🇧🇷 Brazil · Company Registration
Entity types, registration process, required documents, costs, and official registries.
Quick answer
The common company is a Sociedade Limitada (Ltda); registration goes through the state commercial board (Junta Comercial) and requires a federal tax ID (CNPJ). A resident administrator or legal representative in Brazil is generally needed.
Companies are registered with the state commercial registry (Junta Comercial) and obtain a CNPJ from the Federal Revenue; the limited liability company (Ltda) is the common form.
- The Ltda (limited) and SA (corporation) are the main company forms.
- A CNPJ from the Federal Revenue is the company's tax identifier.
- Registration is increasingly integrated through the gov.br portals.
Official authorities
- Gov.br — Empresas & Negócios
Official business-registration portal.
- Receita Federal (CNPJ)
Federal tax registry — CNPJ.
Frequently asked questions
What is a CNPJ?
The federal taxpayer registry number for companies, required to operate, invoice and bank in Brazil.
Can a foreigner own a Brazilian company?
Yes — foreigners can own companies, but a resident administrator or legal representative in Brazil is generally required.
What company type is standard?
The Sociedade Limitada (Ltda) is the usual limited-liability form; a simplified individual company also exists.
Official-information aggregation, not legal advice. Always verify on the authority's own site.