Brazil sets foreign MEI record: 106,000 in 2026

What Is the MEI and Why Are Foreigners Using It?

Brazil's MEI (Microempreendedor Individual) is a simplified self-employment registration created in 2008. It gives entrepreneurs access to a CNPJ business number, social-security rights, credit lines and formal markets — all through a streamlined process on the gov.br platform. For immigrants, it is often the first step toward financial stability in a new country.

Which Countries Are Most Represented?

Venezuela leads the ranking with 26,345 MEIs, representing 25% of all foreign micro-entrepreneurs. Bolivia follows with 15,361 (14.5%), then Colombia 10,547 (10%), Argentina 8,607 (8.1%) and Cuba 4,954 (4.7%). The top-10 nationalities together account for around 85,000 of the 106,000 active foreign MEIs.

Where in Brazil Are Foreign MEIs Located?

The South-East region dominates in absolute numbers, hosting roughly 50,500 foreign MEIs. São Paulo alone accounts for about 39,000, the highest of any single state. Santa Catarina (14,000), Paraná (13,000) and Rio Grande do Sul (8,000) round out the top states. However, Roraima tops the relative ranking: foreigners represent 11% of all 24,000 MEIs registered there — a reflection of heavy Venezuelan migration through the northern border.

What Activities Do Foreign MEIs Pursue?

Retail trade in clothing and accessories is the top activity, followed closely by garment manufacturing. Both sectors require relatively low start-up capital and allow entrepreneurs to serve diaspora communities as well as the broader Brazilian market.

How Can a Foreigner Register as MEI?

Eligibility requires one of the following documents: a Carteira Nacional de Registro Migratório, a Documento Provisório de Registro Nacional Migratório, or a Protocolo de Solicitação de Refúgio. These can be obtained through the Federal Police. Once the document is in hand, registration is completed online at gov.br at no cost.