Curitiba Launches Facilita Mais Program to Become Brazil's Most Business-Friendly City
Curitiba's new Facilita Mais program nearly doubles permit exemptions, speeds up business openings to two hours, and makes it Brazil's most business-friendly city.
- • Facilita Mais doubles permit-exempt business categories from 606 to 1,200.
- • Average business opening time reduced to two hours, fastest in Brazil.
- • Curitiba ranks first nationally in business-friendly regulations.
- • Program includes medium-risk businesses receiving immediate automatic permits upon CNPJ registration.
Key details
On February 9, 2026, Curitiba implemented the Facilita Mais program, a major initiative designed to drastically simplify and accelerate the process of opening new businesses in the city. With this new program, the number of business categories exempt from permits and licenses nearly doubled, increasing from 606 to 1,200, covering sectors such as transport, postal services, finance, construction, and education. This extensive reduction of bureaucratic hurdles has positioned Curitiba as the leading capital in Brazil for business-friendly regulations, surpassing former leader Pinhalzinho (Santa Catarina) and the state of Paraná.
The program, instituted through Decree 2.350, allows medium-risk businesses to receive automatic permits immediately upon registering their CNPJ, removing prior procedural requirements. As a result, the average time to open a business in Curitiba has been slashed to just two hours, making it the fastest in the country and significantly ahead of the national average. This achievement supports a 13% increase in new business registrations between 2024 and 2025.
Mayor Eduardo Pimentel highlighted that the initiative strengthens Curitiba’s commitment to encouraging entrepreneurship, creating jobs, and attracting investments. The program’s objectives align with the Economic Freedom Law (13.874/2019), aimed at reducing bureaucratic barriers across Brazil.
Facilita Mais is expected to raise the proportion of low-risk business permit requests from 45% to 75%, translating to approximately 52,227 requests in 2026. The collaborative effort was led by Curitiba’s Planning, Finance, and Economic Development departments, reflecting a strategic push to enhance the city's economic environment.
This reform represents a significant milestone in simplifying business operations in Curitiba, fostering an inviting atmosphere for entrepreneurs and investors alike, and solidifying the city's stature as a model for regulatory efficiency in Brazil.
This article was translated and synthesized from Brazilian sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
