Diplomatic, official and courtesy visas

Official, Diplomatic, and Courtesy Visas (VISOF/VIDIP/VICOR)

OFFICIAL VISA (VISOF)

Official visas are issued to those on official missions to Brazil, either permanent or temporary, such as:

• Foreign authorities and administrative officials, representing a foreign Government recognized by the Brazilian Government, as well as their dependents;
• Foreign authorities and administrative officials, representing an International Organization recognized by the Brazilian Government, as well as their dependents;
• Students, trainees, officials or representatives of institutions of recognized economic, cultural or scientific relevance of international scope, such as:
• Scientific and cultural missions under an International Agreement;
• Technical assistance missions carried out under agreements that explicitly allow VISOF to technicians, experts and cooperators;
• Cooperation missions with Brazilian Government agencies;
• Military students to attend a course at the Brazilian Armed Forces Academies

DIPLOMATIC VISA (VIDIP)

Diplomatic visas are issued to those on diplomatic missions to Brazil, either permanent or temporary, such as:

• Foreign authorities and Government officials with diplomatic status, representing a foreign Government recognized by the Brazilian Government, as well as their dependents;
• Foreign authorities and officials with diplomatic status, representing an International Organization recognized by the Brazilian Government, as well as their dependents;
  
  

VISOF/VIDIP APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

• Passport (valid and signed with at least two blank Visa pages)
• Individuals traveling to Brazil on an official mission with an International Organization (e.g. World Bank, Pan-American Health Organization, Inter-American Development Bank, etc.) must present their laissez-passer. Otherwise, the Diplomatic Note (see below) must explicitly justify why the individual is applying with a passport of his or her nationality.
• Visa Application Form Receipt (printed and signed)
• Passport photo (2’’ x 2’’)
• Diplomatic Note/Note Verbale from the State Department Special Issuance Agency (for U.S. Government), the Diplomatic Mission, or the International Organization, containing the following information:
• Full name and profession/position/title of the applicant;
• Government department, agency and/or institution applicant will be representing;
• Passport type, number, and country of issue;
• Details of the applicant’s assignment/work in Brazil;
• Date of arrival and duration of stay in Brazil;
• Location the applicant will work in Brazil;
• Entity or person to be contacted in Brazil
  
  

COURTESY VISA (VICOR)

Courtesy visas typically require approval by the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and can be issued to:

• Certain authorities not on an official/diplomatic mission to Brazil;
• Certain dependents and immediate family members who are not eligible for a dependence-based official or diplomatic visa;
• Domestic employees of foreign Missions in Brazil;
• Certain athletes or artists participating in cultural events with an official invitation from a Diplomatic Mission in Brazil
  
  

VICOR APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

• Passport (valid and signed with at least two blank Visa pages)
• Visa Application Form Receipt (printed and signed)
• Passport photo (2’’ x 2’’)
• VICOR for Dependent/Family of VISOF/VIDIP Holders
• Diplomatic Note/Note Verbale from Diplomatic Mission or International Organization, including:
• Name and nationality of dependent;
• Passport type, number, country of issue and expiration date;
• Relationship of dependent to sponsor;
• Sponsor’s name, title, and duration of his/her mission in Brazil;
• Copy of sponsor’s Brazilian visa or ID card, if sponsor’s and dependent’s visas are not requested together
• VICOR for Domestic Employee of Foreign Missions in Brazil
• Diplomatic Note/Note Verbale from Diplomatic Mission, including:
• Name and nationality of employee;
• Passport type, number, country of issue and expiration date;
• Nature of employee’s work for employer/Mission;
• Employer’s name, title, and duration of his/her mission in Brazil;
• Copy of sponsor’s Brazilian visa or ID card, if employer’s and employee’s visas are not requested together
• Contract of Employment, including guarantees of:
• Salary greater than or equal to Brazilian minimum wage;
• Work hours not exceeding eight (8) per day and forty-four (44) per week;
• Overtime pay greater than or equal to 1.5 times employee’s basic hourly wage;
• Weekly time off of at least 24 consecutive hours, in addition to paid time off and holidays observed by foreign Mission;
• Thirty (30) days of paid vacation time per year
• Proof of health coverage for employee
• Guarantee of employee’s return to his or her home country upon termination of the employment contract.
• VICOR for Artists/Athletes Participating in Cultural Events
• Diplomatic Note/Note Verbale from Diplomatic Mission, including:
• Name and nationality of artist(s) or athlete(s);
• Passport type, number, country of issue and expiration date;
• Location and date of cultural event/presentation;
• Guarantee that the recipient(s) of VICOR will not receive payment of any kind from a Brazilian source;
• Guarantee of reciprocity in treatment of Brazilian artists or athletes in analogous cases

Additional Requirements for Minors

In addition to the requirements listed above, applicants who are younger than 18 years of age at the time of application must present the following additional materials:

1. Copy of birth certificate - if not born in the USA, Birth Certificate must be apostilled or legalized
   Copy must be notarized if applicant is unable to present the original at the time of application.
   Birth certificate must include a certified translation into Portuguese or English if it is in a language other than Portuguese, English, Spanish or French
2. Authorization for Issuance of Brazilian Visa for a Minor.

• Both parents’ signatures must be notarized, unless both parents sign the form in front of the Consular authority at the time of application.
• A certificate of notarial authority must be presented if the form is notarized outside of the jurisdiction of the Consulate General of Brazil in Washington.

• The name on the parents photo IDs must match parents’ names on the child’s birth certificate. If either or both parents have changed their names since the issuance of the birth certificate, the parent(s) must present documentation showing proof of the name change (e.g. marriage certificate or court order).

• Signature(s) of Brazilian parent(s) must be notarized.
  
  

A visa will not be issued to any minor without consent from both parents, except if:

• One of the parents is deceased: in which case the death certificate (original, certified or notarized copy) must be submitted; or
• One of the parents is not listed on the birth certificate; or
• A court order or divorce decree grants not only full custody but exclusive parental rights to one of the parents or legal guardian(s). The original or notarized copy of the complete document must be presented along with the other requirements.
• Authorization for Issuance of a Brazilian Visa for a Minor form
• Copy of both parents’ photo identification (e.g. passport or driver license)
• Declaração de Não-Cidadania form, for minors with Brazilian parent(s)

HOW TO APPLY:

To apply for one of those visas, please send an e-mail to visa.atlanta@itamaraty.gov.br . Please include an image of the Visa application form confirmation.