Brazil generally bases its visa requirements on the "reciprocal requirements" of other foreign countries. A tourist visa can be obtained by applying to the nearest Brazilian Embassy or Consulate in your country. The Brazilian visa is in the form of a stamp/sticker placed in the passport. A tourist visa (travelling for pleasure) allows for sightseeing holidays, visits to friends and family and unpaid participation in athletic or performing arts competitions events. Tourist visa holders are not allowed to engage in any paid activity in Brazil. Some countries are exempt from the visa requirement. Check here to see if the visa is not required in your country.

When applying for a tourist visa, you will be required to have a valid passport (which is not scheduled to expire for at least six months from the date of arrival), a passport sized photo and a round trip ticket or printed travel itinerary. Please check with your local embassy or consulate for the fee and any other country specific requirements.

Special immunizations are generally not required to enter Rio de Janeiro if visiting directly from developed countries not posing a risk of disease. However, a Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate is required if you have visited in the past 90 days or plan to visit the following countries prior to visiting Brazil. These countries include: Angola, Benin, Bolivia, Cameroon, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, French Guyiana, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Peru, Sierre Leone, Sudan and Venezuela.

In addition, if you plan to visit other Brazilian locations beyond Rio, you should consider the following health advisory. "Brazilian customs and the World Health Organization recommend a yellow fever vaccination, as well as immunization against malaria, for those individuals intending to visit rural areas in Acre, Amap, Amazonas, Goiás, Maranhão, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Pará, Rondônia, Roraima, Tocantins and certain areas of Minas Gerais, Parana and São Paulo".

Business Visas

There are two types of business visas: Vitem II and Vitem V. A Vitem II business visa is for business related activities (e.g. sales meetings, investment opportunities, import/export deals) that do not involve the provision of any technical assistance services or include any activity under an employment contract with a Brazilian organization/corporation. The Vitem II visa is also associated with travel for media coverage or filming and the activities of airline or cruise staff not holding an international crew card. A Vitem V is required for most other business or professional training activities. When applying for a business related visa, additional requirements include a letter on your company’s letterhead signed by management, providing information on your job description, the purpose of your trip, who will pay for your expenses and how long you intend to stay in Brazil. Individuals traveling for business are advised to check with their consulates to determine the business visa and application requirements for their particular business purpose.

Other Visas

There are a number of other visas required by Brazil for specific purposes such as work, volunteer work, scientific research, missionary, student/exchange student and permanent residency. Please check with your consulate for specific visa and application requirements.