Visas - General Information

IV. Visa types, mandatory documents and instructions

The type of visa depends on the purpose of the applicant's trip to Brazil.

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 type of visa - if granted - and the validity period of the visa are also a sovereign decision of the Brazilian Consular Authority in Finland.

Keep in mind that a visa is not a right in itself, but an expectation to be admitted in the country.

The final decision of a persons admittance in Brazil is responsibility of the Brazilian Border Authority (Polícia Federal), upon entry. 

More information on our website at "Entry into Brazil"

II. Overview of the visa application process at the Embassy of Brazil in Helsinki

III. Important information regarding the visa process and general rules

1. Visa requests that lack any of the (original) mandatory documents as listed on our website will not be processed and will be returned to the applicant for corrections.

2. All documents presented with visa requests must be originals. Copies, print versions, those sent as attachment in e-mails, etc. are not accepted.

3. Uploading the documents at the visa online application form is mandatory. It is also mandatory to send us the same documents in originals (in paper). Note that copies in any form are not accepted. 

4. Documents issued in Brazil:

4.1. Documents signed by persons / private companies / private schools / private universities / private entities who invite the foreigner to Brazil, for example, acceptance letters from a Brazilian Private University / Brazilian Private School, invitation letters from a Brazilian host company or from a Brazilian individual host, etc.) are accepted only:

a) in original;

b) in Portuguese,

c) with signature notarized in a Brazilian notary ("reconhecimento de firma em cartório").

Documents with signature that had not been notarized by a Brazilian notary (cartório) are NOT accepted.

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 entiriety and validity can be verified by the Embassy at the moment of the application.

Important: The responsibility of the digital notarization verification system is not of the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Embassy in Helsinki. Therefore, note that if the document with digital notarized signature cannot be checked and validated by the Embassy at the moment of the application, the visa will not be granted.

4.2. Documents issued by Brazilian public schools or Brazilian public universities (Official Federal or State School or University) must also be presented: 

a) in original; and

b) in Portuguese.

However, they do not require notarization of signature in a Brazilian notary ("reconhecimento de firma em cartório").

5. Important: A return postal label bought at the Posti website is mandatory for each individual applicant and for every time an application is presented. Applications sent together must still include separate return postal labels (one for each applicant), since each visa is analysed and processed separately. Instructions on how to correctly purchase the return postal label on the Posti website are available on our website at "Posti - Postal Label". 

6. Visa applications sent without the Posti return postal label will not be processed. Avoid issues with your application: do not buy regular Posti stamps. Instead, buy a return postal label from Posti, according to our instructions (check item 5).

7. The requirements listed on the website of each visa type should not, in any way, be considered all inclusive.

8. The Brazilian Consular Authority may require a consular interview, additional documents or additional information at any phase of the process in order to clarify circumstances of the trip and/or the identity of the applicant.

9. Visa applications may be refused by lack of documents or for inconsistencies in the data provided (for example incomplete or mismatching information).

10. In general, all documents for visa requests (except the passport and the Finnish residence permit, where applicable) must be in Portuguese. If not originally issued in Portuguese, the documents must receive an official translation to Portuguese. More information at Sworn Translations.

Important note: Some documents are accepted in Portuguese only (mainly those who are signed by parties in Brazil, for example, Brazilian University / Brazilian School acceptance letters, Brazilian host person / host company, invitation letters, etc.). (check item 4).

Other documents are exceptionally accepted in English (birth certificates / criminal records) in order to facilitate their subsequent translation from English to Portuguese, in Brazil, for the registration at the Federal Police (check item 18). Check specific instructions for each document on our website (each visa type has its own specific web page).

11. 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".

12. 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.  

13. Don't leave your request for the last minute. It is the applicant's responsibility to plan ahead. Note that you should only commit yourself to travel plans after a visa has been granted, as visas to Brazil may also be denied.

14. 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), the validity period of the visa and the authorized duration of stay are also a sovereign decision of the Brazilian Consular Authority in Finland.

15. 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"

16. Keep in mind that visas can be granted or denied by the Brazilian Consular Authority in Finland, according to Brazilian immigration legislation and visa regulations.

