By David, on May 17th, 2010 This week I will have to renew my Brazilian tourist visa, as i’m approaching the 90 day limit but still have another month to go in Rio. We’re not sure how to do it – or even if it’s possible – as we’ve heard conflicting stories on the process and success. Some people in Marju’s volunteer house said that visas can be extended at the Federal Police office in the International airport by paying a little cash for an extention. One website says it can be done in Rio centro, again at a Policia Federal office, however we’ve not heard of anyone actually being successful with either method. Also, this website states that you may be able to extend it only at the Policia Federal’s discretion, leaving us concerned that we may not be able to extend a visa. Does anyone have any experience of this working?
We will try the airport route regardless of concerns over discretion but if we are refused a visa extension by the brazilian authorities, Plan B is to leave brazil for Argentina or Chile and get a new 90 day visa stamp on return!
####—-Update—-#### 19th May 2010
We picked up our new visa stamps in our passports today at the Policia Federal Office at the International airport in Rio. The process was indeed very easy, much easier than we thought it would be – especially for Brazil, and shouldn’t be a worry for anyone wishing to do the same.
Before heading to the airport, we printed off a completed Brazilian Visa extension form (Guia de Recolhimento da União (GRU)) and took it to a branch of Banco do Brazil in Copacabana. The form is a little tricky to complete. You need to select your code for payment (Código da Receita STN) which is 140090 (PEDIDO DE PRORROGACAO DE PRAZO DE ESTADA ) for the tourist visa and ‘Unidade Arrecadadora’ , which I think is who you are paying (in our case the Federal Police at Rio international airport) – RJ 105-8 Delegacia do Aeroporto Internacional do Rio de Janeiro.
We took a ticket at the Bank to ‘make a payment’ from the chap at the front desk and paid the BRL $67 each. We then took the receipt, our passports and white entry cards to the Policia Federal.
The Policia Federal office is on the third floor with all the shops of terminal 1. The foreigners section is on the right, whilst new passports for Brazilians is on the left. There were loads of people queueing for passports, and it was a little confusing, but just walk straight up the ramp between the foreigners desk and wall, and on the right is a desk labelled number 2. The lady at the desk took our receipts, entry slips and passports, entered some of the information into a computer and then gave us a yellow form each. The forms asked only for parents names, contact information and the usual stuff; date of birth, nationality etc.
Once completed, the Lady told us how many days extra we could stay, 90 in my case, but only 74 for Marju as her Estonian visa expires before the 90 days, then stamped our passports with new dates, a signature and little sticker. It was that simple.
Of course, everyone may be treated differently, and I believe it is the Policia Federal’s final decision whether or not to give you an extension. My advice is definitely to pay the fee in advance. Turning up without it may result in them asking questions about amount of money in your bank or return tickets etc. As is often the case, you may also be judged on looks. Make sure you go in smiling, clean looking and not looking too much like a traveller, but I guess also, don’t go in looking like a businessman as they may think you are working (which is of course not permitted), oh and of course; try to speak some portuguese!
Hey David,
I ended up trying to extend my tourist visa and while at the Fed. Police office, I was told that I’d need proof (bank statement) that I have at least US$2,500 (if my memory serves me) to show that I can support myself for the extra 90 days. It also seemed like extending it was something I could do at the Fed. Police office then and there. Since I didn’t have the proof, I didn’t go through with it.
Hope that helps with something.
Cheers