Crewing an FPSO in Brazil: visas, crew quotas and the 15-day rule
Brazil is where a lot of the world’s new FPSOs are going. It’s also where a lot of crew plans come unstuck.
The numbers explain the first part. According to ANP data for February 2026, Brazil hit record oil and gas production, offshore fields produced 98% of the country’s oil, and the pre-salt alone accounted for 80.2% of total output. That production comes from floating units, and floating units need crews.
The second part is the rules. Brazil runs two systems side by side. One governs the foreign specialists you fly in. The other governs the Brazilian crew you’re required to hire. Get either wrong and the vessel finds out, usually at the worst possible moment.
Quick answer: foreign crew can work offshore Brazil for up to 90 days a year on a visit visa, then need a residence authorisation of up to two years. Foreign vessels must hire a rising share of Brazilian crew, reaching half after 180 days and two-thirds after 360. Brazilian offshore crew can’t stay on board more than 15 consecutive days, and you can employ them without a local company through an Employer of Record in Brazil.
How long can foreign crew work offshore Brazil on a visit visa?
Up to 90 days a year.
The framework is Normative Resolution 06/2017 from Brazil’s National Immigration Council (CNIg), amended by Resolution 42 in October 2020. It covers foreign seafarers and other offshore professionals on vessels and platforms who don’t have an employment relationship in Brazil.
Under it, seafarers and other foreign offshore professionals can enter on a visit visa for up to 90 days each year, counted from entry. People holding a Seafarer’s Identity Document issued under ILO Convention 185 don’t need that visit visa.
What happens after 90 days?
They need a residence authorisation. A few details worth knowing before you plan rotations around it:
- The Ministry of Justice grants it, not the labour ministry as it used to be.
- It’s for foreigners with no Brazilian employment relationship, paid abroad.
- It lasts up to two years.
- Moving someone to another vessel means telling the Ministry of Justice. Changing their employer needs its sign-off.
That last point catches people out. Swapping the contracting entity halfway through a project isn’t an admin tweak in Brazil. It’s a new authorisation.
And the cost of getting it wrong is real. The UK P&I Club has reported cases where owners were fined and crew were ordered to leave the country, sometimes within 72 hours. Try finding a replacement OIM in 72 hours.
How many Brazilians does a foreign vessel need on board?
More the longer you stay.
Resolution 42 sets minimum shares of Brazilian crew that step up at 90, 180 and 360 days of operation in Brazilian waters, reaching half the crew after 180 days and two-thirds after 360 days. The proportions apply section by section on board, and across both officers and ratings, so you can’t meet the quota by loading one department with Brazilian hires.
Two more things to note. Taking the vessel out of Brazilian waters for less than 15 consecutive days doesn’t reset the clock. And the schedule differs by type of vessel or unit, so check the one that applies to your FPSO or support vessel before you lock in crew changes.
The practical upshot: any offshore project in Brazil that runs longer than a year needs a plan for employing a large number of Brazilian crew. Which brings in a completely different set of rules.
What labour law applies to Brazilian offshore crew?
Brazilian oil and gas workers are covered by Law 5,811 of 1972, a law written specifically for petroleum exploration, drilling, production and refining. It sits alongside Brazil’s general labour code and it’s specific about how offshore shifts work.
The standard is an 8-hour rotating shift. Twelve-hour shifts are only allowed in two situations, and offshore exploration, drilling, production and oil transfer is one of them. Workers on 12-hour rotations are entitled to free meals, free transport to the workplace, free shared accommodation, and 24 consecutive hours of rest for every shift worked.
Then there’s the limit that shapes every offshore rota in Brazil. Under Article 8, nobody on these regimes can stay in service for more than 15 consecutive days. If operations keep someone on board past their scheduled rotation, the extra days are generally paid at double rate, known locally as the “dobra”.
Which is why offshore timesheets in Brazil aren’t a formality. Every extra day on board has a price, and payroll has to know about it.
What does a Brazilian employee cost on top of salary?
More than most foreign operators expect. Brazilian employers pay 20% employer social security (INSS) on gross pay with no ceiling, deposit 8% of pay into the employee’s FGTS severance fund every month, pay a mandatory 13th salary each year, and give 30 days’ paid holiday plus a holiday bonus of one-third of monthly pay. That’s before work-accident insurance, other statutory levies and any offshore allowances. Our guide to employer costs in Brazil goes into more detail.
None of that is optional, and all of it has to be calculated correctly every month.
Can you hire Brazilian crew without a Brazilian company?
Yes, through an Employer of Record in Brazil.
The EOR is the registered local employer. It signs the Brazilian employment contract, runs payroll under Law 5,811 and the general labour code, pays INSS and FGTS, and handles the 13th salary and holiday pay. Your team directs the work on the unit.
The alternative is setting up a Brazilian subsidiary. That means a local entity, local accounting and a payroll operation, all running before the first Brazilian crew member boards. For a single FPSO campaign, it’s a lot of overhead to carry.
How AgileHRO helps on Brazilian offshore projects
We have Brazil and global mobility specialists who work on these projects every day. In practice, we:
- employ your Brazilian crew through our EOR, so you can meet crew quotas without opening an entity
- run payroll from approved rotation timesheets, including overstays and dobra days
- handle visas and residence authorisations for the foreign specialists you bring in
We’re EOR and mobility specialists, not a law firm. For project-specific legal questions, we work alongside your counsel. See how we support FPSO programmes.
Frequently asked questions
Can foreign crew work on an FPSO in Brazil without a work visa?
For up to 90 days a year on a visit visa, or with an ILO 185 Seafarer’s Identity Document. Longer stays need a residence authorisation.
How long does a Brazilian residence authorisation for offshore work last?
Up to two years under CNIg Resolution 42.
What is the maximum offshore rotation in Brazil?
Under Law 5,811, 15 consecutive days for workers on the special offshore regimes. Extra days are generally paid at double rate.
How many Brazilian crew does a foreign vessel need?
The share rises with time in Brazilian waters, reaching half after 180 days and two-thirds after 360 days for the vessel types covered by those thresholds. Check the schedule for your unit type.
Do I need a Brazilian company to employ Brazilian offshore crew?
No. An Employer of Record can employ them locally on your behalf.