How To Extend a Tourist Visa in Brazil (2021)

For many nationalities, it is possible to extend the tourist visa in Brazil by 90 days, letting the traveler stay in Brazil for 180 days. When I was going through the process, I couldn’t find a robust guide on how to extend tourist visa in Brazil, so I hope this guide provides some clarity on the process.

Disclaimer: This guide is correct to the best of my knowledge as of April 13, 2021. Visa and legal processes change all the time, so please double check with the appropriate legal authorities for any process changes. If you know anything in this guide needs to be updated, please let me know!

Here is a summary on how to extend your tourist visa in Brazil
(read below for details):

1. Determine your eligibility for a tourist visa extension
2. Enter Brazil as a tourist
3. Prepare Documents

i. Application
ii. Proof of fee payment
iii. Copy of passport (photo page and entry stamp)
iv. Copy of credit card

4. Visit the federal police and present documents- you should receive an updated validity stamp right away!
5. Enjoy “a vida brasileira” for another 3 months

But why not just get a student visa?

When I learned that I was allocated to study in Brazil during spring of 2021, I immediately began looking into which steps I would need to take to secure a visa. Unlike some of my classmates who would go to Schengen countries without any paperwork, I needed to figure out how to be legal in Brazil (Portuguese speaking Kate is also pretty “legal”!).

The process of obtaining a student visa looked expensive and tedious. Luckily, Brazil’s tourist visa scheme is quite generous for many nationalities. Citizens of the US and many other countries are able to come to Brazil and stay for 180 days if they go through the simple extension process I outline below.

I decided to go with a tourist visa, instead of a student visa, as I would save a couple hundred dollars (processing fee, plus official criminal records and apostilles), and I wouldn’t have to hand over my passport for a month (meaning I could travel home to the US for Christmas). Going on a tourist visa, however, meant that while I COULD study, I COULD NOT work during my time here. I can say that while extending my visa and obtaining a CPF have been the only two government related things I’ve done in Brazil, both have proven to be super easy!

Who is eligible to extend the tourist visa in Brazil?

Right now (April 10, 2021), citizens of 63 countries are eligible for a tourist visa extension in Brazil. Some of these include:

Australia, Canada, Finland, Ireland, Israel, Malaysia, Mexico, South Africa, New Zealand, Norway, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Japan, UK, USA

This type of regulation changes all the time based on what countries agree, so to check the most up to date information, check the most recent Quadro Geral de Regime de Vistos para o Brasil.

Find your country in the chart, and if the last column states just “8” (with no *), this process will work for you. Unfortunately, if it shows 8*, you will need a proper visa to stay longer than 90 days at a time.

For example, this process will not work if your passport is from Germany, Italy, or Sweden.

How to extend the tourist visa in Brazil:

So if you’ve decided to come to Brazil on a tourist visa and extend it for an additional 90 days, here is the process for securing that extension.

1. Show up in Brazil

Step one is to simply come to Brazil as a tourist! You do not need any pre clearance or paperwork if your country is one of the ones with “8” from the form I mentioned above (In corona times though, you need a negative PCR test and health declaration- those are separate from the visa). When I entered the country, they ask if I was here for “business or tourism?”. I responded that I would be taking classes, to which the customs agent responded “okay, so tourism”. She then stamped my passport with 90 days of validity. She never asked to see a return flight or proof of money. With that, I exited GRU and continued on to the thriving metropolis of Sao Paulo to begin my semester abroad.

2. Prepare Documents

i. Fill out application: To apply for an extension of your tourist visa (stamp) you will need to fill out the Requerimento de Prorrogação de Prazo form and print it. Some notes on how I filled it out:

Section 10: I left blank (was not given an entry card)
Section 11: I put the name of the program director at my school
Section 12: I wrote180 days
Section 14: I waited until I was present at the PF to sign

ii. Pay Bank Fee: The extension of the tourist visa costs R$110.44 (About USD$20). You will need to generate an invoice slip here, using revenue code 140090. Print the slip and go in person to any bank or lottery center to pay this with cash (they would not accept credit card or foreign debit). After you have paid, keep the invoice and receipt, and bring it to the police as proof of payment.

iii. Make Copies of:

• Photo page of passport
• Passport page containing entry stamp into brazil
• Proof of financial means (they literally wanted a xerox copy of my credit card… for all they know it could have been maxed out but this copy was sufficient!)

Notes on Documents: I brought a copy of my apartment lease, and the enrollment letter from my school- the customs agent was not interested to see either of them. Also, on the paper guide provided at the police station, it mentioned that I would need a copy of my return flight, however, the agent crossed out this line and said I didn’t need to show it- I was pretty glad for this as I still haven’t booked my flight!

3. Make a visit to the Federal Police

When to visit

You will need to visit the federal police to secure the extension before your 90 days are up. If you visit after the 90 days, you will need to pay a fine for overstaying, and you will not be granted the extension. You can visit any time in this window, you do not need to wait until your validity is close to expiring.

For the tourist visa you can just show up to the Police without an appointment (yes, even in corona times). The department for tourist visas is open Monday through Friday, from 8:30 to 17:30. I had emailed beforehand to get an appointment, and when I showed up with my appointment confirmation the attendant told me my appointment was for permanent residency, and that I would need a lawyer…oops! Once we cleared up that I only wanted a 90-day extension she sent me right up to the third floor. So, when you go to the federal police, let the attendant know you are there for a tourist extension and they will most likely let you right through.

Where to Go

If you live in Sao Paolo, the regional office is located at Rua Hugo d’Antola, 95 – Lapa, Sao Paulo. While you are supposed to visit the police in the city where you live, they never asked me for proof of residency.

When You’re There

The section of the building that handles these cases was located on the 3rd floor, and had big signs saying “turistas”. I entered a small room where an attendant took my documents, and then I was asked to wait. After about 10 minutes of chatting with some Irish guys in the waiting area, my first name was called. My passport was returned with a new stamp, which indicated I was good to stay until July 17 th (exactly 180 days after my initial entrance). Easy as pie!

Disclaimer: This guide is correct to the best of my knowledge as of April 10, 2021. Visa and legal processes change all the time, so please double check with the appropriate legal authorities for any process changes. If you know anything in this guide needs to be updated, please let me know!

For up to date information (in Portuguese), check out the official government page on the process here.

I’m Kate! Originally from the US, two years ago I quit my job to pursue a life abroad. I hope that by sharing my experiences, I can help you other emigrants, immigrants, and migrants to navigate life abroad, and have a blast doing so!