Features of emigration to Brazil from Russia

What is life like in Brazil

The Federative Republic of Brazil is not only the largest state in South America, but also one of the largest states in the world in terms of area (8,515,770 km²), ranking fifth in this indicator. Its population is 212,804,996 (2021 census). In terms of population, Brazil is also in fifth place in the world and first among Latin American countries. In 2021, the Republic is the economic leader among Latin American countries (GDP per capita at the end of 2021 is $11,281 - 65th place in the world).

Despite its relatively high economic performance, Brazil is a developing country. It lags significantly behind world leaders in terms of living standards - the United States of America, the countries of the European Union, Canada, the Commonwealth of Australia, and New Zealand. But the relatively low level of income of the population of Brazil is compensated by the rather cheap life in this state. It is the low cost of living that attracts numerous migrants, including from Russia, to move to this country. In addition, in Brazil you can buy real estate relatively inexpensively not only in the country’s megacities, but also in some paradise on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean.

In Brazil, you can buy real estate relatively inexpensively in some paradise on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean

Life of Russians in Brazil

Brazil has never been considered one of the main destinations for immigration traffic from Russia and its predecessors, the Soviet Union and the Russian Empire. However, most ethnic Russians living in Brazilian territory today immigrated to the country during a time of turmoil in their homeland. First of all, these are the times of the Civil War and the first terrible famine years after it. The second wave of Russian immigrants flooded onto the Brazilian coast after the end of World War II.

Today, ethnic Russians make up an extremely small percentage of the country's total population. No one has thoroughly studied this issue, but experts believe that approximately 35 thousand Russian emigrants currently live in Brazil. Most of them chose to live in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, as well as other large cities in the country. For example, in Sao Paulo in 2021 there are six Russian Orthodox churches.

The recent 2021 census did not include ethnicity or nationality in the item. The Brazilian government did not set out to thoroughly study the ethnic composition of the population of its country, so today there is simply no official data on the number of Russians living in the Federative Republic of Brazil.

The social stratification of Brazilian society is enormous. About 5% of the population can be classified as oligarchs and simply very rich people; no one can calculate their profits, since most of the money comes from the shadow economy, which is very developed in Brazil. A third of the country's population is middle class, which includes about 70 million Brazilians. These people are considered quite wealthy; they can buy good real estate, cars, and open and develop their own business. The remaining 65% of Brazilians can safely be classified as the poor class, saving pennies on purchasing food, good clothes, educating children, and so on. But a characteristic feature of the mentality of the Brazilian poor is that they consider education simply a waste of money and time. In addition, they cannot be called hardworking. Brazil's poor are accustomed to living with the bare minimum. There is a high crime rate among Brazil's poor class; its members are part of numerous gangs involved in outright robbery and drug trafficking.

Many Russians used Brazil as a springboard to move to Portugal. For several centuries in a row (from 1500 to 1822), Brazil was a Portuguese colony. Today, Brazilian citizens have priority rights to immigrate to the former metropolis and obtain citizenship.

Today, immigration from Russia to Brazil has noticeably picked up. Russians travel to this country for various reasons. A person of average income in Russia will be considered quite wealthy in Brazil. The cheapness of food and most of life's amenities makes life in Brazil quite comfortable for people with average incomes.

Video: interesting facts about the country

Brazil permanent residence

Brazil is the largest country in South America and, with excellent prospects, is quite popular among immigrants today. This is a country of great opportunity - it has mineral resources, a rich natural world, diverse climates, but most importantly, smart and forward-thinking politicians who know how to take advantage of all its advantages and develop the country.

Brazil is actively fighting poverty and helping its population - the country has many socio-economic programs aimed at developing individual states and helping people from different social classes. Thanks to these programs, more than 20 million Brazilians have lifted themselves out of poverty over the past ten years.

The increase in the number of immigrants in Brazil is facilitated by its favorable government policies. In order to obtain permanent residence in this country, there are several quite accessible ways. The most popular is moving under the official immigration program. Its essence is that a visitor is obliged to invest about 70 thousand dollars, which he brought with him from abroad, into his business in Brazil.

