Ministério das Relações Exteriores

A WORK VISA (VITEM-V) IS FOR:

A.     Provision of any type of service under contract, including scientists, researchers, technicians and other career or trade professionals;

B.      Provision of any type of service to the Brazilian Government or to a State controlled company;

C.     Provision of any type of service contracted by a company or organization  operating in Brazil;

D.     Provision of any type of technical assistance covered by a contract, cooperation agreement or similar instrument signed between a company/organization operating in Brazil and a foreign corporation, organization or individual;  

E.      Professional training, without a formal employment relationship with the Brazilian company/organization, immediately after the completion of university or professional/vocational studies;

F.      Provision of any type of service or technical assistance, including volunteer work, to charitable or religious entities/organizations, without a work contract or employment relationship with the entity/organization operating in Brazil;

G.     Medical residency at educational institution/hospital duly accredited by the Ministry of Education;

H.     Internship or trainee program paid for by a foreign company/organization, exclusively outside Brazil;

I.       Training of professors/instructors in the teaching of foreign languages;

J.       Crewmembers of foreign vessels operating in Brazilian territorial waters as required under a charter, service or risk contract with a Brazilian company;

K.      Crewmembers of fishing vessels leased by a Brazilian company;

L.      Crewmembers or other professionals performing paid activities aboard cruise ships along the Brazilian coastline, the Amazon river basin or other inland waterways. 

ALL APPLICATIONS FOR WORK VISAS MUST BE PRESENTED IN BRAZIL, BY THE BRAZILIAN INTERESTED PARTY, TO THE LOCAL OFFICE OF THE MINISTRY OF LABOR.

Rules on the presentation, in Brazil, of a request for a work visa can be found at   http://www.mte.gov.br/trab_estrang/guia_procedimentos_2ed_.pdf.

AFTER THE MINISTRY OF LABOR INFORMS THE CONSULATE OF ITS APPROVAL OF A SPECIFIC REQUEST, THE CONSULATE MAY THEN PROCEED WITH THE PROCESSING OF THE RESPECTIVE WORK VISA.

ONCE APPROVED BY THE MINISTRY OF LABOR, THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS FOR A WORK VISA HAVE TO BE MET:

1.        A valid passport - original - with the expiration date at least six months after the intended date of arrival in Brazil, and with at least 2 remaining blank pages.

2.        Two Visa Application Forms per applicant, completely filled out, typed or printed, dated and signed by the applicant. The application form is found at the Consulate or at  the Consulate’s website www.brazilsf.org. 

3.        Proof of residency within the jurisdiction of the Brazilian Consulate General in San Francisco for the past 12 months.

4.        A non-criminal record certificate issued by the Police Department of the applicant’s city or county of residence, dated within 3 months prior to its presentation to the Consulate.

5.        Two passport-type photographs, in color or black and white, front view, no glasses, no head cover (except in religious cases). Snapshots and computer photos will not be accepted.

6.        Payment of a non-refundable visa fee of $ 100.00. 

7.        U.S. citizens must pay an additional, non-refundable, reciprocity fee of $130.00 (an identical fee is paid by Brazilian citizens who apply for a visa to travel to the USA).

8.        Regardless of nationality, a $10.00 processing fee will be charged if the application is not presented in person by the passport holder.

9.        All consular fees must be paid in U. S. Postal Service money order made to the Consulate General of Brazil. Cash, personal checks and credit cards are not accepted.

10.    An International Immunization Certificate against yellow fever is required from any traveler who, within 90 days prior to entering Brazil, has been to any of the countries listed by the World Health Organization (W.H.O.) as a country with risk of yellow fever transmission   - check the list in the W.H.O. website at:
http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2007/9789241580397_11_eng.pdf .
Immunization against yellow fever is advisable if the applicant's destination in Brazil includes any of the following States: Acre, Amapá, Amazonas, Goiás, Maranhão, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Pará, Rondônia, Roraima, and Tocantins.

Applicants listed under letter “F” above -- traveling to Brazil to provide services or technical assistance, including volunteer work, to charitable or religious entities, without a work contract or employment relationship with an entity/organization operating in Brazil -- must  submit the following additional documents:

11.  Proof of health insurance valid in Brazil.

12. A letter of invitation, preferably in Portuguese, from the Brazilian organization/entity informing:

- the type of volunteer work, where it will be performed and for how long;
- that the Brazilian entity/organization assumes full responsibility for all maintenance expenses associated with applicant's stay in Brazil  as well as his/her repatriation to the country of origin.

In order to expedite your visa, the letter should provide as much information as available on the activities that you intend to perform in Brazil.

13.  An official document from the sponsoring entity/organization in Brazil (such as statute, founding charter, etc.) proof of the entity’s registration with the competent Brazilian regulatory agency (Conselho de Assistência Social Nacional, Estadual, do Distrito Federal ou Municipal).

14.  Proof that the inviting entity/organization in Brazil is in business and functioning.

IMPORTANT NOTES ON WORK VISAS

a)     The requirements listed herein should not, in any way, be considered exhaustive. If the Consulate deems necessary, additional information, documents and a personal interview may be required.

b)     All visa applications must be submitted in person, by the applicant, or by a duly authorized third party (for example: family member, friend, co-worker, travel agency, visa service). The Consulate General of Brazil in San Francisco does not accept visas applications sent by mail. Nevertheless, the applicant’s passport may be returned by mail if the applicant or his/representative leaves a self addressed pre-paid envelope from the U.S. Postal Service (Express Mail only) with his/her documentation. The Consulate does not accept envelopes from FedEx, UPS, DHL and other carriers. We are not responsible for passports eventually lost in the mail. Applicants who cannot come to the Consulate may wish to pay a visa service/visa agency to help them process their visa applications. Information on visa services may be found at the Consulate’s website at www.brazilsf.org.

c)     After all documentation is received by the Consulate, work visa applications take a minimum period of SEVEN working days (excluding the day when applications are received by the Consulate). Longer periods may apply.  The Consulate has no provision for rush or expedite service or fees. Emergency cases must be presented by the interested party and must be documented.

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

e)     Brazilian work visas are valid for multiple entries within the period of time shown on the visa stamp. 

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

g)     The performance of acts involving the purchase of or management of business, including rural land, by holders of work visas may be null before a Brazilian court of law.  If you intend to perform any such activity during your stay in Brazil, even if combined with business meetings, you need another type of visa (contact the Consulate).

Please read the list of frequently asked questions about visas