Facts in this handbook are compiled from official sources such as local authorities. Rules change — confirm the current position through the source links or with the authority before making major decisions.
01Overview
- Region
- Latin America
- Capital
- Brasília
- Currency
- BRL
- Languages
- Portuguese
- ISO code
- BR / BRA
Jurisdictions
- Brazil (federal) — Federal level; states and municipalities levy ICMS, ISS and others
China's direct investment
- China's 2025 FDI flow
- 8.2 USD 100m
- End-2025 FDI stock
- 42.2 USD 100m
- Flow rank
- #18 by flow
Source：2025 Statistical Bulletin of China's Outward Foreign Direct Investment ↗ · Flow is for calendar 2025; stock is at end-2025. Flow rank is from Table 8 (top 20); other countries from Annex Tables 1–2 (originally USD 10k, converted to USD 100m; one decimal, two below 1). A negative flow means divestment exceeded new investment that year.
Macro indicators such as GDP and population are not included yet; see official statistics such as the World Bank.
02Market Entry
Industries to study: Cross-border e-commerce & consumer brandsEVs, batteries & energy storageMedical devices & pharmaAgriculture, food & minerals
Foreign ownership
Whether 100% foreign ownership is generally allowed, and key exceptions. Allowed / conditional / not allowed / unverified.
100% foreign ownership allowed in most sectors
- Applies to
- Restrictions apply to rural land, media, border areas and some other sectors
- Jurisdiction
- Brazil (federal)
- Source
- Banco Central do BrasilApexBrasil
- Cross-check
Outward Investment and Cooperation Guide: Brazil (2025 ed.)partly consistentMOFCOM guide notes a 30% foreign cap in newspapers and broadcasting
03Business Formation
Common legal entity
The company form most commonly used by foreign investors for a local operating entity.
Limited liability company (Ltda.)
- Applies to
- Corporations (S.A.) are also used
- Jurisdiction
- Brazil (federal)
- Source
- Departamento Nacional de Registro Empresarial e Integração (DREI)
Local director / representative
Whether a locally resident director, manager or representative is required.
Administrators must reside in Brazil; foreign partners must appoint a local attorney-in-fact
- Applies to
- Ordinary companies
- Jurisdiction
- Brazil (federal)
- Source
- Departamento Nacional de Registro Empresarial e Integração (DREI)
Registration authority
Primary authority for company or commercial registration.
State commercial registries (Juntas Comerciais)
- Applies to
- A CNPJ tax ID from Receita Federal is also required
- Jurisdiction
- Brazil (federal)
- Source
- Departamento Nacional de Registro Empresarial e Integração (DREI)Receita Federal do Brasil
Foreign-entity setup flow
Main approval stages for a foreign investor setting up an entity (no time estimates).
State registration → CNPJ → state and municipal tax registration → register foreign investment with the Central Bank
- Applies to
- Foreign shareholders themselves also need a CNPJ or CPF
- Jurisdiction
- Brazil (federal)
- Source
- Departamento Nacional de Registro Empresarial e Integração (DREI)Receita Federal do BrasilBanco Central do Brasil
- Cross-check
Outward Investment and Cooperation Guide: Brazil (2025 ed.)consistent
Tax Guide for Chinese Residents Investing in Brazil (2023 ed.)consistent
Foreign ownership
Whether 100% foreign ownership is generally allowed, and key exceptions. Allowed / conditional / not allowed / unverified.
100% foreign ownership allowed in most sectors
- Applies to
- Restrictions apply to rural land, media, border areas and some other sectors
- Jurisdiction
- Brazil (federal)
- Source
- Banco Central do BrasilApexBrasil
- Cross-check
Outward Investment and Cooperation Guide: Brazil (2025 ed.)partly consistentMOFCOM guide notes a 30% foreign cap in newspapers and broadcasting
Local registered address
Whether a local registered address or premises is required at incorporation.
A registered address in Brazil is required
- Applies to
- Ordinary companies
- Jurisdiction
- Brazil (federal)
- Source
- Departamento Nacional de Registro Empresarial e Integração (DREI)
Beneficial ownership register
Whether companies must keep or file ultimate beneficial owner information.
