Your Gateway to Doing Business in Brazil
Under Brazilian law, every company with foreign shareholders must appoint a legal representative residing in Brazil. This ensures the business can interact with authorities, receive official notifications, and meet its legal obligations. In practice, many foreign investors choose Brazilian attorneys as their legal representatives to navigate the country’s legal, tax, and bureaucratic systems with greater security and efficiency.
Brazil offers a vast and diverse market, open to both foreign individuals living abroad and international companies seeking to expand. While there are several types of entities under Brazilian law, the ones most frequently chosen by foreign investors combine flexibility, asset protection, and regulatory efficiency.
We guide clients through the entire company formation process, from choosing the right structure to preparing and registering all documentation, ensuring a smooth incorporation that aligns with their business objectives and complies fully with Brazilian regulations.
The most common choice for foreign entrepreneurs. Offers simplified governance and flexibility, while protecting personal assets by limiting liability to the amount invested.
More suitable for businesses planning to raise capital from multiple investors or enter the stock market. Requires formal governance structures and more comprehensive reporting.
Ideal for established companies abroad wishing to operate in Brazil. The parent company becomes the shareholder of the Brazilian entity.
Note: Brazil offers other structures, but these are the most frequently adopted by foreign investors because of their balance between cost, legal protection, and operational practicality.
Both foreign individuals and foreign companies can be shareholders in a Brazilian business. There is no obligation to have a Brazilian partner, but appointing a legal representative residing in Brazil is mandatory.
These documents form the foundation of the company’s governance. They define ownership, voting rights, profit distribution, management rules, and how shares or quotas can be transferred. Well-drafted bylaws anticipate potential scenarios and prevent internal disputes.
We prepare bylaws in Portuguese and English, ensuring they are fully enforceable under Brazilian law and tailored to the specific ownership structure, whether with a single shareholder or multiple investors.
Incorporating a company provides a legal separation between personal and business liabilities. This structure helps safeguard personal wealth in the event of commercial disputes or financial difficulties, allowing investors to operate in Brazil with greater security.
The company’s administrator (director) must generally be a resident of Brazil. However, there are cases in which a non-resident foreigner can serve in this role, provided certain legal conditions are met. We advise on the best way to structure management to comply with the law and suit the client’s needs.
Yes, both foreign individuals and foreign companies can own a Brazilian entity entirely, provided they appoint a legal representative residing in Brazil.
An LTDA offers simpler governance and is ideal for most businesses. An S/A is designed for larger enterprises seeking to raise capital from multiple investors or go public.
Yes, this is a common structure for international expansion.
Incorporation limits liability, helping protect personal assets.
Ownership structure, decision-making rules, profit distribution, transfer of shares/quotas, and management provisions.
In specific cases, yes — it requires legal structuring.
Typically 4–8 weeks, depending on document preparation and approvals.
No, incorporation can be handled remotely through a Power of Attorney.
Apostilled and sworn-translated corporate documents, proof of address, identification, and CPF for all shareholders/directors.
Yes, if it receives foreign capital.
