Americans need a passport that is good for six months beyond the date of entry with one or more blank pages. Applicants also need a 2-inch x 2-inch full-face photograph with an off-white background. Brazil does not charge Americans a visa fee, but does charge them for processing the visa application. This charge is the same as what the United States charges Brazilian citizens for visas to visit this country, according to Brazil's consulate in Los Angeles. The embassy and consulates only accept U.S. postal money orders for payment of visa processing fees; they do not accept credit cards, personal checks or cash.
Brazilian consulates are located in Atlanta, Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York City, Miami, Houston, Hartford, Chicago and Washington, D.C. A check of the consulate websites show that each has additional requirements for visa applications. Los Angeles, for example, requires travelers to apply in person with the required form completed. Each person must have an appointment to be interviewed. If a family is traveling together, each must have a separate appointment, according to the consulate's website. The consulates in Boston and Chicago onlly accept applications by mail.
Los Angeles requires 10 days to process visa applications and the passport must be picked up in person. Boston requires six working days to process the visa application, while Chicago requires four days if the application is made in person. The Boston consulate also requires applicants to provide a copy of their plane tickets or flight itinerary. All consular websites note that Brazil does not offer expedited visa processing for last-minute travel.
Because of differing requirements, travelers should check with the consulate where they will be applying for the visas to find out its requirements.
Visa application forms can be found on each consulate's website or the website of the Sistema de Controle e Emissão de Documentos de Viagem.
Tourist visas are good for stays of up to 90 days. The visa may be extended while in Brazil, but travelers are not allowed to stay longer than 180 days in a year.
