Countries › Brazil › Guide › 8. Immigration › Family reunion: bringing a spouse, children and other relatives

Family reunion: bringing a spouse, children and other relatives

Last verified: 2026-10-27 · Status: Stable

Spouses and partners (with no discrimination), children, parents and grandparents, grandchildren, siblings and wards of a Brazilian or of a foreign resident can get family reunion residence. The family member's residence follows the sponsor's: indefinite if the sponsor's is indefinite, otherwise expiring on the same date. Family reunion holders may take any job in Brazil, including paid work, on equal terms with nationals.

USD figures use the Banco Central do Brasil PTAX selling rate of R$5.3346 per US dollar for 27 October 2026. The rate moved sharply in late October 2026 (R$5.0377 on 23 October, R$5.5007 on 26 October), so treat conversions as orientation only.

Key facts

Age above which a sibling must prove economic dependence	18 yearsDecreto nº 9.199/2017 art. 153 § 3, as of 2017-11-20 · in force
Family reunion holders may take paid work	yes Decreto nº 9.199/2017 art. 153 § 10, as of 2017-11-20 · in force

The rule

1. A visa or residence for family reunion is granted to the spouse or partner, without any discrimination; the child of an immigrant with residence, or a person who has a Brazilian child or an immigrant child with residence; an ascendant, descendant up to the second degree or sibling of a Brazilian or of an immigrant with residence; and a person who has a Brazilian under guardianship or custody.Lei nº 13.445 of 24 May 2017, Lei nº 13.445 art. 37, 2017-05-24 official text · verified 2026-10-27

2. The regulation lists the same circle (spouse or partner; child of a Brazilian or of a resident immigrant; parent of a Brazilian or resident immigrant child; ascendants and descendants up to the second degree; siblings; guardianship, curatorship or custody of a Brazilian). A sibling over 18 must prove economic dependence on the sponsor. Residence is refused when the sponsor holds family reunion residence or provisional residence.Decreto nº 9.199 of 20 November 2017, Decreto nº 9.199 art. 153 caput and §§ 2 and 3, 2017-11-20 official text · verified 2026-10-27

3. If the sponsor's residence is indefinite, the family member also gets an indefinite term; if the sponsor holds a fixed term, the family member's residence ends on the same date. The family member may apply at the same time as the sponsor, but the grant depends on the sponsor's residence being granted first. Requirements are set by joint act of the Ministers of Justice and Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Justice may require an interview or more documents to prove the family tie.
Cost to do it: Processing fee R$168.13 (about US$31.52) and card R$204.77 (about US$38.39) per person when applying in Brazil.Decreto nº 9.199 of 20 November 2017, Decreto nº 9.199 art. 153 §§ 1, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9, 2017-11-20 official text · verified 2026-10-27

4. The family reunion residence holder may carry out any activity in Brazil, including paid work, on equal terms with Brazilian nationals.Decreto nº 9.199 of 20 November 2017, Decreto nº 9.199 art. 153 § 10, 2017-11-20 official text · verified 2026-10-27

Worked example

An investor with indefinite residence under RN 13 brings a spouse and two children. Each relative receives indefinite residence too (Decreto nº 9.199 art. 153 § 4). Applying in Brazil, fees for three relatives are 3 x R$372.90 = R$1,118.70 (about US$209.71). A relocated employee on a 2 year RN 2 residence would see the family's residence end on the same date as theirs (art. 153 § 5).

Step by step

1. File the sponsor's residence first, or at the same time (art. 153 §§ 8 and 9).
2. Gather marriage, partnership or birth certificates, apostilled and translated by a sworn translator in Brazil.
3. Apply at the consulate for the family reunion visa, or in Brazil for residence with the processing fee.
4. Each relative registers with the Federal Police within 90 days of entry or 30 days of approval in Brazil.
5. Renew together with the sponsor when the sponsor's fixed term residence is renewed.

Common traps

Chain sponsoring. A person on family reunion or provisional residence cannot sponsor others (art. 153 § 2).
Adult siblings need proof of economic dependence (art. 153 § 3).
Fixed term sponsor. If the sponsor's residence lapses, so does the family's (art. 153 § 5).

Sources

← Retiree visa and residenceFederal Police registration, the migration card (CRNM) and migration fines →