Brazil visa policy

Brazilian visa policy is a set of rules specifying who needs a certain visa type to enter Brazil. There are several visas to Brazil depending on the nationality, entry (multiple or single), and the purpose of the stay. The most common are tourist visas (VIVIS) and temporary visas (VITEM). They can be used for tourism, transit, business, artistic, and sport-related activities for a limited time period.

Remember that if you want to work and live in the country, you must have a special permit. Besides, in order to apply, you must meet visa requirements, such as getting a valid passport and making an appointment at the nearest Brazilian embassy or consulate. Right now, no electronic visas and visas on arrival are available.

Some nationals (such as Japanese, Americans, or Swiss) can enter Brazil without a visa for up to 90 days, only with a valid passport or an ID. In this case, it is possible to travel for tourism, transit, business, or artistic/sport-related reasons.

Who can enter Brazil?

All foreign nationals who meet the visa conditions may enter Brazil. When it comes to COVID-19 restrictions, travelers must have one of the following proofs of full vaccination, negative tests, or recovery from COVID-19 within the last 90 days. Only children aged 12 or less are exempt from the above rules.

What is more, Brazilian citizens with another nationality can enter and exit the country just with a passport or Brazilian ID. Visas for dual nationals are issued only in special situations, such as work in government where using the Brazilian passport is forbidden.

Besides, according to visa waiver agreements, European Union members and Sierra Leone citizens can visit the country without a visa. Official, service, or diplomatic passport holders are exempt from a visa as well. Note that the electronic visa requirement for Australia, Japan, Canada, and the United States will be resumed.

Entry Requirements for Brazil

In order to travel to Brazil, visitors must check the requirements, prepare necessary documents, and respect all regulations. Mainly, they must have a valid passport, a visa, and proof of COVID-19 negative testing or vaccination.

Some nationals have visa-free entry to Brazil and can stay there for up to 90 days. In this case, the only document needed is a valid passport or identity card.

Documents checklist for entering Brazil

The below documents are important in case you want to travel to Brazil:

• a proof of COVID-19 vaccination or negative test
• a valid passport
• a visa (depending on nationality, purpose, and length of stay).

All documents will be checked by the Brazilian authorities at the border crossing. Without them, you won’t be able to enter the country.

Note that the conditions may change, so it is recommended to check all information on the official website run by the government.

Methods of Getting a Visa to Brazil

According to the Brazilian government, two main types of visas can be obtained by eligible travelers: a Brazil visit visa (VIVIS) and a Brazil temporary visa (VITEM). As for now, an e-Visa and visa on arrival are not available, so applicants must visit the embassy or consulate in order to get a visa.

Brazil Visit Visa (VIVIS)

Brazil visit visa, also referred to as a tourist visa, allows a 90-day stay in the country. We can distinguish several subtypes: a visa for tourism, transit, business, non-corporate events, journalistic/news coverage, auditioning, and adoption.

Working or living in Brazil as a VIVIS visa holder is impossible. To obtain this visa, applicants must prepare the following documents:

• a valid passport
• a visa application form
• proof of accommodation
• 2 recent photos
• flight itinerary
• proof of vaccination or test.

Note that some additional papers may be required depending on a subtype. For example, you need a letter from the company for a business stay.

When you have all the necessary documents, you need to find the Brazilian embassy or consulate, contact them, and make an appointment. Then, complete the application form, pay the fee, and wait for the confirmation.

Brazil Temporary Visa (VITEM)

VITEM visas enable one to stay in Brazil for more than 90 days. After the confirmation, visitors must register with the local office of the Brazilian Federal Police to get a registration card (CRNM) and a residency permit for up to 3 years. It is possible to renew a Brazilian temporary visa. There are many subtypes of VITEM, such as visas for research, health treatment, study, refugees, technical assistance, investment, family reunion, or volunteer work.

Brazil electronic visa

The Brazil online visa was introduced in 2017 to make the process of applying for a visa more convenient for travelers. It is not available anymore, but a new system can be implemented soon.

What is more, eVisa to Brazil was a multiple-entry permit that enabled one to stay in the country for up to 90 days during a validity period of 2 years. To apply, it was necessary to complete the application form, cover the fee, and wait for confirmation.

Countries and regions which require a visa for entry into Brazil

Before starting an application process, checking the eligible countries’ lists is advisable.

