Can a non-resident own a company in Brazil? Rules and requirements
A non-resident can own 100% of a Brazilian company. It takes a CPF, a resident administrator and Central Bank registration. See which entity types apply.
Yes — a non-resident can own a company in Brazil. There is no residency or nationality requirement to be a shareholder or quotaholder: a foreigner living abroad can hold 100% of a Brazilian company. Three conditions apply. The owner needs a Brazilian tax number — a CPF for an individual or a CNPJ for a foreign company. The company’s administrator must be a person resident in Brazil, appointed by power of attorney. And the foreign capital must be registered with the Central Bank of Brazil through the RDE-IED system. This guide explains the ownership rules, which entity types a non-resident can hold, and how an accountant — a traditional firm or an online accounting service — conducts the process.
Can a non-resident own a company in Brazil?
Ownership and residency are two different things in Brazilian law. A non-resident can be the owner — the quotaholder of a limited company or the shareholder of a corporation — without ever living in Brazil or holding a visa. What Brazilian law regulates is not who owns the company, but who represents it locally and how the money enters the country.
That distinction is the key to the whole setup: a foreigner abroad can own the business, but the company still needs a local administrator and a registered inflow of capital. An accountant — a traditional firm or an online accounting service — is the party that ties these requirements together and files the incorporation.
The three requirements: CPF, a resident administrator and capital registration
Whatever the entity type, non-resident ownership rests on three pillars:
- A Brazilian tax number. A non-resident individual owner needs a CPF; a foreign company acting as owner needs a CNPJ. The CPF can be obtained from abroad through a Brazilian consulate or the Receita Federal.
- A resident administrator. The person who manages the company must be resident in Brazil. A non-resident partner must also appoint an attorney resident in Brazil, with powers to receive service of process on their behalf.
- Foreign capital registration. Money invested from abroad into the company’s capital must be registered with the Central Bank of Brazil through the RDE-IED electronic declaration, so profits and future capital returns can be remitted legally.
Which business entity types a non-resident can own
Not every entity type is open to a non-resident. The table below shows where non-resident ownership works:
| Entity type | Non-resident owner? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| LTDA (limited liability company) | Yes | The most common choice; one or more quotaholders; the administrator must be resident in Brazil |
| SLU (single-member limited company) | Yes | A single owner with a liability shield; no second partner required |
| S.A. (corporation) | Yes | Shareholders may be non-resident; used for larger structures and investors |
| EI (individual entrepreneur) | No | The individual and the business are the same person; requires residency |
| MEI (micro-entrepreneur) | No | Requires residence in Brazil; not available to non-residents |
For most non-resident owners, the LTDA and the SLU are the practical options: they give a liability shield and allow full foreign ownership, provided the administrator is resident. The choice of entity and tax regime is set by the accountant before filing — the same step described in the step-by-step guide to opening a company in Brazil.
MEI is the exception: residency required
The MEI micro-entrepreneur regime is the one common structure closed to non-residents. Because the MEI requires residence in Brazil, a foreigner living abroad cannot use it — even though it is the cheapest and simplest way to formalize a small business for those who do live in the country. A non-resident who wants to hold a small Brazilian company uses an SLU or LTDA instead, with an accountant handling the obligations that the MEI would otherwise simplify.
How an accountant conducts a non-resident setup
The mechanics of a cross-border incorporation — apostilled documents, a power of attorney, the capital registration — are handled by the accountant together with the resident administrator. For a non-resident, an online accounting service is often the natural fit: it runs the whole process remotely, defines the entity type and tax regime, files the incorporation through REDESIM and manages the monthly obligations, without the owner needing to be in Brazil. The document and capital-registration steps are covered in detail in opening a Brazilian company from abroad, and the broader eligibility rules in can a foreigner open a company in Brazil.
Frequently asked questions
Can a non-resident own 100% of a Brazilian company? Yes. A non-resident can hold up to 100% of an LTDA, an SLU or an S.A. There is no nationality or residency requirement for owners. The company must, however, have an administrator resident in Brazil and register the foreign capital with the Central Bank.
Does a foreign owner need to live in Brazil? No. The owner can live abroad. What must be resident in Brazil is the company’s administrator, and a non-resident partner must appoint a resident attorney with powers to receive service of process.
Can a non-resident be a MEI? No. The MEI regime requires residence in Brazil. A non-resident who wants a small company uses an SLU or LTDA, with an accountant — traditional or online — conducting the setup and the monthly obligations.
Content produced in 2026, based on the rules of the Receita Federal (CPF/CNPJ), the Central Bank of Brazil (RDE-IED foreign capital registration) and the DREI on company administration. Requirements vary by entity type and state.