This business can be acquired or created by him. In this case, the foreigner receives a residence permit from the Brazilian Embassy for a period of three years, which can subsequently be extended. It is not for nothing that this program is present in the country’s politics - after all, it is an investment program and replenishes its treasury.

Favorable government policies are helping to increase the number of immigrants in Brazil

A specific way is to transfer your pension to this country. In this case, if you have documentary evidence that you will receive at least 2 thousand dollars from abroad every month for expenses for yourself and a maximum of two dependents, you have the right to move to Brazil.

Another option is to marry a Brazilian citizen. Also, the law may issue you a visa for 5 years if you purchase real estate in Brazil. But with such a visa, your time in the country will be limited to 6 months a year. Real estate in this country is quite affordable - its price is below the European level and amounts to only 200 - 600 dollars per square meter.

So if you decide to move to Brazil, the legislation of this country provides you with several fairly realistic options. All you have to do is choose the one that suits you and pack your things for the trip.

Benefits of Immigration to Brazil

The main advantage of Brazil can be safely considered its nature. This country is very beautiful, its entire territory is located in a comfortable climate zone, where there is summer 365 days a year, beautiful Atlantic beaches, a sea of ​​fruits and vegetables. In Brazil, you can safely engage in physical exercise in the fresh air all year round; the food diet is maximally filled with environmentally friendly products. Therefore, the opportunity to lead a healthy lifestyle is a serious advantage when immigrating to Brazil. The cheapness of life (real estate, food, services) has already been mentioned above. In addition, a comfortable climate allows you to save on heating, avoid purchasing seasonal clothing, install energy-saving windows, and so on.

One of the advantages of living in Brazil is the loyal tax policy of the Brazilian authorities. On the one hand, this allows you to freely register and develop your business without worrying about endless checks and new requirements that arise every day, on the other hand, it leads to the omnipotence of the shadow economy.

Brazilians are generally cheerful and friendly. People are not divided here based on nationality or skin color. That is why in Brazil there are no racial and national conflicts, discrimination, and so on. Brazilian cities have a well-developed infrastructure. You can purchase either a separate cottage or an apartment in a multi-storey building. Moreover, most modern houses are equipped with convenient parking lots and underground garages.

Transport in Brazil is very cheap. You can endlessly travel around the country without having large savings.

Copacabana in Rio is considered the largest beach in the world

General information. First steps

To eliminate false ideas in your head, you need to avoid information from advertising, and, for example, read reviews.

Since selecting a state for immigration and permanent residence is a serious matter. When all the theory is collected, you can go to the land of dreams yourself. But there is nothing complicated about this, since there is no visa requirement for Russian travelers to enter Brazil. The main thing is to include knowledge in addition to relaxation as the purpose of travel - “trying on” the state for yourself. Study how people with the same income level live, visit all areas - both prosperous and disadvantaged, purchase a food basket in local supermarkets, travel on municipal transport.

Communication with the indigenous population will help form an objective picture of the standard of living in Brazil. Despite the fact that their roots come from the European part, today's Brazilians are still the result of mixing different ethnic groups. The specifics of local culture are often obscure and pleasant to foreigners. To conduct conversations you will have to learn Portuguese. International English is not in demand far from tourist areas.

Disadvantages of Immigration to Brazil

The main and most striking disadvantage of immigration to Brazil is the high crime rate in the country. Some areas and neighborhoods of Brazilian cities are closed to foreigners who have a sense of self-preservation. Poor neighborhoods in Brazilian metropolises are often echoed by police sirens, and police enter these areas fully armed and in bulletproof vests, sometimes even in armored vehicles. This is a separate world, which is practically not controlled by the Brazilian authorities. This is why the influence of crime families in Brazil is so great.

The next disadvantage will be the many dangerous animals and plants. For example, having bought a dacha somewhere on the outskirts of Sao Paulo, you can accidentally step on the tail of a huge python basking in the sun somewhere near the garage. Going out onto the veranda, you can meet a huge bat that can easily cope with a domestic cat.

