Visas for Dependents

• Who is eligible for a dependent visa?
  • Based on RN n.º 108/2014, visas may be granted to dependents of a Brazilian citizen or extended to a dependent of a Brazilian visa holder.

 
The following are eligible to apply for a visa in order to join a family member:

• Spouse:
  • 1) Formally married or under a common law marriage contract;
  • 2) Informal domestic partnerships;
  • NOTE: There is no distinction for same-sex couples;
• B) Children:
  • 1) All under 18;
  • 2) Under 24, if attending college or pursuing graduate/ post-graduate studies and applicant’s country of citizenship has reciprocal of conditions under the same circumstances;
  • 3) At any age if unable to provide for themselves and with special needs;
  • 4) NOTE: Same conditions above are applicable to stepchildren or minors under custody of the sponsoring i) Brazilian citizen, or of ii) the Brazilian visa holder or of iii) their spouses;
• C) Parents:
  • 1) Who are unable to provide for themselves and/or with special needs;
  • 2) With final custody over a Brazilian child and that the minor depends on parent financially;
• D) Sibling, grandchild, or great-grandchild if orphan, single, under legal custody of a Brazilian citizen or Brazilian visa holder and unable to provide for themselves:
  • 1) All under 18;
  • 2) Under 24, if attending college or pursuing graduate/ post-graduate studies and applicant’s country of citizenship has reciprocal conditions under the same circumstances;
  • 3) At any age if unable to provide for themselves and with special needs.
• RESTRICTIONS:
  • 1) Biological or formally adopted children of Brazilian citizens going to Brazil for a long period of time such as for studies or for work cannot apply for a dependent visa. In this case, please request the Brazilian registry (Brazilian birth certificate) and then apply for a Brazilian passport.
  • Other dependents of a Brazilian citizen are to apply for a permanent visa.
  • 2) Gainful employment is forbidden for visa dependents.
• Exception:
  • Permanent visas – VIPER;
  • Temporary residence visas for Mercosul visas – VIRET; and
  • VIDIP/VISOF/VICOR visas in case there’s a bilateral agreement allowing dependents to work.
• What are the additional visa requirements for dependents?
  • Dependents of a foreigner with a valid Brazilian visa are to apply for the same type of visa that the main visa holder has. Example: a child of a VITEM V visa holder should also apply for a VITEM V.
  • Eligible dependents of a Brazilian citizen moving to Brazil to be joined with the Brazilian sponsor are to apply for a permanent visa.
  • Visas for dependents must be accompanied by all requirements for the adequate type of visa.

Additionally to the requirements based on the type of visa, they must also present:

• Affidavit of Financial and Moral Responsibility for the Dependent(s) signed by the Brazilian sponsor or main holder and duly notarized by a notary public in the United States or a Brazilian notary (“Cartório”);
• B)  Proof of Relationship with the visa holder or Brazilian citizen:
  • 1) Spouse (Case A.1): original, certified copy or notarized copy of i) marriage certificate or ii) marriage contract issued by official authority.
  • ATTENTION: if the sponsor is a Brazilian citizen, a copy of a Brazilian marriage certificate (“Certidão de Registro de Casamento”) drawn by “Cartório” or by a Brazilian Consulate or Embassy must be presented. Applicants who do not yet have a Brazilian marriage certificate must have one issued prior to applying for the permanent visa. Information on how to register you marriage at this Consulate may be found on our website in Portuguese under “Casamento – Registro“;
  • 2) Descendants, Ascendants, Siblings – Cases B, C and D: original, certified copy or notarized copy of birth certificate(s);
  • 3) Persons under LEGAL CUSTODY of a Brazilian citizen, Brazilian visa holder or their spouses or foreigner with custody over a Brazilian child(Case B.4, Case C and Case D): original or certified copy of court document granting final custody of the applicant to the Brazilian citizen, Brazilian visa holder or their spouses;
• C) Proof of Dependency:
  • 1) Dependents under 18 and Formal Spouses (Cases A.1, B.1, B.4 and D.1): dependency is presumed. No document required;
  • 2) Descendants and those under legal custody, between ages of 18-24 (Cases B.2, B.4 and D.2) must present:
    • Proof recent or future school enrollment;
  • 3) Dependents over 24, with SPECIAL NEEDS (Cases B.3, B.4, C.1 and D.3) must present one of the following requirements:
    • Original or certified copy of court order with information concerning the physical or mental limitations of the applicant justifying why they are unable to provide and/or care for themselves;
    • OR
    • Original medical report stating information concerning the physical or mental limitations of the applicant justifying why they are unable to provide and/or care for themselves; and
    • Proof that the applicant has no other relatives able to care for them in their country of residence;
  • 4) Informal Domestic Partner – (Case A.2):
    • Original notarized AFFIDAVIT signed by both spouses declaring under the penalties of law that they have been living together in a common law marriage;
    • AND at least one of the following documents:
    • Joint tax return;
    • Birth certificate of a non Brazilian child of the applicant and the sponsor;
    • Religious marriage certificate (celebrated at least one year prior to submitting the visa request);
    • Will/testament registered in a Brazilian “Cartório” or with signature acknowledged by competent local authority (subscribed at least one year prio to submitting the visa request);
    • Joint life or health insurance policy (effective for at least one year prior to submitting the visa request);
    • Joint bank account (established at least one year prior to submitting the visa request) ;
    • Title of joint real state property or joint real state lease (signed at least one year prior to the submission of the visa request);
  • D) Sponsor’s ID and proof of citizenship/immigration status: original and plain copy or authenticated copy or legalized copy of at least one of Sponsor’s Brazilian documents as listed below:
    • 1) If the sponsor is a Brazilian citizen:
      • “Carteira de Identidade”- “RG”; AND/OR
      • Brazilian passport ID page; AND/OR
      • Brazilian driver’s license;
    • 2) If the sponsor is a Brazilian visa holder and is already living in Brazil:
      • National Registry of Foreigners Card “RNE”; AND/OR
      • Passport’s ID Page and Stamp from the Federal Police converting status to permanency;AND/OR
      • Passport’s ID Page, Brazilian visa and proof of Registration with the Federal Police stating the validity of the visa and/or entrance/exit stamps from the Brazilian Immigration;
    • 3) If the sponsor is a Brazilian visa holder that has not gone to Brazil:
      • Passport’s ID Page and Brazilian visa.
    • 4) If the sponsor has been granted a work permit authorization or is eligible for a visa but hasnot applied for the Brazilian visa yet, requirement D does not apply. In this case it is recommended that the visa applications for the whole family be submitted at the same time.
    • Note: sponsor’s visa must always be issued prior to the dependent visas. If during the visa application submission the visa for the sponsor cannot be issued due to incorrect or incomplete documentation, none of the dependent visas can be issued.