Research Visa - Vitem I
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 programs, and teaching, as long as the stay is set to last longer than 90 days.
- If the stay does not exceed 90 days, a Visit Visa (VIVIS) must be requested.
- VITEM I – RN27 holders are strictly forbidden to practice 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 authorization 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.
For General Visa Information, please check here.
Attention!
- 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 programs, 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 programs or teaching directly with the Ministry of Justice and Public Security (there is no need to return to the Philippines to get a VITEM I).
B) Length of stay in Brazil
Visas are issued for up to 1 (one) year, counted from the day of issue.
Residence authorization (once in Brazil only) is given by the Federal Police Department (DPMAF), accordingly to the purpose of the stay.
Within 90 (ninety) days of arrival in Brazil, bearers of research visas must register with the Brazilian Immigration authorities (DPMAF) in the place where the applicant intends to take up residence. The applicant should present the copy of the visa application form, provided upon collection of the visa at the Embassy, as well as the other documents listed in the Interministerial Ordinance nº 3 of February 27, 2018 and in the Interministerial Ordinance nº 7 of March 13, 2018.
C) Required documents
C) Required documents
1) Applicant’s passport, valid for no less than 6 months, with at least two blank pages. Please note that pages reserved for amendments cannot be used for visa purposes. If you have been to Brazil before, make sure to bring your used visa to our Embassy.
2) One recent photo, filipino passport-size, in color, front view, white background and taken within 6 (six) months. Low quality photos will not be accepted. Please click here for photo specifications.
3) One visa application form per applicant, completely filled out online, printed and signed by the passport holder. The application form is found at https://formulario-mre.serpro.gov.br/sci/pages/web/pacomPasesWeb.jsf?aba=-6 (you will need to print only the receipt page with the bar code, sign it and glue the photo).
4) Original NBI clearance issued within the last 90 days prior to its presentation to the Embassy (criminal record issued by the National Bureau of Investigation – NBI and apostilled by the Department of Foreign Affairs – DFA).
5) Legible birth certificate issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority – PSA and apostilled by the DFA. Copies presented without the original must also be apostilled. In case the applicant is not Filipino, original birth certificate duly apostilled/legalized by the competent authority in the country of origin of the document.
6) For programs under Normative Resolution 27/2018, original letter from the Brazilian education or research institution to which the applicant will be linked, printed on official letterhead of the institution. The signature on this letter must be legalized by a Notary ("tabelião") in Brazil (this does not apply for public universities' letter). Letters should be written in English or Portuguese and contain the following information:
- The applicant's full personal details, including job, position and function;
- Description of the activities, duration, period (include start and end dates of the activities);
- Details of the institution and person in charge in Brazil (full name, telephone, e-mail etc.);
- Declaration confirming that there is no employment relationship between the parts.
- Legal basis: which article / paragraph / item / subitem of Normative Resolution No. 27/2018 the application relates to.
7) For programs under Normative Resolution 27/2018, select the additional required documentation, according to the applicant's specific conditions, as described below:
- 7.1) 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:
- declaration issued by the institution responsible for financing the scholarship;
- signed Term of Commitment.
- 7.2) For research purposes, under an international agreement recognized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MRE):
- international agreement, memorandum of understanding, additional protocols, or equivalent documents mentioning the applicant's appointment;
- proof of compatible qualification / professional experience;
- 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.
- 7.3) For research purposes, in order to take part in projects between foreign institutions / research and development centers 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:
- copy of the Ordinance ("Portaria") of the Brazilian Ministry of Science, Technology, Innovation and Communications (MCTIC) which authorizes the activity and the applicant’s participation, published in the Official Gazette (D.O.U.);
- 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.
- 7.4) For teaching purposes, under the condition of visiting professor without employment relationship with the Brazilian higher education institution:
- 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.
Notes
- Consular officers will only receive applications from applicants who are able to comply with all the requirements presented above.
- Please notice that this Embassy only accepts visa applications once the applicant has uploaded his/her photograph, signature and other documents through the online form. All documents must be scanned and attached to the online form. Otherwise, it will not be possible for this Embassy to accept the visa application.
- After filling out the online form, it will continue to be mandatory to present these documents for the verification of the consular authority, on the day of attendance at the Embassy. Please bring the originals of these documents, plus a set of ordinary copies.
- Consular officers may request additional information or documentation as deemed necessary. Personal interview may also be necessary.
- Unless presented personally, the consular service will not process visas of applicants who do not reside in its consular jurisdiction, i.e., Philippines, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, Guam (USA) and Northern Mariana Islands (USA).
D) Visa fees
To check the applicable visa fee, please refer to Consular fees.
The visa fee must be paid by deposit into an account maintained by this Embassy at San Agustin – H.V. Dela Costa Branch of Metrobank. Payment slips may be obtained at the Embassy and payment must be preferably made at the day which the service is requested.
E) Lodging your application
Bring the duly completed and signed application receipt and the supporting documentation to our Embassy during public hours.
Applications can be lodged in person or through a third party (relative/friend/visa agent).
This Embassy does not accept visa applications by mail.
F) Processing times
When lodging in person: allow a minimum of 5 working days.
When lodging by a visa service company: allow between 10 to 15 working days.
Under no circumstances, visas will be issued on the same day.