Expert: Sandra - 8/4/2010

Question
I suppose its a general question related to all travel but since I like brazil and would want to travel there someday can you tell me what happens when a person overstays thier visa? if a person just wanted to ' go off the grid ' in another country...do the authorites go looking for such people?

Answer
The original stay in Brazil is usually 90 days, pretty easily renewable at the nearest Policia Federal for another 90, which you might already know. You are then supposed to leave and stay out of the country for 6 months. The fine for overstay is about R$8 per day, up to a max of about R$800, which you can pay on exit or on your next entry (with reais in cash) since the overstay is stamped on your visa on eventual exit. Unless you get yourself in trouble somehow and call attention to yourself, (or perhaps end up wanting to get married without resolving your situation by paying and leaving and staying out the required time), you should not feel any repercussions within Brazil, IMO. When flying or busing domestically, your documents are checked, but not, to my knowledge, for visa status. I don't really approve of breaking the law of any country by overstaying a visa, but understand how someone could fall in love with Brazil, and I hope you enjoy your trip.