Health insurance in Brazil.
The digital nomad visa needs health insurance valid in Brazil. The public system is open to migrants by law. Many expats add a private plan for speed.
The rules
What Brazil asks of you.
Checked against official sources on 23 October 2026. Rules change, so the broker confirms them again before you apply.
- Nomad visa: insurance valid in Brazil
To get the digital nomad visa at a consulate, you must show health insurance valid in Brazilian territory.
Source: bibliotecadigital.mj.gov.br - Check your consulate’s wording
One consulate lists travel insurance or health insurance valid in Brazil, or a medical assistance certificate for Brazil. Other consulates can word it differently, so ask yours.
Source: gov.br - Income: US$1,500 a month
You must show income from a foreign source of at least US$1,500 a month, or at least US$18,000 in bank funds.
Source: bibliotecadigital.mj.gov.br - Up to 1 year, then renew
The first residence is for up to 1 year. It can be renewed for the same period.
Source: bibliotecadigital.mj.gov.br - Applying from inside Brazil
The government page for applying inside Brazil lists the same income proof. Insurance is listed for the visa at a consulate, not for the application made in Brazil.
Source: gov.br - Private hospitals want proof of payment
The UK government notes that private hospitals will not treat you unless you can show enough money or insurance to cover the care.
Source: gov.uk - Local plans: waiting periods have a ceiling
Law 9.656 caps waiting periods on Brazilian health plans at 24 hours for emergencies, 300 days for a full-term birth, and 180 days for everything else.
Source: planalto.gov.br - Existing illnesses: 24 months at most
A Brazilian plan cannot exclude an illness you had before you signed once the contract has run 24 months. The insurer must prove you knew about it.
Source: planalto.gov.br - Emergency care in public hospitals
The UK government says foreign nationals are entitled to emergency treatment in Brazilian public hospitals.
Source: gov.uk
The Migration Law gives migrants access to public health services, with no discrimination because of nationality or migration status. Public hospitals can be crowded, with long waits.
Source: bibliotecadigital.mj.gov.brLocal or international
We compare both. You keep the one that fits.
Private hospitals may ask for proof of money or insurance before they treat you. A plan that names Brazil is also what the nomad visa asks for.
- Local plans
Plans sold in Brazil. Often cheaper, sometimes required for your visa. Filed by a broker licensed in Brazil.
- International plans
Plans that cover you in Brazil and beyond, and stay with you if you move again. Filed by our international broker partner.
What to look for
Choosing a plan in Brazil.
Ankyro checks each of these on every plan, so you don’t have to read the fine print.
- Named for Brazil
The visa rules ask for insurance valid in Brazilian territory. Check the policy wording names Brazil, and ask the consulate if a travel policy is enough.
- Whole stay and renewal
The visa runs up to 1 year and can be renewed. Check the plan covers the full period.
- Private hospital access
Private hospitals ask for proof of cover. Check the plan gives you a card or letter they accept.
- Age price rises
Brazilian plans can raise prices by age band, but not for a member over 60 who has been on the plan more than 10 years. Check the age bands in the contract.
Step by step
Getting covered in Brazil.
- 01Buy cover valid in Brazil before the consulate. For the digital nomad visa at a consulate, bring health insurance valid in Brazilian territory, plus proof of US$1,500 a month or US$18,000 in the bank.
- 02Ask about the SUS card once you are resident. Legal residents can apply for an SUS card for free public care. The UK government says to ask your doctor or local health centre how to apply.
- 03Join a local plan if you want one. A Brazilian plan can make you wait up to 180 days for most care and 300 days for childbirth. Emergencies are covered after 24 hours.
- 04Renew cover with your residence. The nomad residence lasts up to 1 year and can be renewed for the same period. Renew the policy at the same time.
Common mistakes
3 we see all the time.
- 01Buying a plan that does not cover Brazil.
- 02Taking cover for 6 months when the visa runs up to 1 year.
- 03Counting on the public system alone, when waits can be long.
Real published prices, and the 6 things that move yours.
Questions
People also ask.
Do I need health insurance for the Brazil digital nomad visa?+
Yes, at a consulate. The rules ask for health insurance valid in Brazilian territory.
How much income do I need for the Brazil digital nomad visa?+
At least US$1,500 a month from a foreign source, or at least US$18,000 in bank funds.
Can foreigners use the public health system in Brazil?+
Yes. The Migration Law gives migrants access to public health services without discrimination over nationality or migration status.
How long is the Brazil digital nomad visa?+
Up to 1 year. It can be renewed for the same period.
Other countries
Going somewhere else?
Most UK visas don’t ask for private insurance. You pay a yearly surcharge instead, and it opens the NHS. Here is what the surcharge buys, and what you still pay for.
02AustraliaMost visitors can’t use Medicare, and many visas carry condition 8501. Here is what each visa asks for, who gets Medicare, and what to check.
03Dubai and the UAEIn Dubai, no insurance means no visa. Your employer covers you, but not always your family. Here are the rules, and what the basic plan leaves out.