It is worth mentioning the low level of Brazilian medicine. It is completely free for Brazilian citizens and legal residents of Brazil. But its level cannot even be compared with medical care in Russia. Immigrants believe that going to a public Brazilian clinic means receiving virtually no qualified medical care. Therefore, Russian immigrants try to go to private clinics, where highly professional specialists work, usually from abroad.

And, of course, one cannot help but dwell on the relatively low level of wages in the country. The Brazilian labor market is overflowing with offers from candidates from countries neighboring Brazil, which greatly “knock down” the level of wages in almost all sectors of the economy. In addition, the country has a high unemployment rate, exceeding 11% (2017).

Brazilian police walk through poor neighborhoods fully armed

Disadvantages of emigration

The main disadvantage of immigration to Brazil is the large social contrasts. In this country, it is very difficult to identify the middle class, and the majority of it is represented only in the provincial towns of the south and southeast.

But the reality is that for the majority of the country’s residents, business and career opportunities are available in megacities, and there, even if you have an above-average income, you will have to deal with various unpleasant aspects in one way or another: vagabonds, drugs, crime.

There is little trust in free medicine in Brazil, although doctors have good salaries. Often people turn to paid medical institutions, which are more expensive than in Russia. True, if you have a good job, it is possible to obtain high-quality health insurance for the whole family. But this, unfortunately, is not available to many.

What are the difficulties?

The style of doing business and the local mentality are factors that can significantly complicate the process of living in Brazil for foreigners who come here to work or develop their business. To this should be added a thriving bureaucracy.

It is also worth paying attention to the following point: in Brazil no one is especially welcome. Immigrants are treated well in the country, but most employers prefer to avoid the possibility of encountering bureaucratic issues related to hiring foreign citizens on a work visa.

Foreigners with a residence permit due to marriage are a different matter, however, there are many pitfalls here too.

When analyzing the possibility of emigrating to Brazil, it is necessary to analyze this process down to the smallest nuances, but in this case it would be optimal to live in this country for at least three months and try to accomplish some practical things. Thanks to the visa-free regime, this is easy to do.

Common methods of relocation for Russian citizens

Brazil's immigration policy can easily be called loyal. When a Russian plans to visit Brazil, he can do so without a visa. In 2010, this country abolished visas for Russians, provided that citizens of the Russian Federation will stay no more than three months out of six months on its territory . The immigration policy of the Republic today is based on the principles of attracting highly qualified specialists, investors, scientists, and artists into the economy.

There are many possibilities for immigration to the Federative Republic of Brazil from the Russian Federation. To immigrate to Brazil, you will need to obtain a document allowing legal residence in Brazilian territory. Initially, this will be a visa permit, followed by a residence permit. With each immigration method, moving to this state will take place according to different scenarios. Therefore, at the decision-making stage, you should choose the optimal path and take into account all the criteria that the future immigrant must meet.

Residents of Moscow find it awkward to talk about traffic jams, and Moscow is usually in the lead among the world's top three traffic jam winners. But who are the neighbors? Rio and Sao Paulo! It takes forty minutes to drive two to three kilometers, and it takes two hours to drive from one part of the city to another. Rio residents rank first in the world in terms of the amount of time spent in public transport. And this is very, very bad.

Alexey Melnikov

https://www.gazeta.ru/lifestyle/travel/2014/03/07_e_5939109.shtml

Employment

To work in Brazil, you must have an invitation from a Brazilian employer and a valid contract with the employee. Based on these documents, a two-year work visa is issued (it can be extended for the same period).

It should be said that Brazilian employers are in no hurry to hire foreign specialists. There are two reasons for this. Firstly, Brazilian labor legislation provides for the priority right to hire Brazilian citizens, as well as candidates from neighboring Latin American countries, with which Brazil has concluded relevant agreements on preferential employment conditions for their citizens. Secondly, when hiring in Brazil, paradoxically, a specialist’s qualifications, resume and work experience do not always have an advantage. Nepotism and protectionism are common in Brazil. Therefore, Brazilian employers are more likely to employ their compatriot, for whom their relatives or friends asked, rather than a much more highly qualified specialist from abroad.