Ultimate beneficial owners must be declared in the CNPJ registration
- Applies to
- Applies to foreign shareholders as well
- Jurisdiction
- Brazil (federal)
- Source
- Receita Federal do Brasil
04Taxation
Headline corporate income tax
Statutory headline rate for ordinary companies, before incentives, exemptions, thresholds or special regimes. Always read with the conditions.
34% (IRPJ 15% + 10% surtax + CSLL 9%)
- Applies to
- The 10% surtax applies above a statutory threshold; financial institutions have different CSLL rates; presumed-profit and other regimes are available
- Jurisdiction
- Brazil (federal)
- Source
- Receita Federal do Brasil
- Cross-check
Tax Guide for Chinese Residents Investing in Brazil (2023 ed.)consistent
Federal taxes and CNPJ registrationconsistent
Indirect tax (VAT / GST / SST)
Standard rate and type of VAT, GST or sales & service tax.
Multiple turnover taxes (ICMS, IPI, PIS/COFINS, ISS), transitioning to the dual CBS / IBS VAT from 2026
- Applies to
- 2026 is a test year: CBS 0.9% and IBS 0.1%, offset against existing taxes; old and new systems run in parallel until 2033
- Jurisdiction
- Brazil (federal)
- Source
- Receita Federal do Brasil
- Cross-check
Outward Investment and Cooperation Guide: Brazil (2025 ed.)partly consistentMOFCOM guide gives ICMS 17%–20% intrastate and 4%–12% interstate; it does not cover the CBS / IBS transition from 2026
Federal taxes and CNPJ registrationconsistent
Tax authority
Authority responsible for corporate tax registration and filing.
Receita Federal plus state and municipal tax authorities
- Applies to
- Ordinary companies
- Jurisdiction
- Brazil (federal)
- Source
- Receita Federal do Brasil
Tax treaty with China
Whether a double taxation agreement with China is in force. Rates and conditions per the treaty text.
In force
- Applies to
- Rates and conditions per the treaty text and STA publications
- Jurisdiction
- Brazil (federal)
- Source
- State Taxation Administration (China)
Dividend withholding tax (non-residents)
General withholding on dividends paid to foreign shareholders, before treaty relief.
10% withholding tax on dividends paid abroad from 2026
- Applies to
- Under Law 15.270/2025; transitional relief for profits approved by end-2025, with open questions for non-residents
- Jurisdiction
- Brazil (federal)
- Source
- Receita Federal do Brasil
- Cross-check
Tax Guide for Chinese Residents Investing in Brazil (2023 ed.)differsTax guide (2023 ed.) says dividends bear no withholding; it predates the 2025 income tax reform — verify with Receita Federal
Federal taxes and CNPJ registrationconsistent
05Banking & Payments
Exchange controls
Whether general exchange controls or cross-border fund rules apply.
Foreign direct investment and profit remittances must be registered with the Central Bank
- Applies to
- Exchange control is strict: foreign companies generally cannot hold FX accounts and must convert to reais; transactions go through authorised institutions
- Jurisdiction
- Brazil (federal)
- Source
- Banco Central do Brasil
- Cross-check
Tax Guide for Chinese Residents Investing in Brazil (2023 ed.)consistent
Banking & financial regulator
Primary regulator for banking and foreign exchange.
Banco Central do Brasil
- Applies to
- Securities are supervised separately by the CVM
- Jurisdiction
- Brazil (federal)
- Source
- Banco Central do Brasil
06Employment
Labour & work permit authority
Authority for labour rules and foreign employee work permits.
Ministry of Labour and Employment (MTE)
- Applies to
- Ordinary companies
- Jurisdiction
- Brazil (federal)
- Source
- Ministério do Trabalho e Emprego (MTE)
Foreign employee work permit
Main permit types needed for foreign employees to work legally.
Residence authorisation for work
- Applies to
- Approval is needed before the visa
- Jurisdiction
- Brazil (federal)
- Source
- Ministério do Trabalho e Emprego (MTE)
- Cross-check
Outward Investment and Cooperation Guide: Brazil (2025 ed.)consistent
Social security contributions
Main employer social security schemes for local and foreign employees.
INSS contributions and the FGTS severance fund
- Applies to
- Employer contributions are significant
- Jurisdiction
- Brazil (federal)
- Source
- Instituto Nacional do Seguro Social (INSS)
07Trade & Customs
Main free trade agreements
Main regional and bilateral trade agreements relevant to Chinese exporters (not exhaustive).
