Considerations surrounding Brazilian citizenship and naturalization

Hello William,

Thanks for all the information. I am also a Canadian who has been living in Brazil for just over 2 years now with my RNE. I am married to a Brazilian woman and I am starting to look into becoming a citizen. I know, from your information, that I can apply for this now, actually a year ago but I have a few question for you. What do you know about the language requirements for citizenship besides what you have listed, "Ability to read and write Portuguese in a manner commensurate with his or her possibilities." What exactly does this mean? How do they test this ability?

The reason I ask is because my Portuguese is terrible! I'm worried I might just be wasting my time and money.

Thanks for your help.
Daniel

Hi Daniel,

Actually the wording of the legislation is extremely misleading because what they actually are asking for is a certificate that you've passed at least the first level of the CELPE-Bras test of proficiency in Portuguese.

I'm curious as to why a Canadian would even think of Brazilian citizenship, would you mind sending me a private message here to give me a bit of a background? Really citizenship is going to give you very little in the way of rights that you don't already have, and it will carry many more responsibilities and disadvantages.

About the only real rights that you're going to gain are the ability to enter the "concursos" for public sector positions, vote (and then if you don't you're required to justify why not), run for certain elected positions and obtain a Brazilian passport.

What are the disadvantages? Well, they're substantial for us Canadians to be quite honest. In the naturalization process you must renounce any other citizenship you have. Don't freak out, this is only "pro forma", it only has legal effect in Brazil (it does not mean you have lost your Canadian citizenship). What it does mean is that within Brazil you are considered to be ONLY a Brazilian and you cannot then fall back on a secondary citizenship should something go wrong.

For example, if one is convicted of a serious crime in Brazil and imprisoned, many countries (through diplomatic channels) will seek to arrange a prisoner exchange and the individual is repatriated to serve out their sentence in their homeland where they usually will have better conditions and more rights. That wouldn't even be a remote possibility if they have naturalized and the person's home government wouldn't even request a prisoner exchange under those circumstances.

Another disadvantage for much younger individuals is compulsory military service, while you can get around it, it still is a headache.

The Brazilian passport is ranked No. 21 on the on the Henley & Partners scale of visa restrictions, while the Canadian passport is No. 2. So you will get into more nations without a visa on a Canadian passport than you would on a Brazilian passport. Also in some countries you're going to be looked upon MUCH differently if you enter as a Brazilian citizen and using a Brazilian passport, this is an unfortunate fact, but nonetheless true. 

Also you MUST get a Brazilian passport or you can't leave the country. The law requires you to enter and exit Brazil ONLY using a Brazilian passport if you are a citizen. Since as a Canadian citizen you have that same restriction you also need to maintain your Canadian passport to enter and exit Canada. Just needless headaches if you ask me - having to always carry two passports. For any other nations you can choose whichever you think is more advantageous. Many people try to use multiple passports to circumvent immigrations and visa stay restrictions. Be warned that in most countries this constitutes Immigration Fraud and can result in serious criminal charges.... don't go there!!!

Last but not least are the tax implications involved in naturalizing. Canada and Brazil have a comprehensive Tax Treaty which is in place to protect you from double taxation and in most cases it works quite well. Essentially while you have to declare your foreign income in BOTH countries; generally speaking you are not going to be taxed on the foreign income. Please note that I said "generally speaking". Sometimes Treaty notwithstanding you're going to get taxed in Brazil too and in Canada depending on your Canadian and Brazilian income it might, in some cases, bump you up into a slightly higher tax bracket so you will effectively pay a bit more tax on your Canadian income as a result.

Brazil has the most complex tax laws on the face of the planet according to all of the financial experts; and they keep changing at such a pace that not even tax specialists can keep up with them. If you live in Brazil and earn less than R$ 25.661,70 per year or didn't have other non-taxable income in excess of R$40 thousand you are exempt from not only paying income tax, but you don't even need to file a declaration.

Another big drawback of naturalization is when it comes time for you to begin collecting your Canada Pension Plan and Private Pension plan retirement benefits. If you are a naturalized Brazilian your CPP is taxable in Brazil, but not in Canada. I'm not sure about the situation with private pensions.

There are probably a host of government services that we Canucks can avail ourselves of even when we're abroad. I think that we'd quite likely be disqualified for them if we naturalized here.

Hope this has given you LOTS to think about... because it is not something to be taken lightly by any stretch of the imagination. Personally at my age (65) I wouldn't naturalize here if they paid me to, for me there are nothing but disadvantages to doing so. Younger people, well they should think long and hard and only do what is in their overall best interest.

