How to easily obtain a Brazilian passport for your children under 10 – a second nationality to protect your loved ones

Today we’re going to explain how to easily get a Brazilian passport for your children under 10. It turns out that Brazil offers one of the most favorable naturalization pathways for international families.

When everything is going well, a single passport seems sufficient. The problem arises when your government decides it will no longer grant you as much freedom as before: administrative restrictions, military obligations, sanctions, travel bans, or simple bureaucratic hurdles can turn your nationality into a cage. In light of this, Brazil offers a surprisingly fast and legal path for your children under 10 to obtain a second nationality—and for you to benefit from it as well.

Many people take it for granted that their passport is untouchable. But that’s not always the case. In some countries, the law allows for passports to be restricted, denied, or even revoked under certain circumstances—for example, in cases related to military service, administrative sanctions, debts to the state, criminal proceedings, or conflicts with the government.

So, for anyone who doesn’t want to face serious problems in the not-too-distant future, you should start working on obtaining citizenship.

Why choose Brazil as the country for your second citizenship?

Less than one percent of Brazil’s population consists of foreigners, and that’s in a country with over 215 million inhabitants. Migration, especially from Western-oriented countries, is socially viewed in Brazil as enrichment.

Thus, anyone who shows an interest in the Portuguese language, is enthusiastic about Brazilian culture, and integrates into the community will be welcomed with open arms.

Added to this is what has always characterized Brazil: an incomparable culinary variety—from churrascarias to fresh açaí on the beach—a climate that, in most regions, invites you to enjoy the outdoors all year round, a culture full of joie de vivre, music, and human warmth, and a landscape that, from the Amazon rainforest to the vast beaches of Copacabana, is virtually unparalleled. Brazil is not just a country listed in your passport: it is a way of life.

Brazilian naturalization law: one of the most flexible regulations in the world

Brazil has naturalization laws that are exceptionally family-friendly, offering various attractive pathways depending on your family situation. Below is a summary of the most important options:

Immediate naturalization for children up to nine years old once they obtain a permanent residence permit

Probably the most notable provision of Brazilian naturalization law concerns children under the age of ten: If they obtain a permanent residence permit in Brazil before turning ten, they can be naturalized immediately. They will not need to wait a year of residence, nor will they have to take a language exam or go through tedious paperwork. The naturalization application can be filed directly after obtaining the residence permit.

There is a special requirement for children between the ages of six and nine: they must also provide a school certificate proving they are enrolled in a Brazilian school.

It is important to note that citizenship obtained in this manner is, initially, provisional. It automatically expires when the child turns 20, unless it is actively confirmed.

Between the ages of 18 and 20, the child must submit a confirmation application from Brazil. However, under current law, this requires only a single entry into Brazil and the submission of a utility bill.

Adults with a Brazilian child: naturalization after one year

Anyone with a Brazilian child—whether born in Brazil or through naturalization—benefits, as a parent, from a significantly shortened naturalization period. The same applies to those living in a marriage or a “common-law marriage” (união estável) with a Brazilian citizen.

After just one year of actual residence in Brazil, these parents or spouses can apply for naturalization. However, in this case, knowledge of Portuguese is formally required.

In any case, it is important to note that naturalization after one year for parents only applies if the child was born in Brazil or is already of legal age (over 18 and has obtained definitive naturalization).

If you wish to use your child’s provisional naturalization (under 10 years of age and therefore eligible for “express naturalization”) as the basis for your own naturalization, you will have to wait the standard four years and meet the minimum residency requirement of 75% of the time.

Four years of residence to obtain the parent’s passport in all other cases

Anyone who, having obtained a permanent residence permit, intends to spend at least 75% of their time—that is, three years—in Brazil may apply for naturalization starting in the fifth year, even as an adult.

In this case, knowledge of Portuguese is also required.

Three ways to obtain a permanent residence permit in Brazil

Brazilian naturalization requires, in all cases, a permanent residence permit. Here you have several options, depending on your personal situation and available funds.

Path 1 (recommended): Executive visa with family reunification

This is the standard route and is clearly recommended for families with sufficient capital. Anyone who invests at least 600,000 reais (currently about $120,000) in a Brazilian company and serves as CEO will be entitled to an indefinite residence permit for themselves, as well as family reunification for spouses, children, and dependent relatives. In this way, the entire family obtains permanent residence status with no time limit.

Brazilian law only requires that the money to be invested be deposited in the Brazilian company; however, it does not need to be subsequently spent in Brazil or used to pay employees.

