Tutorial – How to Apply for a Visa

Visa Tutorial

1. Check if you need a visa (and which)

1. Click here to check if you require a visa or qualify for a visa waiver
2. If you need a visa, please read carefully the information about our visa types and gather the necessary documents.

The purpose of your trip and the intended length of stay will determine which visa is required under Brazilian immigration law. There are two main types of visas: Visitor Visas (VIVIS) and Temporary Visas (VITEM).

VIVIS applies to several travel purposes for a maximum stay of up to 90 days, without the intention to establish residence, and counted from the date of entry into the country. For some of these purposes, if the intended stay exceeds 90 days, a VITEM must be applied for. Temporary Visas are divided into subcategories (VITEM I through VITEM XIV) according to specific travel purposes and length of stay.

2. Check to see if you live in an area that is part of our jurisdiction.

In addition to the Embassy in Berlin, Brazil has two Consulates-General in Germany: Frankfurt and Munich.

Please verify the Consular Section responsible for the federal state (Bundesland) in which you live or are located (see below). Many consular services can only be requested from the consulate responsible for a region (jurisdiction).

If you are registered (Angemeldet) in one of the German federal states that fall under the jurisdiction of the Brazilian Embassy in Berlin, please proceed to the next step of the tutorial.

	Consulado-Geral do Brasil em Frankfurt Hansaallee 32 a+b 60322 Frankfurt am Main http://frankfurt.itamaraty.gov.br https://ec-frankfurt.itamaraty.gov.br
	Consulado-Geral do Brasil em Munique Sonnenstrasse 31, 4° Andar 80331 München – Alemanha http://munique.itamaraty.gov.br https://ec-munique.itamaraty.gov.br

3. Requesting a Visa

We have two visa application systems, one for the visa itself, which is used by Brazilian consulates worldwide, and the other for the preliminary verification of your documents and the scheduling of the visa appointment, which is used only by our consulate. You must fill in both systems by following these steps:

1. Fill in the online visa application form and upload all the documents for your visa. Click here to see a tutorial on how to access and upload documents to the system.
2. Complete the application form, print, attach your photo and sign the Visa Request Form Receipt – RER.
3. Create a visa application on our e-consular system and upload your documents again.
4. Wait for our team to validate your request for you to make an appointment or to send the documents by mail. It usually takes about one week for validation. If a document is missing, you will be notified and will be able to resend it through e-consular.
5. You must bring all original documents that you uploaded at your appointment (or when you mailed them).
6. Optionally, you can also bring an envelope with your address and stamps (3.95 Euro) if you would like to receive your documents by mail.

4. Receiving the Visa

1. You can check the status of your visa using the code you receive from the system when you fill out the form, or using your name and date of birth.
2. If authorized, you can make an appointment to pick it up at the e-consular. If you have given us an envelope with your address and stamps (see above), we will send it to you by mail.

If you have any questions, please write to visa.berlim@itamaraty.gov.br 

Please do not come to the embassy without an appointment.

Important General Information 

• Registration with the Federal Police: VITEM visa holders must register with the Federal Police within 90 days of first entry into the country. At the time of registration, the individual must present a document containing the full names of both parents (e.g. full birth certificate), which must be duly legalized/apostilled by the competent authority in the issuing country and then translated into Portuguese by a sworn translator ("tradutor juramentado") in Brazil.
• Passport validation: Passports must be valid for the entire period the individual intends to remain in Brazil.
• Additional documentation: Visa applicants must meet all requirements for the category of visa for which they are applying. The Consular Section may request additional information or documentation as deemed necessary.
• Minors traveling without a visa: The following regulations apply to minors who are allowed to enter Brazil without a visa, regardless of whether they are traveling without their legal guardian or accompanied by only one or both legal guardians: a) The passport/child's passport must be valid for at least 6 months at the time of entry; b) An exit ticket (air, bus, train or boat) must be available at all times, the date of which may not exceed the authorized duration of stay; c) No other documents or travel authorizations from the legal guardians must be presented to the Brazilian Federal Police upon entry or exit.
• Minors traveling with a visa: For minors requiring a visa, a signed and notarized declaration (Einverständnis- und Verpflichtungserklärung) from both legal guardians must accompany the visa application. If only one parent/legal guardian signs the letter, the sole custody decree or death certificate of the other parent/legal guardian must also be submitted with the visa application. Please note: Declarations of consent and commitment signed outside Brazil or Germany must be certified with the Hague Apostille.
• Work Visa (VITEM V): Please note the difference between the work permit for Brazil - issued by the Brazilian Ministry of Justice and Public Security (MJSP) - and the authorization to issue a visa by the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Since the issuance of a work visa depends on the work permit and its approval by the competent authority in Brazil, the applicant should not submit his/her application documents to the visa section immediately after being notified that the work permit has been issued. Rather, he/she should allow for a waiting period of a few days after the work permit has been approved, as the internal transmission between the ministries and the embassy always takes a few days. If there is any doubt as to whether the visa section has already received ministerial approval to issue the visa, the applicant may contact the visa section by e-mail to verify this information.
• Refugees and stateless persons holding a travel document for foreigners: Refugees, stateless persons, persons of undetermined nationality and persons who hold a travel document issued by a country of which they are not nationals (e.g. German passport replacement - Travel Document for Foreigners") have always to require a visa. They also must submit the following documents in addition to those listed for each visa category: Copy of all passport pages with personal data; proof of residence status in Germany (copy of visa or residence permit); copy of birth certificate and its translation and the duly completed and signed "Declaration on the names of the parents"; and address of accommodation in Brazil (e.g. hotel reservation, private address).
• Laissez-Passer: Citizens of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic can only enter Brazil with a Brazilian laissez-passer. This requires a consultation in Brasília; therefore, no processing time can be guaranteed. They also must submit the following documents in addition to those listed for each visa category: Copy of all passport pages with personal data; proof of residence in Germany (copy of visa or residence permit); copy of birth certificate and its translation and the duly completed and signed "Declaration on the names of the parents"; and address of accommodation in Brazil (e.g. hotel reservation, private address). In addition to the respective visa fee, there is an additional fee.
• Accepted languages for visa application documents: English, French, German, Portuguese or Spanish.
• Visa processing deadlines: From the time the visa section receives complete documentation (including complete "physical" submissions and visa fees paid to the Embassy's bank account), the processing time is at least 15 working days. During periods of high application volume due to the holiday season, regular processing times cannot be guaranteed.
• Denial of visa applications: Please note that visa requirements are not negotiable and that the Consular Section may refuse to issue a visa in the following cases: a) if the requirements for the relevant visa category are not met; b) if there is evidence of concealment of reasons opposed to the issuance of a visa or entry into Brazil; c) if the applicant is a minor (under 18 years of age) and does not present a travel authorization from a parent or guardian; d) in the case of disrespectful, insulting or aggressive behavior towards consular officers.