大咖福利影院

05/29/23 According to the Lawyer Firm we are working with I am good to work, however they were very light on information and are horrible at responding in a timely manner so I wanted to ask: Can I work freelance, namely using Upwork and similar sites, legally here? My account on Upwork currently has my location as my residential address in the US and I still have my US bank account. From my understanding I couldn't work until I got my CPF but I'm still a bit confused on how it all works regarding freelancing.
-@EliastheGringo

Welcome! It is not a good idea to work for pay while your legal status is still in transition, especially with the process currently stalled and you're technically in an overstay situation. You have some protection from the advice you've received from your lawyer, but it sounds like it's all oral and your instinct is right to question it.

I would recommend contacting them again, being clear with them what your plans are, and asking them as specifically as possible what you can and cannot do while you're waiting, and whether it can endanger your status. At the very least, be careful not to seek or accept employment or payment from any Brazilian entity until you have your CRNM and your Labor Card.

@abthree I see. Thank you for the fairly quick reply!

I forgot to specify that my work would be freelance writing for US based customers and such but I'll be sure to double check with them.

Hello all,
I am in the process of obtaining residency here in Brazil.

Me and my wife (a Brazilian Citizen) got married back in January and began the process for my residency. We extended my Visa, then got another 60 day extension.

My current situation is this:
- I obtained my CPF last week
- We have the documents for my residency EXCEPT for the FBI Background check which is currently with the Department of State to be Apostilled.
- We were informed today that I will not have to leave after the 60 days are up, we may just have to pay a fine, until I can deliver the FBI Background check


According to the Lawyer Firm we are working with I am good to work, however they were very light on information and are horrible at responding in a timely manner so I wanted to ask: Can I work freelance, namely using Upwork and similar sites, legally here? My account on Upwork currently has my location as my residential address in the US and I still have my US bank account. From my understanding I couldn't work until I got my CPF but I'm still a bit confused on how it all works regarding freelancing.
-@EliastheGringo

I will post my 5 cents, not having read my peer's input.聽

So here it goes....

As a self employed ( typical 1099 contractor equivalent ), you will use your CPF for personal transactions, in an every day basis.聽 That leaves you as a "Pessoa Fisica" or just an individual tax entity.聽

Sure you can use your CPF to log expenses and billable work, and conduct your business here,聽 but you will only save on your taxes clawbacks once you are in the CNPJ domain.聽

A CNPJ is the same ID, only it is a business ID. As such, you will be liable for a smaller chunk on taxes, comes tax filing deadlines.聽 聽The only inconvenience is that you will pay a symbolic monthly flat rate tax, somewhere around R$ 60,00.聽 聽

If you land work from your clients in the US, for as long as the money is deposited in an US banking account, all of what I just said suddenly becomes irrelevant.聽 You will still need your CPF to transact on an everyday basis here ( residential rental contracts, buying a house, getting something on a line of credit, purchasing insurance, getting admitted in a hospital, collecting benefits or getting free health care ).聽

It's not an "either or predicament". You will need the CPF, nonetheless, and the CNPJ is an upgrade.聽

As for getting your CNPJ, there is no need for a complex ownership structure, attorneys, accountants. You can simply apply for a MEI CNPJ, get the paperwork done, so it's mostly done online.聽 Only if this overwhelms you then you might hire an accountant.聽 Stay away from attorneys for now.聽