Benefits of a Brazilian Passport
The following article in favor of living in Brazil is from Simon Black, SovereignMan.com.
Date: June 16, 2010
Reporting From: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
My ears are still ringing.
At 3pm yesterday afternoon, Brazil completely shut down, and the entire nation sat transfixed in front of their televisions watching their team take on North Korea in the first round of the World Cup. If you haven’t experienced this first hand, put it on your bucket list… it’s well worth it.
After each goal (Brazil scored two), the locals here celebrated as if World War III had just ended. I have never in my life witnessed such pure and honest joy in so much volume.
Frankly, that’s one of the reasons I like this country so much. As a culture, Brazilians are the least depressive and pretentious people that I can think of, and it certainly does one’s sense of perspective a bit of good to spend some time around them.
For would-be expats looking for a potential home, the Brazilian sense of ease may be a big draw, as well as the scenic vistas, cheap property, and warm weather.
In my opinion, though, one of the biggest benefits of spending time in Brazil is the prospect of becoming Brazilian. Over the next 10-years, I’m convinced that a Brazilian passport is going to be one of the most valuable in the world.
Think about it– when was the last time terrorists hijacked an airplane and threatened to kill all the Brazilians? These people have no enemies.
As a travel document, a Brazilian passport enjoys no visa restrictions all over
the European Union, Latin America, as well as several countries in the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia.
As the economy continues to grow and prosper, however, I also believe that it will one day join the select few countries on the US Visa Waiver Program list (happening now as you read this)… and given the strong trade relationship between Brazil and China, I expect that there will be special visa allowances to that country as well.
The other interesting point to mention about Brazilian citizenship is that the Brazilian government does not extradite its citizens. Period.
This isn’t a license to be an international criminal, but it’s nice to know that one of the world’s largest economies won’t throw you to the wolves if you land in hot water. Let’s be honest, sometimes life deals you a bad card. Brazilian citizenship is an insurance policy against that.
I’ve spent time on the ground here reconnecting with some old contacts and establishing new ones who can streamline the immigration process… and believe me, the Brazilian immigration process is so convoluted that it requires support.
Establishing residency is the critical first step. You don’t need to go to Brazil for this, you can apply at your nearest Brazilian consulate.
This is where it starts to get complicated– depending on who you speak with, the documentation requirements may change, but in general, you will need a police report, medical exam, and proof of economic solvency to the tune of about $2,000 per month, or some such lump sum that satisfies the consular agents.
Again, like most things in Brazil, the process is not exactly black and white, so it helps to be persistent and speak with as many people as possible at the consulate. If you have the means to come to Brazil, my people down here can handle the process for you and make sure it gets pushed through. (I can help you. I have done this process for myself and my family and have helped others as well. Contact me here: Admin@MoorAboutBahia.com)
Total processing time for residence can take over 3-months. At this point, the Brazilian government will expect you to enter the country and register with the local police.
Now for the good part– you don’t have to live in Brazil full time. Don’t get me wrong, Brazil is a great place, but I don’t like the idea of being chained to geography just to get a passport. In Brazil, you only need to enter the country once every 2-years to ensure that your residency doesn’t get cancelled.
Generally, after 4-years (depending on the visa program that you enter the country under), you are eligible to apply for naturalization. From the time you apply for naturalization to the time that you obtain your passport can take about a year– it’s not especially fast.
Part of the requirement is that you need to be able to speak and understand at least basic Portuguese. If you have background in Spanish or Italian you might find it fairly easy to pick up.
The Brazilian government recognizes dual citizenship without restriction, so you don’t need to give up your other passport unless you want to. There is also no forced military conscription to worry about.
The primary downside of Brazilian residency and citizenship is being caught up in their tax net… but if you properly plant multiple flags, this shouldn’t affect you too greatly.
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