So, you’re in Buenos Aires, you’ve decided you want to travel to Brazil, but you need a tourist visa to enter? There are ways around most things in Brazil and I’ll attempt to assist with your travel in South America here:
If you’re in Buenos Aires you need to jump onto the Brazilian consulate’s site ( http://www.conbrasil.org.ar/CONSBRASIL/visas_otros01engl.asp) to make your appointment to organize your Brazil tourist visa. This can often have a wait of a week or two. You can get lucky and sort an appointment earlier than this, though. It depends on the time of the year. So, check the site. The process is simple once you have you documents together. Ensure you have: proof of entrance and exit (ticket); two passport photos; a credit card and; proof of sufficient funds (around 45 dollars spending per day that you plan to stay). If you have all of these items the process is simple for organizing you tourist visa and you’ll have your Brazilian visa returned within 48 hours.
If you don’t have luck with getting an early appointment in Buenos Aires you may elect to visit Montevideo, Uruguay. This is a straightforward process to organize your visa provided you’ve got all your documents – proof of entrance and exit (ticket); two passport photos; a credit card; proof of funds sufficient funds (around 45 dollars spending per day you plan to stay) – the visa should be organized within 48 hours after submission. Montevideo is not too difficult to access from Buenos Aires given the efficient ferry service available between Argentina and Uruguay – run by boquebus. The idea of going to Montevideo for the process is to eliminate the potential wait for you appointment you may have discovered in Buenos Aires.
Another option to organize your Brazilian tourist visa is in Iguazu Falls at the northern point of Argentina on the border of Brazil. The process in Iguazu is quick. You will have to make sure you get your documents into the office in Iguazu early to ensure there’s an efficient turnaround. I believe the office opens at 8:o0am. If you get your documents in close to this time you should receive your Brazilian tourist visa back the next day at 11:30am.
Once inside Brazil you can extend you Brazilian tourist visa by visiting a Federal Police building once your 90 days is coming to an end. There you can extend for a further 90 days. This process is simple, although, only allowed once in a 12 months period.
A few other things to help your Brazilian tourist visa application run smoothly:
- Ensure you’ve completed your Brazilian tourist visa request application. You can do this here: http://scedv.serpro.gov.br. If you haven’t done this before you arrive you’ll be turned away.
- Ensure you have the correct passport photos. This means you’ll need the background to be white and you head not to far away (as you head will be small) from the camera. Also done smile in it – not teeth aloud – or have a fringe covering you face.
- In Puerto Iguazu they seem to have a habit (as of late 2013) of checking Brazilian tourist visa applicants have a flight returning to their country; even if they’ve got one out of Brazil.
There could be a few other things. It really depend if the dude doing your visa has gotten out of bed in a bad mood on that day.
If you’ve got any questions regarding the process please feel free to ask.
Cheers,
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South America Basics: Travel Writing & Travel Guide 
I have an exit flight and my hostels booked for Brazil, but I have not gotten my entry ticket because I plan to buying it in Uruguay. Would those documents plus bank statements work? Any suggestions for showing itinerary for entry?
Hi Dan,
The one concern I have with what you’ve said is you haven’t mentioned you don’t have an entry ticket. I know this sounds confusing as you don’t know when you’ll be approved to enter but they will ask for it (in most cases; they’ve asked me for it in Montevideo). The issue is this: If they ask when you plan to enter, then you show an entry ticket for 48 hours later, they’ll have your visa ready on time for then. This is given you do the application in Uruguay. Every time I’ve done it in Montevideo they’ve had it ready the following day. What I’d do in your current situation, given you’ve told me you have not got the entry ticket, is purchase I bus ticket passing over the Brazil border – you may or may not use this – but chances are you’ll need to show it at the embassy. If they ask for it and you don’t have it you’ll be forced to return to the embassy the following day with your entrance evidence.
Just before I give more specific info regarding your evidence to enter, just answer this: Are you frightened to buy the entering ticket because you’re not sure when they’ll approve your visa or are you not sure when you’re going? Also, is your budget fit for a plane? Or would you rather save and ride by bus? Plus tell me your preferred route through Brazil? I’ll tell you what I’d do.
