Obtaining short-term technical visas in Brazil for short-term foreign workers has just become easier. On April 23, 2013, the Brazilian National Immigration Council issued Normative Resolution No. 100 (the “Resolution”), which brought changes to 90-day technical visa applications. Brazilian companies that need short-term foreign workers to provide technical services and transfer of technical knowledge and foreign companies with assignments in Brazil will benefit from the new streamlined procedure. The new rule entered into force on May 9, 2013.
Temporary Technical Visas
According to Law No. 6.815/1980, foreigners need to obtain a
visa in order to enter and remain in Brazil, unless it is dispensed
with by agreement between the Brazilian government and the
foreigner’s country of origin. The issuance, renewal or
transformation of any kind of visa is conditional upon
Brazil’s national interest.
A foreign individual who intends to work in Brazil on a temporary
basis under a technology transfer or technical assistance contract
between a foreign company and a Brazilian company must obtain a
temporary visa and a work permit. Administrative, financial and
managerial activities are not considered to be technical
assistance.
As a general rule, technical visas and work permits are requested
by the host Brazilian company to the Brazilian Ministry of Labour
through the National Immigration Council. Uncontested work permit
applications are usually processed between 30-45 days and visa
authorizations are forwarded to the Brazilian consular post having
jurisdiction over the applicant’s country of citizenship or
place of legal residence.
In addition, several documents must be provided with the visa
application, including: corporate documents of the Brazilian
company, the technology transfer or technical assistance agreement
between the Brazilian company and the foreign company and proof
that the applicant has at least three years of professional
experience in the services to be rendered in Brazil.
Technical visas are valid for one year and are renewable for an
additional year, subject to proof of necessity, and cannot be
transformed into permanent visas.
Changes to 90-day Technical Visas
If the technical services are to be rendered within a short
period of time (up to 90 days), the new Resolution provides that
the visa must be requested directly to the Brazilian Consulate
abroad without any involvement of the Brazilian Ministry of Labour,
so the processing time was reduced.
Moreover, the only documents required to be submitted with the
visa application are a letter of invitation from the Brazilian
company attesting the bond between the foreign applicant and the
services to be rendered in Brazil and proof of enrollment of the
Brazilian company with the Corporate Tax Registry (CNPJ). This type
of visa may be granted for up to 90 days, but cannot be extended or
transformed into permanent visas. The 90-day technical visa also
can only be granted once every period of 180 days.
However, this visa can be cancelled by the Brazilian Ministry of
Justice if there is evidence of domestic manpower replacement by
the foreign professional or an employment relationship between the
foreigner and the Brazilian company.
Note that all foreigners entering Brazil to work under a temporary
visa, regardless of the length of their visa, must register at the
local Federal Police Department within 30 days of arrival.
Conclusion
The issue of immigration has only recently gained prominence in Brazil and the Resolution is another step in Brazil’s immigration movement to attract skilled workers. The Resolution will benefit Brazilian companies and foreign companies with assignments in Brazil by providing a less complex and onerous procedure for short-term technical assignments. Under the new procedure, the Brazilian Ministry of Labour’s involvement is no longer required and less documents are needed for the visa application.
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