In the last five years, Brazil has eliminated the visa requirement for some travelers, including citizens of the United States, as a way to boost tourism in the country. However, in mid-2023, the country announced that it would change course and soon require citizens of the United States, Canada, and Australia to come equipped with an e-visa to enter Brazil.
Initially, the new visa requirement was scheduled to take effect on October 1, 2023, but it was postponed to January 10, 2024, then to April 10, 2024, and again, to April 10, 2025.
Now, the Brazilian government has confirmed that the e-visa will come into effect on April 10 of this year.
If you already have a valid physical visa in your passport for the purpose of your visit, you will not need to apply for a new visa. However, if your arrival is scheduled for after April 9, we strongly recommend that you apply for your e-visa in advance to avoid travel issues.
According to Brazilian authorities, the processing time for the new e-visa will be up to five business days. However, “we strongly recommend that you apply for your e-visa two months prior to your trip to Brazil,” authorities advise on the e-visa website, noting that applying two months in advance will allow enough time to complete the application and correct it if necessary.
What you need to know:
Effective Date: The e-visa requirement for citizens of the United States, along with those from Canada and Australia, will be reinstated on April 10, 2025.
Purpose: The e-visa is required for short stays (up to 90 days) for tourism, business, or transit.
Application: You can apply for the e-visa through the website authorized by the Brazilian government: https://brazil.vfsevisa.com.
Visa Validity: The e-visa allows multiple entries and is valid for 10 years.
Visa Fee: The cost of the e-visa is $80.90.
Online Process: Unlike a consular visa, which requires an in-person visit to an embassy or consulate, the e-visa process will be fully online and will not require an in-person appointment.
In a press release, the government explained that the reason for reimplementing the visa requirement is that the United States, Canada, and Australia currently do not offer reciprocity, meaning that Brazilian citizens need to apply for and pay for visas to enter these three countries. In the United States, this means that Brazilian travelers are required to schedule an appointment at the nearest embassy or consulate, prove that they have the means to pay for the trip, and pay $185 for an American visa, even if they are just transiting through the country.
Source: GOV.ORG