Transiting Throught (GRU) Guarulhos Airport in Sao Paulo

13POSTS

10 years ago

Hi everyone,

I am a Pakistani citizen married to a Costa Rican citizen. I got my 30 days entry visa to Costa Rica from embassy of Costa Rica in Qatar this May 2015 which expired due to rejection of USA C-1 Transit visa and Spain Transit Visa.

Somebody have told me that I don't need an airport transit visa to transit from GRU airport in Brazil, so i double checked and on the embassy websites it says the same.

My travel plan will be something like this:

Lahore (LHE) to Doha (DOH) to Sao Paulo (GRU) on Qatar Airways. Terminal 3
Sao Paulo (GRU) to Panama (PTY) to San Jose (SJO) on Copa Airlines. Terminal 2

So my question to your guys is that can i travel to Sao Paulo without visa on Qatar Airways ticket and on walk out the aircraft and move directly to transit area and take second flight of Copa Air without going out?

I can travel without luggage if that's gonna be a problem for me to transit from one flight to another whom don't have any code sharing whatsoever.

Can i get the boarding pass within the transit area for Copa Air?

Please do let me know if this is possible or should i take another route.

Thank you,
Arshad Ali

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James ViP

11272POSTS

10 years ago

Hello Arshad Ali,

I don't know what website you were looking at, but the site for the Consulado-Geral do Brasil in Islamabad makes no mention whatsoever of the VITRA Transit Visa. That is very different than saying it is NOT needed, make no mistake about it.

Brazil requires a VITRA Transit Visa for anyone who is transiting through Brazil that is not a citizen of one of the Visa Waiver Program - VWP countries or the Schengen Area Agreement countries. To my knowledge there are no other exceptions.

I would appreciate it greatly if you would post a link to the site where you found the information that a VITRA Transit Visa is not required, since to my knowledge and experience this information is completely incorrect.

Brazil has made it about 20 times more difficult for citizens of Bangladesh, Pakistan, India and numerous African nations to obtain any category of visa than for citizens of other countries. This includes the VITUR Tourist Visa and VITRA Transit Visa. Certainly the visa requirements here in Brazil are much more onerous than in the USA and Spain.

Unless I can see an official website that states otherwise, I would strongly recommend that you not try to transit through Brazil. Without the proper visa, given your nationality, I can assure you that you would most certainly be detained here and quite likely placed on the plane back to Pakistan. Our Federal Police at immigrations checkpoints at airports and ports are very unforgiving. That said, if the visa is required (which I'm sure it is) it is quite likely that the airline wouldn't even let you board the aircraft without a visa, since they are responsible for your transportation back to your origin.

Cheers,
James聽聽 Expat-blog Experts Team

arshadsethi Member

13POSTS

10 years ago

Hi James,

Here is the link.

I apologize for confusing the visa thing, i meant to ask that according to this page of the embassy of Brazil in Islamabad i do not need a transit visa if i am connecting to another flight and will not leave the international transit area of the Brazilian airport.

I am living apart from my wife from like 17 months now all because of the visa and finally when i got the visa the USA and Spain didn't gave me the Transit visa so that I can go to my wife in Costa RIca.

please do let me know what i can do to reach San Jose, Costa Rica from Pakistan, I can transit through Countries in the Gulf like UAE, Qatar without visa.

Thank you,
Arshad Ali

James ViP

11272POSTS

10 years ago

Thanks for the link to the correct information, and I stand corrected. Certainly it is not what the government site describing the various types of visas says, but you are correct. This discrepancy in the information is nothing unusual for Brazil.

I would mention however that you should be prepared to remain under the very watchful eye of the Federal Police while you're in the International Area of GRU, they'll probably follow you around like hound dogs. It will likely annoy you greatly, please don't think that it is a sign of racism, it is because there have been so many false claims for refugee status, attempts to enter Brazil using false visas, etc., from citizens of ALL of the countries I mentioned in my earlier posting, that the Federal Police are extra vigilant now.

Cheers,
James聽聽 Expat-blog Experts Team

arshadsethi Member

13POSTS

10 years ago

Thank you for explaining it to me.

but please do share according to your experience that if there is another country easy for me as i cannot transit through Europe or North America, i can only transit through Arabian countries and can you advise me to some other airport from which I can reach my destination?