If for some reason the required specialist is not found, then in this case the Brazilian employer has the full right to conclude an employment contract with a foreign specialist, in particular from Russia.

Foreign specialists are most in demand in the following sectors of the Brazilian economy:

• private medicine;
• higher education system (university teachers with academic degrees);
• oil and gas production;
• mining industry;
• forestry;
• automotive industry;
• the field of computer technology;
• aviation.

The official language of Brazil is Portuguese. In fact, more than 90% of the country's residents communicate on it. Spanish is also used and is understood by most Brazilians. English is not widely spoken in Brazil. The need to speak Portuguese, which is not one of the most widely spoken languages ​​in the world, is often a barrier to getting a job in Brazil. There is no official requirement for foreign specialists to speak Portuguese. But its practical everyday use forces Brazilian employers to prioritize the candidates of those foreign specialists who know it.

Video: life in Brazil

https://youtube.com/watch?v=hyS1B7t5E-E

Getting an education

You can move to Brazil by becoming a student at one of the country's higher educational institutions. Brazil has the Bologna system. It is possible to enroll in Brazilian universities remotely or in person, while in the country under the right of visa-free stay. Most Brazilian public higher education institutions accept students based on an interview. If a Russian student is enrolled as a full-time student, a training contract is signed with him and, in addition, an invitation is issued. Based on these documents, a student visa is opened for a foreign student and then a residence permit is issued.

Yeah... For some reason, Belarus begs to be spoken of, it’s probably more consonant, then China, and only after that do you realize that you’re in Brazil... The country, of course, is interesting. But for me personally, this is not a country to live in. In no case. Almost everywhere, and especially on the coast, in Brazil you can feel some kind of accelerated and expressive-nervous rhythm of life. There are many residents, and everyone wants to have a place in the sun. If something is given somewhere, tens of thousands of people immediately flock there. Moreover, no one will give up even an inch of their interests. He won’t move and won’t apologize if he crushed your legs in the crush. That's how it is done here.

jung-le

https://reports.travel.ru/letters/2012/03/198700.html

Marriage to a Brazilian citizen

Marriage with Brazilian nationals is an expedited method of immigration. As already mentioned, Russians have the right to visa-free entry into the country. Therefore, you can come to Brazil without a visa to get married. It is likely that the marriage may take place abroad. But in this situation, the marriage certificate will need to be legalized in accordance with Brazilian laws. A spouse with foreign citizenship based on a marriage certificate immediately receives four-year permanent resident status. If during this period the marriage proves its worth, then you can begin the procedure for obtaining Brazilian citizenship. Divorce completely eliminates all rights of a foreign ex-spouse to naturalization in this country.

Marrying a Brazilian citizen is an expedited way to immigrate

Family reunification

It is possible to move to Brazil under the family reunification immigration program. But in this case, it is required that close relatives live in Brazil, and in the status of its citizens. Brazilian immigration laws define close relatives as parents, children, blood siblings, and grandparents. Brazilian relatives must issue appropriate invitations and register them with the country's immigration service. Based on the invitation, a residence permit is requested. According to it, you can legally reside in Brazil for four years, after which you can apply for permanent residence, and after another four years - Brazilian citizenship. When using the family reunification immigration program, you must have documentary evidence of family ties with the inviting Brazilian relatives.

In this action there is no division into ARTISTS and SPECTATORS. In everyone - whether he is a respectable clerk, a father of a family or a tourist, far from Brazilian culture - INSTINCTS AWAKEN, the existence of which no one even suspected. This is CARNIVAL, which takes place in February before Lent. Researchers of Brazilian cultural traditions believe that the beginning of the carnival in Rio de Janeiro, and throughout Brazil, was marked by the Funny Day that came from Portugal, when everyone fooled each other, doused each other with water, sprinkled them with flour or sand, and stained them with chalk and charcoal.