Countries list for a visit visa (VIVIS):

• Afghanistan
• Angola
• Azerbaijan
• Bangladesh
• Burkina Faso
• Bahrain
• Burundi
• Benin
• Brunei
• Bhutan
• Botswana
• Congo
• Republic of the Congo
• Ivory Coast
• Cook Islands
• Cameroon
• China
• Cuba
• Djibouti
• Dominica
• Dominican Republic
• Algeria
• Egypt
• Eritrea
• Ethiopia
• Micronesia
• Gabon
• Ghana
• Gambia
• Guinea Bissau
• Guinea
• Equatorial Guinea
• Haiti
• India
• Iraq
• Iran
• Jordan
• Kenya
• Kyrgyzstan
• Cambodia
• Kiribati
• Comoros
• North Korea
• Kuwait
• Laos
• Lebanon
• Saint Lucia
• Sri Lanka
• Liberia
• Lesotho
• Libya
• Moldova
• Madagascar
• Marshall Islands
• Mali
• Myanmar
• Mauritania
• Mauritius
• Maldives
• Malawi
• Mozambique
• Niger
• Nigeria
• Nepal
• Nauru
• Oman
• New Guinea
• Pakistan
• Sierra Leone
• Senegal
• Somalia
• Sao Tome
• Syria
• Swaziland
• Chad
• Togo
• Tajikistan
• Timor-Leste
• Turkmenistan
• Tonga
• Tuvalu
• Tanzania
• Uganda
• Uzbekistan
• Vietnam
• Vanuatu
• Samoa
• Yemen
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe
• Qatar
• Palau
• Saudi Arabia
• Sudan
• South Sudan
• Solomon Islands
• Sao Tome and Principe
• Cape Verde

Visa-free countries list:

• Andorra
• United Arab Emirates
• Antigua
• Albania
• Armenia
• Argentina
• Australia
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Barbados
• Bolivia
• Bahamas
• Botswana
• Belarus
• Belize
• Canada
• Switzerland
• Chile
• Colombia
• Costa Rica
• Serbia
• Dominica
• Dominican Republic
• Ecuador
• European Union
• Fiji
• United Kingdom
• Grenada
• Georgia
• Guatemala
• Guyana
• Hong Kong
• Honduras
• Indonesia
• Israel
• Iceland
• Jamaica
• Japan
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• South Korea
• Kazakhstan
• Liechtenstein
• Morocco
• Monaco
• Moldova
• Montenegro
• Macedonia
• Mongolia
• Macau
• Malta
• Mexico
• Malaysia
• Namibia
• Nicaragua
• Norway
• New Zealand
• Panama
• Peru
• Philippines
• San Marino
• Suriname
• El Salvador
• Thailand
• Tunisia
• Turkey
• Trinidad
• Ukraine
• United States
• Uruguay
• Vatican City
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Venezuela
• South Africa
• Qatar
• Singapore
• Seychelles
• Russia
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Paraguay
• Antigua and Barbuda

Entry requirements for children

Applicants below 18 years old must have the authorization to issue Brazilian visas for minors completed and signed by parents. A notarized signature, form, and birth certificate copy are necessary.

Documents that are not in English, Spanish, French, or Portuguese must be translated by certified authorities. Besides, both parents’ consent is needed (the exception are situations where one parent is deceased, not listed on the birth certificate, or doesn’t have full custody granted by Divorce Decree or Court Order).

Besides, children must meet all the requirements like adults. Travelers who are 12 years old and younger don’t need to show proof of vaccination or a negative test.

Transit information

The visa is necessary if you plan to transit through the territory of Brazil and leave the international zone at the airport or clear immigration.

The transit visa is not needed in case your connecting flights are booked on the same ticket. Note that the rule doesn’t apply to the Curitiba (CWB), Porto Alegre (POA), Florianopolis (FLN), Salvador (SSA), and Porto Seguro (BPS) airports.

Important information

•  There are two main types of Brazilian visas: a visit visa (VIVIS) and a temporary visa (VITEM) that can be used for tourism, business, transit, or artistic/sports activities.
• It is not possible to obtain a Brazilian electronic visa or a visa on arrival, but it can change in the future.
• Foreign nationals from certain countries and holders of the official/diplomatic/service passport may go to Brazil without a visa for up to 90 days.
• Before your trip, find the recent information about COVID-19 restrictions. Now it is required to have proof of vaccination or a negative test.
• A valid passport is necessary to obtain a visa and enter the country.