Thank you,
Arshad

James ViP

11272POSTS

10 years ago

I really don't know how to answer that question. I'd suggest that you speak to a Travel Agent, as they are much more familiar with alrlines and routing than I am.

Cheers,
James聽聽 Expat-blog Experts Team

Nomanjvd Member

12POSTS

last year

@James hello hope u r fine. I am from Pakistan and i married a woman from costa rica she came and we married in Pakistan i have all my attested documents and i attested from ministry of forign affair of Pakistan and apostile all my documents and submitted register in costa rica. What are the requirments for register my marriage and requirments for immigration office. She wish that we live in costa rica but if i am not able to get the visa we will live in Pakistan. Can u help me about the documentation if u have some idea

Fred Indonesia Expert

30549POSTS

last year

聽聽 @James hello hope u r fine.
聽聽 -@Nomanjvd

Sadly, James is no longer with us.

arshadsethi Member

13POSTS

last year

Oh fred i am so sorry to hear that, may he rest in peace.

arshadsethi Member

13POSTS

last year

#10

@Nomanjvd

what are you asking state clearly! your wife can get you the visa it will take some time but it will come through.

abthree Brazil Expert

6453POSTS

last year

#11

09/06/24 I am from Pakistan and i married a woman from costa rica she came and we married in Pakistan i have all my attested documents and i attested from ministry of forign affair of Pakistan and apostile all my documents and submitted register in costa rica. What are the requirments for register my marriage and requirments for immigration office. She wish that we live in costa rica but if i am not able to get the visa we will live in Pakistan. Can u help me about the documentation if u have some idea聽聽

聽聽 -@Nomanjvd

Costa Rica apparently does not have an embassy in Islamabad.聽 They do have one in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.聽 I would suggest that you address your questions there, and that you and your wife go there to register your marriage.聽 (Costa Rica also has an embassy in New Delhi, but that is probably not available to you.)聽 This is the website of the Costa Rican Embassy in Abu Dhabi:

You have currently posted in the Brazil Forum.聽聽Brazil is very far from Costa Rica, and speaks a different language.聽 We have a Costa Rica Forum on 大咖福利影院 where you can post your questions about moving to Costa Rica and have a better chance of getting a helpful answer:

/forum/viewforum.php?id=228

Nomanjvd Member

12POSTS

last year

#12

@arshadsethi

Can i have ur whatsapp

bepmoht Serial expat

293POSTS

last year

#13

Why not avoid landing Brazil? I checked arrivals at Juan Santamaria airport in Costa Rica and there are many flights from other countries which may fit your needs. Here are some sample arrivals from today (September 7).

Madrid

Frankfurt

mexico city

paris

bogota

I might add that GRU is a terrible airport. I think others can confirm this. I avoid this airport at all costs. In my opinion, it鈥檚 the worst International airport in Brazil.

1 member reacted to this post

Pablo888 Serial expat

873POSTS

last year

#14

Also hate GRU but I unfortunately have to use it because of my airline loyalty.

I will go through it next week and I am taking all the possible precautions such as not having checked in luggage and making sure that there is at least 1.5 hour available for the transit and getting all my check-in documents and paperwork before leaving for GRU.聽

I don't know where I will land where I will depart - so it will be a sprint to make my connection.

The last time, I missed my plane by 15mins and I had to spend a whole day to get the next flight.....聽 No fun spending a whole night at the airport.

Avoid at all possible.

1 member reacted to this post

Nomanjvd Member

12POSTS

last year

#15

@arshadsethi

Do u have any idea how much time it takes

NewBrazil Serial expat

332POSTS

last year

#16

Last time I was there in your same situation your 1.5 time frame is cutting it close. It聽 look like you know what聽 your going to have to do. If you have聽 any checked bags you have to recheck them at the airline desk. If your ticket for the local airline doesn鈥檛 have your seat assignment you may have to go to the checkin desk. Here the fun part you will land in Terminal 3 and have to run to terminal 1 or 2. Get ready to run and still have to go through security again. Good luck just a thought for those who might have the same experience try to get 3 hous for layover when coming international.

2 members reacted to this post