Nikolai

https://sanpaulo.info/otzyvy-i-istorii-turistov/

Investments in the economy

To immigrate to Brazil, foreign investors must invest a minimum of R$150,000 in the country's economy. Initially, an investor visa is issued, which is valid for 12 months. If the invested funds continue to work in the Brazilian economy, then a residence permit can be applied for. Funds can be invested in the development of one of the sectors of the economy, research and development, or government securities. When applying for a residence permit, confirmation from the country's Ministry of Planning, Budget and Management will be required that the funds invested continue to operate effectively.

1 Brazilian real is equal to 0.27 US dollars.

Business immigration

For business immigration, it is necessary to submit to the above-mentioned Ministry a business plan, which, among other things, involves the creation of 10 jobs for Brazilian citizens. You can register your own company, but only its director and members of his family have the right to obtain a residence permit. As we see, in this case the owner of the business must also be its official manager. 10 jobs must be created during the first year of the company's operation. During this period, a foreign businessman can reside in Brazil on a business visa. To obtain it, you will need to contact the country's immigration service with an approved business plan and an invitation from the Ministry of Planning, Budget and Management of Brazil. A year later, representatives of the Ministry conduct an audit of the company’s activities, based on the results of which an appropriate conclusion is issued on its effectiveness. If the conclusion is positive, then it will serve as one of the grounds for granting resident status.

It is necessary that capital equivalent to that required for immigration by investment be invested in business development (working capital, fixed assets, etc.). If the amount exceeds 600 thousand reais, then you can do without creating 10 jobs.

To immigrate to Brazil, foreign investors or business owners must invest at least 150 thousand reais in the country's economy

Retire to Brazil

Brazil has an immigration program under which foreign pensioners can become residents of the country if their monthly income exceeds 6 thousand Brazilian reals (just over 1,600 US dollars). In this case, it is necessary to document that the income is obtained from legal sources and is constant. Foreign pensioners initially receive a special pension visa.

Brazil welcomes the influx of funds from abroad. The main pensioner applicant has the right to bring his family members with him to Brazil. The amount indicated above is enough for a decent life for a pensioner and his two household members. Therefore, in this case we are talking about moving a maximum of three people. If the pensioner’s family is larger, then in this case proof of greater financial solvency will be required (plus one thousand dollars for each person not included in the specified limit of three people). A pension visa does not give the right to work. Therefore, it is a priori assumed that the pensioner’s family members will initially live in Brazil at his expense. A pension visa is issued for four years at once, but after six months its holder and his family members have the right to obtain a residence permit. Citizenship will become available to them after four years of residence in Brazil as permanent residents.

Retired life in Brazil is a dream for many

Documents and methods for obtaining permanent residence in Brazil

Brazilian immigration law provides for the issuance of long-term residence permits called Visto permanente (VIPER). This type of visa provides permission for permanent residence.

Obtaining VIPER and moving to Brazil for permanent residence is possible for the following categories of citizens:

• for persons planning to move for the purpose of family reunification: for this it is necessary to submit documents indicating close family ties. A relative in Brazil must present a copy of their passport or ID, as well as a written undertaking to provide the visitor with housing and financial support;

Brazilian migration legislation provides for the issuance of long-term residence permits called Visto permanente VIPER

• for representatives of religious and spiritual communities: the requirements and procedure for preparing documents for them are similar to applying for a VITEM-VII visa;
• another option on how to leave Russia for permanent residence in Brazil is intended for investors planning to invest existing funds in an existing business or opening a new one;
• for executives in international companies who are transferred to work in Brazilian branches due to organizational and production needs. For highly qualified specialists in demand in the country;
• Obtaining permanent residence in Brazil for Russians and Ukrainians is also possible in case of marriage or a stable union with a Brazilian. After marriage, migration services check whether the union is real or fictitious. If information is confirmed that the marriage is real, a year after the wedding the newlyweds can obtain permanent residence;
• When talking about how to move for permanent residence to Brazil from Russia and other CIS countries, you should also take into account the option intended for older people. Brazil is opening its borders to retirees whose monthly income is at least $2,000. Moreover, they can immigrate together with two dependents, each of whom will need an additional 2,000 reais ($635) per month.

