How do I hire an employee in Brazil?
Sarah Duran
Published May 13, 2026
In order to hire an employee in Brazil, a company must either establish a local subsidiary or entity, or find a company willing to put the employee on the payroll. Establishing a subsidiary in Brazil takes 3+ months but may provide tax benefits. Anticipate a lawsuit. Labor law in Brazil is extremely employee friendly.
Can I move to Brazil?
Many expats planning to move to Brazil apply for a permanent visa instead. To be considered for a permanent visa, the applicant needs to have a police certificate showing no criminal record. If they seek employment in Brazil, they must also prove that they possess special skills of benefit to the Brazilian economy.
How do I hire someone with a work visa?
How do I hire an employee in another country?
- Apply for certification from the United States Department of Labor.
- Interview prospective foreign workers.
- Apply for a work visa from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
- Verify the tax laws applicable to your company and the foreign worker.
How does employer of record work?
An employer of record is a cost-effective way to outsource payroll and HR functions. The business pays the employer of record a set rate for every hour the employee works, and the employer of record handles all tasks.
What are the main types of employment in Brazil?
The different types of employment contract in Brazil
- Contract of indefinite duration ( Contrato por tempo indeterminado )
- Fixed-term contract (Contrato por tempo determinado )
- Temporary employment contract (Contrato de trabalho temporário)
- Occasional employment contract (Contrato de trabalho eventual)
How do I pay a contractor in Brazil?
You can pay your contractors by transferring funds from your company’s bank account to your contractor’s bank account in Brazil using SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications), a secure network used by financial institutions worldwide.
What are the working conditions in Brazil?
The regular working period cannot exceed 8 hours per day and 44 hours per week. One-hour break for rest and meal is mandatory for employees that work more than 6 hours per day. Employees are also entitled to a paid weekly rest period, preferably on Sundays.
What does it mean to be an employee in Brazil?
According to the Brazilian Labour Code, an employee is an individual who personally renders services on a regular basis to an employer (habitual work), under the orders of the latter (subordination) and in exchange for compensation (economic dependence).
What do you need to know about payroll in Brazil?
Brazilian payroll involves withholding obligations on the part of employers, during each pay cycle – principally income tax and social security which are deducted at source and paid to authorities. It is legally acceptable in Brazil to provide employees with online payslips and payroll reports must be kept for at least five years.
Do you have to be a union member in Brazil?
The Brazilian Constitution sets forth that both employers and employees, may, but are not required, to associate with a Union in order to defend their economic or professional interests. However, this freedom is limited by other legal provisions.
Where does Brazil rank in ease of doing business?
Brazil is a founding member of the UN, a member of the G20, and the Organization of Ibero-American states. The World Bank ranked Brazil 124 on its Ease of Doing Business Survey 2019. Why Invest in Brazil ?
