Menu
Expat.com

TEMPORARY VISA IN BRAZIL. (visto temporario I)

Last activity 23 April 2014 by James

Post new topic

melindasemterra

So I am here, doing fieldwork--living out with poor people in mud huts in the sertão... and I was told that I had "plenty" of time to renew my Temp. I visa (12 months) by an uninformed bureaucrat in the Policia Federal in mid-sized city. I discovered yesterday that I had a 30 day deadline that has passed.  Needing to stay until December, to complete my research project (and having not slept for many days on buses, to arrive to the Recife airport), I cried at the federal police.  Then, they told me I would have 30 days to finish....

My question: i need to stay, in minimum another 6 months.  what are the consequences of overstaying the visa (beyond that air travel within Brazil is out of the question)?  Is it just the fine, being banned from Brazil for a year--or could there be more permanent problems in the future?

James

Hi Melinda,

I have no idea whatsoever if the Federal Police would treat a VITEM-I visa overstay in the same manner they do for VITUR Tourist Visas, which by the way are rather bland compared to most nations.

I would think though that they would react with much more rigorous measures like they do with VITEM-IV Student Visas. For example, we recently saw a case where a foreign student had finished his course and enrolled in a subsequent qualifying course, however the university experienced a labor dispute that delayed the beginning of that course. Since the young man was NOT actively in a qualifying course at the moment the Federal Police refused to extend his visa and began deportation proceedings. It was only through the intervention of the Human Rights Board of the Brazilian Bar Association (Ordem dos Advogados do Brasil) that he managed to remain in the country.

If you did overstay the visa, while it's not likely that the overstay in itself would cause any future problems other than the overstay fine in Brazil. It could, however, cause any number of future problems should you seek a visa for any other country. They could use the overstay stamp in your passport to refuse to issue you a visa to enter their country.

Cheers,
William James Woodward, EB Experts Team

melindasemterra

Thanks for the assistance.  The visa will expire in 29 days, so I am working on resolving the issue as we speak.  It is amazing how onerous Brazilian bureaucracy can be.

melindasemterra

But one last question: WOULD I LIKELY ENCOUNTER PROBLEMS RETURNING TO BRAZIL IN THE FUTURE? (I am an anthroplogist that studies Brazilian social movements, and thus, will need to return quite regularly after finishing my Ph.D.)

James

Hi Melinda,

As I said, I really don't know how to answer you on that question since I've never dealt with anyone overstaying a VITEM, just VITUR visas.

If you had a VITUR there'd be absolutely no problem in returning to Brazil even after an overstay, provided the fine was paid. That may not be the case with a VITEM, only the Federal Police can answer that and I'm sure you don't want to trot off and ask them.

Cheers,
William James Woodward, EB Experts Team

Articles to help you in your expat project in Brazil

  • The Working Holiday Visa for Brazil
    The Working Holiday Visa for Brazil

    In this article, we will give you all the information you need to organize your Working Holiday Visa trip to ...

  • Work permits for Brazil
    Work permits for Brazil

    Finding legal work in Brazil can be difficult. But it's possible if you meet certain specific qualifications and ...

  • Visas & Other Documents in Brazil
    Visas & Other Documents in Brazil

    Documents – aside from the foregoing information you must remember that this is a police state, you are ...

  • General visa requirements for Brazil
    General visa requirements for Brazil

    Brazil is a huge and diverse country just waiting to be explored. But before you book your hotel and flight, check ...

  • Using phones in Brazil
    Using phones in Brazil

    It's much easier these days to get a cell phone in Brazil, and phones and calling plans are inexpensive. ...

  • Accommodation in Brasilia
    Accommodation in Brasilia

    Brasilia, the country's federal capital, is home to many highly-paid government employees and foreign ...

  • Dating in Brazil
    Dating in Brazil

    If you're single and ready to mingle, then you might want to try your hand at dating after you've settled ...

  • Marriage in Brazil
    Marriage in Brazil

    Brazil can be a romantic country, and you may want to marry here. Perhaps you even want to remain in Brazil ...

All of Brazil's guide articles