Cheers,
William James Woodward, Expat-blog Experts Team

Hi,

Thanks to all for sharing all those important information.

I would like to know if someone (that already have VIPER permanent) and has been in Brazil for more than one year can apply for naturalization just after the son borns or if he has to wait one year after the child born?

Thanks

Yes, the count only begins from the time of birth of the child, which is the grounds for the reduction of the waiting period. They don't go back beyond that because the entitlement to the reduction did not exist before the birth, only afterward.

Hi,

I am currently in Brazil having received my VIPER visa from the consulate in my home country. I have successfully hurdled the trip to the PF and have received a paper with my Protocol and RNE numbers on it. My passport has also been stamped with the "permanencia" status.

My question now is that I may have to soon leave Brazil for an extended period of time (ie. over 6 months) but the Protocolo paper I was given would expire before then. I have a VIPER visa that says "indeterminado" as validity so I would not have issues boarding a flight back but I was wondering if I will have any issues on re-entry with immigration given the protocolo would be expired?

Thanks!

Hi Tony,

Since you've received your visa from the Consulado-Geral do Brasil and it's marked "Indeterminado" you won't have any problems at all re-entering Brazil. Once granted permanency you can be outside of Brazil for up to two years before you would lose permanency, except in cases of emergency that are beyond your control - like being hospitalized.

If your Cédula de Identidade Estrangeiro is not ready to be collected by the time you plan on leaving, you should drop in on the Policia Federal where you applied for it and let them know you plan on being out of the country and for how long. Ask them to hold on to the Cédula for you until you return. If possible get them to attach a Post-it note on the file to remind them.

Cheers,
William James Woodward, Expat-blog Experts Team

Thanks for the quick reply!

Assuming the CIE is not ready in time what would happen if I did not alert the PF about my absence? Would it not just sit there waiting for me till I eventually return?

The PF where I applied happens to be LAPA in Sao Paolo and my trip there to get the RNE/Protocolo was painless mainly thanks to this forum and having all the right documents. However I had to be there from 530am in the morning in order to be one of the first in line since getting an appointment online proved to be impossible.

I would prefer to avoid going back if not absolutely necessary! Is there a limit on how long they will hold the CIE for me? It seems from what you said that holding an expired Protocolo is not the issue here. The lady at the fingerprinting told me it would be ready in 6 months by the way so I doubt I will have it before I leave.

Thanks again!

You can probably notify them by phone that you're going to be away and ask them to hold the CIE.

Their switchboard number is (11) 3538-5000 ask for Setor de Estrangeiros and have your protocol number ready.

Cheers,
James

Hi William,
After my child is born in Brazil, he will be a citizen, how long does it take to get him a Brazilian passport ?

You can apply for the passport for your child at any time.

You and the child's mother (if not already citizens) can apply for Permanência Definitiva com base em prole brasileiro(a) and if you have all the necessary documents and they're in perfect order, then you get permanency granted immediately.

Once you've been granted permanency, for ordinary naturalization, for those either married to a Brazilian citizen or having a Brazilian born child, you would need to wait ONE YEAR from the date on which you received permanency to apply for naturalization. All others must wait FOUR YEARS for ordinary naturalization.

Just remember that you will still need to meet all the usual requirements for citizenship, including passing a test in fluency in the Portuguese language.

Cheers,
James        Expat-blog Experts Team

Thanks,
If I choose to get only a citizenship for my son for the meantime. Because we cannot stay for a long time.
Can I apply immediately for my son passport? And how long time will take ?

If your son was born here and the birth properly registered in the Cartório then he's a citizen and you can apply for his passport now.

Just remember if you want to apply for permanency based on a Brazilian child, you cannot do that outside of Brazil, you would have to return to Brazil as a tourist and apply here. Foreign Consulates will not accept the application on those grounds.

Cheers,
James

TonyRC,

By law they cannot dispose of the CIE during it's period of validity so if you just applied for it then it would be somewhere around 2023 they have to hang onto it. Yes it will be there to be picked up, but you'll wind up in all kinds of hot water here in Brazil because you MUST carry it with you at all times. You cannot be without the civil ID, just as Brazilians can't.

Once permanent you can only be outside Brazil for 2 years, max. based on entry/exit stamps in your passport. After that permanency is cancelled.

Cheers,
James

After I apply for his passport, how long time will I wait to get my son passport?
The process time is critical for me because I can stay in Brazil only 2 weeks after my son birth .

Since you cannot leave Brazil without a passport for your child, you are commiting NO WRONG by remaining here until his passport can be issued. I don't even think you can be fined for overstay under the circumstances.

Further, according to the Federal Constitution you have the right to remain in Brazil and CANNOT be expelled under any circumstances becase of the child (Art. 226 of the Constitution guarantees protection of the family unit and Lei 6.815/1980 Art. 75 II (b) says you cannot be expelled)

Regarding how long it will take for the Federal Police to issue a passport for your child I don't know... they work on their own schedule and only they can tell you. Lately they've had a number of technical problems which have slowed down passport production.

Cheers,
James

James,

Thanks for this excellent blog. It has helped me make my decision. I am here with a permanent RNE (Brazilian wife) and am coming up for renewal of my RNE next year (RNE -10 yrs vs. PP - 5 yrs). I am working here as an Expat and my company will take care of any visa or passport decision I want. A nice situation. I was starting to consider getting a Passport rather than the hassle of renewing the RNE but after reading your blog, I came to the conclusion that, as a fellow Canadian (non-res), I am in for more problems than benefits. Two things I haven´t seen mentioned here yet 1. If you take a Brazilian Passport can you say goodby to any opportunity of getting your hands on your FGTS until you retire (still have 15 years to go) whereas, I believe, I can get my FGTS by waiting 2 yrs after I return home (not sure here - maybe 2 yrs after RNE expires, get FGTS, pay fine, get RNE again). 2. As an Expat, I have the golden glove treatment - with a Brazilian passport, I doubt my company would continue the Expat agreement and I would have to take a National contract (maybe there are exceptions with other companies)

So, before I cancel the whole passport idea, could you comment on those 2 issues?

All the best,

Trevor

Canada passport ranked No. 2 for worldwide acceptance, while Brazil passport ranked No. 19... think about that for a moment. Would you really want citizenship just for that reason?

Citizenship also means that once you start to receive Canada Pension Plan or any other government benefits, they will be taxed here in Brazil. Canada's taxes would be much more favorable.

Since you'll still be a Canadian citizen you'll have to file an annual T1-General if you have any Canadian sourced income, and that means reporting your Brazilian sourced income as part of your "worldwide income". Even though in the application process for naturalization here in Brazil you must renounce any former citizenship, that is only pro forma, only has legal force in Brazil. You will not lose your Canadian citizenship unless you actually go through a special process in Canada or at a Consulate to renounce it.

That said, you will lose a lot of protection and rights that you now have as a Canadian if you naturalize. God forbid you have any legal problems, the Consulate-General of Canada's hands would be tied, they couldn't help you in any way, because here in Brazil you would be considered first, foremost and ONLY a Brazilian.

Regarding the FGTS I have no idea how it works or how naturalization would effect it, you'll need to take that up with INSS.

Cheers,
James

All points well understood. And that is why I will not apply for a passport in Brasil.

I am officially non-resident in Canada - They can´t tax me here - I still file forms to keep them aware.

When renewing the RNE (CIE) do you need to pay the GRU for the first card still? Or can I skip that fee?

Also - If you let your RNE lapse for a year (to get my hands on FGTS) and then re-apply - does this create problems or just fines? Or do I have to start from the beginning?

Thanks and Brgds,

Trevor

Hi Trevor,

Regardless of having filed the NR5 to become a "deemed non-resident" if you have any Canadian sourced income you must file a T1-General each year. So don't forget that. The exception is if you are hit with the 25% withholding tax on everything, then that quits any tax liability and cancels any refunds that would otherwise be due. The 25% is a big hit especially if your Canadian earnings are less than the basic personal exemption. You can ask for that to be reduced and if they lower the rate then you'll have to start filing T1-General returns again. You'll need to paper file from abroad, since they don't allow us expats to e-file our returns for some crazy reason. If your income is below the basic personal exemption then you'll get a refund.

In Brazil resident or not, if you're working you must pay taxes on any income earned here. You also must report your world income too.

Yes, you need to pay to renew your CIE, but if you're over 60 years of age or have a physical disability when the CIE you don't need to renew ever again, it will come back VALIDADE: Indeterminado. I don't know which of the GRU codes apply since I don't renew mine. There's one for Carteira de Estrangeiro de primeira via and another one lower on the list Carteira de Estrangeiros outras vias, which is much more expensive. I kind of think that's the one used for lost ID cards, but you should check with them before you generate the GRU.

