VITEM 4 VISA - TEMPORARY VISA FOR STUDY

DISCLAIMER  

Take your time to read this guide carefully. The Consulate is not responsible for mistakes in your visa application and for losses related to travel expenses to Miami when applying for the visa or to your planned trip to Brazil in case your visa is refused, denied or not granted in time. Do not book rooms or tickets to Brazil before making sure you have the correct visa. Visa application fees are non-refundable by operation of law. Your application may be refused or denied if the requirements do not meet the specifications listed on this guide. The Consulate may request additional information if necessary. Click on each requirement to read details. You may print this guide and tick each item as you gather the requirements. 

DO I NEED A VITEM IV VISA?  

If you bear a passport from one of the countries listed below, you don't need a VITEM IV visa to go to Brazil for stays no longer than 90 days each time you enter the country.  

PASSPORT  

Validity  

Your passport must be valid when applying for the visa. It does not need to be valid until the date when you intend to travel to Brazil, but it must be valid when we issue you the visa. We may issue you the visa even if your passport is about to expire, but before boarding a plane/ship or crossing a border towards Brazil, you must make sure you have a passport that is valid until your intended date of return (USA passports only) or valid for at least six months after the date you enter Brazil (passports of all other countries). If your valid visa is on a passport that has expired, you must then carry two passports: the expired one containing your valid visa and a new valid one.  

Signature  

Adults must sign their passports1. Passports of minors do not need to be signed.  

1Very few countries have passports which do not require signature. Check your passport and make sure it is signed if there is a field for it.  

Pages  

Your passport must contain at least two blank pages, i.e. pages without any other visas or stamps. The pages for observations, annotations, etc. are reserved for your own country. We cannot use them. If your passport has run out of pages, you must obtain a new one before applying for a visa to Brazil.  

Condition  

Your passport must be in good condition in order to be accepted as a valid document. It must not be torn, wet, damp, stained, cut, punctured, excessively dirty etc. 

PHOTO  

One of the requirements for your visa application is the photo. It must match the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) guidelines: https://formulario-mre.serpro.gov.br/sci/pages/web/ui/assets/pdfs/ICAO200811.pdf.  

The photo must preferably have a white or light-colored background. The size of passport pictures professionally taken at pharmacies in the United States normally meets the ICAO standards. 

BIRTH CERTIFICATE + APOSTILLE (OR LEGALIZATION)  

You need to present your birth certificate + an apostille both for your visa application and also in Brazil when you register your visa at the Federal Police. The registration is mandatory. An apostille is a document affixed by Competent Authorities designated by the government of a country which is party to the Hague Conference on Private International Law. The United States are a party of that conference. The apostille is what makes a document issued in a country valid in another country. So you need to obtain an apostille to your birth certificate in order for it to be valid in Brazil.  

BIRTH CERTIFICATES ISSUED IN FLORIDA  

If you were born in Florida, you may obtain an apostille to your birth certificate by following the instructions from https://dos.myflorida.com/sunbiz/other-services/apostille-notarial-certification/ .

BIRTH CERTIFICATES ISSUED IN PUERTO RICO  

If you were born in Puerto Rico, you may obtain an apostille to your birth certificate by following the instructions from https://estado.pr.gov/en/certification-of-documents-and-filing-regulations/.  

BIRTH CERTIFICATES ISSUED IN THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS  

If you were born in Puerto Rico, you may obtain an apostille to your birth certificate by following the instructions from http://ltg.gov.vi/contact-information-office-of-the-lieutenant-governor.html.  

BIRTH CERTIFICATES ISSUED IN OTHER AMERICAN STATES  

If you were born in any other of State or territory of the United States, you may obtain an apostille to your birth certificate by following the instructions from https://www.hcch.net/en/states/authorities/details3/?aid=353.  

BIRTH CERTIFICATES OF NON-AMERICANS  

If your country is a member of the HCCH and has signed the Apostille Treaty, you must present an apostille issued by the competent authorities in your country along with the original document. More information at https://www.hcch.net/en/states/authorities.  

WHAT IF THE COUNTRY WHERE I WAS BORN ISN’T A PARTY OF THE HAGUE CONFERENCE ON PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL LAW (HCCH)?  

