Wednesday, March 10, 2010  
printer friendly

versão em portuguêsPortuguês  english versionEnglish 



Other Consular Services
How to apply for a Visa

VISA APPLICATION
Applications may be submitted to the Consulate General in one of the following ways:
 
► PERSONALLY - by the applicant or a family member (father, mother, brother, sister, wife, husband);
 
 
► By an authorized third party - (only for applicants who reside within the Consulate General's jurisdiction), such as a friend, a colleague, a representative of a travel agency representative or a visa service. In such cases, a handling fee applies.
 
NOTE: Applicants listed above may choose to provide the Consulate with a pre-paid, self-addressed EXPRESS MAIL (U.S. Postal Service) to have the passport mailed back once the visa is ready.
 
► By U.S. Mail (only for applicants who reside within the Consulate General's jurisdiction). In such case, a handling fee applies.   
 
a) MAIL CARRIERS - The Consulate ONLY accepts EXPRESS mail envelopes carried by the U.S. Postal Service - U.S.P.S. Envelopes transported by other carriers will be returned without opening. The Consulate will not be held responsible for delays, losses or stolen documents or money sent or returned by mail. For more secure delivery, the Consulate strongly suggests the use of the service “express mail - next day delivery” offered by the U.S.P.S.
 
b) RETURN ENVELOPE - Applications sent by mail must include an EXPRESS U.S.P.S. self-addressed, pre-paid return envelope.
Applications received without the express mail pre-paid, self-addressed U.S.P.S envelope will not be processed, and will be returned to the Chicago U.S. passport agency. 
 
c) HANDLING FEE - In addition to the visa fee (and the Reciprocity Fee for U.S. citizens) applications sent by mail must include payment of a non-refundable handling fee of US$ 20.00, per applicant. All fees may be included in one single U.S.P.S. money order, made to the Brazilian Consulate General. The Handling Fee does not cover mail expenses.
 
 
 

► DROP-OFF TIMES - From 9:00am to 11:00am, Monday through Friday, first-come, first-served basis. No appointments necessary. 

► VISA SERVICES: Visa services and travel agencies have different hours, between 9:00 am and 10:30 am only.

► PICK-UP TIMES - From 12:00pm to 1:00pm ONLY.
 
To pick up the VISA it is MANDATORY that the Receipt slip be presented. 
A third party, with a valid photo ID, may collect the VISA as long as the original Receipt slip or a notarized letter from the applicant is presented.


 
TYPES OF VISAS

Please note there are ten types of visas. For further information, enter the link to each one.

1) Tourist Visa ( VITUR ):
  • Tourism trip;
  • visit to relatives and/or friends;
  • scientists, professors or researchers attending cultural, technological or scientific conferences, seminars (unpaid speakers).
  • participation in artistic or amateur sport competitions, whenever no monetary prize or paid admission is involved.
Tourist visa holders are not allowed to engage in any paid activity in Brazil.  
 
2) Temporary Visa I ( VITEM-I ):
  • Scientists, professors, researchers, participants in cultural, technological or scientific missions (services provided must not be paid for by a corporation or other legal entity based in Brazil, except for wages for services rendered, with the submission of a receipt);
  • Scientists, technicians, researchers or volunteers under the umbrella of an international cooperation program;
  • Interns and other unpaid trainees, bearers of scholarships receiving professional practice in Brazil;
  • Exchange students;
  • Technicians receiving training in the operation and maintenance of machinery or equipment produced in Brazil;
  • Amateur athletes, under 21 year old, participating in training programs in Brazil;
  • Provision of services to a religious or social assistance entity, without employment relationship with a corporation or other legal entity based in Brazil.
Temporary Visa I holders are not allowed to engage in any paid activity in Brazil.

3) Temporary Visa II ( VITEM-II ):
  • Travelers with business purposes, except when the trip involves the provision of services of any nature in Brazil (in which case a Vitem V is mandatory). Business visas are issued to business travelers who possess signed import/export contracts or who are traveling to visit companies, make commercial contacts or evaluate investment opportunities;
  • Media coverage or filming;
  • Flight/ship crew members not holding an international crew card. and
  • Adoption of a Brazilian child.  
4) Temporary Visa III ( VITEM-III ): 
  • Paid participation in athletic or performing arts events.  
5) Temporary Visa IV ( VITEM-IV ):
  • Pursuing graduate or post-graduate academic studies in Brazil.  
6) Temporary Visa V ( VITEM-V ):
  • Scientist, professor, technician,or other professionals who come to work in Brazil under a working contract and who receive a salary in Brazil;
  • Provision of services to the Brazilian Government based on an international agreement, convention or contract to which Brazil is a party;
  • Employment contract with a corporation or other legal entity based in Brazil;
  • Technical assistance based on a working contract signed between a Brazilian and a foreign corporation or other legal entity;
  • Short-term technical assistance, without a working contract;
  • Professional training, without a working contract, immediately after the completion of vocational training or university education;
  • Employees of foreign companies admitted to work in Brazil as trainees or interns at a subsidiary or Brazilian branch of the foreign company, provided that they are paid exclusively outside of Brazil by that foreign company;
  • Foreign instructors or professors for training in foreign language instruction;
  • Crew members of foreign vessels traveling to Brazil to operate in waters under Brazilian jurisdiction, as required under a charter, or services or risk contract entered into with a Brazilian company;
  • Crew members of foreign fishing vessels leased by Brazilian companies;
  • Crew members or other professionals who perform paid activities aboard cruise vessels along the Brazilian coast, in the Amazon River basin, or in other inland waters. 
 
7) Temporary Visa VI ( VITEM-VI ):
  • Media correspondents  
8) Temporary Visa VII ( VITEM-VII ):
  • Travel for religious/missionary purposes.  
9) Permanent Visas: 
RNE - Registro Nacional de Estrangeiros : The issue or renewal of the RNE card (Registro Nacional de Estrangeiros, the Brazilian ID issued to non-Brazilian citizens who hold a Brazilian Permanent Visa) is not a service provided by the Consulate. It can only be obtained or renewed at the Federal Police in Brazil ( http://www.dpf.gov.br ). 
10) Diplomatic and Official Visas:  
 
 
©2010 Consulate General of Brazil in Chicago