in Brazil, and taking care of the whole process:

• Obtaining a CPF
• Applying for a residence permit and visa
• eSocial registration and digital CTPS issuance
• Support with documentation, translations, deadlines and obligations
• Integration with payroll, charges and benefits

We have experience with multinationals, startups, technology companies and international groups, offering legal certainty and speed in the regularization process.

Conclusion

Yes, foreigners can be hired in Brazil, but hiring requires attention to legal, migration and labor requirements.

Every step, from obtaining a visa to registering, must be followed to the letter to avoid fines, legal problems or even the nullity of the contract.

If your company has identified a foreign talent and wants to bring them to work here, don't waste time or take risks with bureaucracy.

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