17. A visa shall be denied, among other reasons, to any foreign citizen who, when submitting his/her application, behaves in an aggressive, insulting or disrespectful way.

18. Mandatory registration after arrival in Brazil:

       Attention: All temporary visa (VITEM) holders must mandatorily register themselves with the Federal Police within 90 days from first entry.

Registration at the Federal Police for temporary visa holders (VITEM) is mandatory.

This information is also written on the visa stamp.

Upon registration, the individual will have to present the following documents to the Federal Police:

a) Original Visa Application Form (with stamp and signature of the Brazilian Consular Authority in Finland);

b) Original extract from Population Information System (or Birth Certificate), in English, with Apostille (or legalization, according to country), containing city of birth and both parents’ full names (the same document presented to the Embassy with the visa application); and

c) For all applicants over 18 years old: Original extract from the Criminal Records in English, with Apostille (or legalization, according to country) (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 Hague Apostille Convention, for example, Finland) or legalized by a Brazilian Embassy or Consulate (countries that are not part of the Hague Apostille Convention) in the country of origin. More information at "Legalization and Hague Apostille".

These documents must also be subsequently translated from English to Portuguese, in Brazil, by a Brazilian sworn translator ("tradutor juramentado"). More information at Sworn Translations. 

19. Note on documents issued in Swedish or other languages: For visa applications, the city of birth on the extract from population / birth certificate and on the extract from the criminal records must have the exact same spelling and language as that of the passport. Documents that show different spellings / languages or city of birth "abroad", without specification of city, are not accepted.

20. Note on visa companies and "courriers": The Embassy of Brazil in Helsinki clarifies that the use of private visa companies or couriers is not mandatory. Visa applications in our Embassy can be carried out entirely by the applicant him/herself, with no need for any intermediaries. Information on visas, mandatory documents, procedures, processing times and consular fees is freely available on our official website and we provide support, throughout the whole process, for questions and doubts, quickly and at no cost, by e-mail. Important: Under no circumstances the Embassy of Brazil in Helsinki will favor, expedite or provide any services to visa companies in a different/faster manner than to individual applicants. All terms and conditions are the same for applicants and intermediaries. The use of a private visa company is entirely the choice and full responsibility of the applicant.

21. It is strongly recommended that bearers of temporary visas to Brazil register themselves at the Tax Revenue Agency (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 apartments, 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.

22. The general terms and conditions listed on this website and on the visa-specific instruction websites are subject to change without prior notice.

IV. Visa types, mandatory documents and instructions

Information on how to apply for a visa, mandatory supporting documents, applicable consular fees and processing times vary according to the type of visa and the agreements between Brazil and the country of the applicant's nationality.

• Visitor Visa - VIVIS
• Student Visa - VITEM IV
• Temporary Work Visa - VITEM V
• Academic or Scientific Visa (Research, Teaching or Academic Extension) - VITEM I
• Digital Nomad Visa - VITEM XIV
• Visa for Family Reunion - VITEM XI
• Official Visa - VISOF / Diplomatic Visa - VIDIP 

Check the above relevant sections for instructions and mandatory documents.

For circumstances and purposes not listed in the above section, please contact the Consular Section for specific instructions.

Other visa types are:

• Temporary Visa II: health care visa;
• Temporary Visa III: humanitarian visa;
• Temporary Visa VI: Working-Holiday Visa: for those who travel primarily for purposes of tourism, with the possibility of undertaking paid employment. Visa granted on the basis of bilateral agreements. There are currently agreements with New Zealand, France and Germany;
• Temporary Visa VII: as a minister of a religious confession or as a member of an institute of consecrated life and of a congregation or religious order;
• Temporary Visa VIII – voluntary work visa;
• Temporary Visa IX – investor visa;
• Temporary Visa X – visa for activities of economic, scientific, technological or cultural relevance;
• Temporary Visa XII – artistic or sports activities visa;
• Temporary Visa XIII – temporary visas due to international agreements;
• Temporary Visa XIV - temporary visas due to the Brazilian immigration policy;
• VICAM - Temporary Visa for foreign doctors (medical training). 

More information on visas to Brazil and Brazilian consular regulations (in Portuguese): 

Regulamento Consular Brasileiro (Portaria 428, de 15 de dezembro de 2022)