Brazilian visa for activities of relevance for foreigners in the country

The VITEM X is a Brazilian visa for activities of temporary relevance that has not yet been regulated by the Brazilian government. However, according to information released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this visa is intended for foreigners who wish to enter Brazil to develop activities of economic, scientific, technological, or cultural relevance.

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Brazilian Visa for Relevant Activities: While Expected, the Brazilian Visa for Relevant Activities is not yet fully regulated

The Brazilian visa for relevant activities is included in the list of temporary visas. However, it does not yet have its own detailed regulations specifying its characteristics.

Therefore, this text will explain the general rules for temporary visas, already regulated alternatives for the cases named in the visa, and what you should do if you need to come to Brazil based on one of the following travel purposes. Activities with relevance:

• economic,
• social,
• scientific,
• technological,
• or cultural.

Temporary Visa: What is it?

The Brazilian temporary visa allows a stay of more than 90 days, generally between 1 and 2 years, based on a specific justification for the stay.

Who is the Brazilian visa for relevant activities for?

As mentioned earlier, the Brazilian visa for relevant activities has not yet received specific regulations. However, it will be intended for individuals who wish to come to Brazil to carry out activities of economic, social, scientific, technological, or cultural importance, lasting more than 90 days.

If the Brazilian visa for relevant activities is not yet regulated, what other visa can I apply for?

You can apply according to your travel purpose. For example, when undertaking activities:

• Economic: Investor in a company, real estate investor, or research;
• Social: Volunteer and, if it has an official governmental character, you can seek diplomatic visas, which are in a different category than visit and temporary visas;
• Scientific: Visas for researchers affiliated with higher education institutions; work visa, if it is to work in a company/organization with a prior contract, or even a visit visa for congresses and scientific events, if applicable;
• Technological: Work, investment, or visit visa for periods shorter than 90 days, based on congresses/events, among others;
• Cultural: Work or visit visa based on artistic activities.

In addition, depending on your situation, the digital nomad visa may fit your needs!

We will explain a little more about each visa we mentioned below!

We have also included a summary of other visa options that may interest you later.

How do I know which visa is ideal for me?

First, you should analyze your needs, such as how long you need to stay in Brazil. In addition, you should analyze the requirements, such as income, employment contract in Brazil or abroad, investment amount, among others.

Investor Visa for Traditional or Innovation/Research Companies

The investor visa is for foreigners who decide to bring foreign capital to Brazil, generating jobs and boosting the economy.

The investment amount will be at least R$ 500,000.00 (five hundred thousand reais) or R$ 150,000.00 (one hundred and fifty thousand reais) for entrepreneurs investing in innovation projects.

Real Estate Investor Visa

The real estate investor visa is for foreigners who wish to own real estate in Brazil.

Investment in real estate varies according to the regions of Brazil:

• R$700,000.00 (seven hundred thousand reais) for regions in the North or Northeast of Brazil;
• or from R$1,000,000.00 (one million reais) for the other Brazilian regions.

Volunteer Visa

The Brazilian volunteer visa is for people who wish to work voluntarily in the country, meaning they do not require any type of remuneration.

The work is intended for Brazilian NGOs or non-profit institutions, and the stay period is one year.

Special Visa, such as Diplomatic Visa

Special visas, such as diplomatic visas, are granted to foreign authorities and officials who hold diplomatic status and travel to Brazil on official missions, whether temporary or permanent, representing a foreign government or international organization recognized by Brazil.

The stay period is generally 90 days, but may be altered according to the needs of the trip.

Researcher Visa

The researcher visa is for foreigners who intend to travel to Brazil for research, teaching, or academic extension activities lasting more than 90 days, without an employment relationship with a Brazilian research or teaching institution.

Work Visa

The work visa is for foreigners who have a relationship with a Brazilian company, i.e., work in Brazil. The stay period is 2 years, renewable for another 2 years. However, the term can also be indefinite if the contract stipulates so.

Remaining in Brazil for 90 days is permitted, with the possibility of extension for another 90 days.

Artistic Activities Visa

The artistic activities visa is for foreigners traveling to Brazil to participate in exhibitions, shows, artistic performances, artist meetings, or any related activity.

The visa does not allow other paid activities, and the stay period is longer than 90 days.

Digital Nomad Visa

The Digital Nomad visa is for people who work remotely for a foreign employer.

You must prove sufficient funds, such as USD 1,500 per month or USD 18,000 in bank account funds.

In addition, you must provide proof of a contract with a foreign employer.

How far in advance of my trip should I apply for a visa?

