I got my tourist visa from the following people a couple of years ago: http://www.traveldocs.com/br/vrtdc.htm

I sent my passport FedEx to them. Three days later I had my visa. It cost about $100.00 which is not cheap, but it sure beats standing in line, and all the other stuff.

I do not know what you get paid, but I would rather pay $100, and not have to stand in lines, or take a day off work.

Hope this helps.

Do not forget, if you fly in from a country with Yellow Fever to Brazil, you need a yellow fever vacination certificate. I was at the airport in Lima in 2000, and varig would not let me on the plane. Luckily, I got the vacination in the Lima Airport Clinic.

Good luck.

traveldocs.com information


REQUIREMENTS FOR U.S. CITIZENS TO OBTAIN VISA TO ENTER BRAZIL

Tourist Visa
Eligibility for Tourist Visa as follows:
Leisure travel

Visit to friends/relatives

Scientists, professors, or researchers, attending cultural technological, or scientific conferences, seminars or meeting (services provided must not be paid by organizations/companies in Brazil, except for reimbursement of expenses or per diem allowances.

Participation in artistic or amateur sport competitions, whenever no monetary prize or paid admission is involved


Submit:
U.S. Passport (not a copy), must be valid for 6 months from date of entry, and contain at least one blank visa page.
1 Brazil Visa Application form, completed and signed
1 recent passport-type photograph
Copy of round trip airline tickets -OR- letter from travel agent confirming round-trip tickets will be issued. Itinerary is NOT ACCEPTED unless showing ticket number(s), or that the ticket is paid for.
Processing Information

Send the above requirements to:

Travel Document Systems, Inc.
925 Fifteenth Street N.W. Suite 300
Washington D.C. 20005

Your application will be hand carried to the Embassy, and is usually processed in 72 hours.
Fees

TDS handling fee:
$40.00 Per Visa

Consular fees:
$55.00 Per Visa - Tourist Visa
$20.00 Per document for visaed "parental consent letter"


Include check or money order payable to "Travel Document Systems, Inc." for TDS Handling Fee, Consular Fee, and return postage or Federal Express.

Return Postage
$ 8.50 Fedex 2nd day
$15.50 Fedex Letter (Priority Overnight - up to three passports)

$21.50 Fedex Envelope (Priority Overnight - overweight package)
$25.50 Fedex Letter (Saturday Delivery)
Visa - Validity
Visa is usually valid for entry within 90 days of the issue date, and then becomes valid for multiple entries for a further five years. If not used within 90 days of issue date the visa automatically expires. The period of stay in Brazil, of each entry, is up to three months.
Visa Notes:
The visa application may be copied, but it must be back-to-back, correct side up, on a single sheet of letterl size paper.
Children under age 18 not travelling with both parents must provide a notarized parental consent form, signed by the absent parent(s). This letter must be authenticated by the Brazilian Consulate, fee $20 per page.
Int'l Certificate of Vaccination showing valid polio vaccination s required for all children age 7 and under.
International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever is required if entering Brazil from an infected area.
The Brazil tourist or business visa is usually valid for entry into Brazil within 90 days of issue date. The tourist visa is then valid for multiple entry for five years, for a stay of up to 90 days each time.
There are nine different Brazilian consular offices in the U.S.-- each issues its own application form and requirements may vary.
Information and Fees are subject to change. Revised 06-2001
Download Visa Application Form


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


To Country Main Page | To TDS Home Page

Travel Document Systems
925 Fifteenth Street N.W. Suite 300
Washington, D.C. 20005
Voice: 1-800-874-5100 .... Local: 202-638-3800
Fax: 1-202-638-4674
email: support@traveldocs.com


Copyright © 1996-2002 Travel Document Systems, Inc. ®

Technically, I think that you are supposed to apply thru the consulate for the region of the country that you live in (Houston in my case).

Given as often as I have to get visas, I have decided the agency route is the least painful method. I tried another agency in DC on my last visa(they only got me a 90 day visa as well - probably because they know that I am applying out of the proper region). I'll give this agency a shot but I think that it ulimately comes down to whatever policies that the consulate that you apply at has. Someday, they will give me a 5 year visa like everybody else.

I mailed my passport, the forms, a US postal express mail envelope (stamped and addressed), and a money order for $55 ($45 fee plus $10 mail processing fee) to the Brazilian Embassy in DC. I got my passport back with a 5 year multiple entry visa in about three days. The visa must be used within 90 days of grant. Make sure you use the US postal service (not FedEx or UPS).

