Traveling to and
Staying in Brazil

Before coming to and during your stay in Brazil, all foreign students are required to have the following documentation:

Student Visa

Before coming to Brazil, all international students and researchers (regardless of length of stay) must apply for a student Visa (VITEM IV) at the nearest Brazilian embassy or consulate in conformity with present Brazilian immigration legislation. To be entitled to a student visa, he or she must have the Letter of Acceptance issued by the International Cooperation Office at the end of the application process.

Health Insurance

All International students and researchers are required to take out health insurance for the entire length of their stay, prior to traveling to Brazil, and present it at the International Cooperation Office at the time of course enrollment.

National Migratory Registry

The National Migratory Registry (RNM in Portuguese) must be obtained at the Federal Police in Brazil within the first 90 days upon the arrival. The RNM is an ID card for foreign nationals with temporary or permanent residency in Brazil. The instructions on how to get it can be found on the Brazilian Federal Police homepage.

Foreign students at UFF are required to access the said site for procedures and necessary forms and then collect their IDs, in person, at the Federal Police office in Niterói within the first 90 days in this country. Foreign students cannot stay in Brazil without this document and fines are applicable after the 90-day deadline.

Please find below a list of the documents that the Federal Police requires for registration. An appointment must be made (item 3 “Para fins de Estudo”) at this link.

1 – An electronic form must be filled in here.

2 – An official ID or traveling document (Passport) issued under the treaties your country is a signatory of.

3 – Two 3×4 (3 centimeters x 4 centimeters) colored portrait photos, white background (further detailed information on the photos can be obtained at the Federal Police website)

4 – Birth, Marriage, or Consular Certificate if the document mentioned in item 2 above does not include parents’ or guardian’s names (the original document and a copy will be required)

5 – Statement of Electronic Address and Other Means of Contact along with proof of your home address (e.g. a phone or electric bill) – Comprovante de Residência in Portuguese

6 – Proof of payment of duty (receipts), when applicable.

6.1 – Residency fee (R$ 168,13 – Code 140066)

6.2 – RNM fee (R$ 204,77 – Code 140120)

7 – A certificate of absence of criminal records, or equivalent document, issued within 90 days prior to your arrival in Brazil by the competent judicial authority of the country where you have lived for the past 5 years.

8 – A statement, under penalty of perjury of law, of the absence of criminal records in any country for the past 5 years (downloadable here).

9 – A statement of legal guardianship of a minor, when applicable.

10 – A statement of financial support for your stay in Brazil or proof you have been awarded a scholarship grant, when applicable

11 – A Letter of Acceptance by a Brazilian educational institution for those who intend to apply for a residence visa with a view to enrolling in a regular course (the letter must contain information on when the course begins and ends)

12 – For those applying for a residence visa for an internship, taking part in research or study exchange programs, proof that they are enrolled in a foreign university must be given.

13 – In the case of residence visas for interns or trainees, the applicant must present documentation, signed by the trainee and his or her home and Brazilian institutions, to give proof of the compatibility of his or her area of study and the activities to be developed in the training process.

14 – A statement that you are not linked to any research, teaching, and/or community outreach work. This document will be supplied by the Federal Police.

15 – A statement of lack of financial self-sufficiency, within the terms of Executive Order 218/2018-MJ, when applicable.

Cadastro de Pessoa Física (CPF)

Although having a CPF is not compulsory for foreigners, it is nevertheless an essential document, especially for those who have been awarded a scholarship grant. The CPF is required for opening a bank account or conducting any other financial operations as well as registry in this country. It can be obtained at any office of our Receita Federal (Internal Revenue).

Certificate of Arrival and Departure

This is an official registry to control foreign students’ arrival and departure dates. It must be signed by the student at UFF International Cooperation Office.

Statement of Enrollment

This document is a temporary proof of the foreign student’s affiliation to UFF for the length of stay stated in your visa. It will eventually be replaced by the UFF student ID card. It must be applied for at the International Cooperation Office by graduate as well as medical students upon arrival.

Undergraduate students will be given one at the time of course enrollment. This document is also used for opening bank accounts and is very important especially for those who have scholarship grants.

Practical Information

Dialing

To purchase a SIM card you can go to any carrier store with your passport or any newsstand.

There are prepaid plans with top-ups or monthly-based plans. The existing carriers in Rio de Janeiro are Vivo, TIM, Claro, Oi, and Correios Celular.

Brazil’s country code for international calls is +55 and Rio de Janeiro’s state code is 21. To make service calls (those who start with 0300, 0500, and 0800), emergency numbers, or collect calls (9090 + phone number), the state code is not needed.

To call numbers in other states of Brazil, you should dial the code of the state followed by the phone number. For international calls the number is: 00 + carrier code + country code + phone number.

Emergency Numbers

  • Fire Department: 193
  • Police: 190
  • Ambulances: 192
  • Tourist Aid Precinct: 2332-2924 / 2332-2893 / 2334-6802 / 2334-6807

Energy

The power outlets in Brazil are types C or N and, in Rio de Janeiro, are 127V.

Transport

The Metropolitan Region of Rio de Janeiro (capital and nearby cities, including Niterói) has several means of transport like subway, trains, buses, ferry boats, BRT, VLT, tramways, and rental-based bikes. At this link, it is possible to find the map of the Metropolitan Transport Network.

Directions from the Airport

From RIOgaleão – Tom Jobim International Airport you have several options to leave to Niterói. See them below:

RIOgaleão International Airport

UFF Gragoatá Campus

Taxi and ride-hailing apps

From the Terminal 2 you can request an Uber or a taxi straight to Niterói or other places in Rio de Janeiro city. The loading place in the airport is between the doors B and C.

Clicking here you can download Uber (ride-hailing), and here for 99 (taxi and ride-hailing).

Bus

At the Terminal 1, you can board either of two buses that go to Niterói, numbered 760D and 1900D. With the Moovit app you can see when the bus will arrive and ask the app to notify where you should drop off.

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