Company setup in Brazil

Start with the right structure

Explore legal entity forms and registration sources for Brazil. Use the local terminology below when discussing your application with the relevant authority.

Detailed foreign-investor rules for this jurisdiction have not yet been independently reviewed here. The registry sources below are the starting point for confirming the available formation route.

Company & entity types

Listed forms include commercial companies and other legal entities. A listing is not confirmation that a foreign founder can establish that form. Local names are preserved to avoid misleading legal translations.

Find a legal form or sub-jurisdiction

14 legal forms listed

Empresa Pública

BrazilELF 4LKNEP

Sociedade em Nome Coletivo

BrazilELF 529BS.N.C.

Sociedade Simples

BrazilELF 8GEAS/S

Organização Religiosa

BrazilELF 9BIS

Sociedade Limitada Unipessoal

BrazilELF AL8WSLU

Partido Político

BrazilELF ANHM

Fundação

BrazilELF I4T1Fund.

Associação

BrazilELF J7G9Assoc.

Sociedade Cooperativa

BrazilELF PC5A

Sociedade Limitada

BrazilELF QHW1LTDA.

Sociedade em Comdandita Simples

BrazilELF WBECS.C.S.

Sociedade Anônima / Companhia

Sociedade Anônima

BrazilELF X0SDS.A.;S/A

Sociedade em Comandita por Ações

BrazilELF X2ZTC/A

Sociedade em Conta de Participação

BrazilELF XQRIS.C.P.

Source: GLEIF ELF v1.6, February 2026 ↗. Active codes only; language variants grouped by code. The source is not an exhaustive list of all available legal forms.

What to confirm before applying

These are planning questions, not verified Brazil requirements.

Foreign ownership & activity

Ask whether your nationality, ownership percentage and proposed business activity require investment approval, a local partner or a sector licence.

Directors & local presence

Confirm the required directors, shareholders, registered office, local representative and any residency or company-secretary rules.

Capital & incorporation costs

Obtain the current minimum capital, filing fees, notarisation costs, translations and annual renewal or service charges for the selected legal form.

Tax & ongoing compliance

Verify corporate tax, VAT or sales tax, withholding, beneficial-ownership reporting, accounting, audit and annual-return obligations.

Banking & immigration

Check bank onboarding and source-of-funds evidence separately. Company registration should not be treated as approval for banking, residence or work permission.