Visas - General Information

General information

• The granting of a visa is not a right for the applicant, but a sovereign act of the requested state. The visa application procedure requires the payment of the respective consular fees and any refusal will not imply reimbursement of the amount paid.
• The entry visa to Brazil is only a legal expectation. In the name of national interest, entry and stay in Brazil may be prohibited by an act of the Ministry of Justice, implemented by the Federal Police.
• Visas cannot be granted to Brazilian citizens, even in case of double nationality. In case the birth has not been declared to a consular post abroad, a visa can be granted with the presentation of a "Non Citizenship Declaration" by applicant or legal guardians.  In this case, it is recommended to make the birth certificate and request the Brazilian passport rather than request a visa, so as to be able to enjoy full rights of a Brazilian citizen in Brazil.
• The issuance of a visa to a foreign citizen holding a travel document issued by a country other than that of his nationality, as well as to a stateless person, refugee or person without defined nationality, depends on an authorization from the Ministry of External Relations.
• Aggressive or disrespectful behaviour by a visa applicant towards a consular officer may result in the refusal to receive their file.

•         The purpose of the trip and the intended length of stay determine which visa will be required under Brazilian immigration law. There are two main types of visas: Visitor Visas (VIVIS)  and Temporary Visas (VITEM) .

•         VIVIS applies to a range of travel purposes for maximum stays of up to 90 days. For some of these purposes, if the intended stay exceeds 90 days, a VITEM must be requested. Temporary Visas are broken down into sub-categories, according to specific travel purposes and lengths of stay.

•         Passports must be valid for the entire period the individual intends to remain in Brazil. No minimum passport validity is required.

•         Visa applicants must meet all requirements to receive the category of visa for which they are applying. The consulate may request additional information or documentation, as deemed necessary, or can also request an interview with the applicant.

•         Plan your visa application in advance, as it takes the Consulate around 20 business days to issue a visa after receiving the documents required. This estimate can be reduced or extended without further notice due to demand fluctuations. Please notice your documentation will remain at the consulate during all the examination process. 

•         Please include in your application package a self-addressed pre-paid envelope for the return of your documents after processing (XpressPost or similar with tracking number). Please make sure the address is correct, as the documentation will be returned to the address indicated at the envelope.

•         Diplomatic, Official or Courtesy visa applications must be accompanied by Verbal Note.

Important information regarding non-Brazilian/non-Canadian documents

•         If you need to submit any non-Brazilian/non-Canadian document besides your passport, you should first:

·        get an Apostille Stamp by the issuing country (an Apostille is a stamp or sticker attached to the document certifying its authenticity),

·        or, if the issuing country is not a member of the Apostille Convention,have the document legalised by the Brazilian consulate with jurisdiction over the country where the country was issued.

•         For detailed information about the Apostille Convention, including a list of member countries and competent authorities that issue apostille certificates in each country, click here.

-  Some documents issued in Canada may be required to be certified by a local notary.

- Some documents issued in Brazil, such as invitation letters, are be required to be certified by a Brazilian notary.

•          VITEM holders must register with the Federal Police within 90 days from first entry. Upon registration in Brazil, a document containing both parents’ full names (e.g. full birth certificate) may be requested. In that case, the document should be first legalised / apostilled by the competent authority in the issuing country and subsequently translated into Portuguese by a sworn translator ("tradutor juramentado") in Brazil. Canada is a member of the Apostille Convention.

Steps to apply for a visa

1)   Click here to check if you need a visa or may benefit from a visa waver.

2)   Read the instructions below according to the purpose of your trip and intended length of stay, so that you can request the right type of visa (Visitor, Temporary, Diplomatic, Official or Courtesy Visa). The Consulate-General will have the final decision on the type of visa needed. 

3)   Gather all necessary documentation.

4)   Fill in the online visa application form (instructions here)

5)   Conclude the application form, print and sign the Visa Request Form Receipt – RER.

6)   Purchase the postal order(s) to pay the visa fee. Interac is also accepted (see below). 

7)   Submit your application electronically through our e-Consular Platform (instructions here).

8)   WAIT FOR A VALIDATION EMAIL FROM THE CONSULATE. ONLY AFTER RECEIVING THE VALIDATION EMAIL YOU SHOULD SEND/DELIVER YOUR DOCUMENTS TO THE CONSULATE

9)   Send your documents through mail, or drop it off in the consulate's dropbox located at the right of the consulate’s entrance door (the envelope must be sealed, with your full name, address, telephone and email).

10)       After processing your request, the Consulate will return your documents by mail. So please include in your request a return XpressPost envelope, or corresponding one, addressed, with tracking number.

Visa fees and payment information

Payment may be done in two ways:

1)   By Interac: in this case, payment must be made in the exact amount to the consulate`s e-mail: pagamento.montreal@itamaraty.gov.br

OR

2)   By money order or certified cheque (obtained from Canada Post or your local bank), made payable to the "Consulate General of Brazil". Please write down the name of the applicant(s) on the reference line of the check or money order (first and last names). Note that we process a large number of applications every day. Thus, your certified check or money order should be easily identifiable.

We do not accept payments in cash, personal cheque or credit card.

Payment must be in Canadian funds only.

Diplomatic and official visas are free of charge.

Please note:

1) No rush services are offered. No expediting fees are charged by this Consulate.

2) Fees are non-refundable, and refer to the processing of the application, not to the issuance of the visa. Please be very careful upon submitting your visa application. Incorrect, incomplete and withdrawn applications will be charged regardless of the visa being granted or not.

3) The payment of the visa fee will not be reimbursed should the visa be denied, Lack of documentation on behalf of the applicant or any other relevant reason may prevent the visa from being granted during the application analysis process. (The fee refers not to the visa itself, but rather to the analysis and processing of the application).

Processing time

Processing time is approximately 20 (twenty) business days from the date the documents are received at the consulate. While we will strive to process applications as soon as possible, longer-than-usual wait times may be expected.

There are no rush or emergency fees under any situation to expedite a visa application. Please, plan in advance.

Types of visas

If you need a visa, click on the links below to see specific instructions according to type of visa you need: