VITEM VIII - Volunteer Visa
DISCLAIMER
Take your time to read this guide carefully. The Embassy of Brazil is not responsible for mistakes in your visa application and for losses related to travel expenses to Windhoek when applying for the visa or to your planned trip to Brazil in case your visa is refused, denied or not granted in time. Do not book rooms or plane tickets to Brazil before making sure you have the correct visa. Visa application fees are non-refundable. Your application may be refused or denied if the requirements do not meet the specifications listed on this guide. The Embassy may request additional information if necessary.
WHO IS THIS VISA FOR?
The VITEM VIII is for those who wish to live in Brazil for over 90 days in order to provide volunteer service through a public or private non-profit entity or organisation linked to a foreign government, without any employment relationship in Brazil nor remuneration of any kind (Normative Resolution 15/2017 of the Brazilian National Council of Immigration).
You will need the assistance of the organisation through which you intend to provide volunteer service as they will have to provide you part of the requirements for the visa.
MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS
FROM VISA APPLICANT:
| 1 | Passport |
Validity Your passport must be valid when applying for the visa. It does not need to be valid until the date when you intend to travel to Brazil, but it must be valid when we issue you the visa. We may issue you the visa even if your passport is about to expire, but before boarding a plane/ship or crossing a border towards Brazil, you must make sure you have a passport that is valid until your intended date of return (US passports only) or valid for at least six months after the date you enter Brazil (passports of all other countries). If your valid visa is on a passport that has expired, you must then carry two passports: the expired one containing your valid visa and a new valid one. Signature Adults must sign their passports. Passports of minors do not need to be signed. Very few countries have passports which do not require signature. Check your passport and make sure it is signed if there is a field for it. Pages Your passport must contain at least two blank pages, i.e. pages without any other visas or stamps. The pages for observations, annotations, etc. are reserved for your own country. We cannot use them. If your passport has run out of pages, you must obtain a new one before applying for a visa to Brazil. Condition Your passport must be in good condition in order to be accepted as a valid document. It must not be torn, wet, damp, stained, cut, punctured, excessively dirty etc. |
||||||||
| 2 | Photo | One of the requirements for your visa application is the photo. It must match the ICAO standards. The photo must preferably have a white or light-coloured background. | ||||||||
| 3 | Visa application form |
The application must be filled out completely online. There is no paper-based application form. You must access the following link: https://formulario-mre.serpro.gov.br/sci/pages/web/ui/#/servicos-estrangeiros . There's a button to change the language at the top right-hand corner of the page. At the end of the process, the system will generate an application receipt like the model shown below:
You must print it, stick your photo onto it and sign in the appropriate field. |
||||||||
| 4 | Proof of payment of the application fee |
Bank: FNB Namibia
Account Holder: Embassy of Brazil
Branch: COMMERCIAL (Branch code: 281872)
Account number: 64283527330
Payment reference: your 12-digit application number (e.g.: 230317-000000) + your full name |
||||||||
| 5 | For non-Namibians: Proof of immigration status in Namibia |
If you’re not a Namibian citizen, you must present proof of your immigration status in Namibia. For example, a valid visa, entry stamp showing your status or a Namibian ID. If you’re a Namibian citizen with double citizenship applying for a visa with a non-Namibian passport, you must present proof of your Namibian citizenship, for instance, your Namibian passport or certificate of citizenship. |
||||||||
| 6 | For non-Namibians: Proof of address | If you're not a Namibian citizen, you must present proof of address for the past 12 months. Examples are: utility bills containing your name and your address. If you're a minor, you may present your parents' proof of address along with a copy of their passport or Namibian ID. | ||||||||
| 7 | Certificate of Conduct / Police clearance certificate / Police background check | You must present a police clearance certificate for each city where you have lived for the past 5 years. Documents issued outside of Namibia in other countries who are members of the Hague Apostille Convention need to be apostilled. Check how to obtain your apostille at https://www.hcch.net/en/states/authorities. If the country where your documents were issued is not listed in the link above, then you must legalise your documents at a Brazilian Consulate or Embassy responsible for that jurisdiction. You will find the list of all Brazilian consulates around the world at https://www.gov.br/mre/pt-br/assuntos/portal-consular/reparticoes-consulares-do-brasil. | ||||||||