04PhilippinesThe retiree visa asks for a medical certificate, not a policy. The new nomad visa does ask for cover. Here is what each visa needs, and how PhilHealth works for foreigners.
05NetherlandsIf you live or work in the Netherlands, Dutch basic insurance is the law. A few people are exempt. Here is who must sign up, by when, and what it costs in 2026.
06CanadaEach province runs its own health plan, and some make you wait. The super visa has strict insurance rules. Here is how Ontario and BC differ, and what the super visa needs.
07Saudi ArabiaIn Saudi Arabia, no insurance means no iqama. Your employer pays for you and your family, and visitors need a policy too. Here is who pays, and what each policy covers.
08JapanIf you live in Japan, joining public insurance is the law. A private plan can only sit on top. Digital nomads are the exception.
09GermanyEveryone in Germany must be insured, and a residence permit needs cover equal to the public system. Here is how to choose, and what gets rejected.
10SingaporeThe national plan is for citizens and PRs. Hospital bills for foreigners are high, and families are often left out. Here is what to check.
11ThailandRetirement visas have hard minimums, the DTV has none, and public care is not free for foreigners. Here are the rules, and what to check.
12SpainSpain has the strictest visa insurance rules in Europe: a Spanish-authorised insurer, no co-pays, no waiting periods. Here is what passes.
13MalaysiaPublic hospitals charge foreigners full price, and work schemes only cover injuries at work. Here is what each pass asks for, and what to check.
14QatarMost visitors need a QAR 50 a month policy before Qatar issues a visa. The law covers expats too, but that part is still rolling out. Here are the rules.
15FranceThe public system is open to residents, but not on day 1 if you don’t work, and it only pays part of each bill. Here is how to cover the gaps.
16PortugalThe visa asks for travel medical cover. The public system opens once you are a resident. In between, and after, here is what to check.
17MexicoNo visa asks for it, so many expats skip it. Then a private hospital asks for payment first. Here is how cover really works in Mexico.
18ItalyWorkers join the public system for free. Retirees and nomads need private cover for the visa, then pay at least €2,000 a year to join. Here are the rules.
19South KoreaStay more than 6 months and you must join the national plan. Before that, and for your share of each bill, you need your own cover.
20VietnamOnly long local contracts come with public cover, and most expats use private hospitals anyway. Here is what the rules say, and what to check.
21Bali and IndonesiaMost Indonesian visas don’t ask for insurance. But hospitals ask for payment first, and serious cases fly to Singapore. Here is what to check.
22GreeceThe consulate takes travel cover for the visa. The residence permit then asks for full health cover. If you don’t work for a Greek employer, that means a private plan.
23ColombiaNomads and retirees need a private policy with exact wording. Residents who work must join the public EPS system. Here are the rules.
24Costa RicaResidents must pay into the Caja, whatever private plan they have. Nomads need their own cover for the visa. Here is how it fits together.
25USAThe US has no public plan you can simply join. Some visas set minimum cover. Others leave it to you. Here is what a J-1 needs, who can use the Marketplace, and what plans cost.
26SwitzerlandBasic health insurance is compulsory for everyone who lives in Switzerland. You have 3 months to sign up. Here is how it works, and what to check.
27IrelandNon-EEA students must hold private medical insurance. Everyone else gets public care once they count as living in Ireland for 1 year. Here is what to check.
28Dominican RepublicThe residence visas for retirees and rentistas ask for a medical certificate, not an insurance policy. Public care is limited. Private care is good but costly.
29New ZealandStudent visas require insurance. A work visa of 2 years or more may open public health care. ACC covers accident injuries. Here is what to check.
30IsraelIn Israel, the public system is for residents. If your life is centred there, you join a health fund (kupat holim). If not, you need private cover.
31Hong KongPublic hospitals in Hong Kong are cheap for eligible persons. Many foreigners are not on that list. Here is who is, what the rest pay, and what to check in a plan.
32ChinaIf you work in China on an employment permit, your employer must enrol you in social insurance. That includes basic medical cover. Here is how it works, and what to check on top.
33ArgentinaEmergency care is open to everyone. For other care at national hospitals, foreigners without permanent residence must show insurance or pay first. The rules are new, so check them.
34IndiaWe found no official rule that ties health insurance to an Indian work visa. We also could not confirm a public scheme for foreign residents. So the plan is yours to choose. Here is what to check.
35TurkeyA residence permit application needs valid health insurance for the whole permit. Most new expats buy a private policy. The public SGK system opens later, after 1 year of residence.
37PanamaThe Pensionado visa asks for a health certificate, not an insurance policy. The public system is tied to the Caja. Private care is the main option for most expats.
38South AfricaStudy and exchange visas ask for proof of cover from a registered medical scheme. Public clinics offer free primary care. Here is what to check.
39KenyaKenya’s public fund is run by the Social Health Authority (SHA). A foreigner who lives in Kenya for more than 12 months pays into it. Shorter stays need travel health insurance instead.
40TaiwanTaiwan has one national health insurance. Foreigners with a residence certificate can join. If you have a job, you join through your employer. If not, there is a wait.