The territorial organization is a Presidential Federal Republic. It consists of 26 states, 1 federal district, and municipalities. States and municipalities have self-organization and self-government status. The Republic is a full member of international organizations: UN, WTO, BRICS, G20, Organization of American States, Mercosur, Community of Portuguese Language Countries.
Visa
Brazil offers various types of visas for business, study, and tourism purposes. The duration of the visa and the allowed period of stay in the country will depend on the applicant's citizenship and the type of visa being applied for. The validity of visas starts from 1 year.
It is allowed to enter Brazil without a visa and stay in the country for up to 90 days. For a longer stay, registration with the Federal Police is required. To enter Brazilian territory, travelers must have a passport valid for 6 months after the return date and, in most cases, a return airline ticket.
The process of applying for electronic visas to Brazil is currently available only for citizens of the United States, Canada, and Australia.
Brazil offers several types of visas to choose from when applying:
- Tourist.
- Student.
- Work.
- For investors.
- For scientific work, teaching.
- For members of religious organizations.
- For medical treatment.
An important condition for obtaining a visa is the legalization of the document package, including translation and apostille. You can find more detailed information about all types of visas, the conditions for obtaining them, and the application process here.
Residence Permit
A residence permit in Brazil allows you to legally live, study, work, and conduct business. It is a temporary authorization that, in most cases, becomes the first step towards obtaining permanent residence. On average, the validity period of a residence permit in Brazil is 2 years.
The government of Brazil issues residence permits under certain conditions of residence or specific activities. Violation of the conditions of the residence permit program results in the revocation of the permit.
Based on the situation, a foreigner can apply for a residence permit that best suits their living conditions and planned activities. Currently, Brazil issues the following types of residence permits:
- For property owners.
- For students.
- For digital nomads.
- For those married to Brazilian citizens.
- For family reunification.
- For employment.
- For business purposes, including investors.
To obtain a residence permit in Brazil, you will need to prepare a substantial set of documents. Familiarize yourself with all the types of permits and the conditions for obtaining a residence permit.
Passport of Brazil
A holder of a Brazilian passport is entitled to enter 116 countries without a visa, including the Schengen Area. In 48 countries, an electronic authorization or a visa is required upon entry. In the global passport power ranking, the Brazilian passport is ranked 12th.
Any foreigner who has undergone the naturalization process or has family ties with Brazilian citizens can obtain a Brazilian passport. In Brazil, the Federal Police is responsible for issuing the passport. Abroad, the procedure is carried out by consular departments.
Unrestricted travel and minimal bureaucracy are the main expectations travelers have when obtaining a Brazilian passport. Read about all the benefits and conditions of acquiring a Brazilian passport.
Citizenship of Brazil
Naturalization is the main method for granting Brazilian citizenship to foreigners, allowing one to become a citizen within a period of up to 1 year. A relocator can apply for citizenship if they meet the criteria and choose one of the naturalization paths.
- Ordinary naturalization
- Temporary naturalization
- Simplified naturalization
There are also programs for granting the corresponding status through investment (with specific conditions), based on "land" or "blood," and through marriage. Each of these methods has its own conditions and features.
In the absence of exceptional circumstances, it is necessary to reside in Brazil for at least 4 years to obtain citizenship.
In fact, each applicant must meet strict selection criteria, which may be modified based on the applicant's personal circumstances. Each application is reviewed individually and coordinated with government authorities.
Check how the naturalization process as a Brazilian citizen looks and what conditions need to be met.
Climate Conditions
The climate of Brazil is characterized by diversity due to the varied topography of the territory. Most of the country has a tropical climate, but there are several main climate subtypes:
- Equatorial – in the north. There are no droughts. The average annual temperature is 25°C. There are significant fluctuations between daytime and nighttime temperatures.
- Savannah – in the central part of the country. Characterized by seasonal abundance of precipitation. Average summer temperatures (December-April) range from +23 to +29°C, while winter temperatures (May-November) range from +16 to +24°C.
- Temperate – in the south and southeast. Average summer temperatures are around +24°C to +22°C. In winter, the average monthly temperatures are about +20°C.
The amount of precipitation is distributed unevenly throughout the year. The country has distinct dry and rainy seasons. On average, the western Amazon receives about 3200 millimeters of precipitation per year, the eastern part up to 2400 mm, and the central part up to 1600 mm. The driest regions are located in the northeast, where the average annual precipitation ranges from 500 to 1200 mm.
Demographics
As of the beginning of 2024, the population of Brazil is 219,624,301 people, with an average density of 23.8 residents per km². Over 84% of the population is considered urban. The annual growth rate is 0.7%. The average number of births per woman in 2023 was 1.7.
The main concentration of residents is in the Southeast (80.3 million residents) and Northeast regions (53 million residents). In contrast, the largest regions, the North and Central (covering more than 64% of the territory), have only 29.8 million residents.
Initially, the population of Brazil was clearly divided into four ethnic groups: Portuguese, Africans, European immigrants, and indigenous peoples. Today, a definitive classification of most residents is challenging. According to the 2022 census, 43.5% of the population (about 90.6 million people) identified as white, 45.3% (about 92.1 million) as mixed-race (mulatto), 10.2% (about 20.7 million) as black, 1.1% (about 850,000) as Asian, and 0.8% (about 1.7 million) as indigenous people.
The official language of Brazil is Portuguese, spoken by nearly the entire population. It is the virtually exclusive language used in the media, business, and for administrative purposes.
The constitution guarantees freedom of religion and the separation of church and state. Legislation prohibits any form of religious intolerance, although the Catholic Church enjoys a more privileged status. Catholicism is the predominant religion in the country, practiced by 64.6% of the population. Protestantism is followed by 22.2% of the population. Atheists make up 8%.
Economy
Brazil is among the rapidly developing countries with an industrial-agrarian type of economy. It possesses one of the most significant economic potentials in South America. The currency is the real.
In 2023, Brazil's economy grew at an average rate of 3.4%. The GDP for 2023 was $2.17 trillion. GDP per capita was $15,093. The inflation rate for 2023 was 5.19%, with food inflation at 1.09%. The national debt stands at 85% of GDP.
The economic structure of Brazil is characterized by major sectors: services (about 65%), industry (17%), and agriculture (around 6.7% of GDP). Production and processing of agricultural products account for 25% of GDP.
In the Global Competitiveness Index for 2023, Brazil is ranked 60th. In the Economic Freedom Index, it holds the 127th position.
Freedom of Travel (Visa-Free Countries)
The Brazilian passport ranks 12th in the "Passport Index." The freedom of movement index is 164. It allows visa-free travel to 110 countries for stays of up to 180 days. In 48 countries, a visa on arrival is required, while 6 countries only require an electronic entry permit. Note that the duration of stay is regulated by the laws of the host country and may depend on the purpose of the visit.