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Brazil

Study Law in Brazil 2025

Study in Brazil

What Is the Law Degree in Brazil?

In Brazil, law is taught as an undergraduate program. Once complete, the student will have a Bachelor's degree in law. It is also found in private law schools. Any legal degree must be accredited by the National Commission of Legal Education of the OAB Federal Counsil. Officially, the law degree in Brazil is an undergraduate degree in Laws and Social Sciences. A Doctor of Law, which requires additional study, is also an option here. It requires further study as well as practical use in the field.

Law Higher Education in Brazil

Brazil has a large number of law schools and, as a result, there are many attorneys present. In fact, in one of the country's largest cities, Sao Paulo, there are some 222,000 lawyers present. This is significantly less than most cities in the United States or the UK. However, there is a real need for qualified professionals here since many attorneys are less than reputable.

The student who wishes to practice law in Brazil will need to complete all of his or her studies and then enroll in the Course of Law programs at one of the many schools, of which there are more than 1000. The student will then need to graduate from that school. Then, once he or she graduates, the student will need to pass a Bar test. This is a diverse test that can be very challenging. It is administered by the Bar Association of Brazil. Generally, the educational process takes about five years to complete.

For international students who wish to enroll in law programs in Brazil, the first step is to apply to one of the colleges welcoming international students. Students will need to have the means to pay for themselves, including their full education, and will need to obtain a student visa, which the school can help the student to achieve.

Looking long term, there is a need for qualified professionals here, but there is plenty of challenge as well. The well qualified student will need to apply him or herself properly in order to obtain the right level of education.

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Basic monthly living cost

  • Rent in a shared flat

    185
  • Share of utilities

    23
  • Internet subscription

    19
  • Local transportation

    41

Sample lifestyle cost

  • Fast food combo

    7
  • Cinema ticket

    7
  • Pint of local beer

    2

About Brazil

Brazil is the largest country in South America. It is also offers a unique combination of modern life and rural life. Brazil, which is bordered by Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, and numerous other countries, is a large one in various ways. It has the seventh largest GDP in the world. It is home to 201,000,000 people. It also has some of the most interesting changes taking place as the country grows to meet the demands of its younger population.

For those students who want to study law in Brazil, there are plenty of promising opportunities, including the need for well qualified professionals. Brazil offers international travel visas to students who have been accepted into schools in the country.

Essential Facts about Brazil

- Brazil has a complex and compact system of rivers that include the Amazon, Negro and Parana Rivers. The Amazon River has the largest volume of water contained in any river in the world and is the second longest river on Earth

- Nearly one-quarter of the world's rainforests are found in Brazil, mostly consisting of the Amazon jungle. The Amazon rainforest is also home to more species of monkeys than any other place on Earth

- Soccer (futebol) is Brazil's most popular sport. Students will find that any medium to large city they visit while studying in Brazil has one or more soccer stadiums

- One-third of Brazil's two million inhabitants work in the agricultural industry. Coffee beans, corn, wheat, sugar cane, rice and soybeans are Brazil's primary crops

- One of the seven wonders of the world, the Christ Redeemer statue, is found in Rio De Janeiro

The capital of Brazil is Brasilia, where major higher education institutions such as the University of Brasilia, the Cental University of Brasilia (UniCEUB) and the Catholic University of Brasilia (UCB) are located

- Anthropologists have estimated that as many as 60 tribes exist in the Amazon rainforest that have yet to make contact with civilization

What Is the Law System in Brazil?

The Brazilian legal system can be complex. The country is a federative republic, with laws at the state, municipal, and federal levels. With a codified legal system, each component of the government has its own set of laws based on the specific context of those laws and how they are applied. A court system helps to enforce laws, of which attorneys are necessary to represent individuals. The federal constitution is the main governing component of the legal system.

Visa Requirements

All student visas in Brazil are called Temporary Visa IV, or VITEM-IV.

What type of Visa do you need?

Visa name

Student Visa (VITEM-IV)

Price and currency

The prices for student visas to Brazil vary depending on the nationality of the applicant. The following cost can be subject to change:

  • For United Arab Emirates citizens: USD 95
  • For France citizens: USD 140
  • For United Kingdom citizens whose visa validity is up to 180 days: USD 40
  • For United Kingdom citizens whose visa validity exceeds 180 days: USD 195
  • For United States citizens: USD 160
  • For citizens from any other country: USD 40

Who can apply for the visa?

All foreigners that want to study in Brazil - without any immigration goals or intent to perform paid activities that are not internships - need to apply for a student visa. The main requirement to get a student visa is that you are enrolled at a Brazilian university that is registered with the Ministry of Education in Brazil.

Where can you make the application?

At the nearest General Consulate or Brazilian Embassy

You can apply for a student visa to Brazil at the nearest General Consulate or Brazilian Embassy.

Website:

How to make the application?

You should consult your Consulate General's website to obtain a student visa application, a list of requirements, and to verify the application process and timetable. Definitely make the appointment with your consulate or embassy as soon as possible.

In order to apply for a VITEM-IV, it is necessary to prepare the following documentation:

  • Applicants passport which cannot expire within 6 months and must have at least two blank pages
  • One Visa Application Form per applicant, generated online
  • Two 3cm x 4cm sized photos
  • Proof of residence within the jurisdiction of the Consular Section of the Embassy for the past 12 months
  • Non-criminal record certificate issued by the applicant's local Police Department for applicants over the age of 18, issued less than 90 days before the application
  • Proof of scholarship, if not, proof of financial capability to pay for the whole duration of the course
  • Proof of enrollment in the institution certifying that the applicant will be attending a course of study, clearly stating the amount of class hours per week
  • Notarized birth certificate or declaration
  • Certificate issued by the previous education institution stating the level of schooling of the applicant
  • Should the applicant be under the age of 18 and not travel with their parents or guardians, a notarized copy of birth certificate sworn translated into Portuguese or English and an Authorization for Brazilian Visa Issuance for Minors signed by both parents or legal guardians at a public notary
  • Health insurance valid in Brazil offering coverage for treatment and hospitalization, or PB4 in case of students from Portugal

When should you apply?

The processing time can be quick and only take a couple of days, but this depends on the country.

The VITEM-IV are valid for up to one year at a time, depending on which course the student is enrolled in, and can be renewed as many times as necessary in order for the student to finish the course. The request for extending the visa must be done at a Federal Police Department or at the Ministry of Justice within 30 days before the current visa expires. In order to renew the visa after one year, you will need to show documentation from the university which proves you have reasonable attendance and performance to continue the course.

For interns, the student visa is valid for one year and cannot be renewed.

After the student visa is granted to the applicant, the student has three months to enter Brazil. After entering Brazil, the student has up to 30 days to register with the Federal Police Department of the city in which they will live.

Processing time

Work opportunities

Those who come to Brazil with a VITEM-IV are not allowed to engage in paid activities that are not internships. However, foreign students that are willing to be interns in Brazil are allowed to perform paid activities. For internships of up to four months, there is no need for a formal link with a Brazilian educational institution. For internships lasting longer than four months, a formal link with a Brazilian education institution is mandatory.

Hours per week

0

Why do you need this type of visa?