This was a whole lot easier than going for the visas to russia.

I have a non-tourist visa. It was handled by my
company. I used to have a tourist visa too - That was in around early '90s. Heck, I have visas to places that do not require one for tourists. However, if you are in the consulting business with offices in many countries, you cannot afford to mess-up.

YT: Like Canonperdido, I used TravelDocs, and I asked for a 5 year tourist visa. I recall getting my passport back within a week and a half with the 5 year tourist visa. It cost a bit above $100. Well worth it if you keep having to pay for 90 visas. Plus, the closest consulate office to me is 3 hours away. Each consulate may ask for different documentation. TravelDocs uses the Brazilian Embassy.

I am not sure if my Visa to Brazil is still valid or not. It was first issued in March, 2001.
Here is what my visa says:

five years (cinco anos)
valid for arrival within 90 days
multiple entires for 90 days from date
of first entry. Employment in Brazil
prohibited by law

It also says at the bottom:

Valid for up to 90 days stay, renewable for
the same duration, by the federal police, not
to exceed 180 days per year.

So, is my visa to Brazil still valid or is it invalid and I need a new visa?

Have you stayed in BR for more than six months in a year ?

Georgeb;
If you used the visa to enter Brazil before june 2001( 3 month within march 2001 issue date) then you can go back without another visa until march 2006 ( 5 years from the date you first entered Brazil)

I mailed my passport and application Wednesday and got it back with the visa on Monday, valid for 5 years.

7 easy steps to get my 5 year visa.

1. Downloaded Word document from the Houston site (under Links).
2. Completed document in Word and printed it.
3. Printed address and return labels.
4. Purchased two passport photos for $13.95
5. Placed application, passport, 1 photo, return envelope with certified return postage, and money order for $55 into envelope and sent certified first class to Consulate in Los Angeles on Wednesday last week.
6. Got onto freeway, then got off and headed back to post office to sign my application.
7. Received my passport with 5 year visa inside on Monday this week.

To save time, I would recommend signing the application before sealing it in the envelope and driving off. I also probably could have saved $14 taking a digital photo of myself and printing it on photo paper from my computer.

I will try to put my visa to good use over the next 5 years.

I went to Brazil with the 5 year/90-day/no-more-than-six-months-per-year tourist visa and stayed about two months. When leaving via GIG a short guy comes out of a doorway right before the the security gate and wants to see my passport. I hand it to him. He asks for the "documento" and I say I don't have one. He asks again, and we go around this a few times. The guy looks like a plainclothes Latin American cop right out of a movie, and I can tell he's a little shit. He takes me into the office, tells me to wait on the couch in the reception area and goes into an inner-office. He was trying vibe me, giving me these looks that say I should be worried, but I'm busy filling out my luggage id tags for my carry-on stuff. Another plainclothes guy comes out of the office with my passport in his hand and asks if I speak Portuguese, and I say no. He opens up my passport and stamps it, then hands it to the little squirt. He points out that when I entered I was given only 15 days! (see the little box marked 'prazo' on the entry stamp) I had no idea, I figured it was good for three months. He asked again about the documento and I still didn't know what he was talking about. He asked which hotel I stayed at, and I said no one hotel, I was travelling the whole time. I could tell he wanted to argue with me but he couldn't cross the language barrier. He let me go. When I got home and went though my things I found the landing permit from when I first arrived: oh, so that's the document he wanted!
Anyway, if you intend to stay for a longer period be sure to tell them when you land, regardless of what the length of your visa is.

I must be a marked man as I just received my 4th 90day tourist visa to Brazil. Oh well, I guess that I am lucky that they are issuing me a tourist visa. 19 days still terma time.

YT
Maybe you should consider moving out of Houston area. How about finding a job in Sao Paulo?

Sounds good to me. Are you packed yet Athos?

I'll be packing next week and I'll see you at Meaia or close by.

YT,

When do you arrive? I will be there May 11 and leave May 18.. Satying at Rio Roiss per Athos's recommendation. It is my first time!

BluesTraveller

I arrive the 18th so we'll have time to have a beer & hit a termas together.

YT - 18th ?? And there till when ? I am tentative about week starting May 26th for a week, with Buzio for the weekend

I hate to talk about leaving Rio but I fly out the 27th. I'm looking forward to hearing your update about Buzios; there is a chance that I'll make it there for a couple of days this trip but I'll probably wait until my labor day trip.

