Student Visa (VITEM IV)
VI. Important information regarding the visa process
VII. Visa frequently asked questions - FAQ
I. General information
The student visa - VITEM IV applies to regular studies, university exchanges, internships, language courses and exchange students.
Studies no longer than 90 days
For studies less than 90 days, European Union citizens do not need a visa.
Other nationalities may require a visa, due to nationality.
To check whether you need a visa to Brazil, due to your nationality, access "Nationalities that Require a Visa and Visa Exemptions" (this list is updated on a regular basis ).
Please note that the requirements for a visit visa are due to a persons NATIONALITY, by reciprocity.
That means if your passport is different from your nationality (for example, nationals of a third country, but with a Finnish travel document), the relevant information for a visa request is the nationality (and not the passport issuing country).
ATTENTION:
The need for a visa to Brazil is related to the person's nationality. Having a Finnish residence permit and / or a residence permit or visa from another country does not exempt your from a Brazilian visa, when the Brazilian visa is needed due to your nationality.
Check the need for a Brazilian visa, due to your nationality, and visa exemptions on our website "Nationalities that require a visa and visa exemptions" (this list is updated on a regular basis ).
II. How to apply for a visa
The visa application and all original documents (the same uploaded to the online application form) must be sent by mail (Posti) or deposited in our mailbox (only from Monday to Friday, from 10:00 to 13:00 h).
It is the responsibility of the applicant to make sure the application is lodged accordingly and with all original mandatory documents (in paper).
Important: The same documents must be uploaded to the online form and sent by mail (in paper).
Incomplete applications will be returned to the applicant.
III. Mandatory documents
Note: All the following listed documents are mandatory.
All documents must be presented in original (copies are not accepted).
Incomplete applications will not be processed and will be returned to the applicant.
1) Online visa application form
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Fill in the electronic application form at https://formulario-mre.serpro.gov.br/, upload all requested documents, submit, print out, sign. When filling in the application form it is very important to completely fill out all fields and upload all required documents. Important: Special attention to the field parents’ full names, that should be informed as stated in your extract from population (item 5). Note: If deceased, their full names will still be required. Attention: It is also very important to inform your (own) correct telephone number and your (own) correct e-mail address. a) The form should be signed inside the designated box in blue or black ink. Do not exceed the borders. b) Applicant must upload photo, signature and all mandatory documents. |
2) Original valid passport |
a) Passport should be valid for the entirety of the intended stay. b) The Consular Section of the Embassy reserves the right not to endorse soiled, damaged or defaced passports. c) Passport must have at least 2 unused (blank) pages. Note that pages reserved for amendments cannot be used for visa purposes. |
3) One recent (3 months maximum) 36mm x 47mm photograph |
The photo dimensions for the Brazilian visa are the same as the standard size for the Finnish passport. a) Photo must be in color, front view, white background, no shadows, ICAO standard (example here). b) Photo should be "developed" in photography paper, in ultra high quality. Photos in regular paper, with low quality or digital only versions are not accepted. c) Photos should be recent (3 months old maximum). The same photo cannot be used for more than one application. Note: To avoid your photo being rejected, we strongly recommend to use a professional photographer's service. |
4) Original Extract from the Criminal Records (all applicants 18 years old or older) |
4.1 If living in Finland for one year or longer: Finnish Extract from the Criminal Records a) The Extract from the Criminal Records must show the applicant's city of birth. The city must be written exactly the same way as in the passport - same spelling and same language. Important: City of birth "abroad" or city of birth showing only the name of the country are NOT accepted. b) The extract should be with ink stamp and signature. Digital versions / digital signatures are not accepted. c) The extract must be recent (3 months old maximum) d) The extract must be issued originally in English. If not issued originally in English, the foreign extract must receive an official translation to English. e) The extract must be notarized in Maistraatti (receive an Apostille) - https://dvv.fi/en/apostille-en-org |
4.2 If living in Finland for less than one year: Certificate of criminal records from the country of origin / last residences a) The certificate of criminal records must show the applicant's city of birth . The city must be written exactly the same way as in the passport - same spelling and same language. Important: City of birth "abroad" or city of birth showing only the name of the country are NOT accepted. b) The certificate should be with ink stamp and signature. Digital versions / digital signatures are not accepted. c) The certificate must be recent (3 months old maximum) d) The certificate must be issued originally in English. If not issued originally in English, the certificate must receive an official translation to English. e) Certificates issued in countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention must receive an Apostille. Apostille authorities, by country: https://www.hcch.net/en/instruments/conventions/authorities1/?cid=41 f) Certificates issued in countries that are not members of the Hague Apostille Convention must be legalized by the Brazilian Diplomatic Representation (Brazilian Embassy or Consulate) in the country where the certificates were issued. |
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5) Original Extract from the Population information system or Birth certificate