Letting your permanency lapse for a year is going to be a headache, you'll have to apply to re-establish your registration and for a new CIE and I'm not sure if you have to provide all of the same documents that were required for permanency the first time around or if it's a bit more simplified. Again you'd need to confirm that with the DPF. Personally I think it's going to be a hassle.

Cheers,
James

See important new information added to the first posting in this topic on May 17, 2015

Cheers,
James     Expat-blog Experts Team

Thanks for the valuable information.

I have a question please.

What will be the case if I got the naturalization as Brazilian and before that I have a son who is 10 years old and was born outside of Brazil?

Can I give him the nationality of Brazil after I get it or he will still foreigner until he will be 18 years old and then he will apply alone regardless that his father became a Brazilian?

Hello kamalcomputer,

First of all, for Ordinary Naturalization, you must have been a legal permanent resident of Brazil for 4 years. That may be reduced to 1 year after receiving permanent resident status if you are married to a Brazilian citizen or have a child born in Brazil.

Are you already a legal permanent resident of Brazil?  If not exactly how do you propose to obtain permanent status? For that you either have to marry a Brazilian, have a child born here or have held a VITEM-V Work Visa, worked and resided in Brazil for a minimum of 3 years and then apply for transformation of the work visa into a VIPER Permanent Visa.

Not nearly as easy as you may be thinking, is it?????

Cheers,
James       Expat-blog Experts Team

Hello James,

Thank you very much for replying dear.

Dear I am already in Brazil and I have permanent RNE and it was issued before 9 months approximately. In the same time I am authorized refugee in Brazil because we escaped from the war from my original country and I have declaration from CONARE about that. My wife was pregnant and after arriving to Brazil my wife delivered and now I have a Brazilian baby and because of him me and my wife and 2 daughters (4 years, 10 years) all of us got the permanent RNE.

As the law I know that me and my wife have the right to apply for naturalization when we will complete one year in permanent RNE but now I am worry about my 2 daughters. especially the one who is 10 years old because there is no any law as I was searching to allow her to be naturalized until she become 18 years old then she should apply as us in the federal police. The small daughter has the right to apply now only for "provisional naturalization" which means she should apply again when she will be 18 years old to keep the Brazilian Nationality with her.

for that my question was "can I register my 2 daughters in notary's office as daughters of Brazilian parents and give them the Brazilian birth certificates and RG or it is not possible?
If it is not possible then I should apply for the small daughter (4 years) for the "provisional naturalization" as I think now.

Please give me your opinion

Best Regards

Hi kamalcomputer,

Ok first of all let's deal with some issues surrounding citizenship and naturalization.so there are no surprises.

1. Naturalization, and granting citizenship to ANY individual is always at the sole discretion of the nation that grants it. (i.e. there is no RIGHT to citizenship except by birth). So while your child is automatically a citizen, you only have the RIGHT TO APPLY for citizenship. For you and your wife (the child's mother) you can apply after 1 year of having been granted permanency. You must meet ALL of the requirements for citizenship, including having no criminal convictions here or abroad, and pass a test of fluency in the Portuguese language, among other things.

2.  You really need to talk to the Federal Police or an immigration lawyer about WHEN you can apply for citizenship for your other two chlldren. I would suspect that as dependent minors, that you could likely apply for their citizenship at the same time as you apply for your, but I can't say for certain. There is absolutely no doubt that you can apply for citizenship on their behalf, the question is WHEN. At the very worst, if you can't apply for them at the same time, then you will be able to do so after 4 years from the date of being granted permanency;.

No you can't register your other children at the Cartório and get an RG for them, that is only for born Brazilians.

Cheers,
James     Expat-blog Experts Team

James wrote:

You can apply for the passport for your child at any time.

You and the child's mother (if not already citizens) can apply for Permanência Definitiva com base em prole brasileiro(a) and if you have all the necessary documents and they're in perfect order, then you get permanency granted immediately.

Once you've been granted permanency, for ordinary naturalization, for those either married to a Brazilian citizen or having a Brazilian born child, you would need to wait ONE YEAR from the date on which you received permanency to apply for naturalization. All others must wait FOUR YEARS for ordinary naturalization.

Just remember that you will still need to meet all the usual requirements for citizenship, including passing a test in fluency in the Portuguese language.

