Family Reunion Visa

HOW TO APPLY FOR A FAMILY REUNION VISA TO BRAZIL

VITEM XI (Temporary Visa XI) - Family Reunion Visa

1. WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR A FAMILY REUNION VISA?

The following people can apply for a Family Reunion visa:

I - spouse or partner, without any discrimination, under Brazilian law;

II - child of a Brazilian or an immigrant with a residence permit;

III - stepchild of a Brazilian or an immigrant with a residence permit, under the age of eighteen, or up to twenty-four if a student, or any age if economically dependent on the sponsor;

IV - who has a Brazilian child;

V - who has a child benefiting from a residence permit;

VI - ascendant up to the second degree of a Brazilian or an immigrant with a residence permit;

VII - descendant up to the second degree of a Brazilian or an immigrant with a residence permit;

VIII - sibling of a Brazilian or an immigrant with a residence permit, under the age of eighteen, or up to twenty-four if a student, or any age if economically dependent on the sponsor; or

IX - who has a Brazilian under their guardianship, curatorship, or custody.

This visa cannot be granted when the sponsor holds a visa or residence permit for family reunion or a temporary residence permit, including asylum seekers.

2. HOW TO APPLY FOR A BRAZILIAN VISA

 A) Fill the online visa form available at https://formulario-mre.serpro.gov.br/ (click on the flags for other languages). When you access the website, you may get the message "untrusted connection". This is because the security certificate issued may not have been yet recognized by your browser. Choose the option to continue with the untrusted certificate. It is safe.

 B) After filling in the form, upload all necessary documents (see below) through the system, including photo, passport and signature. All visa requests must have the necessary documents uploaded through the system. In case your files exceed the system's capacity, please do try to produce smaller files. Visa requests without uploaded documents will not be accepted.

 C) Once the receipt is generated, print, sign and attach a photo to it.

 D) The printed receipt plus all requested original documents must then be presented at the Embassy, either in person or by mail. Anyone can present the documents at the Embassy on the applicant's behalf. The applicant will then be informed of the corresponding fee and how to make its payment to the Embassy.

3. FAMILY REUNION VISA REQUIREMENTS

A) Applicant's Passport: original, valid, with at least two blank visa pages.

B) Visa Application Form: as instructed above, signed and with the photo attached on the appropriate box.

C) Photograph: one recent (taken less than six months ago) studio passport photo of the applicant in color with a white background. The photo cannot be the same of the applicant's passport or other visas. Snapshots, photocopies, and computer pictures are not accepted. The photo should also follow ICAO photo standards (https://www.icao.int/Security/mrtd/Downloads/technical%20reports/annex_A-photograph_guidelines.pdf). Please glue the photo onto the visa application receipt page.

D) Good Conduct Letter: original, issued by the Wisma Putra or the equivalent document of all countries the applicant has lived in the last 12 months. The document must have been issued in the last six months. Documents issued by countries other than Brazil, Malaysia, or Brunei must bear the apostille of said country (in case they are part of the Apostille Convention) or be legalized by the Brazilian foreign mission in that country.

E) Birth certificate of applicant: original; for Malaysians, the bi-lingual version issued by JPN.

F) Marriage certificate to prove the relationship between the applicant and the Brazilian or immigrant with a residence permit or a document proving the bond (if that is the case).

G) Joint declaration by the couple, under penalty of law, regarding the continuity of effective union and cohabitation (if that is the case).

H) Identification document of the Brazilian or immigrant with a residence permit with whom the applicant wishes to reunite.

I) Declaration, under penalty of law, by the sponsor, that he or she resides or will reside in Brazil.

J) Documents proving economic dependence to the sponsor, if applicable.

K) Documents proving guardianship, curatorship, or custody of a Brazilian, if applicable.

L) Minors: both parents must sign before the consular authority the visa application form and a declaration authorizing the minor to apply for the visa and travel to Brazil. If one of the parents cannot come to the Embassy to sign both the form and the declaration, his/her signature will have to be authenticated by a local notary public on both documents.

Regardless of whether the visa is issued or not, only the passport and original birth certificate, marriage certificate, and certificate of good conduct will be returned to the applicant. All other documentation must remain filed with the application at the Embassy.

After a Family Reunion visa is issued, its holder must register with the Federal Police of Brazil within 90 days of their arrival in the country. At that time, they may be required to submit a birth certificate, a marriage certificate (if applicable), and a certificate of good conduct legalized by a Brazilian foreign mission or bearing an apostille.