Work Visa for Foreign Teachers, Researchers and Scientists in Brazil
Working as a foreigner in Brazil requires a work permit and work visa. Find out where and how to acquire both of them if you're a teacher, researcher and scientist.
In Brazil, Law 6815 of August 19, 1980, provides general standards and guidelines to the legal status of a foreign individual in the country, including the practice of economic activities. According to the Ministry of Labor and Employment and the Ministry of Foreign Relations, a foreigner who decides to work in Brazil needs an authorization in two ways:
- an authorization to work
- an authorization to stay in Brazil while working
Both types of authorizations are conceded by Brazilian ministries.
Work Authorization
In order to work in Brazil, the foreigner must acquire a work permit, a document issued by the Ministry of Labor and Employment. The work authorization for foreigners is temporary and may last up to 2 years. There are different documents required depending on the area where the foreigner will work, however for teachers, researchers and scientists, the documents are the same.
The legal entity interested in hiring a foreigner worker – temporarily or permanently – must request a work permit from the CGIg. CGIg is the Coordenação-Geral de Imigração do Ministério do Trabalho e Emprego, which is the Ministry of Work and Employment organization responsible for foreigners work permits.
Work Visas in Brazil
Being a mandatory federal authorization, the visa enables the entrance of a foreigner to Brazil generally for a specific period of time according to the purpose of the travel. To perform teaching or researching activities in public or private institutions, educational or scientific and technological research, the individual is required to obtain a work visa. The work visa can be conceded in two forms:
- temporary visa: in case of performing activity for up to two years.
- permanent visa: in case of performing activities for more than two years, only for workers of universities, or research institutes/institutions.
If the work permit was granted to the foreigner, the Ministry of Labor will forward the permit to the Foreign Relations Ministry, whose responsibility is to contact the Brazilian Embassy who in turn grants the visa to the worker.
Documents Required for Both Process
The required documentation for acquiring a work permit and visa for foreign teachers, researchers and scientists are:
- Work permit application form, in Portuguese named Formulário de Requerimento de Autorização de Trabalho.
- Legal registration of the company, duly registered in a board of trade or in a notary office. In case of presenting copies, they must be notarized.
- Document of election or nomination of the legal representative of the applicant institutions, duly registered in a board of trade, or in the office of the civil clerk or in the Federal Official Gazette.
- Copy of the CNPJ's card.
- Power of attorney by public instrument or with a notarized signature, only for cases in which the applicant is represented by an attorney, must be notarized
- GRU – proof of payment of the individual tax of immigration for the foreigners and for each legal dependent (in the cost of BRL 16, 93 by person).
- Copy of the identification page of the foreign passport. It must contain the number, name, birth date, nationality and photography, and it doesn't need to be notarized.
- Proof of minimum qualification.
- Qualification and professional experience, which must be compatible to the activity that will be performed.
In the case of applying for a temporary visa, it’s necessary to present the employment agreement valid for up to two years, duly signed by all parties involved. For a permanent visa, it’s necessary to present the employment agreement for an undetermined period, duly registered by all parts.