Brazil

South America

South America

Latin America's largest economy and tech market, with an investor residency route, a digital-nomad visa and a fast citizenship path for those with a Brazilian spouse or child, tempered by complex taxes and regional safety issues.

36
Overall score
Limited · Penalty applied · 98% data coverage
Language
Portuguese
Currency
BRL
Citizenship
4 years (1 if married/with child)
Personal tax
0–27.5%
Cost of living
$1,000 / mo (single)

Rules change often. Confirm any immigration, tax or legal decision with a qualified professional.

Score breakdown
51
Access
17%
41Residence12%
76Citizenship and passport5%
62
Earning power
25%
59Salary and work12%
64Buying power13%
51
Business and wealth
20%
48Taxes7%
47Business8%
60Investment5%
59
Daily life
25%
52Quality of life18%
77Education7%
56
Rights and institutions
13%
69Freedom6%
45Rule of law7%

Severe safety risk (22) cut the overall score from 56 to 36.

Pros

  • Big domestic market & tech scene
  • Fast citizenship via spouse/child
  • Investor visa + digital-nomad visa

Cons

  • Very complex tax system
  • Regional security concerns
  • Portuguese essential

Best for

Founders targeting LatAmFamily-route applicantsInvestors & nomads

Score profile

Access
Residence
41
Citizenship
71
Passport
90
Earning power
Salary & work
59
Buying power
64
Cost of living
80
Economy
68
Business and wealth
Taxes
48
Personal tax
50
Corporate tax
3
Business
47
Investment
60
Wealth building
58
Daily life
Safety
22
Healthcare
68
Environment
89
Infrastructure
68
Education
77
HDI
79
Rights and institutions
Freedom
69
Rule of law
45
How the scores are calculated

Access

Residence
Openness to residents
Limited
41
Migrant stock0.7% of population (2024)
Regulatory quality-0.29 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main pathways
Investor residency (BRL 500k)Digital NomadFamilyWork/study
StudentStudent residency; public universities free.
WorkWork authorisation tied to a local employer/contract.
Self-employedMEI/Simples Nacional regimes for small businesses.
PermanentPermanent residency via investment, family, or retirement.
Citizenship
Citizenship accessibility
Good
71
Years required4 years (reduced to 1 with a Brazilian spouse or child)
Dual allowedYes
LanguagePortuguese proficiency
ResidenceContinuous legal residence for the qualifying period
NotesChildren born in Brazil are citizens by birth (jus soli), which also shortens parents' path.
Passport
Passport power
Excellent
90
178 / 198
Mobility
#16
Global rank
Yes
Biometric
  • Visa-free128
  • On arrival42
  • eTA8
  • Visa required20

Placeholder estimates for 2024 to 2025. Check entry rules with each destination before travelling.

Earning power

Salary & work
Labour-market strength
Moderate
59
Output per worker$41,441 PPP (2024)
Unemployment6.0% (2025)
Participation63.1% of 15+ (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Mean monthly earnings of employees
Overall$371 · $852 PPP (2024)
Tech (IT & comms)$612 · $1,373 PPP (2024)

Source: ILOSTAT (International Labour Organization)

FreelanceLarge dev market; nearshoring for US clients growing
Job marketSão Paulo fintech & startup hub (Nubank, iFood); strong talent pool.
Buying power
Purchasing power score
Moderate
64
GNI / person$22,670 PPP (2025)
Consumption / person$14,023 PPP (2024)
Price level46 (US = 100) (2025)
Income inequality50.3 Gini (2024)
Inflation5.0% / yr (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Cost of living
Affordability
Excellent
80
Price level46 (US = 100) (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Rent$400–900 (1BR major city)
Monthly$1,000
CitiesSão Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Florianópolis, Curitiba
Economy
Economic strength
Good
68
Output & income
GDP$2.3T (2025)
GDP / person$10,713 (2025)
GNI / person$22,670 PPP (2025)
GDP growth3.4% / yr (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Stability & labour
Inflation5.0% / yr (2025)
Unemployment6.0% (2025)
Output per worker$41,441 PPP (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Sector composition
Agriculture6.1% of GDP (2025)
Industry20.1% of GDP (2025)
Services59.7% of GDP (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main industries
Agriculture & agribusinessMiningOil & gasManufacturingFinancial servicesTechnology
Top exports
SoybeansIron oreCrude oilBeef & poultrySugar & coffee
TypeUpper-middle-income, diversified resources- and services-led
Key sectorsAgribusiness, Mining & energy, Sao Paulo finance & fintech
SummaryLatin America's largest economy, a commodity and agribusiness giant with a sizeable industrial and fintech base.
CurrencyBrazilian real

