For the past five years Brazil has waived visa requirements for some travelers, including those from the United States, as a means to boost tourism to the country. However, in mid-2023, the South American nation announced it was changing course and would soon require nationals from the United States, Canada, and Australia to come equipped with an e-visa to enter Brazil.
Originally, the newly reinstated visa requirement was scheduled to go into effect on October 1, 2023, but it was pushed back until January 10, 2024, then until April 10, 2024, and now again until April 10, 2025.
Now, the Brazilian government confirmed the e-visa is going in effect on April 10.
If you already possess a valid physical visa in your passport for your visit’s purpose, you do not need to apply for a new visa. However, If your arrival is scheduled after April 9th, we strongly recommend applying for your eVisa in advance to prevent travel disruptions.
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 before your travel to Brazil,” authorities advise in the FAQ portion of the e-visa website, noting that applying two months in advance will allow for adequate time to complete the application and correct it, if needed.
What you need to know:
Effective Date: The e-visa requirement for U.S. citizens, along with those from Canada and Australia, will be reinstated on April 10, 2025.
Purpose: The e-visa is required for short-term stays (up to 90 days) for tourism, business, or transit purposes.
Application: You can apply for the e-visa through the Brazilian government-authorized website: https://brazil.vfsevisa.com
Visa Validity: The e-visa allows multiple entries and is valid for 10 years.
Visa Fee: The fee for the e-visa is $80.90
On-line process: Unlike a consular visa that requires an in-person visit to an embassy or consulate, the e-visa process will be entirely online and will not require an in-person appointment.
In a press release, the government said the reason for reimplementing the visa requirement is that the United States, Canada, and Australia don’t currently offer reciprocity, meaning that Brazilian nationals have to apply and pay for visas to enter those three countries. In the United States, that means Brazilian travelers are required to make an appointment at their nearest embassy, prove they have the means to pay for their trip, and pay $185 for a U.S. visa, even if they are just transiting through the country.
Source: GOV.ORG