Brazilian Naturalization with 1 Year of Permanent Residence

Ordinary Brazilian naturalization requires 4 years of permanent residence in Brazil, but there are exceptions that can grant residence with only 1 year of permanent residence!

For example, spouses of Brazilians, children of Brazilians born abroad, or people who have provided relevant services to the country, among others.

In addition, you must understand that permanent residence authorization and indefinite authorization are prerequisites for obtaining Brazilian nationality and depend on approval by the Brazilian Government. Therefore, the foreigner must verify the specific requirements and requirements for each case, as they may vary according to individual circumstances.

If you need legal support to become a Brazilian citizen, click here to contact our specialized team.

Who can apply for Brazilian naturalization with reduced residency time?

Initially, those who can apply for Brazilian naturalization with reduced residency time are individuals who:

• Are married or in a stable union with a Brazilian citizen;
• Have a Brazilian child;
• Have provided relevant services to the country, such as artists, scientists, and athletes, among others;
• Were born in a country where the official language is also Portuguese.

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What is the time reduction in these cases?

It goes from 4 years to 1 year, and the residency does not need to be continuous. However, the type of residency authorization must be permanent. In other words, before that, you still need to fulfill 2 years of temporary residency (for a specific period).

The rule is that you can make sporadic trips during this period, as long as they do not exceed 90 days.

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Regarding the steps prior to permanent residence, can I reduce the waiting time for Brazilian naturalization?

Yes. First, let’s review the steps:

• apply for a visa while still in your country of origin, if required in your case;
• come to Brazil with a valid and correct visa;
• enjoy your visa time*;
• apply for a temporary residence permit (for a specified period);
• wait the term of the temporary authorization and, 90 days before it expires, apply for the permanent one;
• wait 1 year with permanent residence (if you fit the requirements, if not, you need to wait 4 years).

To reduce the time in the pre-permanent residency steps, you can skip the “enjoy the visa term” step (highlighted with * above).

That is, once you arrive in Brazil, immediately apply for your temporary residence permit.

You must remember that the process of applying for a residence permit may vary according to the category of visa you have, your country of origin, and other factors, so it is recommended to consult the Brazilian Embassy or Consulate in your country of origin before traveling to Brazil for more information.

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How long before my visa expires can I apply for a temporary residence permit?

Ideally, you should apply for authorization starting 90 days before your visa expiration. This is because the Brazilian government does not authorize the request before this period. However, it’s important to prepare yourself 1 to 6 months before opening the request.

This way, you can better prepare yourself, avoid unforeseen events, and gather the necessary documentation to prove your justification for staying in the country. In other words, you can prepare better to reduce the chances of the residency request being denied.

How long before my temporary residency ends can I apply for a permanent residence permit?

In summary, 90 days. Additionally, you should be prepared beforehand, from 1 year or 6 months, to speed up the process and reduce the risk of denial for Brazilian naturalization.

How long before my permanent residence authorization expires can I apply for naturalization?

You can apply as soon as you complete this 1 year. As the authorization for indefinite residence does not “expire”, that is, it has no deadline, you only need to complete the required time.

Once you have completed the required time (1 year in the cases of exceptions we explained), you can request Brazilian naturalization, provided you also meet the other requirements.

Do I need a lawyer to apply for Brazilian naturalization?

It’s not mandatory to hire a lawyer to request Brazilian naturalization, but it can be a good idea. An immigration lawyer knows Brazilian laws and regulations and can help you prepare and correctly present your request, as well as help you answer any questions or solve any problems that may arise during the process.

Additionally, the lawyer can provide valuable guidance on what documents and information are required for the request and how to fill them out correctly.

In summary, hiring a lawyer to request Brazilian naturalization can increase your chances of success and facilitate the process, but it’s not mandatory.

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What are the risks of applying without a lawyer?

Applying for Brazilian naturalization without the assistance of a lawyer can lead to errors or omissions in the presentation of the application or necessary documents, which can harm your chances of success.

Additionally, without knowledge of Brazilian laws and regulations, you may not be aware of all the required requirements and deadlines, which can also harm your application.

Another risk is that, without adequate knowledge about the Brazilian naturalization process, you may not be able to adequately respond to questions or clarify doubts during the process, which can lead to delays or even a denial of the application.

Finally, the Ministry of Justice does not allow multiple Brazilian naturalization applications, meaning that you must be precise in your application and have all the necessary documents on hand.

Therefore, with a specialized professional accompanying the entire process, errors can be avoided and the Brazilian naturalization procedure can be more successful.

What are the other types of naturalization besides ordinary?

Brazil offers other types of naturalization, read about them below:

• Extraordinary: in addition to other requirements, the foreigner must have been in Brazil for 15 uninterrupted years;
• Provisional: for minors under 18 years old;
• Definitive: for individuals who have reached the legal age and must be applied for within 2 years;
• Special: for individuals who are companions or spouses of immigrants employed in diplomatic missions or Brazilian consular offices for more than 10 uninterrupted years; individuals in the service of the Brazilian State abroad and members of the Brazilian Foreign Service in activity.

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Brazilian naturalization with 1 year of permanent residence

In this text, you read about Brazilian naturalization with 1 year of residency. Therefore, you analyzed the main rules throughout the text, understood the requirements, and learned about the types of naturalization.

Remember that naturalization is the process by which a foreigner becomes a Brazilian citizen. It is possible to apply for naturalization after having permanent residence in Brazil for at least 1 year, being at least 18 years old, having good criminal and police records, and having sufficient knowledge of the language.

Additionally, the naturalization process includes submitting a series of documents and undergoing analysis by the Federal Police, who may request more information or documents before making a decision.

You may also consider the importance of adequate legal assistance, which can benefit the foreigner and facilitate the naturalization process.