VITEM I - Academic Activities
TEMPORARY VISA I - Academic research, scientific cooperation, academic extension programmes, visiting professors
a) General rules
- VITEM I based on Normative Resolution 27/2018 (Portuguese only):
- This type of visa may be granted to researchers, scientists and visiting professors – with no employment relationship with a Brazilian institution – for the purposes of academic research, scientific cooperation, academic extension programmes, and teaching, as long as the stay is set to last longer than 90 days.
- If the stay does not exceed 90 days, a Visitor Visa (VIVIS) must be requested.
- VITEM I – RN27 holders are strictly forbidden to practise any paid work in Brazil, but are allowed to receive payments from the government, a Brazilian employer or a private entity for the purposes of daily allowances, compensation or travel expenses, as well as to receive cash prizes in competitions in the science, technology and innovation fields.
- VITEM I based on Normative Resolution 24/2018 (Portuguese only):
- This type of visa may be granted to researchers, scientists and visiting professors – with employment relationship with a Brazilian institution – regardless of the intended length of stay.
- VITEM I – RN24 applications are subject to prior approval by the Brazilian Ministry of Justice and National Security. The process must be initiated in Brazil, by the sponsoring institution (on behalf of the applicant), with submission of the pertinent application and supporting documentation to that Ministry. Once the procedure in Brazil is concluded and approved, the authorisation will be transmitted to the Embassy via the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Only then will the applicant be able to proceed and lodge the visa application itself.
- Please note: a VITEM I does not apply to study/research exchange purposes (except postdoctoral degree studies). For activities involving academic qualification such as participation in "sandwich" and university collaboration programmes, carrying out part of one’s master's/doctor's degree research, doing one's compulsory undergraduate/postgraduate study module abroad (commonly referred to as "year abroad"), one must obtain a Student Visa (VITEM IV) instead.
- Foreign nationals who are already in Brazil can apply for residence permit for the purposes of academic research, scientific cooperation, academic extension programmes or teaching directly with the Ministry of Justice and Public Security (there is no need to return to Syria to get a VITEM I).
b) Length of stay in Brazil
Validity period: up to 1 year.
(limit date / deadline for the first entry in Brazil to take place – counted from the date of issue of the visa)
Duration of stay: up to 2 years, according to agreement with the institution / awarded scholarship / authorisation from the Ministry of Justice and National Security
(period during which the individual is allowed to remain in Brazil – counted from the date of first entry in the country)
Extension of stay: subject to approval by the Brazilian Ministry of Justice and National Security.
c) Required documents
Documentation |
Comments |
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1 |
Visa application form (Click here to access) |
a) Completion instructions: - The form must be filled in online. There is no printable version available for download. - Enter complete information – please note that some fields are mandatory. - Parents' names must be entered in full (name and surname), exactly as displayed in the applicant's birth certificate. - Upload the digital copies of all documents listed below. Applications without the uploaded documents will not be accepted. - Click on the "Complete Application" button to generate the Visa Request Form Receipt (RER). b) After the form is concluded: - Print and sign the RER; affix your photo on the indicated field. - Gather all original documents listed below. They must be presented during your interview at the Embassy, in addition to the RER. Please note: documents in digital format must be printed. Documents shown on mobile device screens will not be accepted. |
2 |
Valid passport |
Must have at least two blank pages. Please note that pages reserved for amendments cannot be used for visa purposes. |
3 |
One passport photo |
The photo must be recent, against white background, in the local standard specifications. Click here to check if your photo complies with the regulations. |
4 |
Police check |
Police checks are valid for up to 3 months from the date of issue. Please note: if the applicant has lived in multiple countries within the last 12 months, a police check from each country of residence must be provided. They must also be duly legalised (contain an apostille) by the competent authority in the issuing country and, if necessary, translated by a certified translator. |
5 | Individual civil record issued by the Syrian authority |
Only for citizens registered in Syria. The document must be legalised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates and translated by sworn translator. |
6 | Family civil record |
Only for citizens registered in Syria. The document must be legalised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates and translated by sworn translator. |
7 |
Original full birth certificate |
