Brazil Visas

For tourists and foreigners who want to go to Brazil for any reason, it will take more than a passport to get in. A visa is almost always required, and you can very easily get one from your local Brazilian Embassy. The requirements depend on the type of visa you need, which, in turn, depends on your purpose of visiting the country.

Types Available

Brazil has three main visa categories, with one of them having several sub-categories.

A. Tourist Visa – The tourist visa is what you need if you want to visit Brazil for tourism purposes, to visit friends and/or relatives, or if you want to participate in an amateur sport or competition that does not need any admission fee or award any monetary prize. There are certain countries that waive tourist visa requirements to those applying for a visit to Brazil.

B. Temporary Visa – The temporary visa is issued when you want to go to Brazil for any other purpose aside from tourism or leisure. There are many types of temporary visas, each specific to the reason for getting one.

Cultural Visa – The cultural visa is given to foreigners who participate or engage in any cultural activity. People in this category include teachers, lecturers, researchers, and exchange students as well as athletes 21 years old or under who participate in any type of training program in Brazil.

Business Visa – The business visa is what you need if you plan to go to Brazil for business purposes other than actual temporary employment or technical assistance.

Student Visa – The student visa is issued to non-post-graduate foreign students who go to Brazil to study in an institution of higher learning, either as an exchange student or as a scholar. The visa is also issued to students duly enrolled in a Brazilian university full-time.

Work Visa – The work visa is issued to foreign nationals who will render work in Brazil with a Brazilian company. For this type of visa, it will be the prospective employer who will coordinate with the Ministry of Labor’s General Coordination for Immigration for the contract. A list of required documents will be given to the applicant. Once the contract is approved, the Embassy will be notified so the visa can be issued.

Religious Missionaries Visa – This visa is issued to foreign missionaries, members of the clergy, or people belonging to any monastic order who are temporarily transferred to Brazil.

Temporary Visa III – The temporary Visa VIII is issued to foreigners who are under contract in Brazil for any artistic or athletic performance, or whenever there is a paid admission involved.

Temporary Visa VI – The Temporary Visa VI is issued to foreign journalists or any media correspondent assigned or transferred to Brazil.

C. Permanent Visa – The Permanent Visa is granted to foreigners who intend to reside in Brazil. People who are under the following categories can apply for a permanent visa:

Professionals or technicians who have a pre-approved work contract by the Brazilian Ministry of Labor and National Department of Employment.

Technicians and high level researchers who want to immigrate to Brazil for research work in an institution or any science and technology-related research.

Foreign investors with no less than US$50,000 initial transfer of foreign capital. They must also have a pre-approved investment plan by the Brazilian National Council on Immigration.

Directors, managers, or administrators of a commercial or civil enterprise resulting from a foreign investment, as described in no. 3. They must have an approved work contract by the Brazilian Ministry of Labor and National Department of Employment.

A retired person able to legally transfer an amount equivalent to US$2,000 monthly. The person must be 60 years or above. He or she can be accompanied by up to two dependents. For those who have more than two, the applicant must be able to transfer an additional US$1,000 per additional dependent.

Spouse or a dependent of a Brazilian citizen or national.

Brazilian citizen or national ascendants.

Siblings of a Brazilian national or citizen, provided that the sibling is a single orphan and under 18 years of age.

Minor children as well as grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Brazilian nationals and permanent residents.

Requirements

There are specific requirements for certain types of visas. However, generally, all visa types need the following:

A passport that is valid for at least six months from its expiration date. There must be at least two blank pages available.

Visa application forms for the type of visa that you want to apply for. The forms should be completely filled out. The local Brazilian Embassy should have all the necessary forms available.

Passport photographs in color or black and white. They must be taken recently and in front view.

An international vaccination certificate, specifically for yellow fever.

Some requirements are needed for specific types of visas.

For Tourist Visas:

• A photocopy of the round-trip ticket to Brazil with the flight numbers, the date, and the itinerary. The Embassy may also accept a signed letter from the travel agent printed on the travel agency company’s letterhead.
• Children three months to six years old must have a vaccination certificate against polio, complete with the dosage and kind of vaccine.
• Applicants who are under 18 years old must have a notarized letter of consent from their parents or guardian (guardians must present proof of guardianship).
• Unemployed or self-employed applicants must be able to show documentation proving that they can support themselves financially while in Brazil. Statement of accounts and earnings are needed. For students, the parents’ statement of earnings will suffice.

For Cultural Visas (Temporary Visa I):

• A letter of invitation from the institution in Brazil stating the trip’s purpose and duration. For exchange students, proof of enrollment in the college or institution is required.
• A police clearance for those who will stay in Brazil for more than 90 days.

For Business Visas (Temporary Visa II):

• A letter printed on a company letterhead that is addressed to the Embassy stating what the purpose of the trip to Brazil is, the itinerary, the business contacts, and the date of arrival and departure from Brazil. The letter must be signed by a company representative other than the applicant. The letter must also confirm that the company will be accountable for all the financial responsibilities of the applicant.

For Student Visas (Temporary Visa IV):

• Proof of enrollment officially issued by the institution in Brazil.
• Proof of financial support or scholarship from the sponsoring institution.
• Police clearance if the applicant is over 18 years of age. If the applicant is less than 18 years old, a letter of consent from the applicant’s parents that is duly notarized.

For Work Visas (Temporary Visa V):

• A police clearance.

For Religious Missionaries Visas (Temporary Visa VII):

A. These requirements must come from the religious institution in Brazil:

• Official records of constitution. The statutes must also be stated.
• Written authority from the official representing the religious institution.
• Statement of financial stability given to the applicant while in Brazil.

The above documents must be notarized in Brazil. All copied made must also be authenticated.

B. These requirements must come from the applicant:

• Proof that the applicant is ordained or its general equivalent.
• Copy of the diplomas.
• Curriculum vitae stating the applicant’s missionary and academic history.
• Marriage and birth certificate, if applicable.

For Foreign Media Correspondent Visas:

• A letter printed on the letterhead of the sponsoring organization specifying the job to be performed, its nature, and the job duration. The letter must be submitted to the Press Office of the Ministry of External Relations. There should also be proof of the organization supporting full financial responsibility of the applicant.
• Police clearance if the applicant is over 18 years of age.

For Temporary Visa IIIs:

• A submission of contract to be given directly to the Brazilian Ministry of Labor in Brazil for approval.

Additional Information

Visa requirements are subject to change without prior notice; as a result, it is recommended that you check with your local Brazilian Embassy for the latest visa requirements. Also, during the processing period, there will be no information regarding the status of your visa application, either via phone or email. After getting your visa, time to head to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil which is listed in the Top Ten Tourist hotspots.