What is important to know:

ATTENTION: Students from partner universities can take FREE language course ("Portuguese for Foreigners") during their exchange program.

1 - INFORMATION ABOUT VISA AND ENTRY IN BRAZIL

The visa is a federal authorization for a foreigner to enter Brazil. For most countries it is issued only in the home country, but for some, the visitor's entry and residence in the Brazilian territory is authorized for a specified period, defined according to the purpose of the trip.

The application for a visa to enter Brazil can be done at any Brazilian consulate abroad. It is required to pay a fee, which varies with the type of visa requested.

The visa issued to the student is the "temporary - Item IV", which is valid for a maximum of one year and may be renewed annually until the completion of the course, once it is proved same good use. This visa does not permit the holder to work in the country or receive any remuneration from a Brazilian entity.

Mackenzie's Acceptance Letter is essential to be given entry in the visa application. It is noteworthy that it is not possible to change the tourist visa to student visa in Brazil.

It is essential to request the visa well in advance, once the complete processing may take some time.

Arriving in Brazil your passport must have at least one year of validity.

By entering in Brazil, some of the documents that should be submitted to the Brazilian customs are:

* Passport;
* International Certificate of Vaccination, if necessary;
* Certified copy of the application for entry visa.
* Must be kept together to its holder the passport and the 2nd card via incoming / outgoing, which will be collected by the Federal Police when leaving the country.

Federal Police:

Every foreigner who arrives in Brazil for more than one month shall makes registration in the federal police. This must be done within thirty days following the date of arrival in Brazil. The GRU may be paid at any bank, lottery shops, post offices and correspondent banks, following the receiving criteria established by these correspondents.

Documents to be submitted:

- Fill the GRU form (get in the Federal Police or in the website www.dpf.gov.br – “GRU para pessoas estrangeiras”)
- Two photos 3 X 4 (colored, with white background, unadorned - hair on face, big earrings, etc…).
- Original Consular visa application
- GRU Rate
- Certified copies of the passport (only from the sheets that were used) or valid travel document

Address of the Federal Police in Sao Paulo

Hugo Dantola Street, 95 - Lapa
Near the Piqueri bridge
Phone: +55 (11) 3616.5000
Website: www.dpf.gov.br

2 - ACCOMMODATION

About accommodation, the most common option is to share an apartment with other Brazilians, also UPM students.

COI (Mackenzie’s International Office) has a list of some options for accommodation (temporary or not) to interested students. Options include: homestay, single apartments and hotels.

The list of lodging can be requested by e-mail: coi.alunos@mackenzie.br

3 - TRANSPORT

Sao Paulo’s Transportation Secretary has in its website the following information:

Transit:

Traffic flows within the normal range. However, try to avoid the rush hours, from 7h to 9h a.m. and from 17h to 20h p.m.

Bus:

Sao Paulo has about 10 000 buses serving the city. In lottery houses or in SPTrans’ positions, visitors can apply for “Bilhete Único” (Single Ticket), a magnetic card that allows a persons to take until 4 buses paying just one fare. This card must be loaded with credits and who does not have it should pay the fares directly to the collector.

Information about bus routes, call 156 (free calling) or by the website www.sptrans.com.br

Information about special bus service to the Guarulhos Airport, call (11) 6445-2945 or by the telephone 0800-190088. Website: www.airportbusservice.com.br

Subway:

The subway service in the city operates daily starting at 4:40 a.m. Each station has different closing times, all by midnight.

The main lines are the Blue, which makes the north-south route linking “Tucuruvi” to “Jabaquara”, the Green Line, that crosses the Paulista Avenue, links “Ipiranga” station to “Vila Madalena”, the Red Line, which makes the East-West route linking “Corinthians/Itaquera” to “Palmeiras/Barra Funda”, and the Purple Line, that links “Capão Redondo” to “Largo Treze”. Actually the system is expanding.

4 - KNOW THE CITY

• Map for shopping in Sao Paulo

Sao Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, one of the most world's known Brazilian cities: is considered the 14th most globalized and the 19th richest city in the world.

It has 10.886.518 inhabitants according to the IBGE, is a major cultural and social center, where the word “variety” fits perfectly. It is the most multicultural city in Brazil.

The state government of Sao Paulo offers a portal where one it can be found the sights of the city the events that take place here and the cultural agenda.

Link to website: www.cidadedesaopaulo.com