Academic research, scientific cooperation, academic extension programmes, visiting professors (VITEM I)

Publicado em 16/10/2024 06h32 Atualizado em 17/07/2025 23h22

How to apply

The visa application process follow the steps below:

Prepare all the required documents
Fill in the visa form and upload there all the required documents
Request the service "Visto / Visa" through the e-consular system (check our tutorial, in case you have any questions)
In case your application is rejected, amend the indicated issues on your visa form and request an appointment again through our e-consular system
Once your application is validated, you will receive an email with a link to schedule an appointment through our e-consular system
Present, in person, the originals of the required documents during your appointment
Pay the visa fee, as instructed by the consular agent
Collect, in person, your visa at the Embassy. The date of collection is informed by the consular agent.

General rules

In order to apply for a visa, please check our general guidelines first.
Please note: a VITEM I does not apply to study / research exchange purposes (except postdoctoral degree studies). For activities involving academic qualification such as participation in "sandwich" and university collaboration programmes, carrying out part of one’s master's / doctor's degree research, doing one's compulsory undergraduate / postgraduate study module abroad (commonly referred to as "year abroad"), one must obtain a Student Visa (VITEM IV) instead.
Foreign nationals who are already in Brazil can apply for residence permit for the purposes of academic research, scientific cooperation, academic extension programmes or teaching directly with the Ministry of Justice and Public Security.
Holders of this type of visa must register with the Federal Police within 90 days from first entry in Brazil. Contact the Federal Police directly to learn how to register.

VITEM I based on Normative Resolution 27/2018

This type of visa may be granted to researchers, scientists and visiting professors – with no employment relationship with a Brazilian institution – for the purposes of academic research, scientific cooperation, academic extension programmes, and teaching, as long as the stay is set to last longer than 90 days.
If the stay does not exceed 90 days, a Visitor Visa (VIVIS) must be requested.
VITEM I – RN27 holders are strictly forbidden to practise any paid work in Brazil, but are allowed to receive payments from the government, a Brazilian employer, or a private entity for the purposes of daily allowances, compensation, or travel expenses, as well as to receive cash prizes in competitions in the science, technology, and innovation fields.

VITEM I based on Normative Resolution 24/2018

This type of visa may be granted to researchers, scientists and visiting professors – with employment relationship with a Brazilian institution – regardless of the intended length of stay.
VITEM I – RN24 applications are subject to prior approval by the Brazilian Ministry of Justice and National Security. The process must be initiated in Brazil, by the sponsoring institution (on behalf of the applicant), with submission of the pertinent application and supporting documentation to that Ministry. Once the procedure in Brazil is concluded and approved, the authorisation will be transmitted to the Consulate via the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Only then will the applicant be able to proceed and lodge the visa application itself.

Length of stay

Validity period: up to 1 year.

Limit / expiry date until which the first entry in Brazil must take place – counted from the date of issue of the visa.

Initial period of stay: up to 2 years (according to agreement with the institution / awarded scholarship / authorisation from the Ministry of Justice and National Security).

Initial period during which the individual is allowed to remain in Brazil – counted from the date of first entry in the country – that will be confirmed at the moment of residence registration with the Federal Police.

Extension of stay: extension subject to approval by the Brazilian Ministry of Justice and National Security.

Required documents

The documents required for your visa must be uploaded to the online form and the originals must be presented at the Embassy during your appointment, as instructed in the General Guidelines page.

Documents in languages other than Portuguese or English may be required to be translated. Documents not issued in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, or Brazil may be requested to be apostilled or consularized.

Documents required for all cases

Visa application form	Only to be presented during your appointment (not uploaded) Obtained after the request is completed on the visa form. Printed out and signed, with your photo affixed on the indicated field.
Valid passport	Upload ID pages. Must have at least two blank pages. Please note that pages reserved for amendments cannot be used for visa purposes.
One passport photo	The photo must be recent, against white background.
Signature	Upload only.
Background check (applicants aged over 18 years old)	Background check, police clearance or similar documents, issued by the competent authorities. The documents are valid for up to 3 months from the date of issue. Please note that 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 be duly legalised (contain an apostille) by the competent authority in the issuing country and, if necessary, translated by a certified translator.
Birth certificate	In the absence of the birth certificate, the applicant may submit another official document that contains the parents’ full names.
Proof of legal stay in Thailand, Cambodia, or Laos	Unless you are a national of one of those countries. You must submit documents that prove your legal stay in Cambodia, Laos, or Thailand, such as visa or work permit.

Addional documents required for applications based on the RN27/2018

The signatures on the documents listed below must be certified by a notary public ("tabelião"). The signature authentication will not be necessary if the document is issued by the Brazilian government or by a public-funded (Federal or State) university or research institution.

Reason for the visa	Required documents
For all applications under the RN27/2018	Letter from the Brazilian education or research institution to which the applicant will be linked. The letter must be printed on official letterhead of the institution and contain the following information: The applicant's full personal details, including job, position, and function; Description of the activities, duration, period (include start and end dates of the activities); Details of the institution and person in charge in Brazil (full name, telephone, e-mail etc.); Declaration confirming that there is no employment relationship between the parts. Legal basis: which article / paragraph / item / sub item of Normative Resolution No. 27/2018 the application relates to.
Research, academic extension, or postdoctoral studies, if the researcher / scientist holds a scholarship from a Brazilian accredited higher education institution, CNPq, Capes, Finep, or a private / state-sponsored Research Foundation, or from an accredited private / public Support Foundation to higher education / research institutions	a) declaration issued by the institution responsible for financing the scholarship; b) signed Term of Commitment.
Research purposes, under an international agreement recognised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MRE)	a) international agreement, memorandum of understanding, additional protocols, or equivalent documents mentioning the applicant’s appointment; b) proof of compatible qualification / professional experience; c) invitation letter addressed to the applicant, referring to the respective international agreement, describing the activities, specifying the duration (including start and end dates), and declaring that the applicant will not be funded by a Brazilian source.
Research purposes, in order to take part in projects between foreign institutions / research and development centres of foreign companies and a Brazilian company, company incubator, Scientific, Technological and Innovation Institution (ICT), Technological Innovation Centre (NIT), support foundation, technology park, technology hub, or private / public higher education and research institution If the research / scientific activity is to be conducted in laboratories and in case of postdoctoral degree studies without a scholarship, these documents must also be presented.	a) copy of the Ordinance ("Portaria") of the Brazilian Ministry of Science, Technology, Innovation and Communications (MCTIC) which authorises the activity and the applicant’s participation, published in the Official Gazette (D.O.U.); b) signed Term of Commitment.
Teaching purposes, under the condition of visiting professor without employment relationship with the Brazilian higher education institution:	a) declaration confirming that the applicant will be funded by an institution in the applicant’s country of origin, under the umbrella of an interinstitutional agreement or similar instrument celebrated between the foreign and Brazilian parts.