Federative Republic of Brazil vs Republic of Kenya: where should you move?

Start with the route that fits your plans, then compare the practical steps after approval. A country offering more routes is not necessarily easier for you to move to.

Comparison updated 12 September 2026. The individual source-check dates appear with the relevant guidance.

Route and arrival decisions

Choose between Federative Republic of Brazil and Republic of Kenya by your actual plan

These are routes to investigate, not a ranking or an eligibility result. Open the linked route for its conditions, then use the country setup actions to test whether the move works after approval.

Routes to consider for each applicant situation
Your situation	Federative Republic of Brazil	Republic of Kenya
Employer-sponsored work Routes recorded for a local job where an employer or route sponsor is required.	Federative Republic of Brazil Residence authorization for work (VITEM V) Residence authorization for foreign nationals coming to Brazil to work, generally initiated by a Brazilian employer. Employer or route sponsor required · Leads to settlement · Commonly granted as a temporary residence aligned to the employment, with renewal and a pathway toward indefinite residence; confirm current terms on the official page. Portal de Imigracao - Autorizacao de Residencia Laboral · source checked 1 June 2026	Republic of Kenya Class D Work Permit (Employment) Employer-sponsored work permit for a foreign national offered specific employment by a specific Kenyan employer, where the skills are not available locally. Employer or route sponsor required · Leads to settlement · Issued and renewable in line with the employment; counts toward the residence record for permanent residence. Class D (Employment) - Directorate of Immigration Services · source checked 1 June 2026
Overseas remote work Published digital-nomad routes only; these do not imply permission to take local employment.	Federative Republic of Brazil Digital nomad residence (VITEM XIV) Residence authorization and VITEM XIV temporary visa for remote workers employed by or contracting with employers outside Brazil. No employer sponsor recorded · Non-settlement · Granted as a temporary residence for a defined period with the possibility of renewal; this route is not in itself a settlement track. Confirm current terms on the official page. Portal de Imigracao - Guia Pratico para Nomades Digitais · source checked 1 June 2026	Republic of Kenya No confirmed route in this category is recorded in the current comparison dataset.
Founder or entrepreneur Routes recorded for starting or operating a qualifying business.	Federative Republic of Brazil No confirmed route in this category is recorded in the current comparison dataset.	Republic of Kenya Class G Work Permit (Trade, Business or Consultancy) Work permit for a foreign national investing in and running a specific trade, business, consultancy or profession in Kenya. No employer sponsor recorded · Leads to settlement · Issued and renewable in line with the business; counts toward the residence record for permanent residence. Class G (Specific trade, business or consultancy) - Directorate of Immigration Services · source checked 1 June 2026
Investment residence Investment routes only. Capital does not remove the route-specific approval conditions.	Federative Republic of Brazil Residence authorization for investment Residence authorization for foreign nationals making a qualifying investment in Brazil, including real-estate investment under CNIg Resolution 36/2018. No employer sponsor recorded · Leads to settlement · The real-estate investment authorization is initially granted for four years and is renewable for an indefinite period; confirm current terms on the official page. Portal de Imigracao - Investimento Imobiliario (RN 36/2018) · source checked 1 June 2026	Republic of Kenya Class A Work Permit (Prospecting and Mining) Work permit for a foreign national engaging, alone or in partnership, in prospecting for minerals or mining in Kenya. No employer sponsor recorded · Leads to settlement · Issued and renewable in line with the licensed activity; counts toward the residence record for permanent residence. Application for Permit Class A (Prospecting and Mining) - eFNS · source checked 1 June 2026
Study Study routes; no work right is inferred from student status.	Federative Republic of Brazil No confirmed route in this category is recorded in the current comparison dataset.	Republic of Kenya Student's Pass Pass for a foreign national admitted to an academic or training institution in Kenya. Employer or route sponsor required · Non-settlement · Aligned to the course of study; renewable while enrolled. Student's Pass - Directorate of Immigration Services · source checked 1 June 2026
Join family Family routes to inspect. The presence of a route does not establish relationship eligibility or dependant work rights.	Federative Republic of Brazil Family reunion residence (VITEM XI) Residence authorization for family members of Brazilian nationals or of immigrants who hold residence in Brazil, under Interministerial Ordinance 12/2018. No employer sponsor recorded · Leads to settlement · Residence is generally aligned to the sponsoring relationship and the sponsor status, with renewal and a pathway toward indefinite residence; confirm current terms on the official page. Portal de Imigracao - Reuniao Familiar (PI 12/2018) · source checked 1 June 2026	Republic of Kenya Dependant's Pass Pass for a dependant of a Kenyan citizen, a work-permit holder, a permanent resident or an exempted person. Employer or route sponsor required · Non-settlement · Aligned to the sponsor status; renewable while the relationship and sponsor status continue. Dependant's Pass - Directorate of Immigration Services · source checked 1 June 2026
Other long-stay residence General residence routes that are not automatically work, family or investment permission.	Federative Republic of Brazil MERCOSUR residence agreement (VITEM XIII) Treaty-based residence for nationals of MERCOSUR member and associated states, with a path from temporary to indefinite residence. No employer sponsor recorded · Leads to settlement · Temporary residence is typically granted for up to two years and can be converted to indefinite residence on meeting the decree requirements; confirm current terms on the official page. MERCOSUR residence - Ministry of Justice application guidance · source checked 10 September 2026 Residence for retirees and pensioners Residence authorization for retired immigrants and recipients of a death pension who can transfer at least US$2,000 per month to Brazil, under CNIg Resolution 40/2019. No employer sponsor recorded · Leads to settlement · Initial residence is granted for up to two years and is renewable; confirm current terms on the official page. Biblioteca Digital MJSP - Resolucao Normativa CNIg 40/2019 (aposentado e/ou pensionista) · source checked 17 August 2026	Republic of Kenya Class K Permit (Ordinary Residents) Residence permit for a foreign national aged 35 or over with an assured income from sources outside Kenya, who undertakes not to take up employment. No employer sponsor recorded · Leads to settlement · Issued and renewable subject to continued assured income; counts toward the residence record for permanent residence. Class K (Ordinary residents) - Directorate of Immigration Services · source checked 1 June 2026 Permanent Residence Permanent residence in Kenya under the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act, including a route after long lawful residence on work permits. No employer sponsor recorded · Leads to settlement · Permanent on grant, subject to the conditions of the Act. Permanent Residence - Directorate of Immigration Services · source checked 1 June 2026

What setup starts after the immigration decision

Four sourced actions from each relocation checklist show the sequence beyond visa approval. The linked country guides contain the complete registration, health, tax, banking, housing and renewal context.

Federative Republic of Brazil

Brazilian relocation is a chain: choose the correct residence basis, register the authorised stay with the Federal Police, obtain usable tax identity and address evidence, then connect work, health and daily services.

Before travel
Confirm the residence route for every family member.
- Ministry of Justice: Immigration Portal · checked 11 September 2026
On arrival
Preserve entry evidence and complete Federal Police registration.
- Federal Police: residence and RNM FAQ · checked 11 September 2026
First month
Confirm payroll and tax onboarding.
- Receita Federal · checked 11 September 2026
Later
Track residence, licence and reportable-change dates.
- Ministry of Justice: Immigration Portal · checked 11 September 2026
- National Traffic Secretariat services · checked 11 September 2026

Open the Brazil moving guide

Republic of Kenya

Kenya’s Directorate of Immigration lists distinct work-permit and pass classes. A visitor entry does not become work permission; submit the correct application through eFNS and keep the permit class aligned with the activity.

Before travel
Match the proposed work, business, profession, study or family plan to an eFNS class.
- Kenya Directorate of Immigration: work permits and passes · checked 11 September 2026
- Kenya eFNS: permits information pack · checked 11 September 2026
On arrival
Print and present the issued permit or pass for endorsement as directed.
- Kenya Directorate of Immigration: work permits and passes · checked 11 September 2026
First month
For residence exceeding 90 days, check exemptions and apply for the Alien Card through eFNS; book the document and biometrics appointment.
- Kenya Immigration: foreign-national certificate (Alien Card) · checked 11 September 2026
Later
Calendar permit, passport, KRA, health, school and licence dates separately.

Open the Kenya moving guide

What setup starts after the immigration decision

🇧🇷 Federative Republic of Brazil

🇰🇪 Republic of Kenya

Turn your shortlist into a moving plan

Federative Republic of Brazil

Republic of Kenya