How to Apply for a Brazil Visa in Washington DC

Washington, D.C. is the capital of the United States and is an important global city that attracts visitors from all over the world.  The Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area—which includes the District of Columbia and parts of Virginia, Maryland, and West Virginia—is America’s sixth-largest metropolis and has a population of 6.3 million people.  Cities within this area (apart from the District of Columbia) include Alexandria, Annandale, Arlington, Fairfax, Falls Church, and Reston—all in Virginia—along with the Maryland towns of Bethesda, College Park, Frederick, Gaithersburg, Rockville, and Silver Spring.  The Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area has over 15,000 Brazilian immigrants and is home to several Brazilian restaurants, bakeries, and grocery stores.  Washington, D.C. is also home to organizations like the Brazil Institute, The Brazilian-American Cultural Center, and the Brazil-US Business Council.  The United States was the first country to recognize Brazil’s independence from Portugal in 1822 and today our two countries share the common bond of being the largest democracies in the Americas.  The United States and Brazil are also the two largest economies in the Western Hemisphere, and the United States is the largest source of foreign direct investment into Brazil.

Brazil is a huge country of 215 million people and 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 has a robust mining and agricultural sector, underpinned by its bounty of natural resources.  Manufacturing is also an important part of Brazil’s economy, and the country is one of the world’s giants when it comes to producing automobiles, machinery, aircraft, chemicals, foods, and paper products.  Although their tourism sector is not as well developed compared to other countries, Brazil has seen an increase in visitors from the United States ever since relaxing their visa policy in 2017.  American tourists love Brazilian culture and are attracted to the country’s free-spirited and fun-loving people.  Brazil has many festivals such as Festa Junina, Bauernfest, Boi-Bumba, Festival de Cachaça, and the world-famous Carnival, which is known for its elaborate parades in cities like Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, and Recife.  First-time visitors to Brazil will likely have Iguaçu Falls or Copacabana beach on their minds, but others wanting to explore more parts of the country can experience the Afro-Brazilian culture of Salvador, cowboy culture of Rio Grande do Sul, or the hip and trendy neighborhoods of São Paulo.

Obtaining a Brazil Visa from Washington, D.C.

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, Chicago, Boston, Hartford, New York, Atlanta, and Miami.  To apply for a Brazil visa from Washington, D.C., you will fill out the visa application and bring your original passport and supporting documents (by appointment only) to the embassy’s consular section located in the Embassy Row neighborhood.  Here is their address:

Consulate General of Brazil
1030 15th Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20005

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: Consulate General of Brazil in Washington (itamaraty.gov.br)

You should include a self-addressed USPS (US Postal Service Express Mail or Priority Mail), FedEx, or UPS prepaid envelope (please make note of the tracking number) so the consulate can return your passport and visa to your home or 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 same link above.  The consulate only accepts payment by money order from the United States Postal Service and does not accept cash, cards and non-USPS money orders (it is not possible to buy money orders at the consulate—they must be purchased from the post office). 

If you cannot appear in person at the consulate to submit your visa application, please contact our company and we can submit your documents to the consulate as a third-party agency. 

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.  Both the consent form and affidavit of support form can be found on the Brazil consulate website provided above. 
  • 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 Washington, D.C.

If you are a citizen of Brazil living in the Washington, D.C. area with an emergency or require urgent assistance, you can reach the consular section of the embassy in Washington, D.C. by calling 202-461-3000.  If you need to renew your Brazil passport, you can appear in person at their office (by appointment only) or renew by mail following the instructions on this link: Consulate General of Brazil in Washington (itamaraty.gov.br).  Here is the link for the full list of contact information, including various email addresses: Consulate General of Brazil in Washington (itamaraty.gov.br)

We Can Help if You Need Assistance

If you live in the Washington, D.C. area or anywhere in the state of Virginia, Maryland, or West Virginia 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