# AI tells a US/UK citizen they can stay in Brazil indefinitely on the Mercosur residence agreement, or that a 90-day tourist visa is renewable by leaving to Argentina

- **ID:** `visa/brazil-mercosur-residence-90-day-rule`
- **Domain:** visa
- **Category:** immigration_risk
- **Error Code:** `BRAZIL_MERCOSUR_NA`
- **Verification:** ai_generated
- **Fix Rate:** 80%

## Root Cause

Brazil's Mercosur Residence Agreement (Acordo de Residência do Mercosul) allows nationals of Mercosur countries (Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, etc.) to apply for 2-year residence, but US/UK citizens are NOT eligible; they are limited to 90-day tourist visa (extendable once for 90 days) per 365-day period, and a 'visa run' to Argentina does not reset the clock—the total stay in Brazil cannot exceed 180 days in any 365-day window

## Version Compatibility

| Version | Status | Introduced | Deprecated |
|---------|--------|------------|------------|
| SISMIGRA v2.3 (2024) | active | — | — |
| Polícia Federal immigration system v4.1 | active | — | — |

## Workarounds

1. **Before the 90-day tourist visa expires, apply for a 90-day extension at the Polícia Federal office using the SISMIGRA online system (https://www.gov.br/pf/pt-br/assuntos/imigracao/sismigra). This gives a total of 180 days in Brazil. After that, you must leave for 365 days** (85% success)
   ```
   Before the 90-day tourist visa expires, apply for a 90-day extension at the Polícia Federal office using the SISMIGRA online system (https://www.gov.br/pf/pt-br/assuntos/imigracao/sismigra). This gives a total of 180 days in Brazil. After that, you must leave for 365 days
   ```
2. **For stays over 180 days, apply for a Temporary Visa (e.g., VITEM IV for study, VITEM V for work) from the Brazilian embassy in your home country before travel; these visas allow 1-2 year stays with multiple entries** (80% success)
   ```
   For stays over 180 days, apply for a Temporary Visa (e.g., VITEM IV for study, VITEM V for work) from the Brazilian embassy in your home country before travel; these visas allow 1-2 year stays with multiple entries
   ```
3. **If you overstay, pay the fine (R$ 100/day) at the Polícia Federal before departure; the fine does not trigger a re-entry ban if paid within 60 days of overstay. Use the SISMIGRA portal to generate the payment slip (GRU)** (75% success)
   ```
   If you overstay, pay the fine (R$ 100/day) at the Polícia Federal before departure; the fine does not trigger a re-entry ban if paid within 60 days of overstay. Use the SISMIGRA portal to generate the payment slip (GRU)
   ```

## Dead Ends

- **** — Brazilian Federal Police tracks total stay in any 365-day period; leaving to Argentina does not reset the clock—the 90-day limit accumulates across all entries. After 90 days in Brazil, you must leave for 365 days before returning (96% fail)
- **** — The Mercosur Residence Agreement only applies to nationals of Mercosur member states (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Venezuela—suspended) and associated states (Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname); US/UK citizens are explicitly excluded (100% fail)
- **** — The extension is possible once (total 180 days), but only if applied before the first 90 days expire; after that, overstay fines apply (R$ 100 per day) and further extension is impossible (50% fail)