Retire or work remotely by the beach in Brazil: visas and a home in São Miguel do Gostoso

Which visa fits you?

There are three common routes for people who want to spend long periods in Brazil. The retirement and digital nomad visas depend on your income. The real estate route depends on the property. The numbers below come from consulate pages, and they do not always agree.

Tourist entry is a separate matter. Since Apr 10, 2025, US, Canadian and Australian citizens need a visa to visit Brazil for tourism or business, requested online as an e-Visa, according to the Brazilian consulate in Miami.

How does the retirement visa work?

The VITEM XIV retirement visa is for people with a pension or retirement income. The New York consulate asks for proof that you can transfer at least US$ 2,000 a month to Brazil, with a bank letter. The visa is valid for up to one year, the residency for up to two, and you must register with the Federal Police within 90 days of arrival.

The Stockholm embassy asks for the same minimum of US$ 2,000 a month and cites the legal basis as "RN 40". [CONFERIR: number of the resolution]

How does the digital nomad visa work?

The digital nomad visa, created by Normative Resolution 45/2021, is for people who work remotely for employers or clients outside Brazil. The Brazilian embassy in Zagreb lists US$ 1,500 a month in foreign income or US$ 18,000 in savings, for an initial stay of up to one year.

The Houston consulate lists US$ 1,800 a month, and the Miami consulate has been reported at US$ 2,000. Use the page of the consulate that serves where you live. [CONFERIR: amount at the consulate for each target country]

What is daily life like in São Miguel do Gostoso?

It is a small town that runs on the wind and the beach. In the evening people walk to the restaurants on Rua da Xepa. The wind season runs from September to February. Airbnb revenue peaks in January and is lowest in September, according to AirROI.

Water and air are warm year round: about 29 °C (84 °F) and 26 °C (79 °F) on average, according to IKSURFMAG. During the wind season there is hardly any rain.

Most guests are Brazilian, about 90% of Airbnb guests according to AirROI, so you will hear more Portuguese than English in town. [CONFERIR: size of the foreign resident community]

Is the internet good enough for remote work?

IKSURFMAG describes good connections in restaurants and hotels. At home, the speed depends on the street and the provider. In Anatel data for September 2026, the town had about 3,100 fixed broadband connections, 96% of them fiber, mostly with SKY/ZAAZ and NET System Internet, plus Starlink and Hughes by satellite. Before you sign, ask for a speed test at the house on our video call, and ask which provider serves it.

What about health care?

In town, the main public unit is the Unidade Mista Dr. Ricardo Simione, which the federal health register (CNES) lists as open morning, afternoon and evening, without inpatient care. For anything beyond basic care, residents go to Natal, the state capital, about 100 km (62 miles) away, which has private hospitals and specialists. [CONFERIR: names of reference hospitals in Natal] Take out international health insurance before you move, and check whether it covers private hospitals in Brazil.

How do you set up a home there?

A common path for retirees and remote workers looks like this.

1. Spend one wind season renting, so you know the town in high and low season.
2. Get your CPF at a Brazilian consulate and apply for the visa that fits your income.
3. Shortlist homes in a gated community with 24-hour security, so the house is looked after when you travel.
4. Hire an independent lawyer to check the matrícula and the seller's certificates.
5. Buy, record the deed in your name and, if the home is R$ 700,000 or more, ask your lawyer about the real estate residency route.

Properties for sale now

See photos

House · Town center

Furnished 3-bedroom house with pool at Mantra Residence, Gostoso

356 m² (3,832 sq ft)R$ 2,750,000Approx. US$ 500,000 · € 448,000

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Beach house · Town center

3-bedroom house So Ham at Mantra Residence, São Miguel do Gostoso

356.5 m² (3,837 sq ft)R$ 2,610,000Approx. US$ 474,000 · € 426,000

See photos

House · Town center

10-bedroom house with pool at Condomínio Shamballa, Gostoso

436 m² (4,693 sq ft)R$ 2,500,000Approx. US$ 454,000 · € 408,000

Frequently asked questions