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5.1. For Finnish nationals: a) The Extract from the Population Information System or Birth certificate must show the parents' full names b) The Extract from Population Information System or Birth certificate must show the applicant's city of birth. The city must be written exactly the same way as in the passport - same spelling and same language. Important: City of birth "abroad" or city of birth showing only the name of the country are NOT accepted. c) The certificate should be with ink stamp and signature. Digital versions / digital signatures are not accepted. d) The certificate must be issued originally in English. If not issued originally in English, the foreign extract must receive an official translation to English. e) The Finnish extract must be notarized in Maistraatti (receive an Apostille) - https://dvv.fi/en/apostille-en-org |
5.2. For other nationalities: a) Birth certificate which shows the parents' full names issued by the country of origin b) The birth certificate must show the applicant's city of birth. The city must be written exactly the same way as in the passport - same spelling and same language. Important: City of birth "abroad" or city of birth showing only the name of the country are NOT accepted. c) The certificate should be with ink stamp and signature. Digital versions / digital signatures are not accepted. d) The certificate must be issued originally in English. If not issued originally in English, the foreign extract must receive an official translation to English. e) Certificates issued in countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention must receive an Apostille. Apostille authorities, by country: https://www.hcch.net/en/instruments/conventions/authorities1/?cid=41 f) Certificates issued in countries that are not members of the Hague Apostille Convention must be legalized by the Brazilian Diplomatic Representation (Brazilian Embassy or Consulate) in the country where the certificates were issued. |
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6) For non-Finnish citizens only: proof of legal residence status in Finland (original permanent resident card) |
A certified copy of the Finnish residence permit card (done at Maistraatti) is also accepted. An apostille is not needed. |
7) For applicants under 18 years old - Parental Consent Form for a Visa, for Traveling to Brazil and whitin Brazilian Territory in favor of a minor |
Click here to download the document - PDF a) This document must be signed by the minor's father and mother, or legal guardian, in person in front of the Finnish Notary (DVV/Maistraatti), have the signature(s) notarized (own hand in-person signature) and receive the Hague Apostille (“Apostille”) also in Maistraatti. (Check example of the accepted DVV notarization here). The document will be returned by the Embassy to the applicant and must brough to Brazil and stay in his/her possession, as it is a document requested by airline companies or bus companies for trips within Brazilian territory. - Notarization in DVV-Maistraatti - https://dvv.fi/en/notarisation-of-the-authenticity-of-a-signature-org - Hague Apostille in DVV-Maistraatti - https://dvv.fi/en/apostille-en-org |
8) Proof of sufficient funds to support the whole stay of the applicant in Brazil |
The following documents are accepted: Last 3 months statements of bank account with sufficient saldo, last 3 months payment slips, last 3 months credit card statements with available limit, Kela or University certificate of funding. a) The statements are accepted in English or Finnish. If not issued originally in English or Finnish, the document must receive an official translation to Portuguese or English. b) The documents listed above may be combined to prove financial self-sufficiency during the whole trip. c) For minors (less than 18 years of age), proof of sufficient funds from parent(s) / legal responsible. Note: It is illegal for the holder of a student visa to work in Brazil. |
9) Buy 1 (one) prepaid postal label at Posti website |
Buy the postal label "maximum 250g" type, at the Posti website (choose express OR registered): (Express Letter) https://www.posti.fi/en/private/letters-and-mail/send-a-letter-or-postcard/valuable-or-urgent-items (Registered Letter) https://www.posti.fi/en/private/letters-and-mail/send-a-letter-or-postcard/valuable-or-urgent-items Note: Express letters are faster than registered letters. Instructions on how to correctly purchase the Posti postal label are available on our website at “Posti - Postal Label”. Terms and conditions for services by mail are available on our website at "Service by Mail ( Posti )" IMPORTANT: Applications sent to the Embassy without the postal label will NOT be processed. To avoid unnecessary delays, please follow our instructions an provide us the Posti postal label. |
10) Additional documents for exchange students
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10.1. (All exchange students) - Original signed letter from the Brazilian educational institution confirming acceptance or a place and duration of course; a) Important: If the Brazilian educational institution is not a Public School or Public University, the document must be notarized by a notary public ("cartório") in Brazil (an apostille is not necessary). b) The letter must be in Portuguese. c) The letter must be presented in original. IMPORTANT: You should plan ahead and request that the original letter is sent from your host institution or person to you, by mail (Posti, DHL, Fedex, UPS, etc), so that you can present the original to the Embasy, together with your application. Alternatively, digital notarizations by Brazilian notaries ("cartórios") are accepted, as long as the document interiety and validity can be verified by the Embassy at the moment of the application. The responsability of the verification system is not of the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Embassy in Helsinki. Therefore, if the digital document cannot be validated by the Embassy, the visa will not be granted. |