Everyone is saying you must have an airline ticket. What if I am going to Buenos Aires and don't have a ticket to Brazil yet? Can I still get a tourist visa without showing an airline ticket? I had planned to just purchase a ticket to Brazil from Buenos Aires.

TIA.

A round-trip ticket is part of the visa requirements ... here is the exact quote from the website:

"photocopy of a round trip ticket, or a signed letter by a travel agency with confirmed round trip bookings, or a proof of financial capability to pay for one's stay in Brazil;"

no idea what consistutes proof

http://www.brasilemb.org/consular_visa_tourism.shtml

this is the embassy in DC ... you probably will have to find the consulate that covers your state.

You must use the visa for the first time within 90 days of grant. After that it is good for five years.

Watch out for yellow fever vaccination requirements too if you have been to columbia.

Yellow fever requirement for entering Brazil popup when you enter from a country with Yellow Fever.

On one occasion I was flying to Sao Paulo from Lima. At the airport, Varig would not let me on the plan. Luckily, there was a clinin in the airport that would provide the vacine. Got it, went back to Varig, and was then let on the plane.

Entering Brazil from Argentina, or the US, this question does not even come up.

I received my visa in buenos aires. I went to the brazil embassy and paid $50 for a five year visa and received it in 30 hours, talking about service. this happen in jan 2002.

Vegas,

Did you have to show a round-trip airline ticket first? I have been told they can issue a visa relatively quickly without a plane ticket. My whole conundrum is that I don't want to go through the expense of purchasing a ticket to Brazil if I'm not going to get the visa in time to enjoy it this trip. Thanks in advance.

Godfather - why do you keep asking this same question? You need a ticket that shows you entering & exiting Brazil in order to get a visa. IT IS THAT SIMPLE. So just do that. You will probably end up with a 5 year visa so you don't have to go out of your way after that.

You keep posting this silly question on this board & others for about the last year. There is no way to avoid the enter/exit requirement. If you aren't interested enough to buy a ticket, then stop asking this question. Or at least listen to the numerous responses that always say "you need to have a ticket that shows you entering/exiting".

Godfather: If you are a UK passport holder no visa

Anyway here is the info from
http://www.brazil.org.uk/page.php?cat=3&type=pg&pn=1&bid=444

"Nationals of the following countries are visa exempted when
travelling to Brazil on tourism: Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Bahamas,
Barbados, Belgium, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Denmark,
Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland,
Ireland, Israel, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Monaco,
Morocco, Namibia, The Netherlands, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, The
Philippines, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Slovenia, South Africa,
Sovereign Order of Malta, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland,
Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago, United Kingdom, Uruguay, The Vatican
and Venezuela.

· Passport should be valid for at least six months...."
"

Got some great news that I’m getting extra vacation time and I can schedule my virgin Rio trip at the end of the month. Since it is short notice, I have some questions regarding the Brazil visa via the Miami consulate. I’ve read the thread on it and researched the Brazil consul site for Miami.

I hope to confirm my flight with frequent flyer miles later this week. Once I do this, will an internet receipt or printout off of the web be sufficient, or do I need to get the actual ticket to have it photocopied? Has anybody else tried this and did it work?

If I read it right the total is $75 ($65 for visa plus $10 for mail). Are there any other fees?

Once I get ticketed I’m going to have a 3 week window before I leave. If I Express mail the application, photo, money and passport and enclose an overnight for return receipt to the Miami consul, I’m assuming they can get it processed in time. Does anybody have experience with the turnaround of the Miami office?

The Visa service on the board is for Washington, DC and they say they “walk it in” at the consul there. The web says that Miami services my area. If I did opt to use the TDS service, could they get the get it out of my service area-One post suggests that I could, but it’s not clear. Also, would doing this increase my chances of getting a 90-day visa instead of a 5 year one. Based on every other post I’ve read on Brazil, I’m assuming I’ll be returning a zillion times and I’d rather not have to get another visa.

Any other suggestions/advice/commentary?

Thanks in advance,


Hombrecito1

Since I am from Tenn..I had to mail mine to Miami...it took over one month for mine to return..everything though was mailed normal time frame ..no express...I actually got a bit nervous because others experienced only 2 weeks turn around...

Yes you probably will return a few times to Rio...

I'm about to apply for my 5th visa so maybe you shouldn't listen to any of my advice (as obviously I'm not doing something right ). At one point, the consulate that I went thru (Houston) allowed mail-in applications and exactly the same thing happened to me as Layne - ie it took almost a month & I didn't receive my visa back until the day before I left ; I was very nervous.

