A country in South America, Brazil is known for its beaches, music, and dances. It is particularly famous as the home of Rio de Janeiro and the Carnaval Festival. When one mentions Brazil, summer and colorful parties come to mind. Hence, it comes as no wonder that Brazil accepts great tourism every year. However, not everyone can just travel to Brazil. More often than not, a visa is required for foreigners to be able to enter the country. For people in Japan who wish to travel to Brazil, they can get assistance from the Embassy of Brazil in Tokyo.
General Information About the Embassy of Brazil
The Embassy of Brazil is located at 2-11-12, Kita-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-8633, Japan. Its Head of Mission is Ambassador André Corrêa do Lago. The office is open on weekdays from 9 AM to 1 PM and from 2 PM to 5 PM. The office is closed during lunch break, which is from 1 PM to 2 PM.
Brazil also has a consulate-general in Tokyo. This office is also open on weekdays with the exception of holidays. It is open from 9 AM to 1 PM for general consular services and from 9 AM to 1 PM for visa services depending on the specific type of visa service. Visa services for individuals are only available from 9 AM to 12 NN while visa services for registered travel agencies are available from 9 AM to 11 AM. All types of visas can only be picked up from 12 NN to 1 PM.
The Consulate-General of Brazil in Tokyo is located at Ichigo Gotanda Bld., 2F, 13-12 Higashi Gotanda 1-chome, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-0022. It can easily be accessed via public transportation. Simply ride the train going to Gotanda Station under the Jr Yamanote Line and take the East Exit in Higashi. An alternative would be to take the train going to Gotanda Station under the Toei Asakusa Line and take Exit No. A5.
The Embassy of Brazil is closed on Japanese National holidays and Brazilian holidays. The Consulate-General also has jurisdiction over a number of prefectures including Akita, Chiba, Fukushima, Hokkaido, Iwate, Miyagi, Niigata, Tochigi, Yamagata, Aomori, Gunma, Ibaraki, Kanagawa, Nagano, Saitama, Tokyo, and Yamanashi.
The Embassy’s Introduction to the New Online e-VISA
Just this year, the embassy began to introduce the electronic visa system, also known as the e-Visa. Beginning on the 11th of January in the year 2018 in Japan, this type of online visa is currently being applied to Japanese, Canadian, Australian, and US nationals. This type of visa is valid for up to two years or until the expiration date of the passport.
This kind of visa is applicable for a number of purposes of visit to Brazil. This includes sightseeing, business, conferences, congresses, sports activities, journalism, volunteer work, research, transit, family visit, seminars, meetings, artistic performances, religious activities, and teaching and academic extension. The first step in applying for this visa is to register through the embassy’s website.
After registration, applicants would have their own user ID and password. Then, fill out the online application form. After which, upload the photos documents required for the visa application. After all of these, pay the visa fee to complete the application process.
Applicants under the age of 18 would also need to provide their birth certificate. In addition, a Consent Letter for Minors must also be filled out and signed by either both parents or the applicant’s legal guardian. Moreover, a copy of the consignee’s passport must also be submitted together with the visa application form.
Children of Brazilian citizens are only eligible for a Brazilian passport if they have already been issued a Brazilian birth certificate. Otherwise, they would still have to apply for a Brazilian visa in order to be able to enter Brazil. The parents of the applicant must also submit a Declaration of Non-Citizenship, which states that their child does not hold Brazilian citizenship because their child was not registered in Brazil and in any of its Consulate.
This is why Brazilian citizens are encouraged to register their offsprings in Brazil or any of its Consulate. The purpose of this registration is to guarantee the child’s Brazilian citizenship as well as to protect their rights as Brazilian citizens in the future. Upon acquisition of a Brazilian citizenship, children of Brazilian citizens who hold a Brazilian visa must have the visa canceled.
It is important to note that all visa fees that have already been paid can no longer be refunded under any circumstances. Most visas may be issued on the day of the appointment. However, some applications may take a little bit longer for further analysis. Should the system happen to be down, issuance of the visas may be delayed.
Applying for A VIVIS (Visitor Visa) in the Embassy
There are different types of visas that people can apply for when visiting Brazil. Probably the most common type of visa applied by most applicants is a Visitor Visa, also known as a VIVIS. A Visitor Visa is needed for a number of activities to be done in Brazil.
These include tourism, visiting of friends or relatives, unpaid participation in academic or scientific conferences or seminars, transit, unpaid participation in artistic events or athletic competitions, business meetings or conventions, and adoption of a Brazilian child.
This type of visa can also be used for other specific purposes as long as the duration of stay would not exceed 90 days. These purposes include traveling as a crew member of a ship or an aircraft member; exchange student program; media coverage or filmmaking; academic, teaching, or research extension; and provision of voluntary service to a religious organization.
