Brazil has taken another decisive step in the digitalisation of its consular services. A new policy that entered into force this month allows all temporary-visa applications (VITEM categories) to be lodged and processed entirely online through the Integrated Consular System (SCI). According to a report published on 18 September by diaspora outlet Spot Brazil Radio, applicants now upload biometric pages, invitation letters, police certificates and other supporting documents directly to the platform and receive an electronic visa grant notice by e-mail. Physical submission of passports is required only at the final stamping stage, reducing courier costs and turnaround times for businesses that move talent to Brazil. The shift follows a series of pilot programmes run by the foreign ministry in 2025 and responds to long consular backlogs that frustrated multinational employers during the post-pandemic rebound. Consular officials told local media that average processing time for work-authorisation visas has already fallen from 15 to 7 working days, and that the SCI portal can handle 20,000 concurrent sessions without service degradation. The ministry added that it will introduce online payment in multiple currencies next quarter, a long-standing request from corporate mobility managers. For companies seconding staff to Brazil, the main benefit is predictability. HR teams can monitor case status in real time and correct document issues before an officer touches the file. Foreign assignees can also start CPF (tax ID) registration earlier, because the digital visa confirmation is recognised by Receita Federal systems. Immigration advisers recommend, however, that employers continue to build in lead time for the mandatory Federal Police registration once the employee lands, as appointment slots in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro remain scarce. The move places Brazil alongside regional peers such as Chile and Argentina, which already issue most long-stay visas electronically. It may also pave the way for an eventual expansion of Brazil’s popular e-Visa programme, currently limited to short-stay travellers from Australia, Canada and the United States. For now, mobility professionals welcome any measure that trims paperwork and consular visits in Latin America’s largest economy.
Source: Spot Brazil Radio
