Student Visa (VITEM IV)

1) Online visa application form

 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.

d) Applicants with a valid Brazilian visa must also present the passport with the visa, even if it is in another passport or the passport has expired.

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 also receive an official translation to English.

e) The extract must be notarized in Maistraatti - DVV.

f) The extract must 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 also 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.

5) Original Extract from the Population information system or Birth certificate

 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 also receive an official translation to English.

e) The Finnish extract must be notarized in Maistraatti.

f) The Finnish extract must 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 also 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.   

6) For non-Finnish citizens only: proof of legal residence status in Finland (original permanent resident card)

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 within Brazilian Territory in favor of a minor

Click here to download the document - PDF

The parental consent form must: 

a) be signed by the minor's father and mother, or legal guardian, in person in front of the Finnish Notary (DVV/Maistraatti),

b) have the signature(s) notarized by Maistraatti - DVV (own hand in-person signature); and

c) receive the Hague Apostille (“Apostille”) also in Maistraatti-DVV. (Check the example of the DVV notarization accepted by the Embassy 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 also 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.  

For those receiving funding from a Finnish institution (University, School, Private Company, etc), the following document is also accepted:

Support letter from funding institution.

d) The letter must be issued in official paper with institution name and logo.

e) The letter must contain specific information on the visit, applicant's data (full name, date of birth, passport number, etc), that the funding is destined to a trip to Brazil and detail what it covers.

f) The letter must be signed by a responsible person of the institution and contain their full name and contacts.

g) The signature of the institution's responsible person must be notarized in Maistratti - DVV. (An apostille is not necessary.)

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

 10.1. (All exchange students) - Letter signed by the Brazilian educational institution confirming acceptance or a place and duration of course;

Important: 

a) If the Brazilian educational institution is a PRIVATE School or PRIVATE University (i.e. not a Federal, State or Municipal government educational institution - Universidades Federais, Estaduais, etc), the document must be notarized by a Brazilian public notary ("cartório"), in Brazil (an apostille is not necessary), according to the Brazilian Consular Regulation.

Alternatively, digital notarizations carried out by the PRIVATE institution (PUC, FGV, etc.) at a BRAZILIAN NOTARY ("cartório") OR done at the Gov.Br platform are accepted, as long as the document intiriety 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.

b) Letters from a PUBLIC School or PUBLIC University (i.e. Federal, State or Municipal government institutions - Universidades Federais, Universidades Estaduais etc) DON'T need a notarization, according to the Brazilian Consular Regulation.

c) The letter must be in Portuguese.

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT LETTERS FROM PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES (FOR EXAMPLE, PUC, FGV, ETC.):

You should plan ahead and request that the original letter is sent from your PRIVATE host institution (PUC, FGV, etc.) to you, by mail (Posti, DHL, Fedex, UPS, etc), so that you can present the original to the Embassy, together with your application.

ALTERNATIVELY, digital notarizations carried out by the PRIVATE institution (PUC, FGV, etc) at a BRAZILIAN NOTARY ("cartório") OR through the Gov.br platform 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.

Simple "electronic signatures" done by the PRIVATE institution (PUC, FGV, etc) itself without a notarization done by a Brazilian notary OR through the Gov.br will NOT be accepted, according to the Brazilian Consular Regulation and internal instructions from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

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 also 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) Additional documents for internships - "estágio"

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 also 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. 

c) The letter must be presented in original.

IMPORTANT:

Alternatively, digital notarizations carried out by the Brazilian employer at a BRAZILIAN NOTARY ("cartório") OR through the Gov.br platform are accepted, as long as the document intiriety and validity can be verified by the Embassy at the moment of the application. The responsibility 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.

Simple "electronic signatures" done by the company itself without a notarization done by a Brazilian notary OR through the Gov.br will NOT be accepted, according to the Brazilian Consular Regulation and internal instructions from the Ministy of Foreign Affairs.

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 also 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:

Alternatively, digital notarizations carried out by the inviting parties at a BRAZILIAN NOTARY ("cartório") OR through the Gov.br platform are accepted, as long as the document entirety and validity can be verified by the Embassy at the moment of the application. The responsibility 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.

Simple "electronic signatures" done by the Brazilian inviting parties themselves without a notarization done by a Brazilian notary OR through the Gov.br will NOT be accepted, according to the Brazilian Consular Regulation and internal instructions from the Ministy of Foreign Affairs.

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”).

12) Additional documents for students willing to attend to Portuguese classes in Brazil

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 school 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 carried out by the Brazilian school at a BRAZILIAN NOTARY ("cartório") OR through the Gov.br platform are accepted, as long as the document entirety and validity can be verified by the Embassy at the moment of the application. The responsibility 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.

Simple "electronic signatures" done by the school itself without a notarization done by a Brazilian notary OR through the Gov.br will NOT be accepted, according to the Brazilian Consular Regulation and internal instructions from the Ministy of Foreign Affairs.