Good news!

(from http://www.embaixada-americana.org.br/index.php?action=materia&id=9026&submenu=2&itemmenu=10 )

Brasília, May 27, 2010 – The Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Relations and the U.S. Embassy in Brazil are pleased to announce the reciprocal concession of 10-year validity visas for the purposes of tourism and business. This change becomes effective this Friday, May 28, 2010. Visas issued for these purposes were previously valid for up to five years.

In addition, Brazil and the United States will eliminate fees charged for visas issued for business travel, students and exchange visitors/visiting scholars.

An application fee will still be required for anyone applying for any type of visa, including business and tourism.

For more information on visas for travel to the United States, please consult the website of the U.S. Embassy in Brasilia: http://www.embaixadaamericana.org.br/index.php?itemmenu=38&submenu=11&action=visa.php

For more information on visas and cost for travel to Brazil, please consult the website of the Brazilian consulates abroad.

Good news and (possibly) bad news:

I received my new Brasilian visa yesterday. It is indeed for 10 years!!!

However, it appears that stays are limited to 90 days per stay and 90 days total per year. My previous visa stated that it was good for 90 days per stay and up to 180 days per year total. The stipulation about total days one can stay per year is no longer on the visa, so I went to the Brasilian Consulate of NY website. Here's what it says:

"The validity of the visa begins on the date of the first entry in Brazil. All visa holders, regardless of nationality or visa validity date, may only stay in Brazil for up to 90 days a year, unless otherwise noted on the visa. An extension of the original 90 days may be granted by the Federal Police Department in Brazil, yet total stay cannot exceed 180 days a year."

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So, it appears that if you plan on spending more than 90 days per year in Brasil, you'll have to trot up to the Federal Police headquarters in Centro and get an extension. I doubt this will affect too many guys, but it still sucks.

obrigado for the update, BD. e ai e cara.

has the visa processing fee increased to 140usd from 100usd for americans?

re brazil stay extension:
few yrs ago when i went to policia federal in centro RJ to apply for an extension (an additional 3 months of stay) i was told i had to go to the PF at GIG airport. Since i didnt want to go the airport i waited til i got to sampa, my next destination, & applied for an extension at the PF in sampa. if memory serves the application required some paperwork & r67 fee (fill out payment form on dpf site & make payment at a bank). took 1 or 2 days to get extension on my passport.

the max 180 days stay per yr is not calendar yr but the last 12 months.

Policia Federal, SP
R. Hugo D´Antola 95, 3rd flr
Lapa de Baixo, CEP 05038-090

3538-5000
www.dpf.gov.br

Policia Federal to extend tourist visa's is actually in Terminal 1 (Delta, American Airline, etc terminal) of the Rio International Airport (GIG) Airport, on the 3rd floor.