SPONSORED FEATURE
Rebranding Brazil What Rio 2016 means for your
global mobility programme
As Brazil prepares to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Re:locate Immigration Team of the Year award winner Pro-Link GLOBAL’s SooHyung Smit, Knowledge Management Specialist, and Fabiano Bittencourt, Senior Global Immigration Specialist, consider what recent changes to its immigration system may mean for international assignees, their employees, and the country’s economy.
T
he 2016 Rio Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games
are right around the corner! As the
August event draws closer, Brazil looks to capitalise politically and economically as all eyes turn to arguably the biggest stage in international sport. Not only will the country make all efforts
to welcome the countless numbers of athletes and tourists attending the Games, but recent subtle economic and immigration changes point towards an overall ‘rebranding’ of Brazil as a regional hub of business and tourism. These measures – combined with similar objectives brought forth before the 2014 FIFA World Cup – come at a crucial time for Brazil’s troubled economy and politics. For years, Brazil has struggled with the
international perception that its complex corporate and immigration regulations are unwelcoming to foreign investors. From miscommunication between federal and
local immigration authorities, to frequently changing immigration policies with inconsistent implementation, to stringent document
requirements for foreign
applicants and sponsoring companies alike, the country’s immigration system is fraught with challenges. Although Brazil is often listed in the top
emerging world economies, these unique difficulties often result in slow and costly immigration procedures for multinational companies trying to move top talent into the country. However, Brazil has taken several steps
towards simplifying its immigration policies and procedures in recent years. Exemplified by three specific changes, it has begun to improve several of the most crucial elements of a successful and welcoming immigration system: streamlined application procedures, fast and efficient processing times, and simple yet accurate document requirements.
Streamlined application procedures: simplification of process steps February 2015 brought forth the first seemingly minor, yet arguably significant, changes in Brazil. The Ministry of Labor relaxed the
documents required to prove minimum professional experience for work visa applicants. Historically, this process was extremely time consuming and often involved obtaining legalised, translated letters of support from both the employee’s current and former employers. Under the new rules, any relevant document demonstrating work experience (including payslips, contracts, and so on) is now accepted by the Brazilian authorities. Brazilian authorities also announced
their intention to simplify the process for foreign employees to obtain their CTPS Work Booklets. Eventually, applicants will be able to provide a copy of the Official Gazette as evidence that their work visa
30 | Re:locate | Summer 2016
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