Visas for Brazil
A visa authorizes your entry into Brazil. It is applied for outside the country, at a Brazilian consular post, before you travel.
A Brazilian visa is the authorization to enter the country, granted by a Brazilian consulate or embassy before you travel. It is divided into the visit visa, for short stays with no intention of residing, and the VITEM temporary visas, for people who intend to study, work, invest, reunite with family or reside in Brazil.
Visit visa or temporary visa?
The visit visa covers short stays with no intention of residing: tourism, occasional business, transit, artistic or sporting activity with no employment relationship in Brazil. It does not authorize paid activity in the country.
The temporary visa, identified by the code VITEM, is for people coming with a plan to stay. It is the entry door for anyone who will later register and obtain the CRNM, the Carteira de Registro Nacional Migratório.
Many nationalities are exempt from the visit visa under reciprocity agreements. That does not exempt anyone from the temporary visa: someone who enters without a visa and intends to reside needs another route, normally the residence permit applied for inside Brazil.
The most common types of temporary visa
The VITEM categories and the purpose of each one.
| Category | Purpose | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Visit visa | Tourism, business, transit, events | Does not allow paid activity in Brazil |
| VITEM I | Research, teaching or academic extension work | Requires a link with a Brazilian institution |
| VITEM II | Medical treatment | Requires proof of financial means |
| VITEM III | Humanitarian reception | Depends on a regulation for the country of origin |
| VITEM IV | Study | Tied to enrollment and to the length of the course |
| VITEM V | Work | Depends on prior work authorization obtained by the employer |
| VITEM VI | Working holiday | Only for countries with a specific agreement with Brazil |
| VITEM VII | Religious activity or voluntary service | Requires a link with a recognized institution |
| VITEM VIII | Investment or activity of economic relevance | Subject to a minimum amount set by resolution |
| VITEM IX | Family reunion | The consular alternative to residence through family reunion |
How to apply for a Brazilian visa
The application starts in the electronic system and is completed at the consular post with jurisdiction over your place of residence.
Identify the correct category
Applying in the wrong category means refusal and a lost fee. The category depends on the activity you will carry out in Brazil, not on how long you intend to stay.
Obtain any prior authorizations
Some visas, such as the work visa, depend on an authorization issued in Brazil before the consular application. Without it, the consulate will not examine the merits.
Prepare and legalize the documents
Documents issued in your country normally need an apostille or legalization and a translation, according to what the post requires.
Complete the form and book the appointment
Completing the electronic form, issuing the receipt and booking the appointment at the consulate or reception center.
Enter Brazil and register
Anyone entering on a temporary visa has to complete the migration registration at the Polícia Federal (Federal Police) within the legal deadline after entry, in order to receive the CRNM. Missing that deadline creates an irregular status even with a valid visa.
The deadline to register with the Polícia Federal after entering on a temporary visa is short and counted in days, not months. It is one of the most frequent mistakes of people who arrive with an approved visa and assume they are regular. Confirm the deadline as soon as you land.
Questions about Brazilian visas
Do I need a visa to enter Brazil?
For tourism and business, many countries are exempt from the visit visa under reciprocity agreements, and the list changes over time. To reside, study or work, the exemption does not apply: you need a temporary visa or a residence permit. Confirm the requirement for your nationality before buying a ticket.
I entered as a tourist. Can I switch to a work visa without leaving Brazil?
A visa category cannot be changed inside Brazil, because a visa is a consular act. What does exist is the possibility of applying to the Polícia Federal for a residence permit, on grounds allowed by law, with no need to leave the country.
How long does a visa application take?
It varies by consular post, by category and by demand in the period. Visas that depend on prior authorization obtained in Brazil add up the time of both stages. Check with the post that has jurisdiction, because timelines are published consulate by consulate.
Does a visit visa allow me to work remotely for a company abroad?
The visit visa does not authorize paid activity in Brazil. For anyone who wants to live in the country while working for a foreign employer or client, the right route is digital nomad residence, set out in Resolução CNIg nº 45/2021.
My visa was refused. What now?
First you have to understand the basis of the refusal, which usually lies in the documents or in the category chosen. Refiling the same application without fixing the cause tends to produce the same answer. In many cases there is an alternative route better suited to what the person actually wants.
The rules cited on this page follow Lei 13.445/2017 (the Migration Law) and Decreto 9.199/2017. Requirements, deadlines and amounts may be changed by later regulations. Confirm the rule in force before making any decision.
Which visa is right for you
Before paying a consular fee, confirm the correct category. We do that analysis at no cost.
Free case analysis
Answer five questions. You get a reply setting out the immigration route that fits your situation.
