Brazil Visa Tips

Brazil has a reciprocity visa system, which means if your country requires a visa, then Brazil will require a visa. Most of Europe does not require a visa, but due to constant changes, double check the visa requirements well in advance. In essence, Brazil will try and treat you as their citizens are treated. Usually you can get a visa good for 3 months that is extendable upto 180 days. However, some countries have recenty changed their laws to limit Brazilians to 90 day in the country with no extensions. If that is the case, you might find yourself restricted to 90 days. For most, this isn’t going to be any concern, but if you plan on staying longer, do extra research.

Brazilians LOVE paperwork. They make every other countries red tape look like a day at the beach. If you’re going for a visa and you’re missing some piece of paperwork, there is about a 90% chance you will be sent off to get it. Even if it means missing your flight, they won’t budge. So be prepared.

The US and Canada are probably the hardest countries to get a visa for. Not in the sense that they will reject you, but in the sense that they will try and make you jump through as many hoops as possible to “mimic” what a Brazilian would go through. It’s generally just embarrassing and every other sentence out of their mouths will be “this is because of reciprocity with your country…” Just ignore it, and nod your head.

They are definitely friendly, they aren’t rejecting people because they believe they are flight risks, or because you might take up a minimum wage job in their country, they’re just making you fill out paperwork, and god do they love their paper work.

For the US and Canada, there is a 90 day time frame, where after you get your visa you must enter the country. This means you can’t apply for your visa more than 90 days in advance. They will also require that you have a hotel booked and confirmed, and a flight booked and confirmed, showing that you have a place to stay in Brazil and a way to leave the country. These are about the most tedious requirements because most flights are non refundable these days. You will likely need to book both of these, and bring the confirmation letter along with you. Some consulates will require that you travel to their consulate for an in person interview, since both Canada and the US require this. There are several consulates in each country, but make sure you know which one you will have to go to. It can be an expensive endeavor if you have to fly to another city for a visa appointment. If you’re missing some paper work, they will likely require you to return on another day, and say “It’s because of reciprocity…” Get used to the saying, and just ignore it. Don’t fight it, just get what they are requesting and bring it back.

Book your visa appointment as early as possible in case you need to go back to the consulate. Don’t leave it until the last 3 weeks because they might not have any appointments, or they might require you to come back a second time.

It’s definitely worth it! Don’t get discouraged, just be prepared for their love of paperwork and them parroting “reciprocity” at every chance they get!