Moving to Brazil From the UK: 2026 Visa and Residency Guide
Brazil · RELOCATION
Moving to Brazil from the UK in 2026 brings clear rules for short stays, but long-stay requirements are only partly published. This guide covers what is on the record, from visas and CPF to pension and tax.
Moving to Brazil: visas and entry rules
You do not need a visa for tourism visits of up to 90 days. According to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), updated 11 May 2026.
This exemption applies to British citizens specifically.
For longer stays, Brazil offers temporary visas (VITEM) and residence authorisations. Your total stay must not exceed 180 days per migratory year, per Decreto 9.199/2017, even if you extend at the Federal Police.
Digital Nomad Visa (VITEM XIV)
The digital nomad visa allows remote workers for foreign employers to stay in Brazil. The Brazilian Consulate in London, updated 20 Nov 2025, publishes the financial requirements.
You must show proof of monthly income from a foreign source of at least US$1,500.00, or bank funds of US$18,000.00. You also need to register with the Federal Police within 90 days of entry.
The visa grants an initial residence period of one year, renewable for another year, per consular sources. Fees vary by consulate; the London page provides specific figures for applicants in the UK.
CPF and Federal Police Registration
The CPF (Cadastro de Pessoas Físicas) is your Brazilian individual taxpayer registry number. Foreigners resident abroad must apply in person at a Brazilian consulate.
The email route is for Brazilian citizens only. Sources: gov.br, Edinburgh consulate, updated 26 Jun 2025.
At the consulate, use the e-consular platform to request the registration service. Bring your passport and proof of address.
Driving Licence Exchange
A foreign driving licence from a Vienna Convention country is valid in Brazil for up to 180 days. Source: CONTRAN Resolution 933/2022, articles 2-3.
After that, you need a Brazilian CNH (Carteira Nacional de Habilitação).
You must carry an International Driving Permit (IDP) alongside your foreign licence, plus proof of entry date. A UK driver stopped without an IDP is fined.
To exchange, you must pass a medical and psychological assessment. Where your licence is not recognised, you also take a driving test.
UK State Pension in Brazil
From April 2026, the full new State Pension rises to £241.30 per week. The basic pension rises to £184.90.
Source: UK Government Actuary. This is a 4.8% increase under the triple lock.
Whether you get annual increases in Brazil is decided by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The DWP publishes a list of countries where it pays an annual increase.
Brazil is not on it, per gov.uk, updated 14 Aug 2026.
HMRC Tax Residence on Departure
When you leave the UK, HMRC uses the Statutory Residence Test (SRT) to decide tax status for each tax year. Source: HMRC RDR3, updated 11 Jun 2026.
The test has three stages: automatic overseas tests, automatic UK tests, and a sufficient ties test.
If you were UK resident in prior years, fewer than 16 days in the tax year makes you automatically non-resident. Otherwise the threshold is fewer than 46 days.
You are automatically resident if you spend 183 days or more in the UK in the tax year.
Health Cover: SUS and Private Plans
Brazil’s public health system, SUS (Sistema Único de Saúde), is free and universal. The Migration Law (Lei 13.445/2017, article 4.
Item VIII) guarantees foreigners equal access to public health services without discrimination by nationality or migratory status.
To use SUS, register at a public health unit to get a Cartão SUS (SUS card). Emergency care cannot be denied, and you can use a passport as identification.
Private health insurance is regulated by ANS (Agência Nacional de Saúde Suplementar).
Frequently Asked Questions
Do UK citizens need a visa to move to Brazil?
No visa is needed for visits up to 90 days, per the Foreign Office, updated 11 May 2026. Longer stays need a temporary visa: VITEM XIV asks for US$1,500 a month or US$18,000 in funds, per the London consulate.
How do I get a CPF in Brazil?
Foreigners resident abroad must apply in person at a Brazilian consulate via the e-consular platform (gov.br, Edinburgh consulate, updated 26 Jun 2025). The email route to [email protected] is for Brazilian citizens only.
Can I drive in Brazil with a UK licence?
Yes, for up to 180 days per CONTRAN Resolution 933/2022, carrying an International Driving Permit (IDP) with your UK licence. After 180 days, you need a Brazilian CNH, requiring medical and psychological assessment, and a driving test if your licence is unrecognised.
Is my UK State Pension taxed or uprated in Brazil?
The full new State Pension is £241.30 a week from April 2026. Brazil is absent from the DWP uprating list, so your pension is frozen at the rate first paid.
Sources
- www.gov.uk
- www.gov.uk
- www.gov.uk
- www.gov.br
- www.gov.br
- www.gov.br
- www.gov.br
- www.gov.br
- www.gov.uk
- www.gov.uk