Visitors on a Brazil student visa need to be studying at least 15 course hours a week. They are permitted to do some paid work while studying also. Studying in Brazil can be a great way to broaden your horizons and get a flavour for the country. It can also open you up to new opportunities which may lead to living in Brazil permanently.

What kind of courses can I undertake on a student visa?

Well, the obvious subject that many foreigners will want to study is Portuguese. Language courses are included, as well as regular courses, such as primary and secondary education, as well as undergraduate and postgraduate degrees (specialisation, master’s and doctor’s degrees) and technical courses. The institution offering these courses must hold a CNPJ, which is a Corporate Taxpayer Identification Number. Study or research exchanges in the form of sandwich courses or master’s/doctor’s research is also included. Contact your local Brazil Consulate General for clarification if you’re not sure.

Your course should have a minimum course load of 15 hours per week. If your course has fewer hours than this, you can ask for special consideration. You will need to provide exceptional reasons why yours is a special case. There is no minimum number of course hours required for research exchanges.

What isn’t included under the student visa category?

If you’re travelling to Brazil for post-doctoral research / studies, you should apply for a research visa, not a student visa. Also, if you are studying for less than 90 days, you should be able to simply come on a tourist visa (visitor visa) instead.

Can I do paid work on a student visa?

Yes you can, but you need to check with the Federal Police first. There are limits to the number of hours you can work, depending on how many hours you are studying. Read our blog about the various types of work you can do in Brazil.

Can I apply from within Brazil?

Yes you can apply at the closest Polícia Federal. Be sure to do your research ahead of time in terms of the documents you’ll be asked to provide. Also, foreign documents will most likely need to have been apostilled and/or legalised by the Brazilian Consulate General in the country where the documents were issued. They’ll need to be translated into Portuguese by a sworn translator.

If you want to extend your student visa, you can usually do this fairly easily at the Policia Federal. Be sure to do this before your visa expires. If you want to change courses or institutions, you’ll need to seek prior permission from the Federal Police.

How can we help?

If you want to come to Florianópolis to study, we can help. We provide guidance on universities and courses. Also, we can help you navigate the bureaucracy of applying for and renewing your student visa.