Brazilian naturalization: 4 years of residence, or 1 with family

Ordinary naturalization in Brazil needs 4 years of residence, the ability to communicate in Portuguese and no criminal conviction (Lei 13.445/2017, art. 65). A Brazilian spouse or partner, or a Brazilian child, cuts the residence to 1 year (art. 66). The request is free, and the Ministry of Justice estimates up to 180 days.

This page covers US and UK residents of Brazil. Portuguese citizens should also read about the Equality Statute.

The four types of naturalization

The Migration Law sets four types (art. 64).

The rest of this page covers ordinary naturalization.

Requirements for ordinary naturalization

Article 65 of the Migration Law sets four requirements:

1. Civil capacity under Brazilian law
2. Residence in Brazil for at least 4 years
3. Ability to communicate in Portuguese, taking your circumstances into account
4. No criminal conviction, or proof of rehabilitation

The one-year route

Article 66 cuts the 4 years to at least 1 year if you meet any of these conditions:

• You have a Brazilian child.
• You have a Brazilian spouse or partner and are not legally or in fact separated at the time naturalization is granted.
• You have provided, or can provide, relevant service to Brazil.
• You stand out for your professional, scientific or artistic ability.

How residence time counts

Count your years from the start of indefinite residence. The gov.br naturalization service is for immigrants who live in Brazil with indefinite-term residence, and the count runs from that start date to the date you apply. Temporary and provisional residence are treated as not counting.

That matters for long-stay routes. A digital nomad or retiree permit starts as temporary residence. Article 65 of the Migration Law asks only for “residence in national territory” for at least 4 years, without naming a type.

Check before you go: if your plan depends on years spent on temporary residence, email naturalizarse@mj.gov.br and get an answer in writing before you plan around a date. Otherwise, count only from the date your residence became indefinite.

Decreto 9.199, article 233, adds three rules:

• The residence period must come immediately before you apply (§1).
• Occasional trips abroad do not block naturalization if their total length does not pass 12 months (§2).
• Owning property in Brazil does not prove residence by itself (§3).

The Ministry of Justice checks official databases to confirm your time in Brazil (§4).

Portaria 623/2020 is stricter on trips (art. 51). It counts trips as occasional only if they total less than 90 days a year, up to the 12-month cap. Follow both limits: under 90 days abroad each year, and under 12 months in total.

Decreto 12.657 of 7 October 2025 amended many articles of Decreto 9.199. The naturalization articles cited here are not among them.

Proving Portuguese

You need one accepted proof of Portuguese. Portaria MJSP 623 of 13 November 2020, published 17 November 2020, lists the accepted proofs in article 5. Any one of these works:

• A Celpe-Bras proficiency certificate, issued by Inep
• A degree or postgraduate degree from a Brazilian institution accredited by the Ministry of Education
• A pass in the OAB bar exam
• A Portuguese course for immigrants completed at an accredited higher education institution
• An ENCCEJA certificate for primary or secondary schooling
• Appointment as a professor, technician or scientist after a public university competition
• Completion of primary, secondary or supplementary schooling at a recognized Brazilian school
• A medical degree revalidated through REVALIDA

Portaria 623 names the Celpe-Bras certificate but sets no minimum level (art. 5, I, a). Applicants who are nationals of Portuguese-speaking countries do not need this proof (art. 5, §1). For exam dates and fees, see learning Portuguese and the Celpe-Bras exam.

Documents

The Ministry of Justice asks for these documents for ordinary naturalization:

If you want your name translated or adapted into Portuguese, you file a reasoned request. It needs civil, federal, protest and labor court certificates for the last 5 years. The Migration Law allows the change and keeps your original name on record (art. 71).

How to apply

You apply online, then visit the Polícia Federal. The process has four steps:

1. File online. Fill in the “Naturalizar-se” form and upload your documents on the federal government request system (solicitacao.servicos.gov.br). You track the case there.
2. Visit the Polícia Federal. Once the documents are approved, book an appointment, show the originals and give biometrics.
3. Wait for review. The Department of Migration may ask for more documents.
4. Read the decision. It appears in the Diário Oficial da União. If you are refused, you have 10 days from the notice to appeal.

The service is free. Allow up to 180 days in total. Keep your address current and check your email often. Questions go to naturalizarse@mj.gov.br.

After approval

Naturalization takes effect after publication in the Diário Oficial (Migration Law, art. 73). You then hand your CRNM card to the Polícia Federal.

Within 1 year of naturalization, you must register with the Electoral Justice (art. 72). In São Paulo, the regional electoral court (TRE-SP) sets out the first voter registration for a naturalized citizen. You apply in person at an electoral registry office or service post, after booking online or filling in the Título Net pre-registration form. You bring an official ID that shows your country of birth and the nationality ordinance number, or the Carteira de Identidade Nacional, plus the naturalization certificate or the ministerial ordinance with its issue date. You also bring proof of electoral domicile issued in the last three months, preferably in your name, and military clearance if you are a man in the year you turn 19. No power of attorney is allowed. First registrations are suspended from 150 days before an election until the national count ends. Other states may differ slightly, so check with your own regional electoral court.

A naturalized Brazilian loses nationality after a final conviction for activity harmful to the national interest (art. 75). Your home country decides whether you keep its citizenship. Ask the US State Department or HM Passport Office before you apply.

Practical tips

The slowest parts are the foreign criminal record and the language proof. Start both early.

• Book the Celpe-Bras well ahead. The exam runs only on set dates each year.
• Time the foreign record. Get it legalized or apostilled, then translated by a sworn translator in Brazil.
• Keep a travel log. Note every departure and return date during your residence years.
• Keep proof of residence in your name. Utility bills, a lease or bank statements over the years make the residence proof simple.
• Check your email. The Department of Migration may ask for more documents, and missing a request delays the case.

Who should wait

Hold off on applying in these cases:

• Your residence is still temporary. Convert to indefinite residence first.
• You traveled a lot. If trips pass 90 days in a year, wait until your record fits the limits.
• You have a pending criminal case. Talk to a lawyer before you file.
• You would lose your current citizenship. Check your home country’s rules first.

Step-by-step checklist

1. Confirm the date your indefinite residence started.
2. Count 4 years, or 1 year with a Brazilian spouse, partner or child.
3. Add up your trips abroad. Keep them under 90 days a year and 12 months in total.
4. Get your Portuguese proof, such as a Celpe-Bras certificate.
5. Order Brazilian criminal records for the last 4 years and a foreign record with apostille.
6. Gather proof of residence and your family documents.
7. File the “Naturalizar-se” form online.
8. Attend the Polícia Federal for biometrics.
9. Watch the Diário Oficial and your email for the decision.
10. Register with the Electoral Justice within 1 year.

Before you apply

You need indefinite residence first. If you are married to a Brazilian or have a Brazilian child, start with residency through family. Other routes, such as real estate investment or the retirement visa, begin with fixed terms. Compare them on Brazil visas and residency: every route.