How to Handle Your Brazilian Visa Extension

So, you are liking your life in Brazil and you've decided to stick around.

I support that, but what about all the red tape? What about all the hoop jumping? If you're not in the position of having your school handle this process, lucky for you, I've been there and want it to be as easy as possible for you.

Recently, I was talking to some friends that are approaching their first Brazilian student visa extension, or prorrogação. Like many things in Brazil, the first time around can be such a pain in the ass, so keep reading if you are interested in not ripping your hair out.

Just in case anyone starts clicking on links in the post, know that the Polícia Federal (PF) website may require you to adjust security settings on your browser. It always does for me. Just accept and continue to the site.

Now, let's look at what you need to gather to successfully get your student visa extended.

Get Your Letter

Quite obviously, you need to pay any fees that are required to get your next enrollment letter. Pay at your school's bank with a cash deposit or bank transfer, or use any form of credit or debit card if they have an online payment system.

In return, they should give you two documents, the declaration of enrollment and a testament that the school is real.

Get Your Código de Solicitação

First, you need to fill out a web form here that'll give you a code you need in order to schedule your PF appointment. You'll have to include a job on this form, so below are three options you may want to use and their codes so that you don't have to rummage through the list of occupations:
  • 930 - student
  • 116 - writer, journalist or similar (I use this and if asked openly say blogger)
  • 990 - unclassified by list
After you submit the form (and don't worry if the page asks you to resubmit the captcha, it has always asked me twice), the form will load in A4 style with all you details filled out. In the heading you'll see Código de Solicitação, and that is the code you need to schedule an appointment. Don't close that page because you need to print it. If you can't print, click the print icon and save it as a PDF from the print options page.

Schedule a PF Appointment

The PF in Floripa no longer issues queue numbers by hand. You must make an appointment online through their system, and try to do it well in advance. Some PFs are going to be impacted, and if you wait, there may not be an available appointment before your expiration date.

Now, use the Código de Solicitação here to schedule an appointment. After you get past the first page, your name and location of PF will automatically load, then you just select an available date and time.
If there weren't any times available before your expiration, take the first available one. You can always keep checking the system for times that open up as people cancel.

The secretary at the PF told me that as long as you make your appointment before your expiration date, your visa is valid until the appointment. You won't be fined for the days between visa expiry and PF appointment.

This section has been updated to reflect new information received on June 16th in person from the secretary at the foreigner service counter of the Federal Police in Florianópolis.

Pay The Taxes For Your New RNE

Click here for the page that you have to fill out in order to get the A4 print-outs like you did above. You'll have to fill it out once for each tax code. Use the numbers below in the box next to Código da Receita STN:

  • código 140090 (R$110.44)
  • código 140120 (R$204.77)

Again, if you don't have the option to print when the document pops up, click on print and save as PDF. You can pay these fees at any Loterica, Correio or Banco do Brasil, as well as whatever bank you use if you have an account. Keep the receipts to turn in at PF with the other documents.

You may have a small case of deja vu when doing this part. It's because you have did this exact same thing when you registered with the PF the first time. You have to pay for a new RNE every time.

Copy Passport Pages - All of Them

Yes, even the ones with nothing on them. Don't make my mistake and think, "Well, they only wanted stamped pages and visas the first time. I'll just do that." Maybe you'll get lucky, but when in Brazil the rule should always be better safe than sorry.

I was told at my first prorrogação that all pages are required even though that wasn't the case the first time around. He sent me down the street to get the missing pages copied, then watched and waited while I put them in the correct order with the existing copies.

Side Note - Getting Passport Pages Authenticated

Technically the PF has the right to request that every individual copy of your passport pages are authenticated by a cartório. It is one of the finest examples of Brazilian red tape that this is on the list, and even more so an example of unnecessary use of power is the agent demands it.

If you find yourself being told to take the copies to a cartório to authenticate them, make any possible request for understanding and leniency. For example, is it possible to staple them all together and then only do the first page? Work your magic, and know that my fingers are crossed for you to get a nice agent.

If nothing works, expect to pay between R$3-5 per authenticated page.

The PF's list of requirements for prorrogação is here, but be aware that it is a Portuguese only site. If you need English, it says:
  • Application for extension
  • 2 recent color photos with a white background, size 3x4
  • Authenticated copies of passport pages
  • Current RNE 
  • Enrollment letter
  • Declaration from the school where you study
  • Proof of paid taxes (140090 and 140120, listed above)

Do you have everything? Great! Now, go submit your documents and keep living the life you love in Brazil!

If you have found the information in this post valuable, please comment, share, or both! Make sure anyone that would find this valuable sees it.

The advice in this post is based on personal experience and material found on the Internet. No information should be taken as legal advice. All information is factual based on the writer's experience at the time of publishing. Locations and agents are major variables in this process. Do not expect every location or agent to be the same.

2 comments:

  1. You made the text size bigger! Much easier to read and awesome write-up. Keep crushing it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for noticing, Nate! Glad you like the update.

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