Family & Spouse Visas in Brazil
Sponsoring a partner, children, or parents
Family reunion is one of the strongest features of Brazilian migration law, and the definition of family is broader than in most systems: spouses, stable unions including unmarried and same-sex partners, children, parents, and dependent relatives all appear. The position of a person with a Brazilian spouse or a Brazilian child is exceptionally secure, since residence is granted on that basis and removal is barred in most circumstances.
| Legal basis | Family reunion under the 2017 Migration Law source |
| Partners covered | Marriage and stable union, including unmarried and same-sex partners |
| Brazilian child | Residence granted to the parent, with protection from removal in most cases |
| Where applied | Commonly from inside Brazil at the Federal Police, or at a consulate abroad source |
Who counts as family
- A spouse, or a partner in a stable union — the Brazilian legal concept of união estável, which is recognised without marriage and applies equally to same-sex couples.
- Children, including adopted children, and children under guardianship.
- Parents of the resident or citizen.
- Siblings, grandchildren, or great-grandchildren where they are orphaned, unaccompanied, or separated.
- Dependants recognised as such under Brazilian law where economic dependence is documented.
The stable union route
A stable union can be declared before a notary in Brazil and, once registered, functions as the basis of a family reunion application in much the same way as marriage. Evidence commonly expected includes shared address, joint financial arrangements, and declarations by witnesses.
This is the mechanism that makes Brazilian family reunion unusually accessible to couples who have not married, and it applies to same-sex couples on the same terms following the recognition of same-sex stable unions by the Brazilian courts.
The position of a Brazilian child's parent
A foreign national who is the parent of a Brazilian child, and who has that child under their care and dependency, is granted residence on that basis. The Migration Law also prohibits the removal of a person in that position in most circumstances, as it does for those with a Brazilian spouse or partner.
The consequence is that a family formed in Brazil produces one of the most stable statuses available anywhere in the region. It is also the shortest route to naturalisation, since the residence period considered is commonly reduced to around one year for a spouse or parent of a Brazilian.
What the paperwork looks like
Foreign civil documents — birth and marriage certificates in particular — generally require apostille under the Hague Convention in the issuing country, followed by sworn translation in Brazil. Both steps take time and money and are the most common source of delay.
Applications made from inside Brazil are lodged with the Federal Police; those made from abroad go through a Brazilian consulate. In either case an appointment slot is usually the scarcest item in the process.
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Official sources
Checked against these pages in September 2026. Fees and processing times change without notice — confirm before you act.