As Indian Passport holders, most important & time consuming activity while planning any foreign vacation is Visa Application. For most of us, it’s a task that generates anxiety & that’s why there is a thriving business of Travel agents applying visa on our behalf. An agent typically charges anywhere between INR 1,500 to 3,000 per application and all he does is just read the requirements from the embassy website, mail you the forms, deposit & collect the passports & forms from consulate/VFS office. God forbid, if personal appearance of applicant is warranted in case of countries like USA, first time visitors to Europe etc. , then money paid to agent is practically a waste.

I always apply visas on my own.  It not only saves money but also gives a sense of achievement once you collect your passport back. As Brazil was our first destination in South America, I applied for its visa before any other country. Unlike European countries, Brazil has not outsourced their work to VFS and all the consular work happens at their embassy only. Here is the step by step process of how to apply for Brazil Visa in New Delhi:

  1. Visa Application needs to be filled online via this link (Brazil Visa Application). Embassy does not entertain any submission till the time it is first submitted online.
  2. While the form is simple & straightforward, following documents should be scanned & kept ready for upload in the visa system :
    • Photograph
    • Signature
    • Covering letter detailing the tentative itinerary of you stay at Brazil
    • Passport (bio-data page and the page containing parents name and address).
    • Additional Documents:
      • Air Tickets
      • Financial Documents – 6 Month Bank Statement & Payslips
      • Income Tax Returns
      • Leave Letter from office
  3. Once the application is submitted along with the documents, a Visa Request Form Receipt (RER) is generated. Please print this along with all uploaded documents
  4. Visa Fees is INR 6,400 per applicant and is paid via a Demand draft only.
  5. Submit the application at Brazil Embassy – 8, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Road (formerly Aurangzeb Road) New Delhi, 110011
  6. While Embassy claims that they take about 10 days for visa processing, my experience suggests that you will get passports back in about 7-8 working days

Brazil issues multiple entry visas to Indians. The visa is generally valid for one year but there are two important things to note:

  • Duration of stay – Refers to maximum number of days you can stay in Brazil during all your visits
  • First Entry into Brazil needs to be done within one year of the visa issue date. It used to be 90 days earlier but that clause has been taken off for Indians

Deft Tips

  • Yellow fever vaccination is mandatory for travelling to Brazil. It is not required at the time of visa application though.
  • Online Visa System is very particular about scanned photo dimensions & size. So follow the photo guidelines religiously.
  • If you have an extensive itinerary, do book refundable Air Tickets and Hotels.
  • Track your visa status using your application recovery number regularly after application

For further information on Brazil Visa, you may also visit their embassy page. It is fairly detailed and will provide answers to almost all questions that you may have. Alternatively, let me know in case you have any queries or doubts.