Submitting this document is intended to prevent any discrepancies between the information contained in the visa application and the birth certificate itself. As the birth certificate will have to be presented during the mandatory registration of the visa with the Federal Police in Brazil (see letter “f” below), any inconsistent data will preclude the conclusion of this process. |
8 |
Terms of the applicant’s participation in the intended activity (only for applications based on RN27/2018) |
Please note: the signatures on the documents listed below must be certified by a notary public ("tabelião"). The signature authentication will not be necessary if the document is issued by the Brazilian government or by a public-funded (Federal or State) university or research institution. Letter from the Brazilian education or research institution to which the applicant will be linked. The letter must be printed on official letterhead of the institution and contain the following information:
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Select the additional required documentation, according to the applicant’s specific conditions, as described below: |
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6.1. For the purposes of research / academic extension / postdoctoral studies, if the researcher / scientist holds a scholarship from a Brazilian accredited higher education institution, from CNPq, Capes, Finep, or a private / state-sponsored Research Foundation, or from an accredited private / public Support Foundation to higher education / research institutions: a) declaration issued by the institution responsible for financing the scholarship; b) signed Term of Commitment. |
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6.2. For research purposes, under an international agreement recognised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MRE): a) international agreement, memorandum of understanding, additional protocols, or equivalent documents mentioning the applicant’s appointment; b) proof of compatible qualification / professional experience; c) invitation letter addressed to the applicant, making reference to the respective international agreement, describing the activities, specifying the duration (including start and end dates), and declaring that the applicant will not be funded by a Brazilian source. |
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6.3. For research purposes, in order to take part in projects between foreign institutions / research and development centres of foreign companies and a Brazilian company, company incubator, Scientific, Technological and Innovation Institution (ICT), Technological Innovation Centre (NIT), support foundation, technology park, technology hub, or private / public higher education and research institution: a) copy of the Ordinance ("Portaria") of the Brazilian Ministry of Science, Technology, Innovation and Communications (MCTIC) which authorises the activity and the applicant’s participation, published in the Official Gazette (D.O.U.); b) signed Term of Commitment. Please note: if the research / scientific activity is to be conducted in laboratories and in case of postdoctoral degree studies without a scholarship, these documents must also be presented. |
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6.4. For teaching purposes, under the condition of visiting professor without employment relationship with the Brazilian higher education institution: a) declaration confirming that the applicant will be funded by an institution in the applicant’s country of origin, under the umbrella of an interinstitutional agreement or similar instrument celebrated between the foreign and Brazilian parts. |
d) Registration with the Federal Police
Holders of this type of visa must register with the Federal Police within 90 days from first entry in Brazil. Contact the Federal Police directly (click here) to learn how to register.
The Embassy anticipates that, among other documents, the applicant will have to present the Visa Application Form (FPV) provided upon issue of the visa, as well as his/her original full birth certificate, containing the parents' full names (if British, Certified Copy of an Entry of Birth – full form).
Please note: the birth certificate must be legalised by the competent authority in the issuing country. Documents issued in Syria are legalised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. After being legalised, the document will have to be translated into Portuguese by a sworn translator ("tradutor juramentado") and legalised by the Embassy.
e) Family reunion
Applicants willing to take their spouse/partner/children/other dependants, please click here to check their eligibility. Dependants may be granted a Family Reunion Visa (VITEM XI), bound to the primary VITEM I application, thus subject to the same conditions (e.g. same length of stay etc.). Family applications may be lodged jointly or after the primary applicant’s VITEM I has been issued.
If eligible, each applicant must submit the following documents:
Applicant |
Documentation |
Spouse |
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Partner |
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Children (son/daughter of any age) |
If under 18 years of age, no police check needed. Please note: if the dependant is under 18 years old, both parents / legal guardians must sign the child’s Visa Request Form Receipt (RER) before the consular authority. |