Chapter 40 Immigration and Citizenship

The government building in Salvador didn't quite live up to Zhang Hainuo's expectations of grandeur. It was a two-story wooden and stone structure, painted uniformly in beige. A Brazilian flag hung from the flagpole on the roof. In front, there was a rather ordinary fountain square. If not for the uniformed guards stationed at the entrance, one might mistake it for a private villa.

At three o'clock in the afternoon, Zhang Hainuo and Otto met Heidewoedt in the deputy mayor's office right on time. It seemed this Brazilian official with German heritage hadn't shed the punctuality and meticulousness typical of Germans. After they were seated, he personally briefed them on the regulations for foreign investors in industry set by the Brazilian government and the policies of the Salvador city government. According to Brazilian law, all foreign-owned or joint ventures within Brazil are given national treatment, and there's no need for prior government approval for foreign investment in Brazil. They can invest in setting up factories or acquiring Brazilian companies by transferring funds through Brazilian banks authorized to conduct foreign exchange transactions.

Brazil's high tax rates were well known, but due to the country's weak industrial base, the government offered significant advantages to industrial enterprises, especially export-oriented ones. Heidewoedt informed Zhang Hainuo that local shipyards in Brazil would receive tariff concessions for imported equipment, and if the ships they built were intended for export, almost all business taxes would be exempt.

"After hearing Zhang Hainuo report the planned investment scale of 500,000 US dollars...," Heidewoedt's expression remained calm, but his eyes lit up. After calculating in his mind for a moment, he said, "Regarding the land for the shipyard, the Salvador government can offer you a fifty percent discount, but we hope that in the future, more than fifty percent of the workers employed by your shipyard will be local residents of Salvador. This is not a formal legal restriction but rather a policy of our Salvador government. Of course, you can choose not to accept this requirement, but the discount on the land price..."

If Zhang Hainuo were investing in an ordinary shipyard, this restriction might not be an issue. However, his intention was to keep the affairs inside the shipyard as confidential as possible. Nevertheless, after some consideration, he asked, "Deputy Mayor, does this requirement to employ local residents include German immigrants?"

"As long as they obtain permanent residence status in Brazil and settle in Salvador, they are included," Heidewoedt replied without hesitation.

After a moment of thought, Zhang Hainuo promised, "In that case, we can fully meet the requirements of the Salvador government regarding employees. In addition, Deputy Mayor, we will bring in a group of engineers and shipbuilding technicians from Europe. I am very interested in understanding Brazil's current immigration and citizenship policies!"

Although responsible for industry and investment, as a deputy mayor, Heidewoedt would naturally be familiar with Brazil's immigration policies, and the questions posed were reasonable. He explained in detail:

"Brazil's immigration policy allows for family reunification if one spouse obtains permanent residence in Brazil, granting permanent residence to the other spouse, their parents, and minor children. Children born in Brazil are Brazilian citizens. Spouses without legal status who give birth to children in Brazil can apply for permanent residence. Foreign nationals without legal status who marry Brazilian citizens can obtain legal status. Foreign citizens investing over $50,000 in Brazil, along with their spouses and minor children, can apply for permanent residence. Directors and senior management personnel of foreign companies registered with investments exceeding $200,000 can also apply for permanent residence."

"Brazil's nationality policy grants Brazilian citizenship to citizens of Portuguese-speaking countries who have lived continuously in Brazil for four years, or to non-Portuguese-speaking nationals who have lived continuously in Brazil for fifteen years. Foreign children who move to Brazil before the age of five can apply for temporary citizenship. They can apply for Brazilian citizenship within two years after adulthood if they have followed Brazilian laws. Foreign spouses married to Brazilian diplomats for over five years or foreigners employed by Brazilian diplomatic or consular agencies for over ten years can apply for Brazilian citizenship if they have spent more than 30 days in Brazil. Applications should be submitted to Brazilian consulates abroad and handled by the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Citizenship certificates are issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs!"

These policies had been discussed with Baron von Haan before by Zhang Hainuo. Asking again to Heidewoedt was just to gain some "convenience" from this Salvador deputy mayor. Indeed, after a brief pause, Heidewoedt continued, "Considering the investment scale estimated by Mr. Lin, we will completely relax the restrictions on obtaining permanent residence status for senior technicians, engineers, and advanced shipbuilders hired by your shipyard. I can guarantee that after Mr. Lin's funds are in place, we will allocate at least 20 to 30 permanent residence quotas for your shipyard, and we will also shorten the residence requirements for foreign shipbuilders who work long-term in your shipyard to obtain permanent residence status. How about that?"

Zhang Hainuo didn't dare to find it insufficient and quickly said, "Oh, thank you very much! I can now confidently send them job offers!"

Heidewoedt nodded, "By the way, let me remind Mr. Lin in private! According to Brazilian law, only Brazilian citizens with civil capacity and foreign nationals holding permanent residence permits can act as representatives of companies, sign on behalf of the company, or execute or accept commissions. For the sake of convenience, foreign investors generally find a Brazilian citizen with civil capacity to jointly set up a new company. Otherwise, the procedures would be quite cumbersome. However, there are no regulations on the proportion of capital contributions between the two partners."

Zhang Hainuo had inquired about this before from the German Chamber of Commerce. However, he had not yet found a suitable and reliable partner. This deputy mayor might be a good business partner, but he couldn't be complimented on confidentiality.

Even so, Zhang Hainuo still looked as if he had suddenly realized something and gratefully said, "Oh, I see. Thank you very much for the reminder, Deputy Mayor!"

"Don't mention it!" After this remark, Heidewoedt smiled and looked Zhang Hainuo and Otto up and down before finally fixing his gaze on Zhang Hainuo.

"I wonder if Mr. Lin is interested in acquiring Brazilian citizenship as soon as possible?"

Zhang Hainuo was somewhat surprised by this question. He neither agreed nor disagreed but responded diplomatically, "I humbly ask Deputy Mayor Heidewoedt for advice!"

"I have a son and two daughters, all of whom have Brazilian citizenship. My eldest daughter is already married, and my youngest daughter, who just turned 18, recently graduated from the Rio de Janeiro Women's College! Mr. Lin may remember the requirements I mentioned earlier for acquiring Brazilian citizenship. If you obtain permanent residence status through investment and marry a Brazilian woman, you can obtain Brazilian citizenship in as little as two years!"

Zhang Hainuo was almost petrified in an instant. Was Brazil now resorting to such marriage proposals?