If the country is not a member of the Hague Convention on Private International Law (HCCH) and has not signed the Convention of 5 October 1961 abolishing the requirement of legalization of Foreign Public Documents (the Apostille Treaty), the birth certificate must be notarized (authenticated or legalized) at an Embassy or Consulate of Brazil responsible for the jurisdiction where the document was issued. Check the jurisdiction of all Brazilian Consular Offices in the world at https://www.gov.br/mre/pt-br/assuntos/portal-consular/reparticoes-consulares-do-brasil . 

PROOF OF RESIDENCE OR IMMIGRATION STATUS IN THE UNITED STATES  

 You must provide a proof of residence for every address where you’ve lived for the past 12 months.  

Examples of proof of residence: driver’s license containing your home address, ID containing your home address, a utility bill (electricity, telephone, cable TV, Internet, water etc.). 

If you’re not an American citizen, you must present proof of your immigration status in the United States. For example, a valid green card, visa, temporary resident card or I-94 form.  

If you’re an American citizen with double citizenship applying for a visa with a non-American passport, you must present proof of your American citizenship, for instance, your American passport or certificate of citizenship. 

REQUIREMENTS FOR: 

 EXCHANGE PROGRAMS WITH INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION (PROGRAMA "SANDUÍCHE") 

PROOF OF ENROLLMENT – COUNTRY OF ORIGIN  

You must present proof of enrollment in a graduation school in your country of origin. This document must be recent, state that you are currently enrolled and what is your area of study.  

PROOF OF ENROLLMENT FROM OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES  

Proof of enrollment from countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention  

1. Check if the country is a member of the Convention at https://www.hcch.net/en/states/hcch-members.  

2. If the country is a member, check who is the authority in charge of issuing the apostille for the document at https://www.hcch.net/en/states/authorities.  

Proof of enrollment from countries that aren’t members of the Hague Apostille Convention  

If the country is not a member of the Hague Convention on Private International Law (HCCH), the document must be legalized at an Embassy, Consulate or consular office of Brazil with jurisdiction over the place where the document was issued. Check the jurisdiction of all Brazilian Consular Offices in the world and their websites at https://www.gov.br/mre/pt-br/assuntos/portal-consular/reparticoes-consulares-do-brasil .  

PROOF OF ENROLMMENT - BRAZIL  

You must present proof of enrollment in the graduation school in Brazil that will be hosting you – usually, a letter from the institution in Brazil certifying that the applicant is enrolled for a prescribed course of study. The letter must state the applicant full name, area of study and dates of arrival and departure.  

PROOF OF FINANCIAL ABILITY  

LETTER FROM SPONSOR  

If you’re going to be financed by an institution while in Brazil or if you have a scholarship, a grant or a paid fellowship, you must present a letter from the awarding institution stating how much you’re going to be paid, what expenses are covered and for how long they’re going to cover you.  

OR  

PROOF OF INCOME  

Brazilian law requires that if you don’t have a scholarship, a grant, a paid fellowship or if no person or institution is financing you while in Brazil, you must prove that you’re financially capable of maintaining yourself during your intended stay in Brazil, possessing financial means compatible with those of an international student. All the information provided is confidential under law penalties and securely stored while your visa is processed. Brazilian law demands that you present proof of income of the last 90 days (“all last 3 months”, not just “1 of the last 3 months”). You may choose from one of the options below:  

1. OPTION 1: Pay stubs  

 They must contain your name, the company/institution you work for, and the amount you earn.  

2. OPTION 2: Bank statements  

 They must contain your name, initial and final balance and total of credit and debit. For US banks, the first page (summay) of each month usually contains the information we need (initial and final balance, total of credit and debit and your name), so you may avoid wasting paper by selecting only those pages. If you wish, you may use correcting tape or fluid to omit your account number.  

3. OPTION 3: Bank statements for business owners  

 If you own a business and decide to use your business’s statements, you must provide proof that you own it, for example, by printing the results from sunbiz.org (for Florida-based companies only) showing your name as the owner.  

4. OPTION 4: Credit card statements  

 They must contain your name and the available credit. Credit card statements without credit limit must show the amount of expenses and payments made.  

What if I don’t have any of those?  

You may present an Affidavit of Support accompanied by:  

1. Your sponsor’s ID (original if he or she comes to the interview with you, or a notarized copy, if they can’t come to the interview). The ID must contain a photo and signature. The signature on the affidavit of support must match the one on the ID presented.  

