How to Get a Tourist Visa to Brazil

In order to enter Brazil, most foreign nationals are required to have a valid visa. For visitors the most common type of visa is the tourist visa. A Brazilian tourist visa is good for 90 days from the date of entry and it can be renewed inside of the country for 90 more days. Foreigners need to meet the requirements set by the Brazilian Government for their specific country.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Photo
• Money order
• Self-addressed, stamped envelope
• Valid passport

1. Download the visa application from the Brazilian Consulate Web site (see Resources, below). Remember to fill out the entire form. You will need to give a detailed explanation of your reasons for visiting the country. Make sure to sign the form. Parents need to sign the paper for children under 18 years of age.
2. Be sure you have a valid passport. Your passport needs to have at least one blank page where they can stamp the visa and it must be valid for at least more 6 months.
3. Take a photo of yourself. The photo should be 2 inches by 2 inches in size. The photo can be in color or black and white. However, it needs to be a front view of your face with a white background. You will need to include this with your application.
4. Attach a copy of the tickets or flight itinerary and your photo to the visa application.
   
5. American citizens must pay a nonrefundable processing fee. The fee must be included with your application, and must be in the form of a money order or cashier's check. If you are not a United States citizen, you can find the amount of the application fee on the Web site.
   
6. Send your application through the mail to the Brazilian consulate of your jurisdiction. You need to include a self-addressed, stamped envelope in order to get the passport back. In the envelope make sure to put in all the paperwork required by the consulate of your jurisdiction.

Tips & Warnings

• Brazilian consulates do not give same day visas. Plan your trip ahead. It can take up to 5 business days to get your visa.
• Some consulates will not accept applications by mail. The General Consulate of Brazil in Los Angeles works with a visa agency.
• Do not smile in your picture and make sure that the background is white
• Follow the instructions carefully. Brazilian consulates will deny the visa if the information is unclear or incomplete.