A Brazil visa has to be obtained in advance by citizens of Azerbaijan, and that differs from many countries in Latin America: Colombia and Ecuador admit us visa-free, Brazil does not. The good news is that Brazil has an embassy in Baku and you do not have to travel to another country to apply.
In this article we explain how the Brazilian tourist visa, that is the VIVIS category, is obtained, the fee, the documents and the ways of reaching Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo from Baku.
Do you need a Brazil visa and which type?
Yes, you do. Brazil issues the electronic visa only to citizens of the United States, Canada and Australia, and Azerbaijan is not on that list. Our citizens get a visa the classic way, through the embassy. For tourism, visiting relatives and business meetings the visitor visa called VIVIS is issued and it allows a stay of up to 90 days.
| Visa type | VIVIS (visitor visa) |
| Consular fee | 80 US dollars |
| Application | Online form + submitting documents at the Brazilian embassy in Baku |
| Length of stay | Up to 90 days |
| Processing time | Usually 2–4 weeks |
| Direct flight | None, via Istanbul, Doha or Dubai |
How is a Brazil visa obtained?
The process has two parts. First the online form is filled in on the site of the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The form is in Portuguese and English, and at the end you are given a numbered receipt and a barcode. Then this receipt is printed out and submitted along with the other documents to the consular section of the Brazilian embassy in Baku.
The embassy is in the Marine Plaza business centre on Uzeyir Hajibeyov street, and consular reception is held in the first half of working days. It is advisable to arrange a time by telephone or email before coming. The official visa types and rules are set out on the visa page of the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Documents for a Brazil visa
For those travelling with children a birth certificate and the consent of both parents are required. Brazil is very serious about this; they ask for documents even when you travel with a child inside the country.
One piece of advice: go with your documents translated into English. The consulate does not accept Russian, and cannot read documents in Azerbaijani without a translation.
Read next: How a US visa is obtained: step by step from the DS-160 form to the interview
How do you fly from Baku to Brazil?
There is no direct flight and none is expected. The most used routes are Turkish Airlines to São Paulo via Istanbul, and Qatar Airways via Doha and Emirates via Dubai to São Paulo or Rio de Janeiro. The whole journey takes 18–22 hours. As the transit is in Turkey and the Gulf countries, no extra visa is needed.
You can also fly via Europe, for example through Frankfurt or Lisbon, but in some cases a Schengen transit visa may be required even if you do not leave the airport transit zone, so the Gulf and Istanbul options are simpler. The ticket is the biggest expense; when buying an air ticket, shifting the dates back and forth by a few weeks and comparing can change the price by 500–800 manats. Buy the ticket once the visa is in your hands.
Things to know before the trip
- Yellow fever vaccination. It is not required on entry to Brazil, but is strongly advised for those going to the Amazon region, and some neighbouring countries ask for a vaccination certificate from those arriving from Brazil.
- Safety. Theft is common in the big cities. Not showing valuables and not going into unfamiliar districts at night are the main rules.
- Money. The official currency is the Brazilian real. Dollars are changed everywhere and cards work in the big cities.
- Language. Portuguese. English is little used outside the tourist spots, and a translation app is essential.
- Season. February-March is the time of the Rio carnival, the prices go up several times over and the visa application has to be made early.
Brazil is a distant and difficult destination, so first-timers often go on a ready-made programme. Foreign tours of Latin America usually combine Brazil with Argentina; Argentina also requires a visa of citizens of Azerbaijan, so the two visas have to be prepared in parallel.
Frequently asked questions about the Brazil visa
How long does a Brazil visa take?
The embassy usually replies within 2–4 weeks, but in the carnival season and in summer the wait can stretch out. Apply at least 2 months before the trip.
How many years is a Brazil visa valid for?
The VIVIS visa is usually issued as multiple-entry for 1 year, and on each entry you can stay up to 90 days. The total stay within the year must not exceed 180 days.
Is there an interview?
Usually not. When you hand in the documents the consular officer may ask a few questions, but there is no formal American-style interview.
In closing
A Brazil visa can be obtained, and obtained without leaving Baku: the online form, the 80-dollar fee, handing in the documents at the embassy and a 2–4 week wait. The Viza.az team helps with filling in the form, translating the documents and planning the long transit route.
You can read more about Brazil as a destination and our service fees or fill in the application form.
Note: the information here is as of the publication date. Fees and the embassy’s reception rules can change, so contact the embassy before applying.