2. Your sponsor’s proof of income (one of the options aforementioned). The affidavit of support must be notarized if your sponsor can’t be present at the visa interview.  

 Your sponsor can’t be someone in Brazil. 

REQUIREMENTS FOR: 

ELEMENTARY (PRIMARY), MIDDLE (SECONDARY), HIGH SCHOOL, NON-ACADEMIC OR LANGUAGE COURSES STUDENTS 

PROOF OF ENROLMMENT FROM BRAZIL  

You must present proof of enrollment from the school/education institution in Brazil. Usually, a letter from the institution in Brazil certifying that the applicant is enrolled for a prescribed course of study. The letter must state the applicant full name, area of study and dates of arrival and departure.  

The letter must be signed and the signature must be notarized (firma reconhecida em cartório). If the school is a Brazilian state (public) university, there’s no need to notarize the letter. 

PROOF OF FINANCIAL ABILITY  

LETTER FROM SPONSOR  

If you’re going to be financed by an institution while in Brazil or if you have a scholarship, a grant or a paid fellowship, you must present a letter from the awarding institution stating how much you’re going to be paid, what expenses are covered and for how long they’re going to cover you.  

OR  

PROOF OF INCOME  

Brazilian law requires that if you don’t have a scholarship, a grant, a paid fellowship or if no person or institution is financing you while in Brazil, you must prove that you’re financially capable of maintaining yourself during your intended stay in Brazil, possessing financial means compatible with those of an international student. All the information provided is confidential under law penalties and securely stored while your visa is processed. Brazilian law demands that you present proof of income of the last 90 days (“all last 3 months”, not just “1 of the last 3 months”). You may choose from one of the options below:  

1. OPTION 1: Pay stubs  

 They must contain your name, the company/institution you work for, and the amount you earn.  

2. OPTION 2: Bank statements  

 They must contain your name, initial and final balance and total of credit and debit. For US banks, the first page (summay) of each month usually contains the information we need (initial and final balance, total of credit and debit and your name), so you may avoid wasting paper by selecting only those pages. If you wish, you may use correcting tape or fluid to omit your account number.  

3. OPTION 3: Bank statements for business owners  

If you own a business and decide to use your business’s statements, you must provide proof that you own it, for example, by printing the results from sunbiz.org (for Florida-based companies only) showing your name as the owner.  

4. OPTION 4: Credit card statements  

They must contain your name and the available credit. Credit card statements without credit limit must show the amount of expenses and payments made.  

What if I don’t have any of those?  

You may present an Affidavit of Support accompanied by:  

1. Your sponsor’s ID (original if he or she comes to the interview with you, or a notarized copy, if they can’t come to the interview). The ID must contain a photo and signature. The signature on the affidavit of support must match the one on the ID presented.  

2. Your sponsor’s proof of income (one of the options aforementioned). The affidavit of support must be notarized if your sponsor can’t be present at the visa interview.  

Your sponsor can’t be someone in Brazil. 

REQUIREMENTS FOR: 

INTERNSHIP  

PROOF OF ENROLMENT AT COLLEGE OUTSIDE BRAZIL  

You must present proof of enrollment from the undergrad or grad educational institution outside Brazil. The document must contain the applicant’s full name, area of study and dates of arrival and departure.  

AFFIDAVIT OF COMMITMENT FOR INTERNSHIP (TERMO DE COMPROMISSO DE ESTÁGIO)  

The affidavit of commitment for internship (Termo de Compromisso de Estágio) is a document that resembles a work contract but is not a contract because Brazilian law forbids formal legal work relations between companies and interns. Rather, it’s a document in which the parts commit to the learning process brought by the intern’s presence in a real world work environment, in order to put into practice the abilities learned in the classroom. There are basically four pieces of information that are mandatory in the affidavit:  

1. The affidavit must mention your course of study in college, the role to be performed as an intern and detailed activities you’re going to be involved with at the company/institution in Brazil, i.e., what abilities and skills you’re going to develop as an intern. Brazilian law only allows you to be an intern in an area that’s related to the course you’re enrolled at.  

2. The affidavit must mention whether the internship is paid or unpaid. If it’s paid, it must mention how much and how often the stipend will be paid.  

