How to Apply for a Brazil Visa in Detroit

Detroit is the largest city in the state of Michigan and the second largest metropolitan area in the Midwest (after Chicago).  Detroit is better known by its nickname “Motor City”, or “Motown”, because of its prominence as the global center of the automotive industry.  Although the city has certainly had its share of ups and downs, Detroit remains an important and influential American city.  The Detroit metropolitan area, known as Metro Detroit, has a population of 4.3 million and is the fourteenth-largest metropolis in the United States.  Metro Detroit includes the towns of Dearborn, Royal Oak, Auburn Hills, Livonia, Southfield, Rochester Hills, Warren, Pontiac, Troy, and other municipalities.  There are a few thousand Brazilian immigrants throughout Metro Detroit and the nearby college towns of Ann Arbor and Lansing both have Brazilian student organizations.  Likewise, University of Michigan and Michigan State University have close connections with Brazil through study abroad programs and partnerships with Brazilians universities.  Detroit and the state of Michigan have strong business ties with Brazil; large Michigan-based manufacturers such as General Motors, Dow Chemicals, Whirlpool, BorgWarner, and Federal-Mogul have investments in Brazil, along with consumer brands like Kellogg’s and Domino’s.

Brazil is a large Portuguese-speaking country of 215 million people with a land area of 3,287,956 square miles, making it the largest country in South America.  Brazil is one of the largest economies in the world and is the largest democracy in the Western Hemisphere, after the United States.  Although the country is well known for its copious natural resources, agricultural and forest lands, Brazil also has a robust manufacturing sector that is producing big-ticket items like automobiles, airplanes, and machinery.  The country is a great escape for Detroit-area tourists craving a warm weather destination during their harsh winter months, especially during the month of February when the world-famous Carnaval do Brazil takes place.  Others may travel to Brazil to watch or participate in sporting events involving soccer, mixed martial arts, volleyball, basketball, or motor sports.  First-time visitors from Detroit will likely have Christ the Redeemer or the beaches of Copacabana (both in Rio de Janeiro) on their to-do list, but others wanting to explore more parts of Brazil can experience the hip and trendy neighborhoods of São Paulo.  While the city is recognized as an important business center, São Paulo also has many cultural attractions such as art museums, shopping, and fine dining.

Obtaining a Brazil Visa from Detroit

Visas for Brazil are issued by the Brazilian government in the United States.  The government of Brazil is represented by their embassy located in Washington, D.C. along with nine consulates located in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Houston, New York, Boston, Hartford, Miami, Atlanta, and Chicago.  To apply for a Brazil visa from Detroit, you will fill out the visa application and ship your original passport and supporting documents by mail to the consulate located in Chicago.  Here is their address:

Consulate General of Brazil
401 North Michigan Avenue
Suite 825
Chicago, IL 60611

It is important to review the requirements for visas on the Brazil consulate website and ensure your application and all supporting documents are accurate.  Here is the link to the consulate website with detailed information: Consulado-Geral do Brasil em Chicago (itamaraty.gov.br).

Please note that you must initiate the visa process by completing the visa application through the E-consulate platform: e-consular (itamaraty.gov.br)).  The visa request will be reviewed by the consulate’s staff and then you must wait for further instruction before mailing your documents to their office.

The government fee for the visa varies depending on the applicant’s country of origin and type of visa required.  Please review the visa fees using the following link: Consulado-Geral do Brasil em Chicago (itamaraty.gov.br).  The consulate only accepts payment by money order from the United States Postal Service and does not accept cash or non-USPS money orders.

Other things to consider:

  • Citizens of the United States no longer require a visa if traveling to Brazil for tourism or business purposes and can stay in the country for 90 days. The stay in Brazil can be extended for an additional 90 days at any federal police station. 
  • If you are a U.S. citizen and are traveling to Brazil for work (i.e., you will be getting paid in Brazil or providing technical assistance) or for any purpose other than tourism or business, you must obtain the appropriate visa before starting your journey.
  • When completing the visa application form online, please make sure to upload all the necessary supporting documents and write your signature inside the rectangular box after printing out the application receipt.
  • Applicants under the age of 18 must provide a consent form that will be signed by both parents and notarized. They will also provide a copy of both parents’ IDs, their birth certificate, and the affidavit of support form.  Please email the consulate at chicago@itamaraty.gov.br to obtain the consent form and affidavit of support form.
  • It is recommended to purchase travel insurance before any international trip in case of medical emergencies.  We advise getting the Geo Blue Voyager Single Trip Plan.

Emergency Assistance for Brazil Citizens in Detroit

If you are a citizen of Brazil living in the Detroit area with an emergency or require urgent assistance, you can reach the consulate in Chicago by calling 312-213-0293 (this number is only for Brazilian citizens faced with emergency situations such as hospitalization, death, or imprisonment).  For non-emergency situations and general inquiries, the consulate phone number is 312-464-0244.  If you need to obtain a Brazil passport, you must ship the required documents by mail following the instructions on this link: Consulado-Geral do Brasil em Chicago (itamaraty.gov.br).  And here is the link for the full list of contact information, including various email addresses: Consulado-Geral do Brasil em Chicago (itamaraty.gov.br)

We Can Help if You Need Assistance

If you live in the Detroit area or anywhere in the state of Michigan and have difficulty applying for a Brazil visa, or require assistance with this process, please give our office a call at 404-682-5445 or schedule an appointment with our company.  We are a private agency in Atlanta providing Brazil visa services for Americans and other U.S.-based residents.  Our number one goal is to ensure your application documents for a visa are submitted accurately to the Brazilian government.  Our services eliminate delays and give you the peace of mind to focus on your travel plans. 

We provide the following Brazil visa services for our customers:

  • Brazil Tourist Visa (VIVIS)
  • Brazil Business Visa (VIVIS)
  • Brazil Temporary Work Visa (VITEM V)
  • Brazil Permanent (Retirement) Visa (VIPER)
  • Brazil Diplomatic and Official Visa
  • Brazil Study (Student) Visa
  • Brazil Religious Activity Visa
  • Brazil Volunteering Visa
  • Brazil Family Reunification Visa
  • Brazil Artistic or Sports Activities Visa
  • Brazil Hotel Accommodations