Cheers, Gaston
Your best bet is to get to the the “retiro” in Montevideo and consider a bus heading up to Porto Alegre. This really depends on where you’re planning on traveling to in Brazil (North or South), though. Also if you’re not going to use the bus ride you may consider a Brazilian location further south than Porto Algre, but there are not many. If you have more specific questions please feel free to ask.
Hey Gatson,
Thanks for the quick response!
I’m here in the United States right now. There are a couple of issues, first is that the San Francisco Brazilian VISA system is down (this is my jurisdiction) so they dont think I could get my visa back in time / I dont want to risk it.
No problem I think, I have read a bunch of people talking about how they got their visa down in Buenos Aires. I plan in Buenos Aires for about 8 days. More then enough time to get a VISA.
The next problem that arises is that I want to take a bus from Montevideo to Florianópolis. So to get my proof of entry, I would need to buy this ticket. I dont really know if I can buy this ticket in Buenos Aires, I’m having a hard time figuring this out. Any suggestions?
I would just get my visa in Montevideo, but by the time I arrive it will be getting close to Christmas, and I would hate to have them closed and mess up the whole trip.
Right now I plan on busing because I’m traveling with some guys who are busing it too.
I guess I could just leave for Montevideo earlier.
Hello,
You’re welcome. It’s too easy for me. Ok, so a couple things come to mind now. Firstly, organizing your visa in Buenos Aires is an option, although you’ll need to book an appointment; there’s usually a two week wait for an appointment in Buenos Aires (even longer near Christmas).
In any case the appointment for Buenos Aires is here: http://www.conbrasil.org.ar/CONSBRASIL/visas_otros01engl.asp
Once you’re in Buenos Aires you have three options for your Brazil visa. The first is the Buenos Aires option so see your appointment link I’ve provided above.
2.) Montevideo
or
3.) Puerto Iguazu
I wouldn’t be scared of either of these final two options. I believe they are both friendlier than Buenos Aires.
Montevideo will be a breeze. Once you’re in Buenos Aires just buy your boat ticket – through “boquebus” – which will take you to Montevideo. Once you’re there organize your bus ticket from Montevideo to Porto Alegre (it’s on the way to Florianopolis). I say organize from Montevideo so you don’t get ripped off. It’ll be cheap as chips if you organize it in Montevideo.
Your option number three is Puerto Iguazu; there is also a stroll in the park – 24 hour turn around. You can get a bus up from Buenos Aires to Puerto Iguazu – she’s a long one and get ready for a free kick in the wanga cause it’s 18 hours.
If you need any help or have any stress I’m here for your questions. I’m an expert in this part of the woods; well as far as a gringo expert can go.
Reblogged this on South America Basics: Travel Writing & Travel Guide and commented:
Updated Brazilian Tourist Visa information.
Just an extension to my comment to Dan: if you do go down the route of organizing you Brazil tourist visa in Puerto Iguazu – the border of Argentina and Brazil – you will be able to buy your Brazil proof of entrance from “Rio Uruguay” for 8 pesos (about $1.20) which will be a bus ticket taking you from Puerto Iguazu to Foz do Iguazu in Brazil – about 45 minutes by bus.
Hello guys! First of all, thanks a lot about the info! Do you guys know more about the procedure to get a Brazilian student visa in Uruguay?
Hi, It’s a super late reply that I’m giving you, so I apologise for this. However, I suppose a late answer is better than no answer at all. Concerning getting a Brazilian student visa in Uruguay, I have not done this as I had to do mine in my own country, which is Australia. The reason for this is that you will need a criminal record check to be lodge with you student visa and this requires finger prints and to be done in the country where you are from. I’ve assumed you are from a country outside of South America otherwise you wouldn’t be trying to get a student visa to stay in Brazil. Concerning getting visas in Uruguay, of course you could get the Brazilian tourist visa in Uruguay, which I’m sure you know, which can be extended when you arrive in Brazil. If I have no provided you with sufficient information, please feel free to ask again.