Studying in Brazil

What a year costs

Tuition. Article 206 of the Federal Constitution guarantees free public education in official institutions, so federal and state public universities do not charge tuition for degree courses. Private universities set their own monthly fees (mensalidades); check each institution's price list.

Living costs. No federal body publishes an official budget for international students, and we could not verify a university estimate for this guide. Costs vary a great deal between cities: São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Brasília are much more expensive than most state capitals in the north-east. Many public universities have subsidised canteens (restaurante universitário) and some offer student housing, but places are limited and often reserved for Brazilian students on low incomes. Build your budget from local listings for the city you will live in, and add health insurance and your registration fees.

For reference, the PEC-G programme page from the Ministry of Education mentions a Promisaes support payment of R$622 a month for eligible students. This is a support grant, not a proof-of-funds requirement or a living-cost estimate.

The visa

You need the temporary visa for study, VITEM IV. The rules are set by Decree 9.199/2017 and Portaria Interministerial nº 7/2018 from the Ministries of Justice and Foreign Affairs.

The money. The Portaria requires documentation proving your own financial capacity, or that of the people responsible for supporting you in Brazil. It sets no amount. Consulates publish their own lists of accepted documents, usually bank statements, a scholarship letter or a sponsor's declaration, and some set their own thresholds. Follow the page of the consulate where you will apply.

The fee. You must show proof of payment of consular fees. Brazil sets visa fees largely on reciprocity, so the amount depends on your nationality and the consulate; we could not verify a single official figure. Check with your consulate.

Documents also include a valid travel document, the completed visa application form, an international vaccination certificate where Anvisa requires one, and your admission or enrolment letter.

Validity. The Portaria sets a maximum validity of one year for the study visa.

After arrival. You must register with the Federal Police within 90 days of entering Brazil. Registration gives you the Carteira de Registro Nacional Migratório (CRNM), your identity document as a foreign resident. The Federal Police charge fees for residence and for the card, published on its fee page.

Working while you study

Article 37 of Decree 9.199/2017 allows study visa holders to do paid work that is compatible with the hours of their course. Portaria nº 7/2018 repeats this for study residence. No weekly hour figure is set; the test is compatibility with your study timetable, so keep your enrolment and attendance in order.

PEC-G is the exception. The Ministry of Education's PEC-G FAQ states that the VITEM IV issued under that programme does not allow paid activity amounting to employment, though students may take part in curricular internships, research, extension and teaching-assistant activities. If you come through PEC-G, do not take a job.

After you graduate

Brazil has no job-search period after graduation. What it does have, since Resolução CNIg/MJSP nº 50/2024 (published 5 September 2024 and in force 30 days later), is a residence authorisation for work for migrants who completed an undergraduate degree or a stricto sensu postgraduate degree (master's or doctorate) in Brazil at an institution accredited by the Ministry of Education, and who are in Brazil.

You need a work contract or proof of service provision, in an activity connected to your field of study. The initial authorisation lasts up to two years and can later be converted to indefinite residence. The resolution allows the application at any time, but in practice you must still hold valid status in Brazil when you apply, so arrange your job before your study residence ends.

Language

Almost all teaching at public universities is in Portuguese. Brazil's official proficiency exam for foreigners is Celpe-Bras, administered by the federal education assessment agency Inep. Many universities and the PEC-G programme ask for it; check the required level for your programme. A small number of postgraduate programmes teach in English.

You do not need Portuguese for the visa, but the Federal Police, banks, landlords, health services and all work outside a few international companies operate in Portuguese.

When to apply

The Brazilian academic year starts in February or March, with a second intake in some programmes around August.

• Public universities, undergraduate: admission is through each university's entrance exam (vestibular) or national systems based on the ENEM exam. Some universities run separate selection for foreign applicants; check with the university.
• PEC-G: a government programme for students from countries with cultural or educational agreements with Brazil, applied for through the Brazilian embassy in your country.
• Postgraduate: each programme publishes its own call (edital), often months before the start date.

Allow for the Celpe-Bras exam dates, the recognition of your previous qualifications, the consular appointment and the 90-day Federal Police registration.

What to watch out for

Consulates set the details. The national rules are broad. The documents, money evidence and fee you face depend on your consulate, so read its VITEM IV page closely and keep copies of everything.

The 90-day Federal Police deadline. Registering late creates problems with your status that are hard to fix. Book your Federal Police appointment as soon as you arrive; appointments in big cities can take weeks.

PEC-G students cannot take jobs. The general rule allowing compatible paid work does not help you if you are on PEC-G.

Free tuition, not free study. Public universities charge no tuition, but you still pay for housing, food, transport, materials, visa and registration fees. Places in university housing are scarce.

The post-study route needs a job contract. Resolução nº 50/2024 is a useful route, but it is not a job-search permit. Start your job search well before your final semester ends.

Where these numbers come from

Rules change, sometimes at short notice. Every figure above carries the date we checked it. Check the official source before you rely on it. We could not verify a national proof-of-funds amount (none is set), a single visa fee, Federal Police registration fees or an official living-cost estimate: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Federal Police websites could not be read when we checked.