Brazil requires that citizens of most countries obtain a visa to enter.  The Brazilian Consulate General will determine the duration of stay upon receiving an application.  The types and categories differ according to the purpose of visit, length of stay and respective arrangement with the country of the foreign national.

• VISIT VISA (VIVIS)
  • WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR A VISIT VISA?
    • The visit visa will be issued to foreigners traveling to Brazil for staying up to 90 days without purposes of immigration or the exercise of paid activity (daily allowances, artistic paychecks, compensation or other travel expenses are allowed). Visit visas can be granted for those traveling for tourism, business, transit, artistic or sports activities, study, volunteer work, or to attend to conferences, seminars or meetings, among other purposes – provided there is no remuneration in Brazil and the stay does not exceed 90 days.

• VITEM I – Researchers, Scientists, and to receive medical treatment
  • WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR A VITEM I?
    • A) Scientists, professors, researchers and other professionals in order to participate in conferences, seminars or congresses characterized as set and defined events for less than 30 days, non-extendable, receiving a “Pro Labore” (RN n.º 101/2013, Art. 1º). Please note: If the applicant will not be receiving any honorarium for this presentation, please apply for a TOURIST VISA.
    • B) Scientists, professors, researchers and other professionals employed by foreign educational or research institution intending to participate in science, technology and innovation cooperation projects with a Brazilian institution, without a work contract in Brazil (RN n.º 101/2013). Please note: If the applicant will have a work contract, please apply for a VITEM V – WORK VISA.
    • Please note: Professors, scientists, researchers engaged in scientific and technical cooperation program must obtain from the Brazilian party an authorization from the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development – CNPq and from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation – MCT prior to applying for the visa. This requirement can be waived if the project is sponsored by a research grant from CNPq, CAPES, FINEP or other official State Foundation supporting research activities.
    • C) Fulbright teachers and researchers.
    • D) Persons intending to provide voluntary services to a religious entity, to a social services organization or to a non-profit non-governmental organization – NGO (RN n.º 68/2005).
    • E) Persons intending to go to Brazil for a medical treatment (RR n.º 02/2000).

• VITEM VII – Missionaries and Clergymen
  • WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR A VITEM VII?
    • Clergymen and missionaries with theological or academic religious education who intend to go to Brazil for religious purposes.

• VIPER – Permanent Resident Visa
  • WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR A PERMANENT VISA?
    • A) FAMILY REUNION: the following are eligible to apply for a permanent visa in order to join an immediate family member (Brazilian citizen or holder of a Brazilian permanent visa):
      • Spouse
      • Unmarried children under 21 years of age
      • Unmarried children under 24 years of age, if attending college or pursuing graduate/ post-graduate studies. Please note that eligibility depends on reciprocity of conditions ruling same circumstances in the country of citizenship;
      • Children with special needs;
      • Unmarried orphan sibling, grandchild, or great-grandchild, under 21-year old;
      • Unmarried orphan siblings, grandchild, great-grandchild, under 24-year old, attending college or pursuing graduate/post-graduate studies. Please note that eligibility depends on reciprocity of conditions ruling the same circumstances in the country of citizenship;
      • Sibling, grandchild, or great-grandchild with special needs;
      • Parents, if the financial dependency can be formally proved.
    • Please note:
      • The Brazilian sponsor must be at least 21 years-old. Those intending to go to Brazil on a permanent basis to be rejoined with their children must enter Brazil on a tourist visa then apply for a permanent visa at the Ministry of Justice in Brazil. For more information on this matter please contact the Ministry of Justice or a Brazilian family lawyer.
      • Being married to a Brazilian citizen does not automatically entitle a foreign citizen to obtain a permanent visa. If the family will not be moving to Brazil on a permanent basis, please apply for a tourist visa.
    • B) Retirement residence transfer
    • C) Work as a manager or director of a religious or social assistance organization
    • D) Personal investment in Brazil
    • E) The intra-company transferee to work as a manager, director, or executive
    • F) Person of extraordinary ability in the sciences, technological, research, or academic fields, with a job offer at a Brazilian research, scientific, or academic organization.

• NOTE: Except for circumstances involving family reunion (case 1A), retirement (case 1B), or work as a manager or director of a religious or social assistance organization (case 1C), all other cases have to be initiated in Brazil (work permit authorization by the Ministry of Labor is required prior to submitting a visa application).