3. The affidavit must mention who will be financially responsible for your trip (including plane tickets) and other expenses while in Brazil.  

4. The affidavit of commitment may be written in Portuguese and English (or any other language, preferably your native tongue so you can understand the document), in two columns.  

 Internship up to 120 days  

The affidavit must be signed by:  

a) the person in the company/institution who will be responsible for teaching and supervising you;  

b) you, the intern;  

c) a college professor from your college outside Brazil, who will be overseeing your development.  

Internship longer than 120 days  

You can only be an intern in Brazil for more than 120 days if you’re enrolled in college in Brazil (undergrad or grad level, except PhD).  

The affidavit must be signed by:  

a) the person in the company/institution who will be responsible for teaching and supervising you;  

b) you, the intern;  

c) a college professor from your college outside Brazil, who will be overseeing your development;  

d) a college professor from the Brazilian educational institution you’re enrolled at.  

PROOF OF ENROLMENT FROM BRAZIL  

You must present proof of enrollment at the undergrad or grad school in Brazil that will be hosting you – usually, a letter from the institution in Brazil certifying that the applicant is enrolled for a prescribed course of study. The letter must state the applicant’s full name, area of study and dates of arrival and departure.  

PROOF OF FINANCIAL ABILITY  

Brazilian law requires that if your internship is unpaid or if it’s paid but the stipend is not enough to cover your expenses, you must prove that you’re financially capable of maintaining yourself during your intended stay in Brazil, possessing financial means compatible with those of an international student. All the information provided is confidential and securely stored under law penalties. Brazilian law demands that you present proof of income of the last 90 days (“all last 3 months”, not just “1 of the last 3 months”). You may choose from one of the options below:  

1. OPTION 1: Pay stubs  

 They must contain your name, the company/institution you work for, and the amount you earn.  

2. OPTION 2: Bank statements  

 They must contain your name, initial and final balance and total of credit and debit. For US banks, the first page (summay) of each month usually contains the information we need (initial and final balance, total of credit and debit and your name), so you may avoid wasting paper by selecting only those pages. If you wish, you may use correcting tape or fluid to omit your account number.  

3. OPTION 3: Bank statements for business owners  

 If you own a business and decide to use your business’s statements, you must provide proof that you own it, for example, by printing the results from sunbiz.org (for Florida-based companies only) showing your name as the owner.  

4. OPTION 4: Credit card statements  

 They must contain your name and the available credit. Credit card statements without credit limit must show the amount of expenses and payments made.  

What if I don’t have any of those?  

You may present an Affidavit of Support accompanied by:  

1. Your sponsor’s ID (original if he or she comes to the interview with you, or a notarized copy, if they can’t come to the interview). The ID must contain a photo and signature. The signature on the affidavit of support must match the one on the ID presented.  

2. Your sponsor’s proof of income (one of the options aforementioned). The affidavit of support must be notarized if your sponsor can’t be present at the visa interview.  

 Your sponsor can’t be someone in Brazil. 

BACKGROUND CHECK (If you’re going to stay longer than 180 days) 

 For stays longer than 180 days, you must present a background check from the place(s) where you’ve lived in the past 12 months. If you’ve lived only in the United States your background check must be preferably from FBI. However, background checks from the local police are also accepted.  

LOCAL POLICE BACKGROUND CHECK FROM THE UNITED STATES  

If you choose to present a background check from the local police, you must make sure you present the background checks from every address where you’ve lived for the past 12 months. If you’ve lived in more than one place, you must present a different background check for each place.  

BACKGROUND CHECKS FROM OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES  

If you live or if you’ve lived outside the United States for the past 12 months, you must present the background check from that place.  

Background checks from countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention  

1. Check if the country is a member of the Convention at https://www.hcch.net/en/states/hcch-members.  

2. If the country is a member, check who is the authority in charge of issuing the apostille for the background check at https://www.hcch.net/en/states/authorities.  

 Background checks from countries that aren’t members of the Hague Apostille Convention  

If the country is not a member of the Hague Convention on Private International Law (HCCH), the background check must be legalized at an Embassy, Consulate or consular office of Brazil with jurisdiction over the place where the document was issued. Check the jurisdiction of all Brazilian Consular Offices in the world and their websites at https://www.gov.br/mre/pt-br/assuntos/portal-consular/reparticoes-consulares-do-brasil . 