Representatives of categories 1, 6, 7 must apply for permanent residence on their own. Preparation of permission to obtain permanent residence for categories 2, 3, 4, 5 is carried out with the assistance of the Brazilian side.

To obtain a permanent residence permit in Brazil, you must prepare the following documents:

• international passport;
• completed online visa application form 2021;
• 1 color photograph 50x50 mm; document confirming financial solvency;
• document confirming marital status (marriage or divorce certificate);
• certificate of good conduct (for persons over 18 years of age);
• a document confirming the availability of housing in the country (purchase of real estate or long-term lease agreement).

If you plan to move to Brazil outside of Brazil, you must collect all the required documents and contact the consular department of the Brazilian Embassy in your country

Oddly enough, the most time-consuming document preparation process is a certificate of no criminal record – it takes up to a month to complete independently. If you do not have such a deadline, you can apply for a Certificate of No Criminal Record here, you can get it in 1 day, absolutely legally. Specialists will also help you legalize the document for Brazil, if necessary.

If you are planning to move to Brazil outside of Brazil, you must collect all the required documents and contact the consular section of the Brazilian Embassy in your country. You can also contact the consulate of a country of which you are not a citizen, but in this case you must present documents confirming your legal presence on its territory. The decision to issue a permanent visa is usually made within 10 days.

The relocation procedure should be completed in Brazil, where within 30 days of arrival you must contact the local Federal Police department to obtain a foreigner registration number. You should also apply here if you are going to apply for permanent residence while already in Brazil. 40 days after submitting the documents, you will be issued a foreigner card with a registration number.

Main stages of immigration for Russians

Immigration to Brazil, like any other country in the world, occurs in stages. In 2021, several changes were made to Brazilian immigration laws, making immigration to this country even easier. In particular, foreign citizens who have grounds for this can submit applications for obtaining the status of a temporary resident of the country not only directly on the territory of Brazil to its immigration service, but also at the country's diplomatic missions abroad.

Obtaining a visa

Russian citizens planning to become immigrants in Brazil must first obtain a visa. Of course, you can come to the country as a tourist or on a short-term private visit without a visa, but you can legally stay for a long time by applying for a visa of the type corresponding to the purpose of your stay. This could be a work, student, pension, investor, business visa, etc., as already mentioned above. Foreign spouses can immediately apply for permanent residence without applying for any visas. The validity period of each visa is different. Russians can obtain a visa at the diplomatic mission of Brazil in the Russian Federation, visa centers in the regions, or directly on the territory of Brazil during the period of visa-free stay. To obtain a visa, you will need grounds in the form of a contract for work, study, invitations from close relatives, and so on.

When leaving for Brazil, be sure to find out what voltage the outlet will be at your destination. Because it is different everywhere. In the south of Brazil, under European influence, 220 volts is the main one. In other regions of Brazil you can find: 115V, 120V, 230V, 254V, 440V, etc. And you also need adapters, because the sockets here are now of a different type. At first I couldn’t use my super-cool professional hairdryer from Ukraine for both reasons.

Esmys

https://pikabu.ru/story/povsednevnaya_zhizn_v_brazilii_chast_1_zhile_4761556

Obtaining a residence permit

Foreigners, as a rule, will be able to obtain a residence permit after at least six months of staying in Brazil on a visa. The six-month period is not critical, so you can start applying for a residence permit later. For example, for foreign businessmen or investors, as a basis for issuing a residence permit, they will need an expert opinion from government agencies on the effectiveness of the business, which can only be obtained after a year of the company’s activity or investment in the Brazilian economy.

