Will you be attending the 2014 World Cup in Brazil? Good news: You don’t have to pay visa fees for your Brazilian visa.
The bad news? You do still have to apply for a visa, and you’d better hurry.
The Brazilian government is issuing special temporary visas free of charge for the event. Here’s what you. need to know to get in on the action.
2014 FIFA World Cup Visas- Know Before You Go
Who’s eligible? The following groups of people are eligible for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Visa:
- Spectators
- Volunteers
- Press
- Foreign correspondents
- Entertainers and athletes performing at the games
- Other professionals working at the games
What You Need to Apply
The 2014 FIFA World Cup visas may be free, but that doesn’t mean the Brazilian consulate is just giving them away to anybody who asks. All of your paperwork needs to be in order, and any missing information can cause delays. You’ll need the following documents:
- Passport: To apply for a Brazilian visa, your passport must have at least six more months left before it expires beyond the timeframe of the return trip, and it must have at least two blank pages in the back to hold the visa.
- Brazilian Visa Application: You must complete the application online and then print the receipt page. Be sure to answer every question and don’t forget to sign!
- Photo: One 2″ x 2″ passport photo taken within the last six months.
- A clear copy of your driver’s license. Some consulates require that this be notarized.
- Proof of departure: A copy of your itinerary or cruise tickets.
- Minors need a notarized copy of their birth certificate along with a Letter of Consent signed by both parents. Depending on what consulate you submit your application to and how old your child is, you may also need proof of vaccination against polio.
- Proof of yellow fever vaccination is only required if you’ve been to an area where the disease is endemic within the past 90 days.
- Proof that you’ll be attending the games. If you’re a spectator, that means you’ll need your ticket or a copy of your ticket. The tickets need to be confirmed and they must have the traveler’s name on the receipt or email confirmation. Volunteers need an invitation letter from FIFA, journalists need proof of accreditation by FIFA and foreign correspondents need a letter from the company they work for.
Where to Apply
Apply for your FIFA World Cup visa in person at the appropriate Brazilian embassy or consulate for your jurisdiction. There are ten Brazilian consulates in the US, with locations in each of the following cities:
- San Francisco, California
- Los Angeles, California
- Houston, Texas
- Miami, Florida
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Washington, DC
- New York, New York
- Hartford, Connecticut
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Chicago, Illinois
This map will show you where your consulate is located. Your consulate MAY also accept applications by mail. Not all do — some offices require that you, someone you know or a representative from a visa service drop the application off in person.
Using a Visa Service
If you’d rather not have to travel to your Brazilian consulate, a visa service is a convenient alternative. A good visa service will walk you through the paperwork and guide you through the application process, helping you avoid mistakes that could increase your processing time. Then, the visa service submits the application on your behalf to the appropriate Brazilian consulate, for the fastest possible service.
Need a Brazilian visa? We can help!
Tags: 2014 FIFA World Cup, Brazil, Brazilian visa
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