Study (VITEM IV)

Publicado em 05/12/2025 20h12 Atualizado em 05/12/2025 20h15

a) General rules

It is intended for foreign nationals travelling to Brazil to undertake the following activities: regular courses, study exchange or research exchange.

Regular courses comprise primary and secondary levels of education; undergraduate and postgraduate degrees (specialisation, master's and doctor's degrees); technical and language courses. Regular courses must be offered by education institutions that hold a Corporate Taxpayer Identification Number (CNPJ).

Study or research exchanges involve the improvement of academic qualification by sharing knowledge and experiences within the academic environment, such as: participation in "sandwich" and university collaboration programmes, carrying out part of the master's / doctor's research, doing one's compulsory undergraduate / postgraduate study module abroad (commonly called "year abroad", often the third year).

Regular courses or study exchanges must have a minimum course load of 15 hours per week. Exceptional and duly justified cases with a weekly course load of less than 15 hours are subject to analysis and may be accepted at the migratory authority's discretion. A minimum course load for research exchanges is not required.

Foreign nationals travelling to Brazil for post-doctoral research / studies must apply for a VITEM I, not a VITEM IV, as they are classified as researchers, not students.

For studies or exchanges with duration of up to 90 days, the applicant must request a Visitor Visa (VIVIS). Bahamian passport holders are exempt from Visitor Visas (VIVIS); therefore, they do not need to obtain a visa if their studies last for up to 90 days. Other nationalities must check the visa requirements table.

Foreign nationals who are already in Brazil can apply for residence permit for the purposes of study / exchange directly with the Federal Police.

Student visa holders are permitted to undertake paid work, as long as the working hours are compatible with their course load. Details and clarifications must be requested to the Federal Police.

This type of visa authorizes the applicant to study at a specific institution. If the student would like to switch to another institution, the Federal Police must be contacted.

b) Length & extension 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 1 year.

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.

Residence period: up to 1 year.

Determined at the moment of residence registration with the Federal Police – indicates the effective period during which the foreigner will be allowed to reside in Brazil.

Extension of stay: the period of residence may be extended until the conclusion of the studies. In case an extension is necessary, the person concerned must contact the Federal Police before the end of the granted residence period.

c) Required documents

Please note: the original documents listed below must be presented during the interview.

Documentation		Comments
1	Applicant's valid passport	Must have at least two blank pages. Please note that pages reserved for amendments cannot be used for visa purposes.
2	One standard-sized passport photo (3.5 x 4.5 cm)	The photo must be recent, with white background.
3	Visa application form	Must be filled in online (click here). Print and bring the Visa Request Form Receipt (RER) to the appointment. It is very important to fill in the parents' full names, as displayed in the applicant's birth certificate. Please note: the Embassy will only accept applications in which the required documents listed on this table have been uploaded to the form.
4	Police check (applicants aged over 18 years old)	In the Bahamas, police records are issued by the Royal Bahamas Police Force. Police checks are valid for up to 3 months from the date of issue. 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 be duly legalized (contain an apostille) by the competent authority in the issuing country and, if necessary, translated by a certified translator.
5	Copy of the return ticket	The applicant must submit either a booking confirmation (paid ticket or e-ticket) or a booking reservation (or letter from a travel agent on the applicant's behalf), containing the complete itinerary, flight numbers and arrival / departure dates.
6	Evidence of financial means compatible with the entire period of stay in Brazil or proof the applicant has been granted a scholarship / bursary	Recent evidence must be presented (from at least the last 3 months), such as bank and/or credit card statements containing sufficient funds, payslips, proof of student loan / financing. Students being financially supported by their families must submit a declaration signed by the sponsors, in addition to a copy of the identification pages of their passports and recent evidence of financial capacity.
7	Original letter from the Bahamian university	Applies only to higher education students. The document must attest the student is currently enrolled in higher education.
8	Letter from the Brazilian education institution to which the student will be linked	Original letter – the signature on the letter must be certified by a notary public ("tabelião") in Brazil. The signature authentication will not be necessary if the student is going to attend an undergraduate or postgraduate course at a public-funded (Federal or State) university. The document must: a) Be presented on institution letterhead; b) Declare that the applicant is duly enrolled or has been accepted into the intended course; c) Inform the name of the course, duration, period (include activities' start and end dates), and weekly course load (for regular courses and study exchanges, it must be greater than or equal to 15 hours per week); d) Inform that the course has been fully paid (if it is not free of charge) or that the student has been awarded a scholarship / bursary / maintenance grant. e) In the case of regular courses, include the Corporate Taxpayer Identification Number (CNPJ). f) Inform the contact details (full name, telephone number, e-mail) of the person handling the student's admission into the Brazilian education institution.
9	Travel authorization (only for applicants under 18 years old)	Authorization signed by the parents / legal guardians in case of child or adolescent, as well as the details of the person who will be responsible for the minor in Brazil.

d) Family reunion

Dependants may be granted a Family Reunion Visa (VITEM XI), bound to the primary VITEM I 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 I has been issued.

If eligible, each applicant must submit the following documents:

Applicant	Documentation
Spouse	See Family Reunion Visa (VITEM XI) on the grounds of marriage.
Partner	See Family Reunion Visa (VITEM XI) on the grounds of stable union.
Children (son / daughter of any age)	Items 1, 2, 3, 4 (over 18s only) and 5 listed above. In this case, presenting the birth certificate is mandatory in order to attest the family relationship / level of kinship with the primary applicant. Please note: if the dependant is under 18 years old, both parents / legal guardians must sign the child’s Visa Request Form Receipt (RER) before the consular authority.

e) Lodging your application, processing times and visa fees

After gathering all the required documents, book an appointment by the e-mail consular.nassau@itamaraty.gov.br or telephone number +1 242 356 7316 / 7314, Monday to Friday (except holidays), from 10am to 2pm. Please check the specific information regarding processing times and visa fees when scheduling your appointment.