Brazil student visa (VITEM IV)

The visa covers regular courses at primary and secondary level, undergraduate and postgraduate studies, technical courses and language courses, which must be legally registered with Brazil's Ministry of Education, and academic internships for students linked to a foreign institution that improve their academic or professional qualification. A minimum of 15 hours a week must be clearly stated in the documents. Activities under 90 days use a visit, and teaching, research or academic extension use VITEM I instead.

Brazil's foreign and education ministries also run the PEC-G undergraduate programme for students from partner countries; places are free of tuition, but candidates must show a financial sponsor. For the 2027 intake, pre-registration closed on 9 May 2026. Candidates must be at least 18 by 1 January 2027, have finished secondary school abroad with an average of at least 60%, and must not already hold a Brazilian temporary or permanent visa or residence. Those without Portuguese apply for PEC-PLE, a one-year language course leading to the Celpe-Bras certificate.

You need the online visa application form, a criminal record certificate from your country of nationality if you are 18 or over, and a letter from the Brazilian institution stating the course or internship, its duration, period and weekly hours, notarised in Brazil (public institutions are exempt). You must also prove funds compatible with the whole stay, such as bank or credit card statements, a savings certificate or an employer letter, or a scholarship award. Additional documents may be required depending on the course.

Since 1 September 2026, temporary visas for nationals exempt from the visit visa are issued electronically: you create the request in the Integrated Consular System (SCI) and upload the documents, without handing in paper documents or your passport, and the visa is e-mailed to you. Nationals who need a visit visa apply through the Brazilian consulate responsible for their place of residence, following its instructions.

Within 90 days of entering Brazil you must request a residence authorisation from the Federal Police; otherwise the visa becomes invalid. VITEM IV authorises study at a specific institution, so contact the Federal Police before changing university. Foreigners already in Brazil can request a residence authorisation for study directly from the Federal Police.