You could try to use an agency in Miami to help get your visa ( http://www.brol.com/visa.asp will get you a visa ; I'm sure that there are others). It will cost more than applying directly to the consulate but will allow you to use FedEx which would allow you to avoid last minute nervousness like Layne and I experienced; they also will double check your paperwork,etc. Some people say that using an agency increases the chance that you will get a 5 year visa but in my case it hasn't mattered.

good luck

I am not sure why people are having trouble getting a Visa to Brazil. I got a 5 yr visa 2 years ago. I got my visa using a service in DC. I had to send them my passport, and a completed application. Within 3 or 4 days I had my passport back, and an application. At that time I did not know about short term, and 5 yr visas. I guess that I was just lucky in getting a 5 yr visa.

Here are two places to check.

http://abriggs.allpassportsandvisas.com/

http://www.travisa.com/

I do not know about you guys, but there is no way that I could spend a day going to the counselate in LA. In 2000, it cost be about $100 plus FedEx charges. Spending a day standling in line would have cost me $1,000 in lost consulting billings plus the aggrivation.

I recommend using a service to get your visa, and avoiding the headaches.

CP

http://www.traveldocs.com/br/vrtdc.htm

Is the place I used 2 years ago. Their service was very good. Had my 5 yr visa in 3 or 4 days.

Canonperdido - from what I know about 90% of the people that apply for a brazil tourist visa get a 5 year visa on the first attempt without any effort at all. I unfortunately got a 90 day visa & then returned a second time on the same visa. My particular consulate had some problems with some businesses abusing the tourist visa when they were sending people down to Brazil to work on various drilling projects. Since I went twice in 90 days, they decided that I must be working so I fell into the guilty until proven innocent category. At this point, it would not suprise me if I never receive a visa for longer than 90 days.

One of my 90 day visas I got thru traveldocs as well so they don't have any special powers. It seems to make sense unless you live very close to your consulate to use a agency located in the city that you are supposed to obtain your visa thru.

Layne,

Thanks for info on Miami

Canonperdido,

Thanks for traveldocs site. I'm going to call today to confirm I can use it when my state is serviced by Miami consulate.

One of the other visa sites says you have to apply at the consulate or Embassy that services your area. I think that the traveldocs service takes your application to the Brazilian Embassy in DC which may mean anybody anwhere can use them.

Youngtom,

I'm going to cross my fingers and hope for the 5-yr.


Thanks again to everybody,

Hombrecito1

I'm planning on sucking it up and just going into the Brazilian consulate here in Los Angeles...I've got about a month before I travel, but I was under the impression that you can get your visa within the same day if you physically walk it in yourself...has anyone actually done this, vs. mailing it thru a third party documentation service? I'm a bit nervous now reading about folks waiting a month for their visas to show up...

I think you will be fine as also mine was over Christmas and New years holiday period..sorry just remembered the timing...

In Chicago I walked in to Consulate and had it back in one week. Make sure you have flight and know where you are staying.

In Houston if all goes well (ie all you paperwork is in order) they generally will issue your visa on a walk-in within 3 days. So if you live close to the consulate, taking the time to walk your paper work can be pretty easy. But unfortunately for those who live in other states, it really isn't possible to hand deliver your own paperwork.

For the New York boys:

I dropped my paperwork at the NYC consulate on Tuesday morning, and picked up my visa Wednesday afternoon.

I recall a few instances in which I had to travel overseas on very short notice for business reasons ( 3 day notice) and the company i worked for arranged to have some type of emergency visa put together for me in about a one day turn around.

Also, for last minute travellers, can you say that some type of family emergency or personal reason has come up that you need to leave for overseas in a hurry and need a visa?

c

Just out of curiosity I did a search on Brazilian consulates. There is one close by me in San Francsico. Their information on the entire visa process was excellent. Figure a 3 day turnaround if you want to walk it in yourself. They also listed a page worth of agencies that would do the work for you. I visited a couple of sites and got a price of around $40 extra for the processing fee on top of the $80 Brazilian charge. The whole thing sounded fairly straight forward.

Called TDS and got the scoop regarding getting the visa at the consulate that services your specific area. They said that you are technically supposed to do this, but for an ordinary short stay tourist visa it's never a problem and they get Brazil visas daily from all over the US.