Actually, the sooner you can get organized, the better. Brazilian consulates generally recommend 20 days in advance, but don’t forget the need to organize documents, pay fees, fill out forms, and send them by mail.

Therefore, a period of at least 4 to 6 months is ideal to avoid unforeseen events and potential headaches during the visa process.

How long does it take for the visa to be issued after application?

Visa issuance requires a minimum of 15 business days and may be extended if consultation with Brazil is necessary.

Therefore, we also recommend that the entire procedure be completed in advance to avoid missing your trip.

How to apply for this visa?

As mentioned, the VITEM X visa for relevant activities is not yet regulated. Therefore, you must apply for an alternative, as listed previously.

In general, the steps for visa applications are:

• Check which visa best suits your travel purpose;
• Gather all the necessary documentation for your chosen visa application, including proof of the activity to be carried out in Brazil, certificates, diplomas, and other documents that can prove your professional qualifications;
• Fill out the forms carefully and send all the necessary documentation to the Brazilian embassy or consulate. It is important that you send everything at once to avoid delays in processing your application;
• Wait for a response from the embassy or consulate regarding your visa application. If approved, you will receive the chosen visa and can travel to Brazil to carry out your activity.

What original documents do I need to provide for a Brazilian visa for relevant activities?

When applying for your chosen visa, you will need to provide some original documents, such as:

• Valid passport: you must present your original passport, valid for at least six months from the date you plan to arrive in Brazil;
• Completed application form: you must complete the visa application form provided by the Brazilian embassy or consulate. Fill out this form completely and with accurate information;
• Recent photo: you must provide a recent 3×4 cm photo with a white background and without glasses;
• Proof of payment of the consular fee: you must pay a consular fee for the visa application. Therefore, present the proof of payment along with the other documents;
• Supporting documents: you must present original documents that prove your relevant activity to be carried out in Brazil, such as diplomas, certificates, invitations, letters of introduction, and other documents relevant to your field of work.

Do I need to translate the documents for the Brazilian visa for relevant activities?

Yes, through certified translation.

If your foreign document was issued in a country that is part of The Hague Convention, you need to have it apostilled.

This is a simplified way to validate documents.

To do this:

• Click here and see the list of countries;
• Then, click on the country that issued your documents;
• Finally, a page should appear with the location and contact information of the competent authority to perform the apostille!

However, for countries that are not part of The Hague Convention, you need to follow another procedure: legalization. Legalization must be done before you come to Brazil.

• Legalize your document at the Brazilian Consulate or Embassy in the place where the document was issued;
• Pay the necessary fees;
• Afterwards, have the document translated into Portuguese by a certified Brazilian translator.

What to do if my submitted documents are lost?

Embassies and consulates are not responsible for lost documents. Therefore, you must repeat the procedure.

What can go wrong with the Brazilian visa application for activities of relevance?

Some of the possible problems that can occur in the visa application process that will replace the VITEM X for activities of economic, scientific, technological or cultural relevance include:

• Missing documents: if you do not provide all the necessary documents for the visa application, or if the documents provided are incomplete or inaccurate, this may delay the processing of your application or lead to its refusal;
• Passport problems: if your passport is not valid for at least six months from the date of your expected arrival in Brazil, or if there are other irregularities with the document, this may affect the granting of the visa;
• Problems with the consular fee: if you do not correctly pay the consular fee required for the visa application, or if the proof of payment is missing or incorrect, this may prevent the granting of the visa;
• Criminal record: If you have a criminal record or there are suspicions that you may pose a threat to the security of Brazil, this may affect the granting of the visa;
• Inconsistency in the activity to be carried out: If the information provided about the activity to be carried out in Brazil is not clear, or if there are inconsistencies in the information provided, this may affect the granting of the visa;
• Technical or administrative problems: There may be technical or administrative problems affecting the processing of your visa application, such as delays in the analysis of documents or problems with the visa issuance system.

Brazilian Visa for Activities of Relevance

In short, the Brazilian government has not yet regulated the VITEM X, the Brazilian visa for temporary activities of relevance. Despite the lack of specific regulations for this visa, you can apply for other already regulated alternatives, depending on the purpose of your trip.

These alternatives include investor visas, work visas, researcher visas, artistic activity visas, volunteer visas, diplomatic visas, and digital nomad visas. Therefore, carefully analyze your needs and requirements to determine which visa best suits your case.

Thus, start the application process well in advance and seek guidance from an international lawyer to ensure you correctly fulfill all the necessary documents and requirements.

If you would like legal assistance from our team, please send us a message on WhatsApp.