Passports
If you don't already have a passport you should apply now. Once you have obtained your passport we need you to scan the picture page and upload a copy to the AYS web site for name and age verification. Airline tickets must be issued in the traveler's name as it appears on their passport. Passports sometimes take two or three months, so please begin now. If you already have a passport, please be sure it is valid for up to 6 months after your trip end date and has at least 2 blank pages (amendment pages 22, 23 and 24 do not count). There are six steps required to obtain a passport that are explained here:
Click here for a link to the government website. The passport application form DS-11 can be downloaded from that site. Once you are on the DS-11 form you can fill out the application online (and then print it out) or print out the application and fill it out by hand. Remember you'll need a certified copy of your birth certificate and three passport photos for the application. You can obtain the photos at UPS stores, photo studios, and other places. Costco is very simple and cheap. Currently it takes approximately 4-6 weeks to process a routine passport application. Vaccinations
We also recommend taking care of your vaccinations as soon as possible. While most vaccines can be given immediately before travel, Hepatitis B requires 3 shots over a 4 month period. It is also very common for clinics to be out of stock of vaccines. For the most accurate advice about which vaccines you will need, speak with your doctor or county health office. Some of the following immunizations you probably had as an infant and others only require a booster. The US Center for Disease Control recommends the following vaccinations before traveling to Brazil: - Hepatitis A & B
- Typhoid
- DPT (Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis) booster
- MMR (Measles-mumps-rubella) booster
- Yellow Fever
- Malaria- There is a very small risk of contracting malaria from mosquitoes during our 2 day excursion to Iguacu Falls. We don't recommend taking preventative medication for this risk. Instead, we ask our participants to use mosquito repellent during this visit but please consult your own doctor to determine what will be best for your own situation.
If you want more info, information on vaccinations and other health precautions may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's hot line for international travelers at 877-394-8747. Please refer to the following links for more information: Visas - Brazilian Visa (Very Important)
Brazil is one of the few countries that requires Americans to obtain a visa before they enter Brazil. You must have your passport before you can obtain a visa. It generally takes 20-25 business days for processing a visa once the information is received by the consulate. Unfortunately the visa process is somewhat complicated so please follow the steps below.
- Obtain one passport-style photograph.
It must be 2x2 inches in size and professionally done. You probably already have this photo if you obtained three photos when you took the photos for your passport. Costco is one of the easiest and most cost effective resources to complete this step. - Obtain a copy of your round trip ticket/itinerary.
It must contain the name of the passenger. It can be an electronic ticket. This will be provided to you by AYS approximately 60-90 days before your departure time. - Make a copy of your driver's license.
Please make a photocopy of your current Driver's license or State ID. If you are under 18 we also need a copy of your parents' driver licenses. A copy of your school ID may work if you don't have a drivers license. - Obtain a certified copy of your birth certificate and notarized letter of consent. (only if you are under 18)
Applicants Under 18: Must provide a certified copy of their birth certificate and a notarized letter of consent signed by each non-traveling parent/guardian. Page 7 of the AYS Participation Agreement, "Parental Authorization For Travel and Treatment of a Minor Child" that you already had notarized will serve as the letter of consent - Obtain a yellow fever vaccination certificate (Only if you are planning to visit any of the countries listed below within 90 days prior to our trip date).
You are required to have the yellow fever vaccination if you will travel to one of the countries listed below within 90 days prior to your arrival into Brazil: Angola, Benin, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Chad, Columbia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, Guyana, Ethiopia, French Guiana, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Panama, Peru, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan Suriname, Tanzania, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda and Venezuela.
- Click here to complete the visa application online, then print and sign.
Chose the "Visa Request" link. When it asks for the "Main purpose of your trip" please select Tourism. The information that you enter is used to generate the printed form and your request number. After completing the application form online, please print it (you will print out a single page called the RER which is a page with bar codes that allows the embassy to pull up the information you entered online). Please do not forget to sign the form. Note; You must use Internet Explorer and Microsoft Windows OS to complete online application. If you use MAC or any other browser (e.g. Safari, Firefox, Netscape, Chrome), it may not work properly!
NOTE: You will need the following information for the visa application:
*You are applying for a tourist visa. (first page of application)
*Contact Information for Brazil: (last page of applications)
- Visa Type: Tourism
- Name/Hotel: Vila Mona Vie
- Address: Varzea das Mocas
- City, State, Zip: Niteroi, RJ, 24330
- Phone Number: 2181601071
- Email: leave blank
- Est. Day of Arrival: June 3, 2010; June 24, 2010; July 26, 2010 (depending on which trip you applied for.)
- Length of Stay: 16 days (for all trips)
- Click here to order the online Travel Visa Pro visa service. We recommend that you use Travel Visa Pro because most of the Brazil Consulates require that you appear in person to apply for a visa, which is not very realistic for most people. So applying though a Visa agency is much more practical. Select the "Order Your Visa Online" button that allows you to order and pay online. Request the 5 year tourist visa. As you order enter the discount code AYS2010 for a $10 discount on processing. Total cost for the visa ($150), processing ($29) and shipping ($15 to $50) is about $220. After you have completed the online order you will be shown instructions on sending all of your documents. Please use FedEx or UPS to guarantee delivery of your documents and make sure that you have signed your passport. If you need any help with the visa application process call Travel Visa Pro at (866) 378-1722.
You will receive a multi-entry tourist visa good for 5 years. If you live close to a Brazilian consulate and would like to obtain your visa in person you can make an appointment with the consulate that handles the state where you live (You will still have to pay $150 for the visa but will not have any processing or shipping charges). Click here for consulate information. You can also visit the State Department website for further information regarding travel to Brazil. If you have any questions, feel free to call AYS at 435-674-6666 or email us at
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