Suposively a 3-4 day turnaround once they take it in and then it is overnighted back to you. Overall it's an extra $40-50, but probably worth it if you're within a month of going because if there are mistakes or screwups you have time to correct them. Mine's going out tomorrow.

HC1

HC1,

I used TDS because the $40 extra was well worth it considering the time I would have spent driving into D.C., trying to find a place to park my big-ass pickup and then standing in line at the consulate, wondering whether I had all my Is dotted and Ts crossed. I think you made the right decision -- those guys are pros and deal with these kinds of things all the time. I was really impressed with how smoothly and quickly the process worked for me -- and I ended up with a five-year visa, which means I won't have to get one again for, well, five years. I got mine back in about a week, and I live just outside D.C. -- I would say about 7-10 days for you.

Ducky

Glad to hear it worked for you.

Just got back in and my Visa was waiting for me.

I would recommend TDS if you have to have a Visa and are short on time. Mine took 5 business days and they were real nice on the phone when I called to make sure of details.

Total cost was $40 for their service, plus overnight each way, so about $60 over sending regular mail. The upside is being able to track where you're visa is and the obvious speed-downside is the price, but I felt it was worth it.

It's also a 5-yr one.


HC1

Do Canadians need visas too?
HC1, can you publish the contact info for TDS?
Thanks

DG,

According to the Miami consulate, yes. Here's the link:

http://www.brazilmiami.org/consulado/English/visas/TOURIST%20VISA.htm

Apparently you Canucks haven't pissed the Brazilians quite as much because it's only $40 for you.

Whether or not you should use TDS depends on where you are and how long before you go. I'm assuming you live in Florida, so Miami is the consulate for your area. If you live in Miami and you have a few wks before you go, you could just walk it in or mail it in. I've heard that the Miami consulate is pretty slow for mailing in (maybe 1-3 weeks) and I didn't want to chance something getting screwed up, so I used TDS. Be sure to read the requirements-you have to have the application printed on one page, but front and back, passport photo, purchased ticket or itenerary, passport valid for 6 months with room for a visa stamp, and remember to sign the application.

TDS site:

http://www.traveldocs.com/br/vrtdc.htm

This lists requirements for US citizens. You can call them at 1-800-874-5100 or email at support@traveldocs.com

I'm pretty sure the requirements for the Visa would be the same for Canadians except for the fee, but I would call to make sure first if you go with them.

Be SURE you get the Visa before you go because they won't let you on the plane without it.


HC1

The people that I know of that went through normal processing, including myself, got their visas back in a week or less. This is for LA processing, don't know about anywhere else. It seems to me that the most you save is a few days. If you feel safer, pay the extra and go for it, but I'd be confident in normal processing if you have a couple weeks. Then you can spend the money you save on an additional girl.

5 year visa for me, I'll put it to good use!

DG,
1) Download the visa form http://www.brazilmiami.org/Formularios/visaform.doc
2) Get a 2 x 2 photo and attach it to the app.
3) Get a US Postal Money order for $50 payable to CONSULATE GENERAL OF BRAZIL IN MIAMI ($10 of which is the mail handling fee; $40 the Canadian Visa fee). It must be a US Postal Money Order.
4) Mail (Express Mail--NOT FEDEX) your passport, application, Money Order, copy of ticket or itinerary and postage paid return envelope (express mail) via US mail, a copy of a ticket or itinerary to the consulate.
OR--Take your Application, photo and $40 Postal Money Order and itinerary to the Miami Cosulate at 10:00 a.m. any weekday and it will be ready the next day at 3:00 p.m.

If you mail it, your passport will probably take 3 to 4 days. I mailed mine on a Wednesday and it came back to me on Saturday. If you use the visa service you still have to put all the stuff together, and them you just pay more. The services are a waste of money IMHO.

If you get in a jam and need a Visa run through in 8 hours or less, call MitchC--he is a specialist.

Once you obtain the visa, you must enter the country within 90 days and your visa will be good for 5 years.

Double check prices on the Brazilian Consulate Website just prior to mailing as the prices can change...the most recent price change for Americans was done solely in reciprocity to a change in fee the US imposed on Brazilian citizens.

GCL,

I disagree the services are a waste of money. You got yours back in a few days, but it took other hombres 2-4 weeks going through the Miami consulate by regular mail. Since I was leaving in 3 weeks, the extra $40-$50 was well spent for my piece of mind. Imagine if it didn't come in time or was lost in the mail.

I agree that if DonGRINGO has more time, then it's obviously cheaper. I would have mailed mine if I was a month or more out.


HC1