Foreign students wishing to study in Brazil must have a student visa VITEM IV (Temporary Visa IV). All student visas in Brazil are called Temporary Visa IV, or VITEM-IV. They must be enrolled in a recognized school or institution of technical studies, higher learning or University or postgraduate programmes, approved by the Brazilian Ministry of Education and Culture (MEC), students on exchange programmes or scholarships with Brazilian Institutions, or students on internships supported by the Brazilian institution. Citizens from the countries listed below need additional approval from the Brazilian Ministry of External before issuing the student visa, the countries are: Afghanistan, Central African Republic, Bangladesh, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Ethiopia, Gabon, Iran, Gambia, Guinea, Iraq, Haiti, Jordan, Nepal, Lebanon, Equatorial Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Libya, Cuba, Malawi, North Korea, Mauritania, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palau, Palestine (Authority), Ukraine, Senegal, Yemen, Somalia, Vietnam, Syria, and Uzbekistan.
Requirements:
The following is the basic requirement for the issuing of a student visa to Brazil:
- Valid Passport: Valid for not less than six months and should have at least 2 blank pages
- 2 passport-sized photos
- Fee receipts: Indicating that you have paid the tuition fees
- Acceptance/Confirmation Letter: It should be from the University or the Education Institution that has accepted you. It should contain the duration of your programme. The ‘Acceptance Letter’ signature must be legalized by a Notary (Tabeliao) in Brazil.
- Proof of Accommodation: It can be a rental agreement or any official letter stating that you’re staying with family or someone else, along with a copy of their valid ID or passport.
- Background Check: Students aged 18 years and above whose stay in Brazil exceeds 90 days must provide a non-criminal record certificate. This certificate will be issued by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
- Financial Resources Proof: It can be in the form of bank statements, a notarized letter demonstrating that the candidate has sufficient financial resources, or a family financial support letter or documents indicating other sources of income.
- Proof of Departure: Buy a round-trip ticket beforehand and submit a copy of it.
- Two Visa Application Form: It should be filled and signed by you with a photograph attached to it.
- Copy of Birth Certificate
- Health Insurance Proof
- International Vaccination: Yellow fever vaccination is required if the candidate wants to go into one of the following parts of Brazil: Amazonas, Acre, Federal District, Goias, Mato Grosso, Roraima, Mato Grosso do Sul, Amapa, Para, Rondonia, Tocantins, MARANHAO.
For Undergraduate Studies
- High School Diploma Copy: It should be verified by the consulate
- Admission Examination Passed Copy: It should include the score and the subjects undertaken.
- Enrollment Letter from the Brazilian University, confirming your acceptance and indicating the duration of the course
For Postgraduate Studies.
Foreign postgraduate student will need the following additional documents to process their visa application.
- Undergraduate Diploma Copy: It should be verified by the consulate.
- Enrollment Letter from the Brazilian Institution: It should indicate that you have been enrolled in postgraduate studies.
Cost of Applying for a Student Visa in Brazil:
The visa fees vary, depending upon the nationality. However, the applicant should budget around $410.00. Payment is usually made at the Brazilian consulate of the applicant. Remember every visitor or student to Brazil will need a visa to avoid harassment from the Brazilian Law enforcement agency.
How to Launch the Application
Fill out an online visa application form at MRE-SCEDV (Ministry of Foreign Affairs- Sistema de Controle e Emissao de Documentos de Viagem)
NOTE: The online application form will be valid for 30 days. After 30 days, your online form will no longer be valid and you have to start with a fresh one.
Follow these steps while filling up the form-
- Step 1: Choose the language for the online visa application form
- Step 2: Click “Visa Request” and read the instructions
- Step 3: Fill out an application form. Enter all the required details and then submit the form by clicking on the “Click” button.
- Step 4: Once submitted you will get your application number and receipt
- Step 5: Print the Delivery receipt of the Visa Application (Recibo de Entrega de Requerimento) and attach one passport-sized photograph
- Step 6: Sign the receipt and provide your email address and phone number for further payment instructions
Book an appointment at your nearest Brazilian Embassy. Submit the duly filled and signed application receipt, documentation, passport and fee payment to the Brazilian Consulate/Embassy in person.
To know more about the documentation and other details, contact your nearest Brazilian Embassy/Consulate.
Expiration of Student Visa to Brazil
The Brazilian student visa is valid depending on the number of years of the course selected by the applicant. A student can get this visa for long-term and short-term courses. After the completion of the course, a student is required to come back to the home country as it is not allowed to stay there on a student visa after the completion of the course in which the student was studying.
Processing Time
The processing time for a Student visa varies depending on the place of residency. Generally, the Brazilian visa is issued within 5 working days. And in cases, where a prior approval from the Brazilian Ministry of External Relations is needed, the processing time is 2 weeks. Once the approval is received, the consulate issues the visa within 5 working days.