How to obtain a Brazilian visa?

If you are wondering how to get a visa for Brazil, you came to the right page.

What is the Brazilian visa?

The Brazilian visa is the document that gives foreigners the expectation of entering Brazilian territory.

Obtaining a Brazilian visa is essential for foreigners who wish to enter Brazil; however, this does not guarantee the right to entry.

The Brazilian visa grants an expectation because, even with this document, the Brazilian authorities can still prevent the foreigner from entering Brazil, for example, if that person has lied about the reason for the trip, is wanted for terrorism in another country, etc. 

Visa Interview

The consular authority may require additional documents and face-to-face interview to confirm the purpose of the immigrant’s trip

Do I need a visa to enter Brazil?

Brazil is one of the most beautiful countries in the world, therefore, many foreigners wonder if they need a visa to visit it.

Evidently, Brazilian citizens do not need a Brazilian visa to enter Brazil, only foreign citizens do.

The Brazilian Federal Police is the government branch responsible for migratory control at Brazilian borders and which authorizes the entry of foreign citizens, provided they have the appropriate visa.

Brazil grants visas based on the principle of reciprocity, hence it only requires Brazilian visas from foreigners whose countries also require visas from Brazilian citizens.

Therefore, if your country requires visas from Brazilians nationals, you will probably have to obtain a Brazilian visa to enter Brazilian territory. Check if you need a brazilian visa here!

Unusually, the reciprocity rule was not in effect for citizens of Australia, Canada, the United States of America, and Japan. Since 2019, citizens from those countries may enter Brazil without a visa for the purposes of tourism, business, transit, artistic, or sporting activities for a period of up to ninety days, extendable for the same duration. However, recently, the Brazilian government has revised this benefit and intends to resume requiring visas for tourists from the USA, Canada, Japan, and Australia from October 1st of 2023.

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Where to apply for a Brazilian visa?

The Brazilian visa is granted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil, through Brazilian embassies, consulates and, in some cases, by commercial and representative offices of Brazil abroad.

For that reason, typically, Brazilian visas are granted only abroad, not within Brazil. Brazilian visas are not granted at airports, ports or at the Brazilian border.

However, Brazilian diplomatic, official and courtesy visas may be granted inside Brazil.

If the foreigner is already in Brazilian territory and wishes to extend his period in Brazil or obtain a residence permit, he or she must seek the Ministry of Justice, the Brazilian Federal Police or the Ministry of Labor, depending on each case.

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Brazilian Visa Requirements - Documents

To apply for a Brazilian visa, the foreigner must present the following documents:

• Filled Brazilian Visa Application Form;

• Valid travel document (passport or laissez-passer);

• Consular fees receipt;

• International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis - when required;

• Other specific documents - according to the type of visa requested.

Certain types of Brazilian visa require legalization (Apostille authentication) and official translation of foreign documents (translated by a sworn public translator).

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How much does the Brazilian visa cost?

The Brazilian Migration Law states that consular fees may apply for processing the visa, but this amount depends on the type of visa and the country where the Brazilian consulate is located.

Hence, check the values with the Consulate where you want to obtain your visa.

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How many types of Brazilian visas are there?

There are five types of Brazilian visas:

·        Visit Visa;

·        Temporary Visa; 

·        Diplomatic Visa; 

·        Official Visa; e

·        Courtesy Visa.

Brazilian Visit Visa

The visiting visa, or visitor’s visa, is intended for a short stay, up to 90 days, with no intention of establishing residence or immigrating.

The visiting visa does not allow the foreigner to engage in paid activities in Brazil.

This type of visa is designed for foreigners who wish to visit Brazil as tourists; who want to do short term business; who are travelling to another country and wish to leave the airport; who practice artistic or sports activities; etc.

Visa Waiver

Citizens from Australian; Canada; United States of America and Japan do not need a Brazilian visit visa

Brazilian Temporary Visa

Unlike the visiting visa, the Brazilian temporary visa is recommended for long-term stays, for more than 90 days, with the intention of establishing residence for a specific time. Depending on the subtype of temporary visa, the immigrant usually has authorization to reside in Brazil for a renewable period of 1 to 2 years. Brazil does not issue any permanent visa.

