Brazil: Consular Temporary and Work Visa Issuance Digitalized for Applicants Exempt from Visitor Visa Requirements

The situation 

Effective September 1, 2026, consular temporary visas for nationals exempt from Brazil’s visitor visa requirement are now issued electronically. Eligible applicants no longer need to visit a Brazilian consular post to submit their passport or original documents or to collect their passport after adjudication.  

The change applies to all temporary visa categories, including work, family reunion and digital nomad visas. 

A closer look 

• • Scope and effective date. The new process is understood to apply to consular visa applications submitted on or after September 1, 2026. Guidance has not yet been identified regarding how applications already in progress as of September 1 will be handled. 
  • Electronic application process. Applicants must submit their consular visa application through the Integrated Consular System and upload the required supporting documents. Once approved, the visa will be sent automatically to the email address provided in the application. It is expected that applicants must print the electronic visa and present it when traveling to Brazil and registering with the Federal Police. 
  • Documentary requirements remain. The change digitalizes the consular application and visa issuance process but does not change any documentary requirements. Applicants must continue to gather and upload all required documents, which may include application forms, passport copies, police clearance certificates, proof of fee payment and category-specific supporting documents. No changes have been identified regarding authentication, translation, signature, photograph or fee-payment requirements. 
  • Pre-application authorization for work visas and post-arrival registration remain unchanged. The change affects only the consular visa issuance stage. For temporary work visas, the employer in Brazil must continue to initiate the residence authorization process and obtain approval from the Ministry of Justice and Public Security. The Ministry will then forward the approval to the relevant consular post, after which the applicant can complete the electronic consular application. Applicable Federal Police registration requirements following arrival also remain unchanged. 

Impact 

• • Reduced administrative and logistical requirements. The new process should simplify the consular stage for eligible applicants by eliminating the need for applicants to surrender their passport, physically submit their documents, visit consular posts and collect their passport. It should also reduce the logistical and administrative burdens associated with scheduling appointments, traveling to a consular post and, in some cases, engaging with third-party representatives. 
  • Potentially faster employee mobility. No official processing timeframe has been published for the electronic consular stage. However, the elimination of in-person and passport-handling requirements is expected to shorten overall processing times and allow employees to mobilize more quickly.  
  • Consular procedures should be confirmed before filing. As consular posts implement the new process, employers and applicants should review the procedures of the relevant post before applying and ensure that all supporting documents meet the applicable category-specific requirements. 

Background 

The change forms part of a broader digitalization initiative and represents one of the most significant developments in Brazil’s immigration system in recent years. It removes long-standing in-person and passport-handling requirements from the consular visa issuance stage while preserving the existing residence authorization and post-arrival registration framework. 

Looking ahead 

Further implementation guidance is expected as Brazilian consular posts update their procedures. Additional clarification may address the treatment of applications already in progress as of September 1, electronic visa presentation requirements and processing times under the new system. We will report on relevant developments.

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at  Fragomen.