Brazil hits record 106,000 foreign micro‑entrepreneurs (MEIs)

In June, Brazil recorded a new high of more than 106,000 active foreign micro‑entrepreneurs (MEIs), a 24 % rise compared with July 2025. The Sebrae survey identified Venezuela as the leading country of origin, accounting for about 25 % of the foreign MEIs. These entrepreneurs are concentrated mainly in the Southeast (around 50,500) and South (about 35,000) regions. São Paulo hosts the largest absolute number with roughly 39,000 foreign MEIs, followed by Santa Catarina (14,000), Paraná (13,000) and Rio Grande do Sul (8,000). Although foreign MEIs represent only 0.78 % of Brazil’s total 13.5 million micro‑entrepreneurs, some states have a higher share: Roraima leads with 11 % of its MEIs being foreign, followed by Amazonas (2 %), Santa Catarina (1.87 %) and Paraná (1.37 %). Sebrae president Rodrigo Soares highlighted the MEI model as a tool for job creation, poverty reduction and economic dynamism, noting that formalisation offers entrepreneurs access to credit, markets and social protection.