TOURIST VISA TO BRAZIL
Decades ago, planning a dream trip required a significant effort, demanding months of preparation to achieve the dream of visiting another country. However, thanks to the advent of the internet, today any individual can obtain all the necessary information to buy a plane ticket, book a hotel room, rent a car, purchase tickets to attend the most varied shows, buy all the excursions at the tourist destination. Mobile phone applications make it easy to navigate the city streets, translate foreign languages, and we can even learn about the habits, customs, and language of the country we will visit, in addition to tips on what to do in the city.
Traveling has never been so easy, however, even with all the convenience achieved thanks to technology and the internet, we still face a challenge: obtaining the highly desired Visit Visa (VIVIS), the official term used by the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to encompass various short-stay purposes, including tourism. Nevertheless, the expressions “tourist visa” and “tourism visa” are common and understood as synonyms.
It’s common for people to have numerous doubts about the tourist visa, such as:
What are the requirements for the tourist visa?
How to get a tourist visa?
How to apply for a tourist visa?
What are the necessary documents to obtain a tourist visa?
How much time the visa process takes?
Which countries require a visa?
What is the tourist visa fee?
How long does it take to get a tourist visa?
What is the validity period of a tourist visa?
How to fill in the visa application?
What are the visa requirements?
Travel to Brasil.
International Travel.
Short-term Visa.
Before addressing the questions raised by individuals mentioned above, we must emphasize that the necessity of providing detailed information and participating in an interview is vital for the authorities to assess the objectives, the veracity of the information, the real purpose of the trip, and the visitor’s identity, as such screening allows for:
Ensure national security.
Detect violations of immigration laws.
Enhance diplomatic relations and bilateral agreements with various countries.
Identify potential threats that use tourism as a way to commit crimes (e.g., drug trafficking, animal trafficking, trafficking of plant species, sexual exploitation, currency evasion, terrorism, etc.).
Assisting in maintaining sanitary security and controlling potential disease outbreaks represents another point of extreme importance.
The tourist should be aware that the need for a visa, far from representing a bureaucratic procedure and an almost insurmountable obstacle, is also an essential tool to safeguard the integrity and well-being of the visited nation and the tourist themselves.
As a professional in the tourism trade, I must mention that the tourist visa contributes to the strategic planning and management of tourism activity. This is because it allows for the measurement of the number of tourists who will come to the country and, consequently, enables a better allocation of financial resources to basic service infrastructure (e.g., water supply, basic sanitation, public transportation, electricity, telecommunications, public safety, among others) and the country’s tourism infrastructure (e.g., accessibility and transportation, increased security in tourist areas, implementation of specific programs for the police, improved signage, development and modernization of airports, ports, and bus terminals, among other crucial elements).
The tourist visa enables the collection of statistical data of utmost importance for the development of public policies aimed at the tourism sector. Therefore, information about the origin of visitors, the length of stay, the financial capital allocated for the stay in the receiving area, the profile of tourists, and the purpose of the trip assists in creating more effective marketing strategies for the promotion of the country’s tourist activity in a way that promotes a harmonious tourist experience between visitors and the local population.
In an increasingly globalized world, the requirement or waiver of tourist visas represents an act of reciprocity between nations. Therefore, bilateral or multilateral agreements enable greater circulation of people between countries that adopt balanced visa policies and provide greater diplomatic connection/synergy between them.
The visa policy of Brazil is based on the principle of reciprocity. Therefore, countries that require visas from Brazilian citizens also need a visa to enter Brazil. As an example, starting from April 10, 2025, Brazil reinstated the visa requirement for citizens of the following countries:
Canada.
Australia.
United States.
Based on the principle of reciprocity, Brazil exempts numerous countries from the visa requirement for short stays, such as: Germany, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Denmark, Ecuador, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Guyana, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Netherlands, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Uruguay, Sweden, Switzerland, and Suriname. In Brazil, the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has a valuable source of information that will help you verify the need for a visa to visit Brazil.
I believe that now is the ideal time to present the information for obtaining a Brazilian visa. Therefore, it is essential to follow these procedures:
a) Check visa requirements:
Visa requirements depend on the tourist’s nationality. Therefore, the first step in planning your international trip is to verify the visa requirements for your nationality before traveling to the tourist destination. To avoid errors, it is best to consult the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or the consulate/embassy of the country you wish to visit.
In Brazil, a visa is not required for layovers or flight connections within Brazil. However, visitors will not be allowed to leave the international transit zone, and the ticket must indicate the origin and final destination, regardless of the number of layovers.
Depending on the purpose of your trip (e.g., tourism, business, transit, health, study, temporary), you should verify which type of visa applies to your situation.
According to Article 14 of Decree No. 9.199/2017, which refers to the Migration Law, the validity period starts from the date the visa is issued.