Cheers,
James        Expat-blog Experts Team

Hi,
In that case what I understand that, Father get passport after one year (after passing the Portuguese language test), rest mother and other child who born outside Brazil but have the viper need to wait 4 years to obtain ordinary naturalization. Will my wife also need to pass the language test or only me?
If my other child back in home country at the time of baby birth then what should i have to do to bring in Brazil?
Am I correct?
Kindly correct me.
Thanks

Nasir,

Both you and your wife could apply for permanency immediately following the birth of the child. Of course you would need all the documents for permanency to be ready, if they're in order you would be granted permanency immediately.

You can apply for permanency for your other children at the same time you apply for yours, they as minors would qualify since you are applying for permanency.

You must wait for one year from the date you are granted permanecy in order to apply for naturalization for you and your wife. You would both have to pass the Portuguese fluency test, as well as meet all of the other requirements for citizenship. This process takes about a year to complete.

That means you would actually not be able to apply for a Brazilian passport for about two years from the time you are granted permanency because you must have citizenship first.

Your other children would probably need to wait the 4 years for ordinary naturalization, but it doesn't hurt to ask the Federal Police before you and your wife apply, they may allow you to apply for your minor children at the same time. It certainly doesn't cost anything to ask them, and who knows? They might just surprise you and say yes.

Cheers,
James      Expat-blog Experts Team

Hi james
read your post .its quite interesting and informative . I am planning to deliver my baby in brazil in december .i already have two daughters  (6 years and 1 year).
i have some questions
1: how is it possible to get resident address on a tourist visa as required for the birth certificate
2: how long does it take to get the babys passport after submitting all the doc.
3: after i submit my permanent residency  (with the child birth certificate ) how long it takes to get it approved
4: after i get permanent residency approved will i be able to come and go to brazil as i wish or i have to apply for visa every time i decide to go to brazil
5: what about my two daughters. . Will they be getting permanent residency as well or no .and if no
6: how will they be able to get it


Sorry for asking so many questions

Hashim

Hello Hashim,

1.  It depends on where you are staying, if you're in a hotel then you should ask the manager to write a letter stating that the hotel is your residence. If you are renting then you should have a rental contract which will serve as proof of address. You should check with the hospital before your delivery date, you may be able to use a notarized "Declaração Sob Pena da Lei de Residência". If you can use the Declaração, contact me later and I can provide you with a fill-in-the-blanks Declaração that you can get notarized at the Cartório.

2.  The passport for the child can't be predicted, it depends on the Federal Police delegacy where you apply for it. I would imagine that it shouldn't take more than a couple of weeks if all the documents are in order.

3.  Provided that ALL of the required documents are present and in proper order permanency is granted immediately, you are registered in the RNE, apply for your civil ID the Cédula de Identidade Estrangeiro all at the same time. Your passport gets stamped "Registrado como Permanente", but you will have to wait anywhere from 60 to 180 days for the ID card to be ready, depending on the delegacy. I strongly recommend that you not leave the country until you have received the Cédula, you may have trouble with foreign airlines not allowing you to board a flight returning to Brazil otherwise.

4.  Once you've received your Cédula de Identidade Estrangeiro, you can enter and exit Brazil as you please. The only restriction is that you cannot be outside of Brazil for more than 2 years at any given time (based on entry/exit stamps in your passport) or you lose your permanent resident status.

5.  You must make a separate application for permanency for each of your other children, but they will get permanency essentially based on yours, since they are minors.

Just remember that the fees for the permanency process are significant, and you're looking at paying for them for all three of you. You also may need to produce translations of your Birth Certificates if the Federal Police request them.

Read the following topic thread for more information about applying for permanency:

https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=403321

Cheers,
James      Expat-blog Experts Team

Hi James,

i interested to deliver my baby in Brazil as my wife is in week 20 of pregnancy.

Do you have contact number of any expert lawyers in family cases that could do all the required goverment/documentation process for me in brazil.

Also, which city you recomend tome to deliver my baby in order to get passport for her and permanent residence faster.

Hello Ramin_upc,

First of all you have to get here, and that means obtaining at the very least a VITUR Tourist Visa for Brazil. This will not be an easy task since Brazil has made it extremely difficult for citizens of Middle-East and African countries to obtain any category of visas.

You need to apply online through the Consulado-Geral do Brasil in Tehran. The process will require you to have a Letter of Invitation from a family member, long-time personal friend or an employer, who is either a Brazilian citizen or permanent resident. If you don't have a relationship with anyone having any of these qualifications then you would not even be considered for a visa. Also the visa issuing process will involve a personal interview with a Consular Official, before a visa can be issued. The Consulado-Geral's website is:

http://teera.itamaraty.gov.br/en-us/tourist_visa.xml

Not much sense in giving you any information about lawyers here unless you actually obtain a visa.

