Moving to the UK from Brazil: Complete Guide

The Brazilian Community in the UK

The Home Office does not publish a count of Brazilian nationals resident in the UK, so this guide gives none. The community is concentrated in London, with populations in Brent (particularly Willesden and Harlesden), Lambeth, and Southwark. Outside London, Brazilian communities exist in Bournemouth, Swindon, Manchester, and Edinburgh.

Brazilian migration to the UK grew substantially from the early 2000s, driven by economic opportunity and the appeal of English-language education. The community is diverse, encompassing students, professionals in finance and technology, entrepreneurs, and creative workers. Brazilian cultural life in London is vibrant — samba schools, capoeira groups, Brazilian restaurants and bakeries (padarias), and annual carnival celebrations maintain strong cultural connections.

Visiting Rather Than Moving

Brazil is not on the UK's visa national list, so a Brazilian citizen does not need a visa for a visit of up to 6 months. What is needed instead is an electronic travel authorisation, which costs £20. Everyone travelling needs their own, including babies and children. It is also needed to pass through UK border control on the way to somewhere else; staying airside in the airport does not need one.

Visa Routes for Brazilian Citizens

Student Visa

The Student visa is one of the most popular routes for Brazilians, with demand concentrated in postgraduate business, law, engineering and creative arts programmes. You need a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from a licensed UK institution and evidence of sufficient funds for tuition and living costs.

After completing your degree, the Graduate route gives you 2 years of open work permission (3 years for doctoral graduates) if you apply on or before 31 December 2026; for applications on or after 1 January 2027 it is 18 months (still 3 years for doctoral graduates). Many Brazilians use this as a stepping stone to a Skilled Worker visa.

Skilled Worker Visa

The Skilled Worker visa requires a job offer from a UK employer with a sponsor licence at the salary threshold of £41,700 a year, or the published going rate for the occupation code if that is higher. Since 22 July 2025 a new applicant's job must also be at graduate level (RQF 6). If the occupation is on the Immigration Salary List, the salary threshold and the application fee are lower, but the full going rate for the occupation still applies. Brazilian professionals in technology, healthcare, engineering and finance use this route.

The Health and Care Worker visa is a sub-category of the Skilled Worker visa for qualifying health and care roles. The application fee is lower — £324 for 3 years or less, £628 for more than 3 years — and you do not pay the healthcare surcharge.

Family Visas

If your spouse or partner is a British citizen or has settled status, you can apply for a spouse visa. The UK-based sponsor must meet the financial requirement of £29,000 per year. The visa leads to settlement (indefinite leave to remain) after 5 years.

Global Talent Visa

The Global Talent visa is relevant for exceptional Brazilians in digital technology, science, engineering, arts, and humanities. It does not require a job offer or sponsor — you need endorsement from a designated body. Brazilian founders and senior tech professionals have used this route to access London's startup ecosystem.

Document Requirements for Brazilian Applicants

• Valid Brazilian passport. Must be valid for the duration of your intended stay.
• Atestado de Antecedentes Criminais. Federal Police criminal record certificate. Apply online through the Polícia Federal website (pf.gov.br). The certificate is free and is typically generated within 1 to 3 days as a digital PDF that you print. For a more comprehensive criminal record check for international use, you may also need a certidão de antecedentes criminais from your state's tribunal de justiça.
• Cartório apostille. Brazil is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention (since 2016). Public documents — birth certificates (certidão de nascimento), marriage certificates (certidão de casamento), academic transcripts, and police clearances — can be apostilled at an authorised cartório. Each cartório sets its own fee, so this guide gives none. GOV.UK does not ask for an apostille on a UK visa application; check what your route asks for rather than assuming you need one.
• Certified English translation. All Portuguese-language documents must be translated into English by a certified translator (tradutor juramentado). Sworn translations (tradução juramentada) are accepted.
• CPF number. While not required for the UK visa itself, your CPF (Cadastro de Pessoas Físicas) is needed for many Brazilian administrative processes related to your move, including opening accounts and managing finances.