10.2. (Additional document for University exchange students only) Original signed and notarized letter (with Apostille) from the Finnish educational institution stating that the applicant is registered there as a student and that the exchange will be part of the applicants degree in Finland; a) The document must be in English. If not originally in English, the document must receive an official translation to English or Portuguese. b) The signatures must be notarized in Maistraatti - https://dvv.fi/en/notarisation-of-the-authenticity-of-a-signature-org c) The Finnish apostille is requested in Maistraatti - https://dvv.fi/en/apostille-en-org d) The letter must be presented in original (copies, print versions, those sent as attachment in e-mails and electronic versions are not accepted). |
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11) Additional documents for internships - "estágio"
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11.1 Original, notarized letter from the Finnish university stating the internship is part of the current studies in Finland (+ Apostille) a) The document must be in English. If not originally in English, the document must receive an official translation to English or Portuguese. b) The signatures must be notarized in Maistraatti - https://dvv.fi/en/notarisation-of-the-authenticity-of-a-signature-org c) The Finnish apostille is requested in Maistraatti - https://dvv.fi/en/apostille-en-org d) The letter must be presented in original (copies, print versions, those sent as attachment in e-mails and electronic versions are not accepted). |
11.2. Acceptance letter from the Brazilian employer signed, original, and notarized in "cartório", in Brazil (an apostille is not necessary) a) The letter must be in Portuguese. b) The letter must be notarized in a cartório, in Brazil. Digital notarizations (digital signatures) are not accepted c) The letter must be presented in original. IMPORTANT: You should plan ahead and request that the original letter is sent from your host institution or person to you, by mail (Posti, DHL, Fedex, UPS, etc), so that you can present the original to the Embasy, together with your application. Alternatively, digital notarizations by Brazilian notaries ("cartórios") are accepted, as long as the document interiety and validity can be verified by the Embassy at the moment of the application. The responsability of the verification system is not of the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Embassy in Helsinki. Therefore, if the digital document cannot be validated by the Embassy, the visa will not be granted. |
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11.3. Termo de Compromisso - Letter of agreement (TCE) signed between three parties: the trainee/intern, the training/internship entity and the educational institution; a) The document must be in English or Portuguese. If not originally in English or Portuguese, the document must receive an official translation to English or Portuguese. b) All three signatures in this document must be notarized: b.1) The trainne's signature and the educational instutions' signature must be notarized in Maistraatti-DVV. b.2) The training/internship entity signature (in Brazil), in a Brazilian Notary (cartório), in Brazil. IMPORTANT: You should plan ahead and request that the original letter is sent from your host institution or person to you, by mail (Posti, DHL, Fedex, UPS, etc), so that you can present the original to the Embasy, together with your application. Alternatively, digital notarizations by Brazilian notaries ("cartórios") are accepted, as long as the document interiety and validity can be verified by the Embassy at the moment of the application. The responsability of the verification system is not of the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Embassy in Helsinki. Therefore, if the digital document cannot be validated by the Embassy, the visa will not be granted. c) The letter of agreement - Termo de Compromisso must be presented in original. Note: Foreign students intending to do an internship in Brazil, who have the support of a Brazilian university (based on Resolution nº 88/10). The university would act as intermediary between the intern and his/her place of internship. The students, in this case, would still have to be attending university. This internship visa is applicable to the university students, or those graduated within the last twelve months. In this case the student would have to organize the internship through a Brazilian student exchange institution (such as IAESTE or AIESEC), which would act as intermediary between him/her and the company where the internship would take place. A part-time or full time temporary work contract, between the student and this company, would have to be submitted to the Brazilian Ministry of Labor and Employment for approval, with the participation of the intermediary institution (please refer to the “Temporary Work Visa”). |
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12) Additional documents for students willing to attend to Portuguese classes in Brazil
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12.1 Original, notarized (in a cartório, in Brazil) acceptation letter from the Brazilian language school, with CNJP number. The Portuguese course must be composed of approximately 15 hours per week. a) Letter must be in Portuguese. b) Letter must be notarized in a cartório, in Brazil. c) The letter must be presented in original. IMPORTANT: You should plan ahead and request that the original letter is sent from your host institution or person to you, by mail (Posti, DHL, Fedex, UPS, etc), so that you can present the original to the Embasy, together with your application. Alternatively, digital notarizations by Brazilian notaries ("cartórios") are accepted, as long as the document interiety and validity can be verified by the Embassy at the moment of the application. The responsability of the verification system is not of the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Embassy in Helsinki. Therefore, if the digital document cannot be validated by the Embassy, the visa will not be granted. |
IV. Consular fee
Once the application is received, the Consular Section will check whether it has been duly prepared and that it contains all documents.