Duration of stay: In the case of a tourist visa, the tourist may remain for up to 90 days, which can be extended for an additional 90 days, totaling a maximum of 180 days per year. However, the visa extension is not automatic. In Brazil, this procedure must be requested from the Federal Police before the end of the granted visa period.
b) Requirements and documents:
Passaport:
- The expiration date must be at least six months beyond the date of entry into Brazil and have at least two blank pages for entry and exit stamps and the visa sticker. It is worth noting that some countries may have different requirements; in this case, the suggestion is to check the specific rule for your nationality and the desired type of visa.
- The photograph must be recent, colored, standard passport size (usually 2″ x 2″ or 3×4 cm), and have a white background.
- The passport must not be damaged, have illegible information, be detached, or torn.
b) Visa application form:
The application form must be completed online, available on the Brazilian consulate’s website. PLEASE BE VERY CAREFUL with the information you register, as any omission or even a mistake can lead to the refusal of your visa application.
After completing the form, the receipt must be printed.
c) Payment of the visit visa fee:
Each country has its own fees for the visitor visa, and this value can vary according to your nationality, taking into account the principle of reciprocity.
It is essential to keep the original proof of payment carefully, as it will certainly be requested later, such as during the interview.
Keep copies of the payment receipt as a security measure.
d) Flight ticket:
It demonstrates your genuine intention to visit the host country and that you have a real interest in returning to your country of origin, respecting the allowed visa period.
In Brazil, a copy of the round-trip flight booking confirmation is accepted, so it is not necessary to have the ticket purchased. However, the reservation must be valid and demonstrate your intention to return to your country of origin
e) Booking confirmation:
The accommodation booking confirmation helps people prove that you have an interest in visiting the country for tourism purposes and have a place to stay.
The hotel reservation shows that you have financial resources.
It is important to note that in certain countries, the hotel booking confirmation is a mandatory document required by the authorities upon your arrival in the country.
Depending on the country, the address of the accommodation and the entry and exit dates at the lodging may be requested on the visa application form.
f) Invitation letter:
Numerous countries, such as Brazil, accept a letter of invitation as proof of reservation. However, the host is required to present the following information: the complete address of the residence, the travel period, and the relationship with the visitor.
In Brazil, the letter of invitation must contain the host’s signature, which must be officially notarized, and include a copy of the host’s identification document as an attachment.
g) International travel insurance:
International travel insurance must meet the minimum coverage requirements pre-established by the host country.
In general, Brazil does not require international travel insurance as a mandatory requirement for obtaining a tourist visa (VIVIS). However, for some specific types of visas for Brazil or for other countries, international travel insurance may be a requirement, such as: work, student, or long-stay visas.
h) International Vaccination Certificate:
Whether the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP) is a mandatory condition for obtaining a visa depends on the country you wish to visit. Tourists should also consider whether countries where they will have layovers or connections have a policy of requiring the ICVP.
Brazil does not require the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP) for obtaining a tourist visa in most cases.
The requirement of the ICVP in Brazil is related to travelers coming from countries with a risk of transmission of certain diseases. Therefore, if you wish to visit Brazil, it is essential to consult the official website of the National Health Surveillance Agency for updated information on vaccination requirements for entry into the country.
i) Evidence of financial solvency / evidence of financial means:
Proof of income is an instrument used by consular authorities to verify if you have the financial means to support yourself during your stay in the destination country. Proof of financial means/proof of financial solvency is also used to demonstrate that you have financial ties to your country of origin, which would motivate your return.
The minimum reference amount varies according to the rules of the host country.
The following can be used as proof of financial solvency: bank statements, pay stubs, income tax returns, property deeds or other assets, employment contracts/work permits, investment statements, among others.
What reasons can lead the consulate to deny a visa?
Passport validity does not cover the entire period of stay in the host country.
Insufficient number of blank pages, according to the country’s regulations.
Lack of vaccination, according to the public health requirements of the host country.
Criminal record, especially in cases of convictions for serious crimes.
Here are the main steps in the visa application process:
Online form completion.
Organization of required documentation (Copies and original).
Interview scheduling (When necessary).
Submission of documentation/receipt at the consulate.
Consular interview (When necessary).
But what can be done to speed up the tourist visa application process?
Accurate information.
Present complete documentation in order to confirm the purpose of the trip.
Anticipate the visa application well in advance, as the processing time for visa approval varies from country to country.
It is important to remember that the processing time to grant the visa varies from country to country.
The visa application process can represent a stressful experience due to its meticulousness, large amount of required documents, interviews characterized by significant pressure on candidates, and an agonizing wait, and in certain cases, it can be financially costly. It’s important to note that the rules can change, and it is the applicant’s responsibility to present the necessary documentation to obtain the visa. Xperiencer Tour Brazil, aware of this scenario, aims to offer all the necessary support to help you obtain your much-desired visitor visa.
Compartilhar o post :