| 8 | A Document proving professional experience or qualifications compatible with the activities to be carried out, when applicable. It should not be required when the function to be performed in Brazil does not require specialised knowledge |
If you're going to volunteer in activities that require specialised knowledge (e.g.: as a doctor, nurse, therapist, psychologist, physiotherapist, engineer, lawyer etc.) you must present proof of your professional experience and/or qualifications. ocuments issued outside of Namibia in other countries who are members of the Hague Apostille Convention need to be apostilled. Check how to obtain your apostille at https://www.hcch.net/en/states/authorities. If the country where your documents were issued is not listed in the link above, then you must legalise your documents at a Brazilian Consulate or Embassy responsible for that jurisdiction. You will find the list of all Brazilian consulates around the world at https://www.gov.br/mre/pt-br/assuntos/portal-consular/reparticoes-consulares-do-brasil. If you're not going to volunteer in activities that require specialised knowledge, you don't have to present any further proof of experience or qualifications. |
||||||||
| 9 | Birth Certificate |
If your passport doesn't not show your parents names (most passports don't), you must present your birth certificate (an abridged version containing your parents names, even if 'they're deceased). Documents issued outside of Namibia in other countries which are members of the Hague Apostille Convention need to be apostilled. Check how to obtain your apostille at https://www.hcch.net/en/states/authorities. If the country where your documents were issued is not listed in the link above, then you must legalise your documents at a Brazilian Consulate or Embassy responsible for that jurisdiction. You will find the list of all Brazilian consulates around the world at https://www.gov.br/mre/pt-br/assuntos/portal-consular/reparticoes-consulares-do-brasil. |
| 1 | Letter of invitation. The letter must explain:
a) what the foreign volunteer is going to do; b) how the foreign volunteer is going to perform his duties; c) where the foreign volunteer is going to be working. |
Carta-Convite. A carta precisa detalhar: a) o que o voluntário vai fazer; b) como o voluntário vai desenvolver suas atividades; c) onde o voluntário vai atuar. |
| 2 | Articles of incorporation / Business registration / Charter / Bylaw or Article of Association (AoA) of the Inviting Institution, duly registered before the competent Brazilian authorities | Ato constitutivo ou estatuto social da entidade requerente devidamente registrado no órgão competente (registrado em cartório) |
| 3 | Formal act of nomination, designation or election of current sitting board of directors of the Inviting Institution | Ato de nomeação, designação ou eleição da atual diretoria (registrato em cartório) |
| 4 | Proof of enrollment of the Inviting Institution before the competent Social Assistance Council (“Conselho de Assistência Social”, under Brazilian Law) OR certification issued by the Brazilian Ministry of Justice, attesting the qualification of the Inviting Institution as socially relevant organization of public interest (“Organização de Sociedade Civil de Interesse Público – OSCIP”, under Brazilian Law) | Comprovante de inscrição em Conselho de Assistência Social, quando couber, OU certificado de qualificação como organização de sociedade civil de interesse público, expedido pelo Ministério da Justiça e Segurança Pública, quando for o caso. Não se aplica a organização vinculada a governo estrangeiro |
| 5 |
Affidavit of support from the inviting institution. It must mention that the institution commits to: a) funding the volunteer's living expenses during their stay in Brazil; b) pay for the volunteer's return ticket at the end of their mission in Brazil; c) financing all the volunteer's medical and hospital expenses while they're in Brazil. |
Termo de compromisso da organização chamante no Brazil. O termo precisa mencionar expressamente que a organização se compromete a: a) custear as despesas básicas do(a) voluntário(a) durante sua estadia no Brasil; b) custear a passagem de volta do(a) voluntário(a) a seu país de origem ao final de sua missão no Brasil; c) financiar todas as despesa médicas e hospitalares do(a) voluntário(a) enquanto ele(a) estiver no Brasil. |
| 6 | Proof that the Inviting Institution is active and fully operational |
Comprovante de que a entidade se encontra em pleno e regular funcionamento. |
Once you have gathered all the requirements, please email them to us at consular.windhoek@itamaraty.gov.br. We will pre-process your application and schedule your appointment at our earliest availability, usually a few days after we receive your application.
INQUIRIES / HELP
consular.windhoek@itamaraty.gov.br. Emails are usually answered within 3 business days. No assistance is provided by phone.