No TB Test Required

Brazil is not on the UK's designated list for tuberculosis testing. Brazilian applicants do not need a TB certificate for any UK visa category.

English Language Requirement

Brazilian citizens must prove English language ability:

• Skilled Worker visa: CEFR B2 for new applications from 8 January 2026 (B1 is still accepted when extending on the same route)
• Spouse visa (initial): CEFR A1
• Spouse visa (extension): CEFR A2
• Settlement (indefinite leave to remain): CEFR B1, rising to B2 from 26 March 2027 for people settling from the Skilled Worker, Global Talent and several other routes

IELTS for UKVI is available in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasília, Belo Horizonte, Curitiba, Recife, Porto Alegre, and several other Brazilian cities. If you hold a degree taught entirely in English (including from a Brazilian university if the programme was delivered in English), this may satisfy the requirement.

VFS Global Centres in Brazil

VFS Global operates visa application centres in three Brazilian cities:

• São Paulo — the busiest centre, serving the largest metropolitan area in South America. Located in the Jardins/Paulista area.
• Rio de Janeiro — serving Rio and surrounding states.
• Brasília — serving the capital and central Brazil.

At your VFS appointment, you provide biometrics (fingerprints and photograph) and submit supporting documents. Book appointments well in advance during peak periods (July to September for student visas).

Processing Times from Brazil

• Student visa: usually within 3 weeks
• Skilled Worker visa: usually within 3 weeks
• Spouse visa: usually within 12 weeks

Priority processing is available at Brazilian VFS centres for an additional fee. See our Skilled Worker processing time guide.

Financial Evidence Held in Brazilian Reais

• Currency. The Home Office converts other currencies into pounds using the exchange rate on the date of your application, so the balance you need in reais is not fixed.
• Student visa maintenance. You need £1,529 a month (London) or £1,171 a month (outside London), for up to 9 months.
• Skilled Worker maintenance. £1,270, held for 28 days in a row, unless your sponsor certifies that it will cover your costs.
• Bank statements. Provide 28 days (Student and Skilled Worker visas) or 6 months (cash savings for a family visa) of Brazilian bank statements from major banks (Banco do Brasil, Itaú, Bradesco, Santander Brasil, Nubank, Inter). The Home Office converts reais into pounds at the exchange rate on the date of your application.
• Sponsor letters. If family members in Brazil are sponsoring your studies, provide their bank statements, a formal sponsor letter (carta de patrocínio), and evidence of their income. Apostille the sponsor letter at a cartório.
• Scholarship evidence. If you have a Brazilian government scholarship (such as through CAPES, CNPq, or a state foundation like FAPESP), provide the official award letter as financial evidence.

What It Costs

The Home Office publishes its fees in pounds. It does not publish a real price, and the exchange rate it applies is the rate on the day you pay, so this guide gives no conversion.

• Student visa: £558
• Skilled Worker visa, applying from outside the UK: £819 for 3 years or less, £1,618 for more than 3 years
• Health and Care Worker visa: £324 for 3 years or less, £628 for more than 3 years
• Partner (spouse) visa from outside the UK: £2,064
• Healthcare surcharge: £1,035 a year, or £776 a year for students, their dependants and anyone under 18
• Electronic travel authorisation for a visit: £20
• Settlement (indefinite leave to remain): £3,226
• Becoming a British citizen: £1,709, plus a £130 ceremony fee
• Federal Police certificate: free
• No tuberculosis test cost: Brazil is not on the list

GOV.UK publishes no price for an English language test, a cartório apostille or a certified translation; the providers and the cartórios set those. See our UK visa fees guide.

