What Can I Do and What I’m Not Allowed to Do with My Brazilian e-Visa?
In January 2018 Brazil introduced a new e-Visa system, exclusively for the citizens of the US, Canada, Australia, and Japan, making traveling to Brazil easier than ever before. Applying for an e-Visa is way easier than applying for the traditional paper visa, as you no longer have to visit an embassy to get your visa done. Before we delve any further into the e-Visa classifications, it is important to state that while the regular Consular Visa has a large number of subcategories that vary according to your purpose of travel, the e-Visa is only available for Visitor Visas. An e-Visa may be obtained for either Tourism or Business or a host of other visa classifications that we are going to walk you through in this article.
Apply online and get your e-Visa by email!
The Visitor e-Visa to Brazil is issued for the following travel purposes:
1. Business: This includes business visitors who would be traveling to Brazil to – attend business meetings and business events, analyze prospect business opportunities, consult, audit, attend trade fairs, and sign business contracts, etc.
Restrictions: It is not permitted for individuals on this visa to engage in any paid activity. Also, the length of stay cannot exceed 90 days.
2. Tourism: This includes visitors who wish to carry out tourism-related activities which could be either informative or recreational in nature. This also includes visiting family members in Brazil.
Restrictions: The length of stay cannot exceed 90 days.
3. Transit: This includes transit visitors who must enter in Brazilian national territory, in order to reach their destination.
Exceptions: It is not mandatory for a person on a continuous voyage (who has to make stop-overs or board a connecting flight in Brazil) to obtain an e-Visa, on the condition that:
- he stays within the international transit area of the airport and
- he is in possession of a single ticket (even if it is issued by 2 or more airlines having a cooperation agreement amongst them).
4. Sports: This includes visitors who travel to Brazil, to participate in sports-related activities and competitions, for a short stay. They are even permitted to receive prizes, including cash.
Restrictions: One must have no intention of establishing residence and the length of stay cannot exceed 90 days.
5. Art: This includes visitors who travel to Brazil, to participate in Artistic activities and competitions, for a short stay. They are even permitted to receive prizes, including cash.
Restrictions: One must have no intention of establishing residence and the length of stay cannot exceed 90 days.
Check here if you are eligible for applying online.
6. Journalism: This includes journalists traveling to Brazil.
Restrictions: The length of stay cannot exceed 90 days.
7. Seminars and Conferences: This includes visitors who wish to travel to Brazil to engage in seminars, conferences, meetings or congresses, identified as specific events.
Restrictions: These travelers are not permitted to draw any compensation in Brazil for their undertakings. Also, the e-Visa can only be granted on the condition that the beneficiary procures reimbursement of the expenses of stay, conveyance, and food.
8. Science and Research: This includes visitors who wish to carry out scientific and academic research activities.
Restrictions: The length of stay cannot exceed 90 days.
9. Cultural Programs: This includes visitors who wish to carry out cultural activities in Brazil.
Restrictions: The length of stay cannot exceed 90 days.
10. Studies: This includes visitors who wish to undertake learning and teaching activities, in addition to supervised internships
Restrictions: The length of stay cannot exceed 90 days.
11. Visiting Fiance or spouse who is a Brazilian citizen: This includes visitors who travel to Brazil to visit either their Brazilian family or Brazilian spouse.
Restrictions: The length of stay cannot exceed 90 days.
12. Crew member: This includes visitors who act as a vessel or an aircraft crew member.
Exceptions: e-Visa is not mandatory for visitors in possession of an international seafarer card issued under the terms of the Convention of the International Organization of Labor – ILO.
13. Voluntary activities: This type of visitor is a person who wishes to avail of volunteering opportunities (English teaching, Youth sports, Computer teaching, Orphanage volunteering) in Brazil.
Restrictions: The length of stay cannot exceed 90 days.
14. Short Term Medical Treatment: This includes visitors who are allowed to undergo short medical or therapeutic treatment in Brazil.
Restrictions and Obligations: The length of stay cannot exceed 90 days. Also, the beneficiary is required to have sufficient means of subsistence to pay for his treatment and maintenance during the period in which the treatment is carried out, by own resource, health insurance valid in the national territory or certificate of the provision of health service provided in an international agreement.
More Information on Brazilian e-Visa
Validity: A Brazil e-Visa (electronic visa) is valid for 2 years from the date of issue or till the passport expiry date, whichever is earlier. The Electronic Visa is valid for multiple entries into Brazil for a maximum stay of up to 90 days per year.
Application Process: The application for a Brazilian electronic visa is online and does not require sending your physical passport to the Brazilian embassy for processing.
Required Documents: As part of the application process for a Brazilian electronic visa online, you are required to upload two items.
- Passport Bio Page: A high-quality color scan of the inside cover of your passport with your passport photo, name, bio information, and signature.
- Passport Type Photo: A high-quality photograph with white background and visible shoulders in JPG/JPEG format and size no more than 1MB and at least 600×600 pixels in size.
Most delays in the e-Visa process are due to poor quality uploads.
Processing Time: It can be issued in as little as 8-10 business days (Monday – Friday)
Documents required when you arrive in Brazil: Following documents must be carried to avoid misunderstandings with airport authorities at the Brazilian airport:
- Your valid passport
- A printed version of your .pdf e-Visa
Who are not eligible for an e-Visa:
- Residents of countries other than the US, Canada, Australia, and Japan, are required to take the regular route of applying through a Brazilian embassy in their country of residence.
- Temporary Visas cannot be requested electronically and should continue to be requested through the Brazilian consular network.
- The e-visa is NOT available to holders of diplomatic passports, official passports, and laissez-passers.
- Brazilians who have dual citizenship are NOT eligible for an e-visa.
See also: Currency and Accommodation – What Is Good To Know?
