An executive order issued by President Jair Bolsonaro will take effect on June 17, 2019, and is expected to increase the flow of foreign tourists to Brazil. The visa exemption for citizens of the United States of America, Australia, Canada, and Japan wishing to travel to Brazil was enacted on March 18, 2019. This will allow visitors from these four countries to enter Brazil without a visa. The order was signed by President Jair 
Bolsonaro, Foreign Minister Ernesto Araújo, Tourism Minister Marcelo Álvaro Antônio, and Justice Minister Sérgio Moro.
The measure benefits holders of valid passports traveling for tourism, business, artistic or sporting activities, or in exceptional situations of national interest. The initiative also covers travelers in transit through Brazil. Visitors will be entitled to a stay of up to 90 days, which can be extended once for the same period, provided they do not exceed 180 days in a 12-month period, counted from the date of the first entry. If the regular stay is exceeded, the visitor will be considered an irregular foreigner subject to applicable measures by the Brazilian government.
“This is a historic day for Brazilian tourism, and we are sure that this means a new level for our country among the main tourist destinations in the world. Our sector is capable of contributing to national economic growth 
through job and income creation, and soon we will have positive results to share,” emphasized Tourism Minister Marcelo Álvaro Antônio.
The four countries covered by the visa exemption announced on Monday were part of a pilot project that began in 2017 and introduced the electronic visa for visitors wishing to travel to Brazil. The Ministry of Tourism hopes that the new measure will help the country reach 12 million foreign visitors by 2020, compared to the current 6.6 million.
Increased Demand
Brazil’s decision to eliminate visa requirements for travelers from the United States, Canada, Australia, and Japan is already generating demand for travel to the country, according to new statistics from the Rio Convention & Visitors Bureau and Kayak.
According to the data, demand for travel to Brazil surged 36% in Australia, 31% in the USA, 19% in Canada, and 4% in Japan. Kayak’s research was based on information collected from March 21, comparing the daily average of searches from March 1 to 15 and from March 18 to 20 for travel from April 1 to December 31, 2019.
Boost to Tourism
The current administration has other plans to reshape tourism policy, including doubling the country’s spending on tourism advertising abroad to over $34 million by 2023. An existing goal to double international visits to 12 million annually by 2022 remains in effect.
The government is also seeking to transform its national tourism entity into an agency, allowing it to partner with private companies such as airlines, which is currently prohibited.
For more information on travel requirements to Brazil, please contact the Brazilian Consulate in your jurisdiction.