Brazil reintroduces visas for US, Canadian and Australian travellers (2025)

From April 2025, US, Canadian and Australian citizens need an e-Visa to visit Brazil — a reversal of the temporary visa-free arrangement that lapsed in late 2024. Same-day processing, US$80 fee. Here's what changed and what to do.

Published May 10, 2026 · 5 min read · By Visavu editorial

On April 10, 2025, Brazil reintroduced visa requirements for American, Canadian and Australian travellers. The temporary visa-free arrangement that began in 2019 (and was extended several times) was not renewed. Affected travellers now apply online for a brazilian e-Visa before boarding, pay roughly US$80, and receive approval typically within 24-72 hours. Here's the full picture.

TL;DR

  • Who's affected: US, Canadian, Australian passport holders.
  • What changed: Visa-free entry ended. e-Visa now required for tourism and business visits.
  • Fee: ~US$80 (consular fees fluctuate; check the official portal).
  • Validity: 10 years, multiple entries. Up to 90 days per stay (extendable to 180 in a year).
  • Processing: Usually 1-3 business days. Apply at least 5 days before travel.

Who is not affected

Brazil's reciprocity rule is the underlying logic: Brazil grants visa-free entry to countries that grant the same to Brazilian citizens. The reversal targeted the three large countries that don't reciprocate (US, Canada, Australia). Travellers from elsewhere are unaffected:

  • European Union, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland — continue to enter visa-free (up to 90 days; 180 in a year).
  • Japan, South Korea, Israel, UAE — visa-free.
  • All Mercosur and CARICOM countries — visa-free or via the Mercosur Residency Agreement.

How to apply (the only path)

  1. Apply via the official Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs e-Visa portal (currently processed via VFS in partnership with the MFA). Watch for the official URL — search results often surface third-party services that charge a markup.
  2. Submit: passport bio page scan, recent passport photo, proof of onward travel, proof of accommodation, and a short summary of your itinerary.
  3. Pay the fee online by card. Receipt arrives by email.
  4. Receive the e-Visa as a PDF attachment, typically within 1-3 business days. Print it or save a clear digital copy — Brazilian Federal Police inspect this on arrival.
  5. On arrival, the e-Visa is matched to your passport at immigration. The 90-day counter starts on entry.

What to do if you booked before April 2025

Brazilian authorities honoured already-booked itineraries up to a transition deadline, but as of mid-2025 that grace period has closed. If your trip is after April 2025 and you're a US, Canadian, or Australian citizen, you need an e-Visa regardless of when you booked.

Dual citizenship — easy escape

If you also hold a passport from a visa-exempt country (UK, EU, Japan, etc.), entering Brazil on that passport bypasses the e-Visa requirement entirely. Carry both passports and enter on the visa-free one. See our visa finder with your second nationality to confirm.

Look up your route

Use our finder with passport → Brazil to see current entry rules with the policy banner pre-applied for US / CA / AU travellers.

References