BootsnAll Travel Community

I'm new, and I know there are some threads on this topic, but rules cahnge and I couldn't find anything new.

I have studied the Embassy/Consulate sites, but I'm still confused on the Brazil VISA for US citizens. I am planning to visit Brazil, but not as my first stop. The site seems to say that the VISA must be issued at the closest embassy to your residence, before arrival, and that it is only valid if used within 90 days of issuance. So doesn't that mean if I am travelling for more than 3 months before I get to Brazil, my VISA would have expired already? What's the solution? Can you get a VISA for Brazil outside the US easily? Is it valid for 90 days from the 1st entrance into Brazil, or what? Thanks for any help!!

Yes, you have to use a newly issued Brazilian visa within 90 days of receiving it. Usually when you get it at the Brazilian Consulate that has jurisdiction over your residence, the visa is a 5 year multiple entry visa (costs US$130 currently). When you enter, you get a 90 day entry that can be renewed at the Policia Federal for 90 more days (per year for the 5 years).
You can get a visa for Brazil outside the U.S. Easily? Probably. But.......Some people have gotten them in Bs As or in Iguacu just before crossing the border. These seem to be a 90 day VISA (not entry) from what I've read or sometimes a 30 day in Iguacu. Same cost. Does that fit with your plans for staying in Brazil?

The shorter-term Visa would be fine for this trip, though obviously a 5-year would be great for the same price! Thanks for the info. I think I'm going to be arriving in Brasil from either Caracas or Buenos Aires, so I'll see if I can figure it out from there! Thanks again.

We were in the same situation last month.

All of the above is correct. I got my visa in the US with no problems and it's multi-entry good for five years. I somehow left Brazil last time without an exit stamp which caused some confusion but thankfully they were nice about it.

My wife needed a visa but we are in the same situation and could not get one before leaving due to the "activate in the first 90 days" requirement.

Yes, the visa issued in BA is for 90 days, renewable one time, if you can get one.

The consulate in Puerto Iguazu is MUCH easier to get a visa--but yes, it's only good for 30 days. You can renew for longer but not sure how long.

I don't know how Caracas is... chime in with your results if you go that route.

Unfortunately, the price seems to be the same no matter the length or type of visa.

Now that I have been through the process in Pto. Iguazu, I'd recommend getting it in Buenos Aires or another consulate in a major city if the conditions are the same as they are in the States. Usually you can be anywhere in the world and stop by the appropriate consulate and get a visa. My Indian visa was obtained in Bangkok, Thailand, for example.

Pto. Iguazu may be fast and more user-friendly than BA (you need patience and up to 5-10 days wait time in BA to get one there), but the visa only offers a total of 90 days, where you need to "renew" after 30 at a police station. There you will have to endure long waits and pay 67 Reais to extend each 30-day increment unless of course you left the country and came back, which would restart the 30 day increment.