BRAZIL WILL REQUIRE E-VISA FROM PREVIOUSLY EXEMPTED TOURISTS

Starting April 10, 2024, citizens of Australia, Canada, and the United States who hold ordinary passports must present a visa to enter Brazil. The visa will be required at all ports, airports, and land borders.

Initially, the deadline for the e-visa requirement was January 10. Still, it was postponed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MRE) to avoid any negative consequences for Brazilian tourism during the peak travel season earlier this year. The MRE needed more time to finalize the implementation process of the visa system.

This measure reverses a decision made by the government of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro in March 2019. The previous government had exempted tourists from obtaining visas from the United States, Canada, Australia, and Japan. However, this decision was one-sided because Brazilians still needed visas to travel to these countries.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs explains that Brazilian diplomacy is based on reciprocity. Therefore, Japan was also removed from the list in May 2023 through a waiver agreement signed with Brazil. This waiver is valid for trips of up to 90 days.

e-Visas

Starting April 10, visitors from the three above countries will be required to apply for an electronic visa, also known as an e-Visa. This process can be done easily through a dedicated platform, and the cost to obtain the visa is US$80.90.

The procedures can be fully done without visiting a Brazilian consulate. Travelers can submit the necessary documentation online, such as images and a recent photo. Once the user has completed the process, they will receive the visa electronically via email. When they arrive in Brazil, they only need to present a valid passport and a printed copy of the visa.

The Brazilian e-Visa allows for multiple entries and has the same validity period as conventional visas. Americans can use it for up to ten years, while Canadians and Australians can use it for up to five years. The new rules apply to those who stay in Brazil for up to 90 days, and this period can be extended for 90 additional days. However, the total time spent in the country can be at most 180 days within 12 months.