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GENERAL INFORMATION ON ALL TYPES OF VISAS

Click on the last item for specific instructions on each of the several types of visas.

1.        U.S. citizens traveling to Brazil are required to obtain a visa prior to entering Brazil.   This requirement is in reciprocity to the U.S. government demand that all Brazilian citizens hold a visa in order to enter the United States.

 

2.        Citizens of countries that do not demand visas from Brazilian nationals usually do not need visas to enter Brazil (most European and South American countries fall in this category).   If you intend to enter Brazil with a non-U.S. passport, check here to verify if you need a tourist or business visa.

 

3.        The type of visa and its terms of validity are decided by the Consulate, at its own and sole discretion.  As a basic rule, both the type and the duration of a visa are results of an analysis made by the Consulate of the documentation presented by the applicant in support of his/her declared activities in Brazil.  

4.        All visa applications must be submitted in person, by the applicant, or by a duly authorized third party (for example: a family member, friend, co-worker, travel agency, visa service). Please note that this Consulate does NOT accept visa applications sent by mail.

5.        Notwithstanding the previous instruction, the applicants passport may be returned by mail if the applicant or his/her representative leaves a self-addressed pre-paid envelope from the U.S. Postal Service (Express Mail only) at the moment the application is delivered at the Consulate.

The Consulate does not receive and it will not send envelopes transported by FedEx, UPS, DHL and other private carriers.  The nearest post office (Sutter Street Postal Store) is located three and a half blocks away from the Consulate, at 150 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA 94104.   We are not responsible for documents lost in the mail.

6.        Applicants who cannot come to the Consulate may wish to pay a private visa service/visa agency to help them process their visa applications. The Consulate has no commercial ties with any visa service/visa agency/travel agency and the Consulates employees are not allowed to recommend any of these companies in particular.

7.        The visa section is open to receive applications and return passports between 9:00 AM and 1:00 PM, from Monday through Friday on a first come first served basis. All U.S. national holidays are observed, as well Brazils Independence Day, on September 7. 

8.        After all documentation is received by the Consulatevisa applications take at least 10 (ten) working days to be processed.

9.        All fees must be paid with U.S. Postal Service money orders made out to Consulate General of Brazil.  Checks and credit cards are not accepted. The Consulate has no provision for charging expedite services and therefore it does not charge rush fees.

10.    Visa holders must enter Brazil within 90 (ninety) days of the date the visa was issued. It is the applicants responsibility to make travel arrangements accordingly.  Once expired, the 90-day period may not be renewed and if the foreigner has not yet entered Brazil, a new visa and payment of all fees are required.

11.    It is in the best interest of any foreign national to enter Brazil with a visa that allows for the legal performance of his/her intended activity in the country.  

12. A visa shall be denied to any foreign national that, when submitting her/his application, behaves in an aggressive, insulting or disrespectful way towards the Consular Authority.

13. Please click on the link below that best matches the purpose of your trip to Brazil for specific visa instructions: