Brazil
Brazil visa guide: visit, temporary visas and refuge
- 10 visa types
- checked 25 October 2026
How visas for Brazil work
Brazil's Migration Law (Law 13.445/2017) distinguishes the visit visa (VIVIS) for stays of up to 90 days without paid work and the temporary visas (VITEM) for longer stays with a specific purpose, such as study, work, research, investment, family reunion or the VITEM XIV categories for digital nomads and retirees. Visas are issued only by Brazilian embassies and consulates abroad, never at airports or land borders, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Itamaraty) publishes a general table of visa requirements by nationality.
Brazil applies reciprocity and has visa-waiver agreements with about 90 countries, whose nationals need no VIVIS for tourism, business, transit and the other visit purposes: they can stay up to 90 days and ask the Federal Police for an extension, as long as the total does not exceed 180 days in a year. Citizens of Australia, Canada and the United States use an electronic visit visa. For a VITEM, the application form is filled in online and documents are uploaded; since 1 September 2026, VITEM applications from nationals exempt from the visit visa are processed electronically through the Integrated Consular System (SCI) without handing in passports or paper documents.
Some VITEMs need a prior residence authorisation from the Ministry of Justice and Public Security (work and investment). Holders of temporary visas must register with the Federal Police after arriving, generally within 90 days (30 days for digital nomads), to obtain the National Migration Registry Card (CRNM). Consular fees depend on nationality and are set out by each consulate.
Which visa do I need?
Tourism, business meetings or short courses up to 90 days: no visa if your nationality is visa-exempt; otherwise the visit visa (VIVIS).
Studying for more than 90 days: VITEM IV (study).
Research, teaching or academic extension: VITEM I.
Medical treatment: VITEM II (or the visa-free visit if under 90 days).
A job with a Brazilian employer: VITEM V (work) after Ministry of Justice approval.
Working remotely for a foreign employer: VITEM XIV for digital nomads (USD 1,500 a month or USD 18,000 in funds).
Retiring in Brazil: VITEM XIV for retirees (USD 2,000 a month transferred).
Investing in a Brazilian company or real estate: VITEM IX (investment).
Joining a Brazilian or resident relative: VITEM XI (family reunion).
Fear of persecution while in Brazil: refugee claim through Sisconare.
Visa types for Brazil
Visits and short stays
- Tourist visa Visit visa (VIVIS) and visa-free visits
Nationals of the roughly 90 countries with a visa waiver can travel to Brazil without a visa for tourism, business, transit, artistic or sporting activities, short courses, voluntary work and conferences, staying up to 90 days.
Maximum stay: Up to 90 days; extendable to a maximum of 180 days in a year - Medical treatment visa Health treatment visa (VITEM II)
VITEM II is issued to foreigners coming to Brazil for health treatment, including transplants, and to their companions.
Maximum stay: Up to 1 year
Business and self-employment
- Investor visa Investment visa (VITEM IX)
VITEM IX covers executives representing foreign investors in Brazilian companies, individuals investing their own foreign funds in a Brazilian company or in innovation and research, and individuals buying real estate worth at least BRL 700,000 in the North and Northeast regions or BRL 1,000,000 elsewhere.
Study and training
- Student visa Study visa (VITEM IV)
Foreigners going to Brazil for regular courses (school, undergraduate, postgraduate, technical or language courses registered with the Ministry of Education) or academic internships longer than 90 days need the VITEM IV study visa.
Maximum stay: Visa valid up to 1 year; residence authorised by the Federal Police after arrival - Researcher visa Research, teaching or academic extension visa (VITEM I)
VITEM I is for researchers, scientists and visiting professors.
Maximum stay: Up to 2 years, according to the institution's commitment, scholarship or Ministry of Justice authorisation
Work
- Work visa Work visa (VITEM V)
Foreigners going to Brazil under an employment contract, and some interns, technicians and seafarers, need the temporary work visa VITEM V.
Maximum stay: As authorised by the Ministry of Justice for the employment - Digital nomad visa Digital nomad visa (VITEM XIV – nômades digitais)
Brazil's digital nomad visa (VITEM XIV) is for people who work remotely for a foreign employer using information technology while living in Brazil; it cannot be used to work for a company in Brazil.
Maximum stay: Up to 1 year
Family
- Family reunification visa Family reunion visa (VITEM XI)
VITEM XI lets relatives join a Brazilian citizen or a foreigner with a residence authorisation in Brazil: spouses, partners, minor children and stepchildren, and parents.
Validity: Up to 1 year
Residence
- Retirement visa Retirement visa: transfer of retirement or pension income (VITEM XIV)
Retirees and recipients of a survivor's pension can obtain Brazil's VITEM XIV if they prove they can transfer at least USD 2,000 a month to Brazil.
Validity: Visa valid for 1 year
Asylum and international protection
- Asylum and international protection Refugee status (refúgio) – CONARE procedure
Brazil's refugee procedure under Law 9.474/1997 is run by the National Committee for Refugees (CONARE).
Validity: Refugee Protocol renewed every year until the decision; refugee CRNM renewed every 9 years
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa for Brazil?
It depends on your nationality: Itamaraty's table of visa requirements shows who needs one. Nationals of countries with a visa waiver need none for tourism, business, transit or other visits of up to 90 days, extendable by the Federal Police up to 180 days a year; others need a visit visa from a Brazilian consulate. Longer or purpose-specific stays need a VITEM.
Where do I apply for a Brazilian visa?
At the Brazilian embassy or consulate responsible for your place of residence; visas are never issued at airports or borders. Since 1 September 2026, VITEM applications from nationals exempt from the visit visa are made electronically in the Integrated Consular System (SCI).
Does Brazil have a digital nomad visa?
Yes, VITEM XIV for digital nomads, requiring foreign income of at least USD 1,500 a month or USD 18,000 in available funds; stays of up to one year.
How much does a Brazilian visa cost?
Consular fees are set by nationality, largely on the basis of reciprocity, and are published by each Brazilian consulate. In Brazil, the Federal Police charges R$ 204.77 for the migration card and R$ 110.44 for extending a visit, where applicable.
What must I do after arriving on a VITEM?
Register with the Federal Police to obtain the CRNM, generally within 90 days of entry (30 days for digital nomads).
Embassies and consulates
Last checked 25 October 2026. Each visa page lists the official sources it is based on.