Who can participate in Minha Casa Minha Vida?
In short: Anyone with gross household income up to R$ 13,000 per month who does not own a registered property, has never received a government housing program benefit, and is buying their first property can participate in Minha Casa Minha Vida. Criteria vary by bracket — Bracket 1 is selected by the city government; Brackets 2, 3, and 4 are contracted directly with Caixa Econômica Federal.
General eligibility criteria
Minha Casa Minha Vida (MCMV) has four requirements that apply to all brackets:
- Gross household income within the desired bracket’s limit
- No urban or rural property registered in the applicant’s or spouse’s name
- Never having received a benefit from a federal, state, or municipal housing program
- Being a native-born or naturalized Brazilian citizen, or a foreign national with a permanent visa
Informal workers and self-employed individuals can participate. Receiving Bolsa Família or the Continuous Cash Benefit (BPC) does not prevent participation — under Bracket 1, these families may get a full waiver of installments.
Who gets priority under Bracket 1
Selection for Bracket 1 is carried out by the city government or an Organizing Entity, based on social vulnerability criteria. Priority goes to:
- Women heading a household
- Seniors over 60
- People with disabilities
- Families with children under 5 or pregnant women
- Families at risk or in need of resettlement
- Indigenous or quilombola families
Note: charging any fee for registration or for prioritizing beneficiaries is illegal. Report it to the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
Who cannot participate in MCMV
The following are barred from participating:
- Anyone who already owns a property registered in their own name or their spouse’s name
- Anyone who has already received a housing program benefit at any level of government
- Anyone with household income above R$ 13,000 per month
- Public employees with income above the limits of the available brackets
Household income or individual income?
MCMV uses gross household income — the sum of all income earned by everyone in the household, before deductions. This includes salary, retirement pay, rental income received, alimony/support payments, and other regular sources. The limit on the share of gross household income committed to installments is 30%.
To check your eligibility and simulate financing capacity in Florianópolis, see the full guide on MCMV in Florianópolis: developments and how to participate.