Melachim guide · Residency · updated 2026-08-20
Brazilian residency through real-estate investment
Buying property requires no visa. But real-estate investment can open the door to residency, and the threshold is lower precisely in the Northeast, where Bahia is.
First, the distinction
Buying property in Brazil requires no visa at all: a CPF and a passport suffice, as we explain in the foreign buyer's guide. The visa question appears when the goal changes: living in Brazil, spending long seasons without counting days, or building a long-term residency plan for the family.
The framework: residency through real-estate investment
Brazil grants a residence authorisation to foreigners who invest in urban real estate in the country. The framework set by the migration regulation (CNIg Resolution 36/2018) established the reference thresholds: R$ 1,000,000 in urban property, reduced to R$ 700,000 when the property is located in the North or Northeast regions. Bahia is in the Northeast: the reduced threshold applies exactly where Melachim's assets are.
The essential conditions
- Urban property, fully owned and paid, registered in the investor's name (personally or through a structure, depending on the case).
- Funds from abroad through the official exchange channel, with a registered contract: that is the proof of the investment.
- Keeping the investment during the residency period; the authorisation is renewable and can lead to residency for an indefinite period.
- Family included: spouse and dependants can benefit as part of the same process.
How the process works in practice
- Purchase and registration of the property (or properties: the amount can combine more than one asset).
- A dossier proving the investment: matrícula, exchange contracts, certificates.
- Residence application before the Brazilian migration authorities, as a rule with a specialised lawyer.
- Registration as a resident and issuance of the foreigner ID document.
What it means with Bahia numbers
With the Northeast threshold, the Algodões estate (R$ 2,500,000) qualifies comfortably as a single asset. Combinations work too: two or three Saquaira plots plus a project can compose the amount, provided they are registered urban properties paid through documented exchange.
Important caveat: migration rules change and every case has specifics. The amounts quoted are the reference framework at publication; confirm the current rule with specialised legal counsel before deciding. Melachim handles the real-estate side and works with legal partners used to foreign investors. Talk to us on WhatsApp.