If the application is ready for processing, the Consular Section will forward the applicant, by e-mail, information for payment of the consular fee.
The consular fee for a temporary student visa is €120,00 for nationals of most countries, with some exceptions.
All consular fees must be lodged to the Embassy of Brazil’s account, by transfer originating from a Finnish bank account.
The Consular Section will only send payment information (by e-mail to the applicant) after the required documentation has been received and checked.
Payments in advance are not accepted.
V. Processing time
The estimated processing time for temporary visas is up to 5 working days after all the documentation has been received at the Embassy and fees are paid.
The Consular Section does not provide express or emergency visa services of any sort.
In times of heavy workload processing times may increase. Therefore, do not leave your application to the last minute and do not commit yourself to travel plans until your visa is granted.
Nationals from certain countries require consultation with the Brazilian Ministry of External Relations before a visa can be granted. In that case the processing time may be longer than usual.
Note: The Consular Section does not provide information on the status of visa applications that are already being analysed.
IMPORTANT:
The Consular Section does not offer urgent, express or faster services of any kind and does not issue urgent or emergency documents, including visas. Check the current processing times for consular services at "Processing Times".
Visa applicants must allow the Embassy the full processing time. If you have a trip to another country and cannot wait for the processing time DO NOT apply for a visa with us, as we cannot hurry up your process due to your private engagements.
More information on the visa process is available here.
VI. Important information regarding the visa process
- Visa requests that lack any of the documents listed will not be processed and will be returned to the applicant.
- The requirements listed above should not, in any way, be considered all inclusive.
- The Consular Section of the Brazilian Embassy in Helsinki reserves the right to request additional information and/or documentation when they are deemed necessary.
- A Consular interview may be requested by the Brazilian Consular Authority whenever necessary to clarify circumstances of the trip or identity / information provided by the applicant.
- Visa applications may be refused by lack of documents or for inconsistencies in the data provided (incomplete or mismatching information).
- A visa shall be denied to any foreign citizen who, when submitting his/her application, behaves in an aggressive, insulting or disrespectful way.
- Keep in mind that visas may be granted or denied by the Brazilian Consular Authority in Finland, notwithstanding the residence authorization, according to Brazilian migratory law and visa regulations.
- Please note that issuing or denying a visa is a sovereign act of Governments. It is a prerogative applied by every country and strengthened by international practice. The kind of visa - if granted - and the validity period of the visa are also a sovereign decision of the Brazilian Consular Authority in Finland.
- All temporary visa holders must register with the Federal Police within 90 days from first entry.
Upon registration, the individual will have to present all the following documents:
a) Passport with the Brazilian temporary visa;
b) Original Visa Application Form (with stamp and signature of the Brazilian Consular Authority in Finland);
c) Extract from Population Information System (or Birth Certificate) containing both parents’ full names and cirty of birth (the same presented to the Embassy with the visa application); and
d) Extract from the Criminal Records (applicants over 18 years old) (the same presented to the Embassy with the visa application).
IMPORTANT: The extract from population / birth certificate and the extract from criminal records must receive an apostille (for countries that are part of the Apostille Convention, for example, Finland) or legalized by a Brazilian Embassy (countries that are not part of the Hague Apostille Convention) in the country of origin.
The documents must also be subsequently translated into Portuguese, in Brazil, by a sworn translator ("tradutor juramentado").
- It is strongly recommended that bearers of temporary visas to Brazil register themselves at the Tax Revenue Office (Receita Federal), before the trip, to acquire a Brazilian CPF number. The CPF is necessary for many daily activities in Brazil, for example opening a bank account, buying and activating telephone sim cards, renting appartments, signing contracts with service providers (internet, telephone, energy, water, gas), doing business in Brazil, etc.
The CPF for foreign citizens is requested at the Embassy, only in person (by appointment). Instructions on how to proceed are available on our website at CPF - Foreign citizens resident in Finland.
- General terms and conditions are subject to change without prior notice.