Love is one of the key reasons people find themselves calling a foreign country home, and Brazil is no exception. If you plan on getting married in Brazil, the good news is that Brazil’s marriage rights extend to people who are LGBT and for those who want only a civil ceremony, not a religious one.
Can I get married in Brazil on a tourist visa?
Yes, you can get married on a tourist visa, as long as you bring the necessary documents with you. More details on this can be found below.
The cartório
There are two parts to the process of a foreigner getting married in Brazil. There is the ceremony and also the legal component, which can be done in a cartório (notary office) or through a juíz de paz (Justice of the Peace) during your ceremony.
Brazil is full of cartórios, so you should visit the one nearest to where you are living. Each cartório has its own rules in terms of the documents you’ll need to provide in order to legalise your marriage. Here is a typical list of documents you can expect to be asked to provide:
- Your passport & your Brazilian partner’s ID
- Proof of residence (you and your partner)
- Birth certificate (your and your partner)
- Proof of divorce (if you’ve been married before)
- Your documents may need to have been apostiled in your home country and possibly legalised by the Brazilian consulate in your home country. Your Brazilian partner should contact the relevant cartório for specific requirements
Civil marriages can be completed in the cartório. Before the big day, you need to consider how you will manage your finances. e.g. if you will share your money partially or entirely, or if you will keep your finances separate. The option you choose will have ramifications down the line should you divorce.
Getting married outdoors?
With such abundant nature, many couples choose to marry on the beach or in spectacular outdoor settings like forests or lookouts. In such cases, you can have a celebrant perform a symbolic ceremony. Then you can register your marriage officially later in your local cartório. Alternatively, you can have a Justice of the Peace at the ceremony to make things official. Brazil has a flourishing wedding planner industry. You can bet that for every spectacular beachside village, there is a well-connected wedding planner and celebrant ready to create a dream wedding for you. Our advice – email some of the best hotels in the area and ask them for recommendations.
Applying for your RNE (permanent residency visa) with the Polícia Federal
Do you have your marriage certificate issued from the cartório or juíz de paz? Great. The next step is to apply for your permanent residency visa (RNE) from the Federal Police. The key steps involved are as follows:
- Gathering your necessary documents
- Filling out your application and booking your appointment
- Paying your fees
- Attending your appointment
- Collecting your visa
Once you have your permanent residency visa (it takes about two months for your RNE ID card to be created) it means you will be able to do just about everything a Brazilian citizen can do – opening a bank account, working, owning a business, etc.
It should take about 2 months for your RNE card to be created. In order to keep your RNE visa valid you should not leave the country for more than 2 years.
How we can help
If you don’t speak Portuguese, or if you’re unfamiliar with the bureaucratic hoops you’ll need to jump through, we can guide you through each of the steps, ensuring the process is completed quickly and smoothly.
We can help you gather the necessary documents and assist in filling out your visa application form. We can also book your appointment at the Polícia Federal and advise you on what to do on the day.
Sometimes you may run into complications with your application. That is when you may need our help to resolve the situation swiftly. These issues include:
- If the names on your identity documents don’t match and you’re unable to prove the name change with a document, like a marriage certificate
- Whether you have a criminal record
- If you have overstayed your visa and you are currently in the country illegally
- If you need an English and Portuguese speaking expert to help you navigate the bureaucracy
Do you questions or need assistance in assembling and submitting your application? Please email us for a price quote.