Cheers,
James      Expat-blog Experts Team

hi james
its almost four month of my post on this forum ... i am grateful for your reply which really helped a lot . i m having my protocolo with all the procedures done with a decent speed ... just for the info .
1) got my son delivered in a public hospital Carmela dutra  florianopolis SC..... awsome experience ...
2) got birth certificate the same day from the cartorio the day my wife left hospital thats after 48 hours . the cartorio lady asked for the electric bill of the apartment i was living in .... which i didt have as i was renting it with water and electricity .. so with the help of my proof of residency she got the CPF of the building owner and called him who fortunately was nearby came by with the bill and work done
3) applied next day for passport of my newborn which got the date for 10 days but got email in 7 days and passport on 9th day .... passport officer was a thorough gentleman ...i had wrong size picture of my son and he really managed
4) got appointment to apply for my and my family pemanancy the very next day ... and got all the protocolo within 2 days after a bit of lengthy process but the lady at policia federal was nice and cooperative
now waiting for the application to get dispatch to brassilia ... its been 20 days since i got my protocolo ....
any other advice for me kindly post ....

PROOF OF RESIDENCY WAS EASY .... IT WAS DONE BY THE BUILDING OWNER IN 2 HOURS ... HE TOOK MINE AND MY WIFE'S PASSPORT COPY ..WENT TO CARTORIO AND BOUGHT BACK TO ME

regard
hashim

Hi Hashim bahi Salam,
how are you bro? for your Daughter's permanency what documents required? Is there any problem did you face for other 2 child permanency?

Hello Hashim,

I'm so very happy that things have gone so well for you. I guess that you're another on that I can mark up on the WIN column here on my scoreboard. Just wonderful news, my friend!!!

Cheers,
James
expat.com Experts Team

Hi Hashem,

Great to hear the news and congradulations to your new baby.

As of your experience, would you please let me know the following questions:

- On what week of pregnancy you and your wife traveled? Was it asked by flight crew to avoid not allowing to use floght due to pregnancy?

- how long was the floght journey ? How was the health of your wife during long flight from Dubai to Brazil? Was she faced any problem during the flight?

Thanks and Regards,

Rami

salaam nasir
answer to ur query .... they did check my daughters birth certificate (attested from the country of birth) and asked for some financial support but i didnt had any and she didnt even asked again ..... lucky me .... other then that nothing .... just placed doc as pr required ( nice help by a nice friend) do keep more copies of ur and ur wives passport with you all the time if you are applying .... rather make a proper folder and keep the passport copies there of urs and ur wife .... nothing much i can think of ....

hi ramen
thank you ...
answer to ur question .... travelled in her 34 week .... no one really bothered to ask .... was on emirates airline and since it was allowed on the aircraft with consent letter of doctor ( which had carried) .... the flight was almost 15 hours from dubai to brazil ( plus 3 hours waiting and 2 hour flight to florianopolis) .
no health issues and no problem during flight .... though extremely tiry .... and a bit stressful for me handling 2 kids ( 6year and 1 year) ..... kudos to my wife ..... reached safe and sound

hi

For those who are coming here for delivering their child and have dependant children before and are traveling with you ....


keep original birth certificates (preferably in english as it can be translated in here easily) of urs and ur child with u all the time(attested from foreign affairs from the country of origin)
ur original marriage certificate (preferably in english as it can be translated in here easily) with u all the time(attested from foreign affairs from the country of origin)
these documents sometimes they ask sometimes they dont .....
keep photographs with you as ......  3x4 size
making passport copies will be of no use since there wont be stamp of u exiting ur country and entering brazil ...so get it done here ... its cheap here .... 0.25 pr page ..... 
since they ask for financail support try bringing bank statement for the past 6 months with you and make photocopies as well .... bring title deed of any property u have ... try bringing original .... though they dont keep it but they do check every original whose copy is attache ....
all the best

hashim

Hi Hashem,

Thank you for your information, great information.

James wrote:

Military service is obligatory so while it may not effect you, if you have any Brazilian born child they will be obligated to serve in the military upon reaching 18 years of age.

Hi James, regarding the above what exactly are the implications for someone that naturalizes as a Brazilian? Up till what age is military service mandatory? I've heard most people get exempted? Can you elaborate on this subject?

Thanks

TonyRC