Brazil Tourist Visa - Definitive Guide

The most common type of Brazil visa, a tourist visa is a permit issued for the foreigners who are looking forward to visiting the country for tourism. A Brazil tourist visa will allow you to stay in the country for three to six months, depending on the requirement. Another advantage to a tourist visa to Brazil has is that it can even be extended by applying to the Federal Police Station. Even Brazil tourist visa for Indians can be obtained through the online application process.

The process of applying for a tourist visa to Brazil is mainly online. Before applying for the visa, you need to make sure what kind of visa you require. In order to apply for a visa, you will have to visit the official embassy website. The step by step procedure of how to get Brazil visa from India for the same is given as follows:

1. Apply online by filling the Brazil tourist visa application form.
2. Collect all the required documents.
3. Scan the documents and upload them along with the form.
4. You can then submit the application directly to the embassy or through a representative.
5. Along with the application, submit the original copies of the documents.
6. Pay the fee through demand draft.

For the processing of the documents and the visa form, you need to submit the documents personally or through a representative or a visa agency to the Consular Section of the Embassy of Brazil. When the submission is done, the embassy will process the documents and provide a stamp on your passport. You can then collect the visa from the embassy of Brazil once notified.

It is also important that you submit the genuine and original documents as the submission of the false documents can get your visa rejected. The visa rejection will even affect your future visa applications, which of course does not mean that you will have to lie on the next visa application.

At the time of applying for a tourist visa to Brazil, there are certain factors that you need to consider to be able to obtain the visa. The eligibility criteria for the permit are mentioned as follows:

• You must have proof of confirmed visit
1. Pre-bookings of the round trip must be done.
2. You must visit for tourism only and not searching for or taking up any kind of employment.
• You must meet the health requirements
1. You must be healthy enough to travel to Brazil.
2. You must perform a medical test before travelling to the country and provide relevant documentary proof.
3. You must be within the age limit to be able to apply for a work permit.
• You must meet the character requirements
1. You must be of good character and have genuine intentions behind working in Brazil.
2. You need to provide relevant documentary proof for the same as well (if asked) in the form of a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC).
• You must have sufficient funds
• 1. You must possess or have access to sufficient funds to be able to cover your stay and other expenses in Brazil.
  2. Bank statement or any equivalent document is to be submitted as well as proof of the same.

When you are applying for the visa, there are certain documents that you require. The Brazil tourist visa requirements are listed as follows:

• An original passport with a validity of up to 6 months ahead of the date of journey
• Old Passport (if applicable)
• Printed visa application form
• Two coloured photographs as per the photo specifications
• A detailed cover letter
• Salary slip of the last 6 months
• Confirmed flight tickets
• Proof of accommodation - invitation letter, hotel reservation, etc.
• Sanctioned leave letter from the employer (if not self employed)
• Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate
• Income Tax Returns proof
• Travel Insurance
• Proof of identification - PAN card, Adhaar card

• Two copies must be provided
• Photo size: 4 cm x 5 cm.
• Coloured copy must be provided
• The head must be about 1 to 1.4 inches of the photo frame. 
• Head should well-centred.
• The picture must not be older than 6 months.
• The background must be white
• Neutral expressions
• Glasses are not permitted.
• Headgear is not allowed except for religious reasons.
• Clothing shouldn’t match the background.

The tourist visa issued for Brazil generally gets issued in about 7 to 10 business days. The processing time is still dependent on several other factors like the workload at the embassy, the number of entries required, whether there is a need for urgent processing and several others.

The tourist visa fees for Brazil is dependent upon a variety of factors such as the type of the visa, the number of entries, service charges, and others. The fee will differ and is generally to be paid after filling out the online visa application form.

The required and original documents must be provided to the embassy as per the given specifications. When the documents have been submitted -

• If there are any other requirements to be fulfilled or if there are any mistakes in the application, the embassy or the agency must be informed.
• If there are any changes related to the application, for instance, change in marital status or birth of a child, you must inform the embassy/agency.
• You can even check the status of the application and the processing in the meantime. 
• If there is a change of plans, you can withdraw the application.
• When the form is submitted along with the fees, the visa will be mailed to you on your registered address or can be collected by yourself from the embassy or the respective Consular section.

The process of checking the visa starts with visiting the website with your visa application number and checking the status by entering the digits. The processing is not that long so generally, you may not even need to track it. You can interpret the visa progress as follows:

• Received: It means that your visa application form has been received by the embassy.

• Processing: It means that your visa application form is being processed and the documents are being verified.

• Authorized: It means that the visa has been authorized and approved to be printed and stamped.
• Ready for collection: This is the final part of the process where your visa is ready and you can collect your visa from the Consulate or Embassy in the working hours.

After obtaining the visa, you need to make sure that your actions do not get the visa cancelled. There are rules and regulations that are to be followed in order to do so. Some pointers can be found in the following:

• Before you travel
• Make a note of the visa expiry date, as well as the number of entries permitted. You must not stay in the country beyond this period.
• You should travel to Brazil within the validity of your visa.
• Make sure to carry a copy of your passport and other travel documents while you are in the country.
• Issue health insurance and travel Insurance from a certified company.

• At the Border
• Get your documents checked and your passport verified.
• Obtain the entry stamp on your passport.
• Consult the airport authorities for any kind of assistance required.
• Check your visa copy for other guidelines and rules to be followed.

• When you enter Brazil
• Ensure not to get involved in any kind of employment. You can, however, do volunteer work.
• The tourist prohibited areas must be stayed out of.
• Make sure you don’t overstay and apply for a visa extension in time.