When obtaining a residence permit, you will need to undergo a fingerprinting procedure. With further naturalization, fingerprint data will already be in the information system of the immigration service. The procedure for submitting fingerprints takes place at the representative office of this service, which is located at almost every police station in the country. The process only takes a minute or two and is completely painless. Modern electronic fingerprinting equipment is used, so there is no need to smear your fingers with special paint.

Obtaining permanent residence

You can obtain permanent residence after four years of living as a temporary resident (with a residence permit). The status of permanent resident in many ways equates its holder to a citizen of Brazil, with the exception of the right to vote. To obtain permanent residence, you must have your own or rented housing in Brazil, a job or an existing business, and also pass an integration test and a test of knowledge of the Portuguese language.

Obtaining citizenship

You can become a Brazilian citizen after four years of living as a permanent resident. This is the minimum period; you can apply for citizenship later. Persons with foreign citizenship who have lived legally in Brazil for more than 15 years are entitled to automatically obtain Brazilian citizenship.

Foreigners who, during their legal stay in Brazil, committed crimes and were convicted of them (with the conviction not expunged), as well as violators of the country’s immigration laws, will not be able to obtain citizenship.

Brazilian passport could be second as dual citizenship is allowed in the country

Brazil allows its citizens to have a second citizenship. All issues related to the assignment of citizenship are decided by the Brazilian Ministry of Justice.

Children born on Brazilian territory have an automatic right to citizenship of that country.

Citizenship may also be granted to a foreigner for outstanding services to the Federative Republic of Brazil.

My friend left for Brazil back in 2001. To be honest, I went at my own peril and risk, having no relatives, no friends, or just acquaintances in this country. A man with an adventurous personality was able to find himself in a new life overseas. Today Denis (that’s my friend’s name) is a successful businessman, has his own business and became a Brazilian citizen a long time ago. Denis has owned a chain of clothing stores in the Brazilian city of one million people, Recife, for several years. Talking about life in Brazil during his visit to his homeland, Denis did not mince words and colorful descriptions. The first thing that struck him was the mentality of native Brazilians. According to him, they are extremely relaxed, sometimes the lack of complexes in communication generally borders on familiarity. But at the same time everyone is friendly and peaceful. During the day, Brazilian cities are safe, but at night, even in the center, there is a possibility of risking not only your wallet, but also your life. The police are armed, almost all the police have machine guns and a considerable supply of ammunition. At first it is surprising and alarming, but over time you get used to it. Criminal wars and murders have become commonplace, especially on the outskirts of the city. Representatives of the middle class, not to mention wealthy Brazilians, and representatives of the poorest strata of the population, of which there is simply an incredible number, live as if in different worlds, with virtually no contact within the same reality. Appalling poverty borders on incredible luxury, but even if they are neighbors, the owners of palaces and slums cannot always know each other by sight.

Pros and cons of emigrating from Russia to Brazil

The standard of living in Brazil is much lower than in Western Europe. Although this is the largest and most developed state in South America, about 65% of the population live so poorly that they even save on the education of their children.

But thanks to the eternal summer and cheap natural food, life in Brazil is quite comfortable. Let's consider all the advantages and disadvantages of moving to this country.

Pros of living in Brazil:

1. Tropical climate and everything that follows from this: there is no need to insulate the living space, buy warm clothes for yourself and winter tires for the wheels; there is no corrosion on the car caused by reagents on the roads; there is no vitamin deficiency and winter blues, thanks to the abundance of cheap fruits and vegetables.
2. Excellent ecology and magnificent natural landscape with many beaches, nature reserves and waterfalls. You can engage in extreme sports.
3. All food products in this country are of high quality and low price.
4. Free medical care.
5. Free education (including higher education) and a large number of private schools. At the same time, higher education is of a fairly high level.
6. Unlike the countries of the European Union and the United States, diplomas from Russian universities are highly valued in Brazil.
7. Possibility of obtaining permanent residence through naturalization after four years of legal residence in the country.
8. The prospect of starting your own business in many areas of business.
9. No racism.
10. A developed system of social assistance from the state for different categories of people: pensioners, disabled people and parents with many children.
11. An excellent opportunity for domestic tourism. For residents of this country, flights across the continent are cheap.
12. Lack of bureaucracy typical of the former republics of the Soviet Union (registration and registration at the place of residence).

