Requirements for a foreign student in Brazil:
CPF
A CPF is Brazil’s individual taxpayer registry number. For the purposes of UFMG, the CPF is essential for processing University documentation, for the issue of transcripts and for the Ministério da Educação – MEC (Ministry of Education) records. You can apply for a CPF either from your home country or in Brazil. To apply at a local consular service in your home country, click here to know the necessary procedure.
VISA
Entrance Visas – Temporary Visa IV
All foreign visitors must have a passport and an entrance visa. The passport must be valid for the entire period of stay in the country. The temporary visas usually granted to visiting students are those of Vitem IV. These visas are obtained at the Brazilian Embassy or Consulate closest to the student’s country of origin, before his/her arrival in Brazil.
Registration with the Federal Police and Issue of Temporary Foreigner’s ID Card (Carteira de Identidade de Estrangeiro Temporário / CIET):
Necessary Documents:
Valid original passport;
Copy of used passport pages;
Visa application;
Two recent 3x4cm coloured photos with black background and in frontal position;
Federal Police form completed and printed out;
Proof of payment of two fees.
Federal Police Form
The form is available at www.dpf.gov.br. You should complete it, print it out and take it to the Federal Police together with the other documents.
Once you have entered the Federal Police site:
1- Click on the ESTRANGEIRO (FOREIGNER) link on the left-hand side under Serviços (Services).
2- Then select Option 2: REQUERER REGISTRO E EMISSÃO/RENOVAÇÃO DE CÉDULA DE IDENTIDADE DE ESTRANGEIRO (REQUEST REGISTRATION AND ISSUE/RENEWAL OF FOREIGNER’S ID CARD).
3- Select the option REGISTRO / EMISSÃO DE CARTEIRA IDENTIDADE DE ESTRANGEIRO (REGISTRATION / ISSUE OF FOREIGNER’S ID CARD) and, at Option 1, you will find the form you need to complete. Complete the obligatory boxes in the form.
Advice on completion:
Against Unidade Polícia Federal (Federal Police Unit), select MG (Minas Gerais) and BELO HORIZONTE;
Always write names in full and in the Brazilian order: Name and Surname (e.g., Maria Silva);
Against ocupação principal (principal occupation) , select ESTUDANTE;
Against Endereço Residencial (Residential Address), enter your address in Belo Horizonte. If you do not yet have a fixed address, enter the address of the place where you are living at the moment;
If you do not yet have a telephone in Brazil, enter the general UFMG number (31)34095000.
Save and print out the document
Requesting Federal Police Register Appointment
After completing the form:
1- Return to the principal page of the site (www.dpf.gov.br), and click again on the ESTRANGEIRO link under Serviços.
2- Choose Option 2 again: REQUERER REGISTRO E EMISSÃO/RENOVAÇÃO DE CÉDULA DE IDENTIDADE DE ESTRANGEIRO (REQUEST REGISTRATION AND ISSUE/RENEWAL OF FOREIGN ID CARD). Against Option 2 you should click on VERIFIQUE AQUI SE EXISTE AGENDA DISPONÍVEL (FIND OUT IF AN APPOINTMENT TIME IS AVAILABLE) para saber os dias e horários em que poderá solicitar o agendamento na Polícia Federal para realizar seu registro.
3- Enter your Request Code, which is at the top of your Form for delivery to the Federal Police. Then check the days and times available and choose your preference from what is available. Click on salvar (save) and print out the document confirming the day and time chosen. IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT YOU KEEP THAT APPOINTMENT WITH THE FEDERAL POLICE
Notes: If you cannot make an appointment on the website, you can go to the Federal Police at the address: Rua Francisco Deslandes, n° 900 – Bairro Anchieta, or at the address: UAI na Praça Sete, Avenida Amazonas, n° 500 – Centro (Praça Sete) – Belo Horizonte – , or at Confins airport, taking with you all the documents needed for registration, within 30 days of the date of your arrival in Brazil. It is recommended that you go early in the morning.
Payment of fees:
Guidelines on payment of fees can be obtained on the internet. Follow the instructions below in order to obtain the Guidelines:
Step 1 – Guia de Recolhimento da União / GRU (Federal Tax Collection Form)
1 – Access www.dpf.gov.br.
2 – Click on GRU under Serviços, on the left-hand side.
3 – Select Option 1: GRU – FUNAPOL (foreign, private security, international transport, weapons) and then Option 3: PESSOAS E ENTIDADES ESTRANGEIRAS (FOREIGN INDIVIDUALS AND BODIES)
4 – Complete the Guia de Recolhimento da União – GRU: the address should be in Brazil; in the unidade arrecadadora (collecting body) box select: MG (015-9) MINAS GERAIS REGIONAL DIRECTORATE.
5 – In the Código da Receita STN (STN Receipt Code), type 140082. You will see on the screen: Registro de Estrangeiro/Restabelecimento de Registro and the amount to be paid.
6 – Check the data entered, click on GERAR GUIA (CREATE GUIDE), and then print it out.
Step 2 – Cédula de Identidade de Estrangeiro (Foreigner’s ID Card)
1 – Repeat instructions 1 to 4 above.
2 – In the Código da Receita STN box, type 140120 (CARTEIRA DE ESTRANGEIRO DE PRIMEIRA VIA [FIRST ROUTE FOREIGNER’S CARD], VALOR A SER PAGO [AMOUNT FOR PAYMENT]).
3 – Check the data entered, click on GERAR GUIA (CREATE GUIDE) and print it out. The guides should be printed out and paid at any branch of the Banco do Brasil before the expiry date and before registering with the Police. For registration, take the proof of payment given to you by the Bank.
Remember that you must register within 30 days of your arrival in Brazil. After the deadline, a foreigner is liable to a daily fee and becomes an illegal immigrant.
AS SOON AS THEY OBTAIN A COPY OF THEIR REGISTRATION AT THE FEDERAL POLICE STATION, IT IS ESSENTIAL FOR ALL EXCHANGE STUDENTS TO TAKE A COPY OF THE REGISTRO NACIONAL DE ESTRANGEIROS / RNE (NATIONAL REGISTER OF FOREIGNERS) TO PPGEQ’S OFFICE.
Important Notes:
- Plan to come at least two weeks prior the beginning of classes to let enough time for finding housing and registering with the Federal Police.
- Foreign students under Temporary Visa IV are not permitted to work during their stay in Brazil.
- Do not consider the possibility of changing visa upon arrival in Brazil. This is not permitted by the National Immigration Service.
- On receiving the foreign identity card, check to see if the data (full name, parentage, date of birth and nationality) are correct. If there is any mistake, request immediate correction at the same locale to prevent future problems.
- All documents in a foreign language must be certified by the Brazilian consular authorities and officially translated into Portuguese language in order to be valid in Brazil.
More information: see the Office of International Affairs of the Federal University of Minas Gerais (DRI)’s exchange student guide.