Visit Visa - Transit (VIVIS) — Brazil

Apply for a Brazil transit visa by completing the VIVIS–Transit form, submitting it to the Brazilian consulate, and paying the required fee. processing times and fees vary by nationality and location, so confirm details with the issuing authority before filing.

Download the form and instructions

Get the current VIVIS–Transit application form and instructions from the Federal Police (Polícia Federal – PF). Visas are issued by consulates abroad, while PF manages immigration inside Brazil.

Before starting, make sure the transit visa fits your travel purpose. Compare your situation:

Read the eligibility rules for your nationality in the instructions. If you’ll leave the international transit area or stay longer than allowed, you may need a different visa.

Complete, sign and submit

Fill out every required field on the VIVIS–Transit form exactly as shown in your passport. Inconsistent names, passport numbers, or dates can delay processing.

Prepare the supporting documents listed in the instructions. At minimum, you’ll need:

• A valid passport
• Proof of onward travel
• Any additional documents required for your nationality

Sign the form. Unsigned applications won’t be processed.

Submit your application to the Brazilian consulate for your jurisdiction. Processing times vary, so check local procedures before booking appointments or sending documents.

If your travel purpose changes—say, to employment, study, or remote work—you’ll need to apply under the correct category (VITEM V, VITEM IV, or VITEM XIV) instead of a transit visa.

Fees and processing times

Transit visa processing generally takes 3–5 business days as of March

1. Actual times may differ by consulate and nationality, so verify current timelines before booking travel.

Visa fees depend on nationality and reciprocity agreements. Some nationalities pay a standard VIVIS fee; others, such as U.S. citizens, may pay higher reciprocity-based fees.

Fees are set in BRL (R$) and can change. Check the consulate fee schedule for your location before paying.

You qualify for a Brazil transit visa only if you hold the correct passport type and your visa category matches your travel purpose. You must apply through a Brazilian consulate before traveling.

Eligible passport types

The Visit Visa – Transit (VIVIS) applies to travelers with an ordinary passport needing to pass through Brazil on their way elsewhere.

It isn’t for tourism, business, work, study, remote work, or residency. Those require separate visas.

If you want to enter Brazil for anything beyond transit, you need the correct visa. After arrival, the Federal Police (Polícia Federal – PF) oversees immigration inside Brazil.

Check eligibility before applying

Before applying, make sure your situation fits the transit category exactly. Consulates issue visas abroad and will refuse an application under the wrong purpose.

You qualify if:

• You hold an ordinary passport
• You are only transiting through Brazil
• You don’t plan to work, study, conduct business, or reside in Brazil

If your plans change, apply for the appropriate visa—such as Temporary Visa – Work (VITEM V) or Temporary Visa – Student (VITEM IV)—before travel.

A transit visa doesn’t allow other activities. It doesn’t convert into a Visit Visa – Tourism (VIVIS) or any temporary residence category.

If you’re unsure which visa applies, review the guidance from the Brazilian consulate responsible for your residence before applying.

A Brazil transit visa application can be refused even when you submit all the required forms. Approval is discretionary, and both Brazilian consulates abroad and the Federal Police (Polícia Federal – PF) inside Brazil have the power to deny entry if your status doesn’t match your stated purpose.

No guarantee of approval

Submitting a Visit Visa – Tourism (VIVIS) for transit purposes never secures entry. A consulate can refuse your application if your stated purpose doesn’t clearly line up with a short airport transit.

You have to show that your stay fits the legal definition of a transit situation. If your itinerary suggests activities that fall under a different category—such as Visit Visa – Business (VIVIS), Temporary Visa – Work (VITEM V), Temporary Visa – Student (VITEM IV), Temporary Visa – Digital Nomad (VITEM XIV), or Form RER-Visa—the officer might deny the transit request.

Some common risk factors:

• Applying under the wrong visa category
• Providing inconsistent travel details
• Failing to show onward travel

Even if you get a visa, the PF has authority at the port of entry to check that your purpose matches the visa type.

If a consulate refuses your transit visa, you won’t get authorization to board for Brazil using that visa category. Airlines usually require proof of valid authorization before you depart.

If the PF finds at arrival that you intend to work, study, or stay longer than allowed under a transit visa, they can deny entry. You could be sent back to your point of departure.

A mismatch between your documents and your real plans often leads to problems. For example:

• Holding a transit-type VIVIS but carrying business meeting materials
• Indicating remote work activities without a VITEM XIV (Digital Nomad)
• Arriving with documents that suggest study or employment

Your visa type must match your true purpose. Transit authorization doesn’t become permission for tourism, business, work, or study after arrival.