This type of visa may or may not allow foreigners to engage in paid activities in Brazil, the autorization to work is another document issued by the Ministry of Labour.

The Brazilian temporary visa is granted to foreigners in one of the following situations:

• Temporary Visa I: researchers, teachers or academic scholars (a.k.a. Brazilian Scholar Visa);

• Temporary Visa II: person in need of health treatment (a.k.a. Brazilian Medical Treatment Visa);

• Temporary Visa III: for humanitarian reasons, such as refugees (a.k.a. Brazilian Humanitarian Visa);

• Temporary Visa IV: students (a.k.a. Brazilian Student Visa);

• Temporary Visa V: for paid work (a.k.a. Brazilian Work Visa);

• Temporary Visa VI: for vacation and work Visa. This visa is granted through reciprocity, based on bilateral agreements. There are currently agreements in force with New Zealand, France and Germany;

• Temporary Visa VII: for the practice of religious activity (a.k.a. Brazilian Religious Visa);

• Temporary Visa VIII - for voluntary service (a.k.a. Brazilian Volunteer Visa)

• Temporary Visa IX - for investors who decide to invest R$500.000,00 in a Brazilian company or buy R$1.000.000,00 in real estate located in Brazil (a.k.a. Brazilian Investment Visa). Investment in a Brazilian company requires a detailed 3-year business plan, for more information, hire a consultation today;

• X - Temporary Visa X - for an activity of economic, scientific, technological or cultural relevance;

• Temporary Visa XI - for family reunion (a.k.a. Brazilian Family Visa, family-based immigrant visa), it will be granted to the immigrant with a spouse/partner, son, stepson that lives in Brazil, with the maximum validity period of one year.

• Temporary Visa XII - for artistic and sporting activities;

• Temporary Visa XIII - temporary visas resulting from international agreements;

• Temporary Visa XIV - temporary visas resulting from the Brazilian migration policy, such as Retirement Visas [1];

• VICAM - Temporary Medical Improvement Visa, allows foreign doctors a temporary visa for a period of three years to work on the “Mais Médicos” Brazilian Government Health Program. (a.k.a. Brazilian “Mais Médicos” Visa)

The immigrant holding a Brazilian temporary visa must apply for registration within ninety days, counting from the date of entry into Brazil, or will be fined.

Brazilian Diplomatic Visa

Brazilian diplomatic visas are granted to foreign officials who have diplomatic status and travel to Brazil on an official mission, representing a foreign state or international organization recognized by Brazil.

Foreign officials with diplomatic status can request a Brazilian diplomatic visas if there is reciprocity of treatment with Brazilian nationals, when a Brazilian on an official mission also receives a visa in that country.

Brazilian Official Visa

Similar to the Brazilian diplomatic visas, the Brazilian official visa is granted to foreign administrative authorities and officials, without diplomatic status, who travel to Brazil on an official mission, representing a foreign state or recognized international organization.

Brazilian Courtesy Visa

The Brazilian courtesy visa is granted to celebrities, artists and sportsmen traveling to Brazil for free and eminently cultural events; foreign authorities on an unofficial trip to Brazil; family members and private employees of foreign authorities, etc.

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How can a foreigner live in Brazil, working and / or studying?

The visa is a document that only authorizes the entrance into Brazil. In order for the foreigner to be able to live for a long time in the country, a residence permit is required.

The foreigner can obtain a residence permit when applying for a consular visa or by transforming the visiting visa into a residence permit. 

Schedule an on-line consultation with an immigration lawyer.
Contact us today

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[1] Normative Resolution No. 40 of the Brazilian National Immigration Council (CNIg) authorizes temporary visas and residence permits based on retirement or death pension benefits. The Brazilian National Immigration Council allows foreigners in Brazil who have a stable economic and financial condition and are interested in monthly transferring to Brazil an amount equal to or greater than US $ 2,000.00 (two thousand dollars).

Brazilian Permanent Visa

Brazilian Humanitarian Visa

Brazilian Student Visa

Brazilian Work Visa

Brazilian Scholar Visa

Brazilian Medical Treatment Visa

Brazilian Religious Visa

Brazilian Volunteer Visa

Brazilian Investment Visa

Brazilian Family Visa

Family-based immigrant visa