Religious activities - VITEM VII

Publicado em 26/02/2026 16h31 Atualizado em 02/03/2026 13h44

General rules

Based on Normative Resolution No. 39/1999 (Portuguese only).
Foreign citizens travelling to Brazil as ministers or members of a religious order must have this visa, which in certain cases requires specific authorisation from the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Nationals of Austria, Chile, Colombia, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Spain, Suriname, The Netherlands, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United Kingdom are exempt from this visa for stays up to 90 days.
Within 30 days of entry in Brazil, holders of this type of visa must register at the Federal Police (click here) and submit a copy of the visa application form provided by this consulate.

Required documents

Do not staple the documents listed below

Documentation		Comments
1	Visa application form(Click here to access)	The form must be filled in online. Enter complete information – please note that some fields are mandatory. Parents' names must be entered in full (name and surname), exactly as displayed in the applicant's birth certificate. Upload the images of all documents listed below (items 2 to 11). Applications without the uploaded documents will not be accepted. Click on the "Complete Application" button to generate the Visa Request Form Receipt (RER). Print and sign the RER and glue your photo on the indicated field.
2	Valid passport	Must have at least two blank pages. Please note that pages reserved for amendments cannot be used for visa purposes.
3	One passport photo	The photo must be recent, with a white background, passport type (2 x 2").
4	Curriculum vitae	-
5	FBI background check (applicants aged 18 years old or over)	FBI Background Check (issued within the past 60 days) Please note: if the applicant has lived in multiple countries within the last 12 months, a police check from each country of residence must be provided. They must also contain an apostille by the competent authority in the issuing country and, if necessary, translated by a certified translator.
6	Proof of residence	Copy of applicant's valid driver's license For non US nationals, copy of green card or valid visa
7	Original declaration of ordination (or other documents to that effect) or academic records	To certify the applicant’s religious education, certified by a notary public in the consulate's jurisdiction. If issued in another country, they must contain the Apostille.
8	Declaration signed by the applicant stating that no activities will be conducted in native indigenous territory	Unless authorised by the Brazilian National Indian Foundation (Fundação Nacional do Índio - FUNAI).
9	Certified copy of document recognizing the legal authority of the religious order’s Principal to act on behalf of the order	In Portuguese, “comprovante de poderes de representação legal de seu dirigente.”
10	Certified copy of the Brazilian religious institution’s latest articles of incorporation	In Portuguese, “Ata de Constituição.”
11	Notarised term of commitment	Document by which the Brazilian order takes full financial responsibility for the applicant and dependants’ maintenance and departure from Brazil. In Portuguese, “compromisso da entidade no Brasil de manutenção e saída do religioso chamado do território nacional.”
12	USPS money order	Only USPS money orders are accepted. No other type is accepted. See visa fees page for the cost of the visa Visa fees are non refundable.
13	Return envelope	Pre-paid and self-adddressed Priority or Priority Express envelope from U.S. Postal Service (for visas submitted by mail only)

Family reunion

Dependants may be granted a Family Reunion Visa, bound to the primary VITEM VII application, thus subject to the same conditions (e.g. same length of stay etc.). Family applications may be lodged jointly or after the primary applicant’s VITEM VII has been issued.

Minor children (under 18 years old):

Original full birth certificate;

Spouse / partner:

Original marriage certificate (or equivalent) and/or full birth certificate of each child;
FBI background check (item 5 of the table above).

How to submit your visa

Visas can be submitted:

In person at the consulate

Deliver the documentation listed above in a closed envelope at the reception containing applicant’s contact information (address, phone number, and email) in case contact is necessary. No third parties are allowed to deliver or pick up visas on applicant's behalf.
Delivery and pick up are Monday through Friday, from 1pm to 3pm, except holidays.
No appointments are necessary for visas.

By mail

Required documentation should be sent to the following address, using a USPS Priority or Priority Express envelope:

Consulate General of Brazil in Atlanta
Att: Visa Sector
3500 Lenox Rd NE, suite 800
One Alliance Center
Atlanta, GA 30326

Along with the required documentation for the visa, applicants must include an additional self-addressed, pre-paid return envelope (Priority or Priority Express flat-rate) from the U.S. Postal Service. This envelope will be used to return the visa to the applicant, and may be folded in half to fit inside the original sending envelope.

Return envelopes with addresses outside the United States will not be accepted.

The consulate does not assume responsibility for any delay or loss by the postal service.

Processing time

Up to 10 days after the documentation is received by the consulate.

Still have doubts? E-mail: visa.atlanta@itamaraty.gov.br

Emails inquiring about visa status or visa expediting will NOT be answered. The applicant should keep the tracking number of his/her envelopes to track the visa whereabouts.