I want to live in Brazil for 2 years. What kind of Visa will I need?

If you are looking to stay in Brazil for two years to just hang out as a tourist, you will need to start your visit with the tourist visa issues by the Brazilian consulate at a current cost of $140. With the Brazilian multiple entry tourist visa, you can stay up to 6 months in country but are not allowed to work.  In order to extend your stay, you will need to apply for an extension from the Brazilian Federal Police in Brazil before the expiration of your visa or before the 180^th day of your current entry, whichever comes first.  You will need to have a good explanation of why you are staying longer and some proof of where you will be staying and how you will support yourself. If this in relation to a family situation where you are staying with family and potentially being supported by them, there shouldn’t be a problem if the family member vouches for you with the Brazilian Federal Police.   If you are on your own, then be prepared to prove that you have funds to support yourself. There is really no guarantee that the local office of the Brazilian Federal Police will grant an extension to stay.

There are other visas that you can apply for that may be better suited to your needs. The following is the types of visas that are available from your local Brazilian consulate:

TOURIST VISA:

• Tourism trip
• Visit relatives and/or friends
• Unpaid participation in athletic or artistic event or competition. An invitation letter from the sponsoring organization in Brazil is required.
• Unpaid participation in a scientific/academic seminar or conference sponsored by a research or academic institution. An invitation letter from the sponsoring organization in Brazil is required.

VITEM-I:

• Pursue scientific, technologic, or volunteer activities under the umbrella of an international cooperation program.
• Pursue professorial studies/ research/ teaching and/or pursue scientific/ technologic activities at a university, research, or similar organization.
   
• Attend school under an approved exchange student program.
   
• Receive technical training in the operation a/or maintenance of machinery or equipment produced in Brazil.
   
• Receive training in Brazil as an under 21-year old amateur athlete.
   
• Community services and volunteering activities.
   
• Traveling to Brazil for medical treatment.

VITEM-II:

• Business trips
  • Except when the trip involves the provision of services, such as technical assistance, installation, maintenance or repairs of equipment, in which case a VITEM-V is mandatory.
• Travel for media coverage and/or film making.
• Flight/ship crew members without an international crew card
  • Except if working on ship operating offshore, in which case a VITEM-V is mandatory.
• Adoption of a Brazilian child.
• Participant/exhibitor in a trade/industrial exhibition

VITEM-III:

• Paid participation in athletic or performing arts event.

VITEM-IV:

• Pursue graduate or post-graduate academic studies in Brazil.

VITEM-V:

• In-country provision of services of any nature, including intra-company.
• Provision of services to a Brazilian government agency/organization under a contract or an international agreement.
• Work under a Brazilian-ruled employment contract.
• Crew members and other oil/gas specialists providing services within Brazilian waters.
• Crew members serving aboard a fishing vessel chartered by a Brazilian company.
• Employees of foreign corporations to work as trainees or interns at their subsidiaries in Brazil.
• Crew members aboard a cruise ship operating in Brazilian waters.
• Medical residence.

VITEM-VI:

• Media correspondents

VITEM-VII:

• Clergymen and missionaries with theological or academic religious education who intend to go to Brazil for religious purposes.

PERMANENT VISA:

• Family reunion.
• Retirement residence transfer.
• Work as a manager or director of a religious or social assistance organization.
• Personal investment in Brazil.
• Intra-company transferee to work as manager, director, or executive.
• Person of extraordinary ability in the sciences, technological, research, or academic fields, with a job offer at a
• Brazilian research, scientific, or academic organization.

OFFICIAL AND/OR COURTESY VISA:

• Official mission to Brazil
• Courtesy visits to Brazil