One may also opt for the traditional application process. The general requirements for getting a Brazilian visa include the applicant’s current passport, his or her online application form, photo, and other necessary documents as imposed based on the purpose of travel. A visa fee would be charged for the application process. For people residing in Japan but are not Japanese citizens, they would also have to attach a copy of their original residence card.
Applicants below the age of 18 must also submit additional documents. These include a copy of their parents’ passports as well as a letter of consent signed by both parents. While these are the requirements for visa application at present, the provisions for visa application may change without prior notice. Additional requirements may still be asked from applicants if needed.
A Brazilian visa is not guaranteed to immediately allow the visa holder to enter Brazil. The final decision would still be based on the immigration authority. Furthermore, the issuance of a visa is not guaranteed even after the application process has already been completed.
The standard duration of stay granted in a Brazilian visa is 90 days from the date of entry. However, this can be extended only at the discretion of the Brazilian Federal Police. Nevertheless, the total duration of stay cannot be more than 180 days within the last year.
If one still has a valid visa but the passport where it is attached has already expired, the said visa can still be used to enter Brazil. Simply present both the old and the new passport to the immigration authority to be able to enter using the valid visa. All visas issued by Brazil are multiple entries. However, Brazilian citizens cannot hold Brazilian visas. Even if they hold another nationality, they must still use their Brazilian passport to enter and leave the country.
The applicant must also present a valid passport containing not less than two blank pages. In addition, the photo to be submitted to the embassy must also meet the standard of the International Civil Aviation Organization. The photograph must also be taken against a white background.
Requirements for Temporary Visa Offered by the Embassy
Other types of visa entail different requirements. For the application for a Temporary Visa for Research, Teaching, or Academic Extension, the requirements would depend on the duration of stay. If the stay is 90 days or less, the applicant would need to only apply for a VIVIS. However, if the duration of stay is more than 90 days, this temporary visa is needed to enter Brazil.
The general requirements include the applicant’s original passport, a photo taken within the last six months, a filled out and signed Electronic Visa Application, and a Police Clearance. The submission of a Police Clearance is only applicable to adults aged 18 and up. It should also be issued within the last three months.
Aside from this, the applicant must also submit a photocopy of a health insurance that is valid in Brazil. The applicant must ensure that they are capable of financing themselves during their stay in Brazil. The embassy requires proof of this financial capability. The applicant must provide proof such as a certified copy of a bank or credit card statement to prove this.
A letter of invitation must also be presented during the visa application process. This letter must contain specific information about the applicant, place of stay, duration of stay, and activities to be performed while in Brazil. The applicant must also submit a copy of his or her birth certificate for visa application.
If the applicant is not a Japanese citizen, they must also provide a copy of their Japan Residence Card, also known as a Zairyu Card. If the applicant is not a resident in Japan, they must show a valid visa for staying in the Land of the Sun. The applicant must also pay the necessary visa fees in order for their application to be processed.
The applicant may be traveling for research purposes. If their research is paid for by a grant or scholarship from a Brazilian research institution, the applicant must provide additional supporting documents. These include the applicant’s signed Termo de Compromisso and a sworn affidavit from the financing institution.
For applicants going to Brazil for biological research that comes with commercial purposes, they must present two additional supporting documents. These two are the applicant’s Termo de Compromisso and an authorization letter from CGEN. However, if the purpose of travel is for research in indigenous lands, the applicant would only need to submit an authorization letter from FUNAI as an additional supporting documentation.
The embassy also issues a Temporary Visa for Health Treatment. If the stay is 90 days or less, the applicant would need to only apply for a VIVIS. However, if the duration of stay is more than 90 days, this temporary visa is needed to enter Brazil. This is especially helpful for people who need to travel to Brazil to undergo a special medical treatment.
The medical treatment visa is issued not only to the foreign patient who needs to undergo medical treatment in Brazil but also his or her accompanying person. However, before even planning to get this visa, the applicants must ensure that they have already obtained prior authorization from the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Furthermore, holders using this visa are not allowed any activities with remuneration while they are in Brazil.
To know more about the requirements, supporting documents, and limitations of this visa, check out the embassy’s website. Other types of temporary visa being offered to foreign nationals include Temporary Visa for Study and Temporary Visa for Work. The requirements for these two also vary a little due to the purpose of visit.
No matter what the reason is that one wants to visit Brazil, it is important that one undergoes due process mandated by the government of Brazil. It may cost some money to apply for a passport or a visa to enter Brazil. However, to be able to see its beauty in real life, this cost may be worth it. Simply visit the Embassy of Brazil in Tokyo to know more about how to get access to this land of beauty and nature.