Greater Houston is the fifth most-populous metropolitan area in the United States and has a population of over 7 million residents. Houston is one of America’s most ethnically diverse cities. With over 145 different languages being spoken in this global city, it is no surprise that Houston has plenty of great restaurants offering delicious cuisine from all over the world, including several Brazilian restaurants. This is a fast-growing and youthful city that attracts entrepreneurs, corporate businesspeople, international investors, and students. Greater Houston encompasses nine counties and includes the cities of Sugar Land, Baytown, Conroe, Pasadena, Pearland, The Woodlands, and Galveston. Houston has nearly 10,000 Brazilian immigrants and is home to the Brazilian Cultural Institute, where locals can learn capoeira, samba, or Portuguese—a language spoken by 275 people around the world. Houston also has several private schools that offer Portuguese language programs, including Rice University, which offers continuing education for adults interested in Portuguese. The university also provides cultural and academic connections with Brazil through its Brasil@Rice programs. Ties with Brazil are further cemented through direct flights from Houston to São Paulo on United Airlines.
Brazil is a huge country of 215 million people and a land area of 3,287,956 square miles, making it the largest country in South America. Brazil is one of the largest economies in the world and is the largest democracy in the Western Hemisphere, after the United States. The country has an abundance of natural resources, including deep water oilfields that attract engineers and businesspeople from Houston-based energy companies. Although their tourism sector is still developing, Brazil has seen an increase in visitors from the U.S. ever since relaxing their visa policy in 2017. American tourists love Brazilian culture and are attracted to the country’s energy and its free-spirited people. Brazil has many cultural events and festivals such as Festa Junina, Bauernfest, Boi-Bumba, Festival de Cachaça, and the world-famous Carnival, which is known for its elaborate parades in cities like Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, and Recife. First-time visitors from Houston will likely have Christ the Redeemer or the beaches of Copacabana (both in Rio de Janeiro) on their to-do list, while other Houstonians—who may already have familiarity with Spanish speaking countries and cultures—may want to expand their understanding of the Americas region by taking a deeper dive into this country and its people.
Obtaining a Brazil Visa from Houston
Visas for Brazil are issued by the Brazilian government in the United States. The government of Brazil is represented by their embassy located in Washington, D.C. along with nine consulates located in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Miami, New York, Hartford, Boston, and Houston. To apply for a Brazil visa from Houston, you will fill out the visa application online and mail your original passport and supporting documents to the consulate located in the Capital One Building in Uptown Houston (near the Galleria). Applicants can also schedule an appointment to appear in person at the consulate using the E-consulate platform explained in the next paragraph. Here is their address:
Consulate General of Brazil
5444 Westheimer Road, Suite 1900
Houston, TX 77056
It is important to review the requirements for visas on the Brazil consulate website and ensure your application and all supporting documents are accurate. Here is the link to the consulate website with detailed information: Consulado Geral do Brasil em Houston (itamaraty.gov.br) (Please note that you must initiate the process of scheduling an appointment and completing the visa application through the E-consulate platform: e-consular (itamaraty.gov.br))
You should include a self-addressed USPS (US Postal Service Express Mail or Priority Mail envelope (please make note of the tracking number) so the consulate can return your passport and visa to your home or office.
The government fee for the visa varies depending on the applicant’s country of origin and type of visa required. Please review the visa fees using the following link: Consulado Geral do Brasil em Houston (itamaraty.gov.br). The consulate only accepts payment by money order from the United States Postal Service and does not accept cash, cards and non-USPS money orders (it is not possible to buy money orders at the consulate—they must be purchased from the post office).
If you cannot appear in person at the consulate to submit your visa application, please contact our company and we can submit your documents to the consulate as a third-party agency.
Other things to consider:
Emergency Assistance for Brazil Citizens in Houston
If you are a citizen of Brazil living in the Houston area with an emergency or require urgent assistance, you can reach the consulate in Houston by calling 281-384-4966 (this number is only for Brazilian citizens faced with emergency situations such as hospitalization, death, or imprisonment), or by email at assistencia.houston@itamaraty.gov.br. The consulate’s telephone number for non-emergency inquiries is 713-961-3063.
If you need to renew your Brazil passport, you can appear in person at their office (by appointment only), or ship the necessary documents by USPS (U.S. Postal Service) following the instructions on this link: Consulado Geral do Brasil em Houston (itamaraty.gov.br). Here is the link that shows their hours of operations and directions to the consulate: Consulado Geral do Brasil em Houston (itamaraty.gov.br)
We Can Help if You Need Assistance
If you live in the Houston area or anywhere in the state of Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, or Arkansas and have difficulty applying for a Brazil visa, or require assistance with any part of the visa process, please give our office a call at 404-682-5445 or schedule an appointment with our company. We are a private agency in Atlanta providing Brazil visa services for Americans and other U.S.-based residents. Our number one goal is to ensure your application documents for a visa are submitted accurately to the Brazilian government. Our services eliminate delays and give you the peace of mind to focus on your travel plans.
We provide the following Brazil visa services for our customers:
