Ministério das Relações Exteriores

Please click here if you are waiting for an authorization from the Ministry of Labor in Brazil.

NOTICE TO VISA APPLICANTS
(Please click here)

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

K.      Crew members of fishing vessels leased by a Brazilian company;

L.      Crew members 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_ing/Procedure_Guide.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. Applicant must fill out the online application form available at https://scedv.serpro.gov.br/.

2. Applicant (or an authorized third party) must submit to the Consulate:

- the online application receipt page ("Recibo de Entrega de Requerimento");

- 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;

- a second Visa Application Form (in printed format), to be obtained from the Consulate. This form must be filled out, dated and signed by the applicant;

- proof of residency within the jurisdiction of the Brazilian Consulate General in San Francisco for the past 12 months;

- 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;

- 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;

- payment of a non-refundable visa fee of $ 100.00. An additional  $20.00 processing fee will be charged if the application is not presented in person by the passport holder.

   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).

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

3.  The International Immunization Certificate against yellow fever will only be required from international travelers coming from countries which pose a risk of international dissemination. Currently there are no countries posing such risk. (Please see FAQ 1402 at www.anvisa.gov.br). Nevertheless, yellow fever vaccination is recommended if applicant intends to visit one of the following regions in Brazil: Acre, Amapá, Amazonas, Federal District, Goiás, Maranhão, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Pará, Rondônia, Roraima, Tocantins.

4. 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:

- proof of health insurance valid in Brazil;

- 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;

- 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);

- 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 all-inclusive. If the Consulate deems necessary, additional information, documents and a personal interview may be required.

b)   Visa applications must be submitted in person (by the applicant), or by an authorized third party (a family member, friend, co-worker, travel agency, or visa service). The Consulate General of Brazil in San Francisco does not accept visa 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 lost in the mail. Visa applicants must set up an appointment to deliver the visa applications they filled out online. Please continue reading until the last paragraph in order to be directed to the scheduling page. Applicants who live in our jurisdiction and 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 at least 5 (five) 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)        Brazilian work visas are valid for multiple entries within the period of time shown on the visa stamp. 

e)       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.  

f)     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).

g)  Visa applicants must set up an individual appointment to deliver the visa applications previously filled out online.  The scheduling page offers you options of dates and time slots. If the desired date and/or slot is not available, select another date and/or time slot. Click here to go to the scheduling page.

Please click here to read general information about visas.

Please read the list of frequently asked questions about visas.