Can Foreigners Register as MEI in Brazil?
A foreigner can register as MEI in Brazil only with permanent residency status (CNRM, DPRNM or PSR), plus a CPF and an active gov.br account.
A foreigner can register as MEI in Brazil only with permanent immigration status: a provisional RNE or RNM is not accepted, and the registration still runs through the same gov.br Portal do Empreendedor used by Brazilian citizens.
Can a foreigner register as MEI in Brazil?
Yes, but only with permanent residency status. Brazil’s federal rules accept the Carteira Nacional de Registro Migratorio (CNRM), the Documento Provisorio de Registro Nacional Migratorio (DPRNM), or a Protocolo de Solicitacao de Refugio (PSR) issued by the Policia Federal. A foreigner holding only a provisional or temporary RNE cannot register as MEI, and needs to open a different structure instead, such as an LTDA or SLU, until permanent status is granted.
What else does a foreigner need besides immigration status?
A valid CPF with updated data at the Receita Federal, and an active gov.br account, both of which are prerequisites before the Portal do Empreendedor will accept the MEI registration. These are the same two requirements a Brazilian citizen needs; immigration status is the additional layer for a foreigner.
Are there activities a foreign MEI cannot register for?
Yes. Even with permanent status, certain regulated professions and activities carry restrictions tied to nationality or professional council registration, independent of the MEI’s tax classification. A foreigner should confirm the specific CNAE against the current MEI-eligible activity list before assuming registration is automatic, since the list changes periodically and not every CNAE that a citizen can use as MEI is open to a foreign national.
What if a foreigner does not qualify for MEI?
A foreigner without permanent residency can still open a company in Brazil as a partner in an LTDA or SLU, a structure with no residency requirement for the CNPJ itself, though a Brazil-based legal representative is typically required to receive official notifications. See Can a non-resident own a company in Brazil? and Opening a Brazilian Company From Abroad.