My Experience with Applying for a Brazilian Visa

One of my personal goals was to visit the Southern Hemisphere continents (South America, Australia, and Africa) before I turned the big 30.  A lot of them have Visa requirements for US citizens with Brazil’s being $160 USD and Chile with $150. 

Recently, with so many great airfare sales recent to Brazil and other South American countries, I immediately booked a few to Rio de Janeiro with no afterthought.  I wanted to see it as it prepares for the World Cup in 2014 and the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Back in February, American Airlines had a sale of sorts with several US cities to Brazil initially.  By the time I caught wind of it, the same was limited to Orlando, Florida.  I booked mine from Orlando, but routing from New York-JFK on the first one and Dallas-Fort Worth on the second one to maximize miles.  There was a Miami departure available, but it would be less miles.  On the returns, I purposely booked them from Rio de Janeiro to Dallas-Fort Worth.  Since it was my first port of entry into the US, I would have to reclaim baggage there and my trip would stop there.  I plan not continue onto Orlando for the last segment (I would let the airline know after I landed in DFW of course).

 Here are the requirements for applying for the Brazilian Tourist Visa:

1. Apply Online with your information with your closest Brazilian Consulate Website
2. Print out the Confirmation sheet, sign it, and attach a passport sized photo. Visa Application Form: printed receipt page of the visa application form filled out and successfully submitted online duly signed by the passport holder (or parents/legal guardian of a minor) and with the photo attached on the appropriate boxes (one professional 2" x 2" passport photo of the applicant in color. Snapshots, photocopies and computer pictures are not accepted.) 
• Photos must be recent (taken within the last 6 months to reflect your current appearance)
• Front view: taken in full-face view directly facing the camera. Your full face must be visible. Your head must be centered and not tilted. There cannot be any apparel casting shadows on your face or glare on your glasses
• Clear: blurry, underexposed, overexposed and low quality photos are not accepted;
• With a plain white or off-white background;
• With a neutral facial expression and both eyes open.)

1. Schedule an appointment on the consulate website for an interview.
2. Buy a money order from the USP Postal Service (payable with cash or debit card).
3. Print out your flight itinerary for inspection.
4. Show up at the Consulate Office 30 minutes before your scheduled appointment time and wait to be called.
5. The visa will be a sticker applied to your passport (must have at least 2 blank adjoining pages in passport) afterwards and is valid for multiple entries for 10 years
6. Applicant's Passport: original, valid for at least another 6 months on submission date, with at least two blank visa pages. The Consulate reserves the right not to accept soiled, damaged or defaced passports. Amendments and Endorsements pages are for the sole use of issuing country authorities and visas will not be placed on those pages 
7. If the visa application will not be submitted in person: Provide Proof of jurisdiction: notarized copy of driver’s license, utility bills, copy of lease, bank statements and in some cases school documents are all acceptable documents as proof of jurisdiction.
8. If the applicant will not be applying with a US passport: Provide Proof of Legal Residency: notarized copy of visa, permanent resident card or US passport or US birth certificate. 

Special Notes:

1. The Visa must be applied online and ahead of time. They will not take walk-ins.
2. The Visa must be applied in person by the individual or their representative, it cannot be mailed in to be processed.
• If the representative is not a mother, father, child, sibling, or spouse, a $20 fee will apply.   
• You can use a passport visa service but they will take your passport for it to be processed.
3. The clerk may process your application earlier if they have time at their discretion.
4. Some consulates may require to see other details:
1.  Hotel booking
2. Bank statement
3. Proof of Yellow Fever vaccination if you visited certain African or South Asian countries recently
5. You must only go to your consulate that is in charge of your jurisdiction.
6. It will be issued same day. It can also be denied at the Consulate’s discretion
7. If the passport expires before the Visa does, bring the valid visa (in old passport) with new Passport for entry until the Visa expires.

 Here is the Brazilian Consulate in Houston Website

TIPS FOR TRAVELERS

CLIMATE:

Because of its geographical location, seasons in Brazil are in the reverse period of the year compared to the United States (spring - September 22 to December 21; summer - December 22 to March 21; autumn - March 22 to June 21; winter - June 22 to September 21). Plateau cities such as São Paulo, Belo Horizonte, and Brasília have mild climates averaging 66ºF. Coastal cities such as Rio de Janeiro and Salvador have tropical climates with warm temperatures offset by the constant sea breeze; the average temperature is in the eighties. While most of the country experiences no significant seasonal variation because it lies within the tropics, in the Southern region temperatures during winter can drop below freezing. Temperatures in the Amazon region ranges in the mid-seventies, while rainfalls total more than 118 inches a year.

ELECTRICAL CURRENT:

Voltage is not standard throughout the country. Most cities, including Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Manaus, Salvador, use 110/127V electricity. Brasília, Florianópolis, Fortaleza, Recife, and São Luis use 220V electricity.

CURRENCY:

The Brazilian monetary unit is the Real (R$) (pronounced Rey owl). Official exchange rate is published daily in newspapers. Cash and traveler's checks are easily exchanged at hotel cashiers, banks, and travel agencies. Most hotels and shops accept foreign currency and international credit cards.

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES:

Metric system is used throughout the country. Temperature is measured on Celsius scale.

LANGUAGE:

Portuguese is the national language.

RENTAL CARS AND TAXIS:

Chauffeured or self-driven rental cars are available at all major airports and in most large cities. Taxis are plentiful in most cities throughout Brazil. Regular metered taxis can be hailed on the street. The taximeter will show the exact fare to be paid (fares are indicated in Brazilian currency: R$ - Real). Radio dispatched taxis can be called by telephone. Taxi drivers do not expected to be tipped, although the common practice is to tell the driver to "keep the change".

BUSINESS HOURS:

Most shops in Brazil open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 or 7:00 p.m. on weekdays, and from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 pm on Saturdays. Shopping centers stay open as late as 10:00 p.m., including on Saturdays. Banks open from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm Mondays through Fridays in most parts of the country, with slight regional variations.

HOLIDAYS:

Holidays observed in Brazil: January 1 - New Year February 15-16 - Carnival April 2 - Good Friday May 1 - Labor Day June 3 - Corpus Christi September 7 - Brazil's National Day October 12 - Our Lady Aparecida's Day (Brazil Patron Saint's Day) November 2 - All Souls Day November 15 - Proclamation of the Republic December 24 - Christmas Eve December 25 - Christmas Day December 31 - New Year's Eve

TIPPING:

Most restaurants and bars include a 10% service charge on the bill. It is customary to leave a bit extra for good service. When not included on the bill, 10-15% is the general tipping rule.

TIME ZONE:

Brazil encompasses four time zones. Over 50 percent of the country, including all major cities, are three hours behind GMT (Greenwich Meridian Time).
Brazil adopts daylight-saving time. Clocks are set forward in October and back to standard time in March or April.