Paying the healthcare surcharge does not make the National Health Service free at the point of use. In England a prescription costs £9.90 and dental treatment is charged in bands of £27.90, £76.60 and £332.10. Prescriptions are free in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Common Issues for Brazilian Applicants

• Financial evidence presentation. Brazilian bank statements can be complex, with multiple account types (conta corrente, poupança, investimentos). Present clear statements for all relevant accounts. Avoid large unexplained deposits close to the application date.
• English test preparation. Speaking English well is not the same as passing the test. Only a secure English language test from an approved provider counts, and the format and timing need practice.
• Document logistics. Getting several documents apostilled at a cartório can take time, and some have queues. Start the process well in advance of your application.
• Exchange rate movement. Home Office fees are set in pounds and converted at the rate on the day you pay, so the cost in reais is not fixed and can move between the day you start saving and the day you apply.
• Visa refusal on genuine student concerns. Some Brazilian student visa applicants face refusals on the grounds that the decision-maker was not satisfied of genuine intent to study and return. Clearly explain why you chose the specific course and university, and how the qualification fits your career plans.

Practical Tips for Moving from Brazil to the UK

Flights and Arrival

Direct flights from São Paulo (GRU) to London Heathrow take approximately 11 to 12 hours. LATAM and British Airways operate direct services. Indirect routes via Lisbon (TAP), Madrid (Iberia), or Paris (Air France) are also common. From Rio de Janeiro, direct flights to London are available on some carriers. Fares change constantly, so this guide gives none. September is a busy period for Brazilian students arriving for the UK academic year.

Brazilian Community in the UK

The Brazilian community in London is centred in Brent (Willesden, Harlesden, Kilburn), where you'll find Brazilian supermarkets, bakeries (pão de queijo and coxinha are widely available), restaurants, barbers, and remittance shops. The area around Willesden High Road is sometimes called "Little Brazil." South London (Lambeth, Stockwell — nicknamed "Little Portugal" but home to many Brazilians too) is another hub. Brazilian community organisations, including the Brazilian Consulate General in London, and cultural events (Brazilian carnival celebrations, samba nights, forró parties) provide social connections.

Cultural Adjustment

The British climate is the biggest adjustment for most Brazilians. London's grey winters with early darkness (sunset at 3:45 PM in December) contrast sharply with Brazil's tropical and subtropical climate. Personal space norms are different — British culture is generally less physically expressive than Brazilian culture. The cost of living, particularly rent in London, is a shock even for arrivals from São Paulo. However, London's diversity, the established Brazilian community, and the availability of Brazilian food and culture make the transition manageable.

After Arrival

• Set up your eVisa through your UK Visas and Immigration account (biometric residence permits are no longer issued)
• Apply for a National Insurance number
• Open a UK bank account — digital banks like Monzo and Revolut are popular with Brazilian arrivals
• Register with a GP
• Understand your employment rights
• Register with the Brazilian Consulate General in London for consular services

The Brazil-UK Tech Connection

An increasingly important migration pathway is the tech sector connection between Brazil and the UK. Brazil's tech ecosystem (centred in São Paulo, Florianópolis, and Belo Horizonte) has produced a growing number of startups and tech professionals with skills in demand in London. Many Brazilian software engineers, product managers, and data scientists move to London through the Skilled Worker visa or Global Talent visa. UK tech companies actively recruit from Brazil, and several Brazilian fintech companies (such as Nubank) have established London offices, creating a two-way migration flow.

Path to Settlement and Citizenship

After 5 years on a qualifying visa, apply for settlement (indefinite leave to remain), which costs £3,226. You must meet the continuous residence requirement, pass the Life in the UK test, and demonstrate CEFR B1 English (B2 from 26 March 2027 if you settle from the Skilled Worker, Global Talent or several other routes).

After 12 months with settlement, you can apply for British citizenship. Brazil generally permits dual citizenship for those who acquire a second nationality through naturalisation, so you can hold both Brazilian and British passports.

Next Steps

If you are planning to study, start with the Student visa guide. If you have a UK job offer, explore the Skilled Worker visa. If you are an exceptional talent in tech, consider the Global Talent visa.

For official information, visit the British Embassy Brasília and the GOV.UK Student visa page.

Questions and answers