FOR MINORS (THOSE UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE): PARENTS’ IDS AND CONSENT FORM 

 PARENTS’ IDs 

 The visa application of minors (all persons under 18 years of age) must be accompanied of IDs of each of the parents listed on the child’s birth certificate. The ID must contain photo and signature. A few examples of IDs: driver’s license, passport, green card, etc.  

PARENTS NOT PRESENT AT INTERVIEW  

If one or both parents cannot be present at the visa interview, then they must submit the original ID or a notarized copy of it.  

PARENTS IN BRAZIL  

If one or both parents are in Brazil, they must submit a notarized copy of their ID (cópia autenticada em cartório). 

 CONSENT FORM  

The minor’s parents must fill in and sign a Consent Form for the minor’s visa to Brazil. 

The signature on the form must match the one on the ID provided by each parent. The Consulate may refuse the consent form if the signatures don’t match, even if the form is notarized. This may lead to the denying of your visa.  

If parents are in different cities, each of them may fill in and sign a separate form.  

PARENTS NOT PRESENT AT VISA INTERVIEW  

If one or both parents are not going to be present at the Consulate for the visa interview, he or she or both must have their signature notarized (in the appropriate area of the form) before the application is brought to the Consulate. It’s not necessary to notarize the consent form for the parent who’s present at the visa interview. This also applies for Brazilian parents in our jurisdiction: Florida, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands.  

PARENTS IN BRAZIL (BRAZILIAN OR NON-BRAZILIAN PARENTS)  

If one or both parents are in Brazil, they must submit a Consent Form with the signature notarized (firma reconhecida) at a Cartório.  

BRAZILIAN PARENTS OUTSIDE BRAZIL  

Brazilian parents outside Brazil and outside our jurisdiction in the USA (Florida, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands) must have their signatures recognized (firma reconhecida) at a Consulate or Embassy of Brazil: https://www.gov.br/mre/pt-br/assuntos/portal-consular/reparticoes-consulares-do-brasil  

NON-BRAZILIAN PARENTS IN A COUNTRY WHICH IS A MEMBER OF THE APOSTILLE TREATY  

If one of both parents are in a country which is a member of the Hague Convention on Private International Law (HCCH), they must sign the Consent Form and have their signature notarized. After that, they must obtain an apostille in recognition of the notarial authority: https://www.hcch.net/en/states/authorities.  

NON-BRAZILIAN PARENTS IN A COUNTRY WHICH IS NOT A MEMBER OF THE APOSTILLE TREATY  

If one or both parents are in a country which is not a member of the Hague Convention on Private International Law (HCCH), they must sign the Consent Form, have their signature notarized and legalize the document at a Brazilian Consulate or Embassy responsible for that jurisdiction: https://www.gov.br/mre/pt-br/assuntos/portal-consular/reparticoes-consulares-do-brasil . 

MONEY ORDER FROM THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE (THE POST OFFICE)  

The only form of payment of processing fees accepted by the Consulates of Brazil in the United States is the money order of the United States Postal Service (USPS). No other forms of payment are accepted, not even money orders from other institutions. You must obtain your money order at a Post Office (https://www.usps.com/shop/money-orders.htm) before bringing your visa application to the Consulate-General of Brazil.  

Please remember to fill out the money order like the example on the left.  

You must bring a different money order for each person’s application. Check the correct amount for the money order on the table below before going to the Post Office.  

The processing fee varies according to the nationality of the passport you hold. You must obtain a USPS money order of the amount corresponding to the country of your passport: 

ELECTRONIC VISA APPLICATION FORM 

The application must be filled out completely online. There is no paper-base application form. You must access the following link: 

https://formulario-mre.serpro.gov.br/sci/pages/web/pacomPasesWebInicial.jsf. At the end of the process, the system will generate an application receipt like the model shown on the side. You must print it, glue your photo onto it and sign in the appropriate field. 

SUBMIT ALL REQUIREMENTS TO E-CONSULAR 

All visa requests shall be initiated through the E-Consular platform. Fill out the information and upload all the documents in https://ec-miami.itamaraty.gov.br/ .  

For information on how to apply for you a visa in E-Consular, click here.  

INQUIRIES / HELP 

 visa.miami@itamaraty.gov.br (Emails answered on the same or next business day). No phone assistance.