Disadvantages of living in Brazil:

1. Low wages. The average salary ranges from $700 to $1,300 depending on the region. Another unpleasant fact is that women earn about 30% less than men for the same job.
2. It is difficult to get a well-paid job, since it is not customary to hire workers from “outside”; family ties and nepotism are valued here. Qualifications or work experience are not particularly important for employers here - you need to be a highly sought-after qualified specialist for employment. To successfully get a job in Brazil, it is necessary to have a high level of knowledge of Portuguese or English.
3. In the big cities of Brazil, there are high real estate prices (both buying and renting) and a high cost of living, incommensurate with salaries. For example, living in Rio is more expensive than in Moscow.
4. Despite the fact that real estate here is much cheaper compared to North America and Europe, the post-purchase tax for foreigners is four times higher than for Brazilians. Therefore, in this country it is profitable to obtain citizenship after just a few years of residence.
5. High crime rate. Even during the day it is dangerous in the slums, especially for people of European appearance.
6. Free medicine is of low quality, and the services of good paid clinics and hospitals are expensive.
7. Free secondary education is not of a very high level. Most Brazilians send their children to private schools.
8. Not everyone is suited to the constant heat and tropical climate.
9. A large number of various living creatures: toads, spiders, lizards, ants that crawl into houses.
10. Moving to Brazil for permanent residence is quite difficult due to strict immigration laws. The surest way is to become an investor, but doing so is very expensive. Read about this and other ways to move to the country below.

In general, the pros and cons of living in Brazil are the same as in all Latin American countries. And before moving there for good, it’s better to spend several months there as a tourist, to see how compatriots live in Brazil.

This is not difficult to do, because Russians can live in the republic for 90 days without the need for a visa .

Note. In a metropolis, you can rent a one-room apartment in a residential area for 500-600 US dollars.

Required documents

When a Russian citizen or Russian woman receives a residence permit, the following documents will be required:

• application form for obtaining a residence permit;
• two photos 3.5*4.5 cm;
• international passport;
• passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation;
• birth certificate;
• document on marital status;
• confirmation of a sufficient level of income (minimum 6 thousand reais);
• certificate of no criminal record in your home country;
• motivation letter in free form.

We have provided information about the basic package, but usually additional documents are required, for example, a pension certificate for pensioners or the consent of an absent parent when obtaining a residence permit for a minor.

All documents are submitted translated into Portuguese. Documents that are originally in English will also need to be translated and properly certified by a notary or translation agency.

A certificate of good conduct in your home country is a required document when requesting a residence permit in Brazil

Emigration methods

According to many experts, the Fed's immigration policy is quite strict. In fact, there are only three ways for legalization:

• Business emigration. Quite inexpensive method compared to other countries. You will need an amount of at least 50 thousand US dollars: you can use it to open your own business or make a contribution to an existing business.
• Family reunification: children coming to their parents or a Russian moving to his spouse, a Brazilian citizen. You can obtain citizenship on this basis by living in the country without leaving the country for four years.

If a citizen of the Russian Federation gets married, she is automatically issued a residence permit for a period of 4 years; after these years, if the marriage has confirmed its validity, the emigrant can obtain citizenship.

• A foreigner who is able to document that one of his parents is a Brazilian citizen can obtain citizenship by simply submitting an appropriate application to the immigration service of the republic.

How to get a residence permit in Brazil in 2021

A residence permit in Brazil can be obtained in several ways:

• by marrying a Brazilian citizen;
• having given birth to a child in the country;
• finding yourself a refugee from countries experiencing hostilities;
• having received a work visa;
• having received a permanent visa (when investing in the Brazilian economy);
• if there are relatives who are Brazilian citizens.

To obtain a residence permit, a foreigner must have a permanent visa issued in accordance with the requirements of Brazilian legislation with a period of residence.