From first call to operating company, without leaving your country
Every step, every document and every authority involved in forming a foreign-owned company in Brazil. Typical duration: four to eight weeks from receipt of apostilled documents.
We designed the process around the foreign client, not the Brazilian bureaucracy
No travel
Powers of attorney let our resident attorneys sign and file on your behalf.
No Portuguese
Every document is delivered with an English reference version. Every call is in English.
No chasing
One point of contact, a shared timeline and proactive weekly updates.
No surprises
Fixed professional fees. Government, notary and translation costs itemised upfront.
Six stages, one coordinated project
Durations are typical for an LTDA with foreign individual partners in Rio Grande do Sul. Corporate partners, regulated activities and other states add time; we tell you exactly how much in the proposal.
Structuring call and proposal
A Brazilian attorney reviews your business model, ownership, expected revenue and any regulated activities. We recommend the entity type, tax regime, share capital and governance, and confirm whether a virtual tax address is suitable. Within one business day you receive a written proposal with fixed fees, itemised third-party costs and a timeline.
You provide
- Description of the business
- Ownership structure
- Countries of residence of the owners
We deliver
- Recommended structure memo
- Fixed-fee proposal
- Tailored document checklist
Drafting, notarisation and apostille
We draft the articles of association and the power of attorney in Portuguese with an English reference version. You sign the power of attorney before a notary in your country and have it apostilled under the Hague Convention (or legalised at a Brazilian consulate for non-member countries). Corporate partners also provide certified constitutional documents. We arrange sworn translation in Brazil.
You provide
- Notarised, apostilled power of attorney
- Passport and proof of address copies
- Corporate documents (if a company is the owner)
We deliver
- Articles of association (PT/EN)
- Power of attorney (PT/EN)
- Sworn translations
CPF, CNPJ and Central Bank enrolment of the owners
Each foreign individual receives a CPF and each foreign company a CNPJ from the Federal Revenue. Non-resident owners are then registered in the Central Bank's declaratory registry, with our attorney recorded as their resident representative. These registrations are prerequisites for the incorporation filing.
Board of Trade, company CNPJ and enrolments
The articles are filed with the state Board of Trade. Once approved, the company's CNPJ is issued automatically by the Federal Revenue. We then complete the municipal enrolment (for services), the state enrolment (for goods), the operating permit where required, and obtain the company's e-CNPJ digital certificate, which is needed to issue invoices and sign filings.
Authorities involved
- State Board of Trade
- Federal Revenue (CNPJ)
- Municipality and State Treasury
We deliver
- Registered articles and CNPJ card
- Municipal / state enrolments
- Digital certificate
Bank account, capital remittance and Central Bank registration
We select the bank or fintech, prepare and present the KYC dossier and follow the review through to activation. You then remit the share capital from abroad; the exchange contract is closed through the bank and the investment is registered in the Central Bank's foreign direct investment system. From this point, dividends and capital can lawfully leave Brazil.
You provide
- Signed bank forms
- Source-of-funds statement
- Capital remittance
We deliver
- Active corporate account
- Exchange contract
- Central Bank FDI registration
Compliance, accounting and growth
Your company enters the monthly cycle: bookkeeping, tax filings, invoicing, payroll and corporate housekeeping, with a quarterly legal review. If an investor residence permit is part of the plan, the application is filed as soon as the capital is registered. Contracts, hiring, trademarks and licences are handled by the same team as they arise.
Which documents will you need?
Select your situation to generate a tailored list. The final checklist is confirmed by your attorney in the proposal.
All foreign public documents must be apostilled (Hague Convention) or consular-legalised and sworn-translated into Portuguese. We coordinate the translation.
Your document checklist
Estimated timeline to operating company: 4–8 weeks · 0 items
Who does what
You
- Approve the structure and articles
- Sign and apostille the power of attorney
- Provide identity and corporate documents
- Remit share capital when the account is active
Brazil Company Setup
- Draft, translate and file every document
- Act as resident representative and administrator
- Obtain tax IDs, registrations and licences
- Open the bank account and register the capital
- Run accounting, payroll and legal compliance
Third parties
- Your local notary and apostille authority
- Brazilian sworn translator (arranged by us)
- Board of Trade, Federal Revenue, Central Bank
- The bank's compliance department
Get your tailored timeline and fixed-fee proposal
Tell us about the business and the owners. A Brazilian attorney will respond within one business day.