Brazil’s federal government has moved to ensure it has the foreign talent it needs for the string of major international events the country will host over the next three years. Interministerial Ordinance No 68/2026, jointly signed by the ministries of Justice & Public Security, Foreign Affairs and Labour, was published in the Diário Oficial da União on 17 September 2026. The measure creates a fast-track channel for granting two-year residence authorisations – a prerequisite for the corresponding temporary work visa – to foreign nationals coming to Brazil to plan, organise or execute officially recognised “mega-events”. Under the ordinance, sponsoring organisations may file the residence authorisation request entirely online through the government’s MigranteWeb portal and will receive a decision within 30 days (the normal processing time is 90 days). Once approved, the local sponsor can forward the electronic authorisation to the worker, who will use it to obtain the VITEM-V work visa at the nearest Brazilian consulate without having to present an employment contract. The authorisation is valid for up to 24 months and can be converted into an ordinary work residence once the event has ended, eliminating the need for the assignee to leave Brazil. The government has not published an exhaustive list of the qualifying events, but officials referenced preparations under way for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup bid, COP 31 (which Brazil has offered to host in Belém do Pará in 2027) and the Pan-American Masters Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2028. Companies in the construction, security, media, hospitality and technology sectors are expected to be the main beneficiaries. For global mobility managers the ordinance offers welcome predictability. It clarifies documentary requirements (proof of professional experience and an invitation letter from the event organiser), waives labour-market testing and allows dependants to accompany the principal applicant under the same fast-track procedure. Corporations intending to second staff should budget the standard government fee (currently BRL 168 per application) and ensure that health-insurance coverage meets the minimum set by the National Immigration Council. The rule took effect immediately on publication and, importantly, does not revoke the existing temporary visa categories – it simply creates a parallel, accelerated track. Employers planning large project teams should therefore map talent needs early and decide which route (conventional or mega-event) best fits each assignee’s profile.
Source: Diário Oficial da União
