Visa Requirements for Brazil

Brazil's visa policy is based upon reciprocity, which means that if Brazilian citizens don't need a visa to enter your home country, you don't need a visa to enter Brazil. However, citizens of Australia, Canada, Japan, and the U.S. are currently exceptions to this rule and do not need a visa to visit Brazil. Many countries benefit from visa exemption , but there is some variance in how long citizens of certain countries are allowed to stay. You can check the most updated list of exempted countries on the Consulate General of Brazil websites, or better yet, contact the Brazilian Consulate nearest to you.

These exemptions only apply to visit visas, which allow stays shorter than 90 days for business, tourism, sports, arts, or transit. Stays longer than that, or stays where you will be employed by a Brazilian company require a temporary visa. Brazil offers many temporary visas, but the following list only concerns the ones eligible to U.S. citizens. When you apply for the visa, you will need to pay an application fee , provide the required documents in addition to a copy of your birth certificate, and be able to pass an FBI background check.

Visit Visa (VIVIS)

If your country does not qualify for visa exemption, you can apply for a regular visit visa, which will allow you to stay in Brazil for up to 90 days for multiple purposes ranging from tourism to business, education, and medical treatment. To stay in Brazil for longer than 90 days, you will need to apply for a temporary visa, known as a VITEM .

Visa Fees and Applications

You will need to deliver your application to the Brazilian consulate either by mail or in-person with the proper documents included.

• You will need to fill out a Visa Request Form Receipt online and then print it out and sign it. You'll need your personal documents and a passport photo ready to upload when you fill out the applications.
• On your application, you'll need to state your length of stay in Brazil, your occupation, and submit your passport information.
• If you have a contact in Brazil, you can also submit their contact information with your application.
• You will need to pay the visa fee, which is $160 for U.S. citizens and $80 for most other countries, using a money order.
• Every Brazilian consulate has its own workflow, so your experience may be different depending on which consulate you are applying through.

Academic Visa (VITEM I)

Scientists, researchers, and professors can apply to stay in Brazil for more than 90 days with an academic and research visa, classified as VITEM I. You may apply with or without a contract of employment, but you will need to prove your financial capacity to support yourself in Brazil. You will also need an invitation letter from a Brazilian institution or company relevant to your academic activities.

Health Treatment Visa (VITEM II)

You should apply for this visa if you are traveling to Brazil for a health treatment that will require you to spend more than 90 days in the country, classified as VITEM II. You will need to show proof of income, international health insurance, an affidavit signed by your doctor estimating the cost of the treatment, and a letter from the clinic or hospital where you will receive the treatment.

Study Visa (VITEM IV)

Study visas for Brazil encompass everything from regular graduate and undergraduate courses to internships, exchange programs, and religious and medical specialization courses. You only need to apply for the visa if your program lasts longer than 90 days. You must also show a letter of acceptance or proof of enrollment for the course, internship, or educational exchange that you will be participating in.

Work Visa (VITEM V)

Before you can apply for a work visa, you must first be hired by a company or institution in Brazil. It then falls on the company to petition for temporary residency on your behalf at the Ministry of Justice in Brazil. Once the authorization is granted, then you can apply for your work visa at the Brazilian consulate, which can also be extended to any family members who will be moving to Brazil with you.

Religious Activity Visa (VITEM VII)

For ministers, missionaries, and other holders of religious occupations, you can apply for a religious activity visa if you are working with a religious organization based in Brazil. In your application, you must include an act of establishment from the institution, an invitation describing the intended work and details of your visit, and an affidavit signed by the institution's legal representatives that ensures financial support and lodging. You must also show a letter from your home organization describing your planned works, certification of your religious education, a resume, and a written statement of commitment that you will not engage with indigenous groups without authorization from the FUNAI (National Indian Foundation).

Volunteering Visa (VITEM VIII)

If you are engaging in volunteer work with a non-profit or non-governmental organization without an employment contract, you can apply for a volunteering visa. You will need to show an invitation letter from the government-approved and regularly-operating institution you'll be volunteering with a document that describes the work and specifies where and for how long you will stay in Brazil. The institution will also need to provide an affidavit guaranteeing full responsibility for your medical expenses.

Investment Visa (VITEM IX)

If you plan on staying to invest in a Brazilian company or to start up your own company, you will need to start this visa application process in Brazil. First, the Brazilian company will petition on your behalf for temporary residence at the Ministry of Justice and once it is granted, you will be able to apply for a work visa at the American consulate.

Family Reunification Visa (VITEM XI)

This visa allows the family members of people with legal residency status in Brazil to reside in Brazil. You must be able to prove your relationship to the Brazilian national or foreign national living in Brazil (e.g. a marriage certificate) and also provide proof of their residence. Additionally, you'll need a Full Responsibility Affidavit Form, which must be signed in the presence of notary public in Brazil.

Artistic or Sports Activity Visa (VITEM XII)

If you have a contract to work in Brazil in either the artistic or athletic fields, you can apply for a temporary residency with this visa. This visa is only applicable if you are over the age of 18 since the consulate specifies that amateur athletes between 14 and 18 years old may only stay for up to one year.

Visa Overstays

If you are caught overstaying your visa, you will be fined $23 for every day past the expiration date up to $1900 and you'll have seven days to leave the country. You will also be banned from entering Brazil for six months and you won't be able to reenter until the fine is paid. Your passport will be stamped, marking you for the outstanding fine. You can either pay it immediately upon leaving Brazil or entering on your next visit.

Extending Your Visa

If you're eligible for visa extension, you can do so with the Federal Police after you arrive, but the combined stay must not go over 180 days within a year. You can find a list of Federal Police offices to apply in-person for your visa extension on the U.S. embassy website. You will also need to pay a fee to extend your visa and fill out a Request for Stay of Extension form (requerimento de prorrogação de estada), which should be downloaded ahead of time from the Federal Police website.