You may have heard the good news that as of June 17, 2019, tourists with US passports no longer need a visa to visit Brazil. Unfortunately, that awesome development does NOT apply to US citizens looking to do business in Brazil. If you need to travel to Brazil for business, you still need to obtain a brazil business visa, and it isn’t the easiest thing in the world to do.
But! We have good news. Swift now offers overnight Brazil business visa service. If you need to get down to Sao Paulo or Rio in a hurry, we can help you obtain your business visa in one-to-two business days. Here’s everything you need to know…
What do I need to get a Brazil business visa?
The Brazil business visa requirements are extensive. The things you will need in order to obtain a business visa include:
- A valid passport.
Your passport should have at least six months of validity left on it and at least one blank page for visa stamps. Keep in mind that the last two pages of your passport are not visa pages. If you’re unclear whether a page in your passport is a visa page, check to see if it says “visa” at the top. (Don’t worry, we’re not judging you. It happens to everyone.)
- A Brazil business visa request form.
This is your application form, which can be filled out online. The form can be completed in either English or Portuguese. If the request form is a hassle for you to fill out or if you’re worried about doing it incorrectly, we can fill out the form for you for a fee of $55. To start that process, click here.
- A copy of your ID.
This should be a current driver’s license or a state-issued ID card.
- A passport photo.
You can take this yourself, as long as it follows the standard passport photo guidelines. Or you can have the photo taken at any number of passport photo service centers in drug stores, post offices, and elsewhere.
- A business letter of invitation from a company in Brazil.
Whatever company you intend to do business with in Brazil, they should draft an official letter on their company stationery that reports your expected travel dates and any business activities you plan to engage in with the company.
- A business letter of intent from your US company.
You also need a letter from your US-based company detailing your planned business ventures in Brazil. You can take a look at a sample letter here.
- Your proof of travel.
This can be a copy of your flight itinerary, your plane ticket confirmation, or an actual plane ticket.
- Letter of authorization.
This is an optional step you can take if you want to use a third-party company like Swift to help you obtain your same-day visa for Brazil. This waiver authorizes Swift to handle your documents.
How long does it take to get a visa to Brazil?
Currently, it can take anywhere from 10 to 45 days to secure a Brazil business visa on your own. Fortunately, we do offer expedited visa services for Brazil, so you can cut that time down substantially if you’re caught in a bind. If possible, try to make arrangements for your business visa at least two months before your trip. Our expedited services are offered at different speed tiers. In some cases, Swift can get you a same-day visa for Brazil.
How long is a Brazil business visa good for?
The length of your business visa will depend upon the nature of your business. Some US business travelers are granted long-duration Brazil visas that are good for ten years. In most cases, though, Brazil will issue short-duration business visas that are valid for 30-90 days. Regardless of the duration of your visa or your nationality, you will only be allowed to stay in Brazil for up to 90 days per year on business. Give us a call to learn more.
What kind of businesses operate in Brazil?
Brazil is the largest country in South America and the fifth largest country in the world. With over 200 million residents, Brazil bustles with all sorts of industries. Some of the most prominent exports of Brazil include coffee, sugar, gold, and steel. Sao Paulo is also becoming more prominent in the tech scene. In other words, there are any number of reasons why your company might be drawn to Brazil for international business deals.
What is the fee for a Brazil business visa?
Currently the Brazil consular fee for a business visa, regardless of the duration, is $160. That’s the fee if you complete the application yourself and don’t expedite your application. Again, if you need your business visa in a hurry, we can help. Visit our Brazil Business Visa page to learn more.
Can I go to Brazil without a visa?
Not if you want to do business. If you’re traveling strictly as a tourist and have a US passport, then you can visit Brazil without a passport beginning on June 17, 2019.
Whatever business takes you to Brazil, we’d love to help you get there. Contact the Swift team anytime to learn more, or check out our Brazil Business Visa page.