Mercosur and others
- Applies to
- Ordinary companies
- Jurisdiction
- Brazil (federal)
- Source
- ApexBrasil
Customs authority
Authority for import/export clearance and tariffs.
Receita Federal (customs)
- Applies to
- Importers need RADAR enablement in Siscomex
- Jurisdiction
- Brazil (federal)
- Source
- Receita Federal do Brasil
08Investment & Manufacturing
Investment authority / agency
Body responsible for approving, registering or promoting foreign investment.
ApexBrasil
- Applies to
- Promotion agency, not an approval body
- Jurisdiction
- Brazil (federal)
- Source
- ApexBrasil
Free zone / SEZ regime
Whether free zones or special economic zones operate under rules different from the mainland.
Manaus Free Trade Zone (ZFM) and others
- Applies to
- Tax incentives require meeting production process rules
- Jurisdiction
- Brazil (federal)
- Source
- SUFRAMA
09Digital & IP
Personal data protection law
Main law and regulator governing collection, use and cross-border transfer of personal data.
General Data Protection Law (LGPD)
- Applies to
- Overseen by the ANPD
- Jurisdiction
- Brazil (federal)
- Source
- Autoridade Nacional de Proteção de Dados (ANPD)
IP office
Authority for trademark and patent filing and registration.
INPI
- Applies to
- Trademark rights are territorial; register locally or designate via the Madrid System (check WIPO membership)
- Jurisdiction
- Brazil (federal)
- Source
- Instituto Nacional da Propriedade Industrial (INPI)
10Compliance & Risk
New York Convention party
Whether the country is party to the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards, which affects enforcing foreign arbitral awards locally.
Yes
- Applies to
- Foreign arbitral awards can be enforced under the Convention, subject to its limited refusal grounds
- Jurisdiction
- Brazil (federal)
- Source
- UNCITRAL
Live risk monitoring
Geopolitical, conflict and trade-route risk events for Americas, monitored by our sister site Global Risk Monitor.
Global Risk Monitor · Geopolitical and trade-route risk monitoring
11Step-by-Step
Main setup steps in Brazil
- 1State registration
- 2CNPJ
- 3state and municipal tax registration
- 4register foreign investment with the Central Bank
Foreign shareholders themselves also need a CNPJ or CPF
General checklist (setting up a subsidiary)
- Decide model and jurisdiction
- Confirm licences
- Prepare documents
- Incorporate
- Register for tax
- Open bank account
- Obtain operating licences
- Start operations
Steps follow the setup-procedure fact on this page, without times or fees; rely on the official sources.
12Official Resources
Chinese official resources
Country materials from MOFCOM, the State Taxation Administration and China's overseas commercial offices
- MOFCOM country investment guideMOFCOM · PDF (Chinese)
- Green guideMOFCOM · PDF (Chinese)
- Country tax guide (STA)State Taxation Administration · PDF
- Commercial office中华人民共和国驻巴西联邦共和国大使馆经济商务处
- MOFCOM going-global platformMOFCOM
- Compliance & security alertsMOFCOM platform
Official guides are long Chinese-language PDFs updated on the publishers' schedules. Our structured facts cite local authorities as primary sources; use these guides to cross-check.
Local authorities
- TaxReceita Federal do BrasilFederal taxes and CNPJ registration · Accessed 2026-11-12
- Financial regulationBanco Central do BrasilForeign direct investment registration and FX · Accessed 2026-11-12
- Company registrationDepartamento Nacional de Registro Empresarial e Integração (DREI)Commercial registration · Accessed 2026-11-12
- InvestmentApexBrasilInvestment promotion · Accessed 2026-11-12
- LabourMinistério do Trabalho e Emprego (MTE)Labour rules and foreign workers · Accessed 2026-11-12
- LabourInstituto Nacional do Seguro Social (INSS)Social security · Accessed 2026-11-12
- InvestmentSUFRAMAManaus Free Trade Zone · Accessed 2026-11-12
- LegislationAutoridade Nacional de Proteção de Dados (ANPD)General Data Protection Law (LGPD) · Accessed 2026-11-12
- Company registrationInstituto Nacional da Propriedade Industrial (INPI)Trademarks and patents · Accessed 2026-11-12