It is perfectly valid to let the money earn interest in the company’s account from day one (current interest rates are around 15% per year in local currency, before corporate taxes) and, once the child has obtained citizenship, dissolve the company and return the full amount of the deposited capital along with the accrued interest.

Most importantly: children under the age of ten at the time of authorization are thus immediately eligible for Brazilian naturalization, with no further waiting period.

Option 2 (alternative): investment in a startup

RN 13 allows for obtaining a permanent residence permit with a minimum investment of 150,000 reais (currently about $30,000 USD) in a qualifying Brazilian startup. This is significantly more affordable than the executive director route, but involves considerably more documentation: the startup must be classified as “innovative,” and the evaluation by the Ministry of Justice and Public Security (MJSP) is much more thorough.

The startup route should be considered as an alternative if the funds you have available are not sufficient to qualify for the executive visa.

Option 3: Birth Tourism by Having a Sibling Born in Brazil

This is the simplest way to obtain a permanent residence permit in Brazil, without any investment required: having a child born in Brazil.

Anyone who has a child born in Brazil automatically acquires the right to apply for a permanent residence permit through family reunification for themselves and the rest of their family (father, mother, and siblings).

In this way, the siblings of the child born in Brazil who are under ten years of age would immediately meet the requirements for Brazilian naturalization, as we have described.

This is because Brazil recognizes the right of every Brazilian child to grow up in Brazil with their parents, and the parents’ right to residency derives from this. No minimum investment, no need to start a business, and no requirement to prove language proficiency beforehand.

Birth tourism in Brazil is completely legal, and an increasing number of internationally minded families are taking advantage of it.

The timeline: from initial contact to a Brazilian passport in approximately one year

At Denationalize.me, we can guide you through the entire process of obtaining residency or citizenship. Below, we explain how you can secure additional Brazilian citizenship for your children.

If you start today, in about twelve months your child will have a Brazilian passport in hand. The process is broadly divided into the following phases:

• Months 1–4: Preparation and submission of application documents; contribution and incorporation of the company or initial investment. Submission to the MJSP and referral to the Federal Police for the issuance of residence cards for the applicant and the family. Alternatively, travel for childbirth.
• Month 4: Obtaining the permanent residence permit. Immediate application for naturalization for children under ten years of age.
• Months 5–10: Processing of the naturalization application; publication of the naturalization decree in the Diário Oficial da União (DOU), the federal official gazette.
• Starting in months 10–12: Apply for the child’s Brazilian ID card, and subsequently for a Brazilian passport (valid for 5 years) at the Consulate General abroad or directly at the Brazilian Federal Police.

In total, it takes about twelve months from the initial contact until the child has the Brazilian passport in hand.

Tax Aspects of Residency in Brazil

It is important to note that as soon as you obtain a permanent residence permit in Brazil, you will become a tax resident there and will therefore be required to pay taxes on your worldwide income, regardless of where in the world you earned it.

In practice, however, this doesn’t have to be too problematic. During the time it takes to obtain Brazilian citizenship for yourself and your family, it’s important that, as much as possible, you live off your savings and keep your new income in foreign accounts.

As soon as you obtain Brazilian citizenship, you can cease to be a tax resident there. Brazil does not make it particularly difficult to cease residency.

If you need help structuring your tax affairs upon arrival in or departure from Brazil, please contact us.

A naturalized child as the basis for the entire family’s residency

As soon as a child obtains Brazilian citizenship, this creates an independent legal basis for the rest of the family. Regardless of the type of original residence permit, the child can, as a “Chamante” (inviting party), bring their parents and minor siblings to Brazil and other Mercosur member states through the family reunification option. This is entirely independent of the original investment status.

Thus, the indirect right of residence and settlement for a Brazilian family member extends to nearly all other South American countries in the bloc, including Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.

Conclusion: Brazil offers one of the most attractive naturalization options in the world

No other country in the world offers such an appealing combination of fast-track naturalization for children, a clear investment pathway for adults, a high quality of life, and genuine social openness toward immigrants.

Brazil does not view Western migrants as competition, but rather as enrichment, especially if they learn Portuguese and actively integrate into Brazilian society.

Denationalize.me guides you through the entire process: from the initial consultation, through selecting the appropriate residency path and handling all application procedures, to naturalization, language certification, and integration into the country. If you’re interested, get in touch—we’ll discuss your specific path during a personal consultation.