Business and wealth

Taxes
Tax friendliness
Moderate
48
Personal0–27.5% progressive
Corporate34% combined (IRPJ 15% + 10% surtax + CSLL 9%)
Capital gains15–22.5% progressive
DividendsCurrently exempt at shareholder level (reform under discussion)
Exit taxYes: deemed disposal on definitive departure declaration
Foreign companiesCFC-style rules tax foreign-controlled profits
Personal tax
Personal tax
Moderate
50
Personal0–27.5% progressive
FreelanceMEI (micro-entrepreneur) and Simples Nacional simplified regimes
Capital gains15–22.5% progressive
DividendsCurrently exempt at shareholder level (reform under discussion)
Exit taxYes: deemed disposal on definitive departure declaration
Corporate tax
Corporate tax
Low
3
Corporate34% combined (IRPJ 15% + 10% surtax + CSLL 9%)
Capital gains15–22.5% progressive
DividendsCurrently exempt at shareholder level (reform under discussion)
Foreign companiesCFC-style rules tax foreign-controlled profits
Business
Business friendliness
Moderate
47
Regulation & bureaucracy
Regulatory quality-0.29 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Government effectiveness-0.22 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Operating rules
Foreign companyYes: foreign ownership permitted
Local companyLtda. or S.A.; registration can be bureaucratic
FreelanceMEI (micro-entrepreneur) and Simples Nacional simplified regimes
Investment
Investing environment
Moderate
60
Market cap38% of GDP (2025)
Private credit75% of GDP (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Capital gains15–22.5% CGT; dividends currently untaxed at investor level
DividendsData not available yet
ETFs & fundsData not available yet
Wealth taxNone (proposals discussed periodically)
BrokersStrong: XP, Nubank/NuInvest, Interactive Brokers
Foreign accessData not available yet
Tax-advantagedData not available yet
Wealth building
Wealth accumulation
Moderate
58
Salary & work
Moderate
59
Business
Moderate
47
Investment
Moderate
60
Tax friendliness
Moderate
48
Cost of living
Excellent
80

Daily life

Safety
Safety & stability
Low
22
Personal safety
Homicide rate19.3 per 100,000 (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Institutions & stability
Control of corruption-0.41 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Political stability-0.52 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Check current government travel and security advice before relocating.

Healthcare
Healthcare score
Good
68
Outcomes
Life expectancy76.0 years (2024)
Under-5 mortality14.2 per 1,000 births (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Capacity & resourcing
Physicians2.36 per 1,000 (2023)
Hospital beds2.52 per 1,000 (2021)
Health spending$2,070 PPP / person (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

System & costs
SystemUniversal public (SUS) + large private sector
InsuranceFree SUS access; private plans common for speed/quality
Average costPrivate plan ~$80–250 / mo
Environment
Environment score
Excellent
89
Environmental pressure
PM2.5 exposure13.4 μg/m³ annually (2023)
Water stress1.5% (2022)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Infrastructure
Infrastructure score
Good
68
Digital infrastructure
Internet use84.5% (2024)
Internet resilience67 / 100 (2026)
Fixed speed89 / 100 download index (2026)
Mobile speed86 / 100 download index (2026)

Sources: World Bank World Development Indicators · Internet Society Pulse Internet Resilience Index

Utilities
Electricity access99.8% (2023)
Grid losses15.0% of output (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Transport
Transport quality3.20 / 5 (2022)
Rail density3.9 km / 1,000 km² (2007)
Air connectivity3,719 departures / million people (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Education
Education score
Good
77
Attainment
Expected schooling15.8 years (2023)
Mean schooling8.4 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Participation & investment
Tertiary enrolment70% gross (2024)
Education spending5.6% of GDP (2022)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

TuitionFree public / ~$4,000 private
Public universityFederal/state universities tuition-free (competitive entry)
LanguagesPortuguese, English (some graduate programs)
Student workWork permitted for resident students
HDI
Human development score
Good
79
HDI0.786 (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Long & healthy life
Life expectancy75.8 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Knowledge
Expected schooling15.8 years (2023)
Mean schooling8.4 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Standard of living
GNI / person$18,011 PPP (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Rights and institutions

Freedom
Freedom score
Good
69
Freedom in the World72 / 100 (Free)
Freedom on the Net65 / 100 (Partly free)
Sources
Rule of law
Rule of law score
Moderate
45
Rule of Law percentile45 / 100
Sources
Resources
Official references
Polícia Federal: Migrationgov.brReceita Federal: Taxgov.brUNDP Human Development Report 2025hdr.undp.orgInternet Society Pulse Internet Resilience Indexpulse.internetsociety.orgWorld Bank World Development Indicatorsdata.worldbank.orgILOSTAT (International Labour Organization)ilostat.ilo.org
Quick links
Brazil visa & immigrationgoogle.comBrazil tax residency rulesgoogle.comBrazil citizenship requirementsgoogle.comCost of living in Brazilgoogle.com

Data is illustrative. Not legal or tax advice.