Brazil Tourist Visa Requirements in 2025

Do You Need a Visa for Brazil?

If you hold a passport from the United States, Canada, or Australia, yes. As of April 10, 2025, you must apply for a Brazil eVisa online before you board your flight. There is no visa on arrival, and airlines will not let you check in without it.

If you hold an EU, UK, Mercosur, or most Latin American passports, no. You enter visa-free as a tourist for up to 90 days per 12-month period, with the option to extend once for another 90 days at the Federal Police inside Brazil.

The change affects roughly 1.5 million travelers per year from those three countries. It is a reciprocity measure: Brazil charges Americans, Canadians, and Australians a visa fee because those countries charge Brazilians for theirs. Japan was originally included but received an extension and remains visa-free for now.

Brazil eVisa for US, Canada, and Australia Citizens

The Brazil eVisa is processed exclusively through VFS Global at brazil.vfsevisa.com. Do not use any other site. Several lookalike domains charge inflated fees and have no authority to issue the visa.

Step-by-step application

1. Create an account at brazil.vfsevisa.com using a working email you check daily.
2. Fill out the application form. Have your passport, travel dates, accommodation address, and a recent digital photo ready.
3. Upload supporting documents: passport bio page, passport-style photo (white background, taken in the last 6 months), proof of return or onward ticket, proof of accommodation, and proof of sufficient funds (a bank statement from the last 30 days showing roughly USD 2,000 or more is the safe baseline).
4. Pay the fee: USD 80.90 by credit card.
5. Wait for approval. Standard processing is up to 5 business days. In practice, many travelers receive approval within 2 to 3 days.
6. Print your eVisa. You will receive it as a PDF by email. Print a paper copy and save a digital copy on your phone. Some airline check-in agents still ask to see it on paper.

Validity: The eVisa is valid for 10 years and allows multiple entries, each up to 90 days. You do not need to reapply for every trip during that decade.

Visa-Free Countries for Brazil Tourism

Citizens of the following regions enter Brazil without a visa for tourism, with stays of up to 90 days per 12-month period:

• All EU member states (including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Portugal, Ireland)
• United Kingdom
• Schengen-area non-EU countries (Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein)
• Mercosur member and associated states (Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador)
• Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, and most of Central America
• South Korea, Israel, Turkey, Morocco, South Africa
• Japan (extension granted; status under review)
• Russia, Serbia, Ukraine

If your country is not in the list above, check the next section.

Other Nationalities and Consular Visas

Travelers from countries not covered by the eVisa or the visa-free agreement need to apply for a VIVIS (Visit Visa) at the nearest Brazilian consulate. This applies to most of Asia (excluding Japan and South Korea), most of Africa, and parts of the Middle East.

The consular process is more involved: in-person interview, biometrics, paper documents, and processing times that vary from 2 to 8 weeks depending on the consulate. Fees range from USD 40 to USD 100.

Check the embassy or consulate website for your specific country before booking flights. Brazil's foreign ministry maintains a complete list at gov.br/mre.

Documents Required at Brazilian Immigration

Visa or no visa, every tourist needs the following at the immigration desk on arrival:

• Passport valid for at least 6 months from your entry date.
• Return or onward ticket out of Brazil within the 90-day stay limit.
• Proof of accommodation for at least the first night (hotel booking, hostel reservation, or host's address if staying with friends).
• Proof of funds if requested. Officers rarely ask, but they can. A bank statement, credit card, or roughly USD 50 per day in cash equivalent is the informal benchmark.

For US, Canadian, and Australian citizens, also bring a printed copy of your eVisa approval. Airlines check this at check-in, not at the gate, so it has to be ready before you reach the airport.

How to Extend Your Tourist Stay

The 90-day limit can be extended once per 12-month period for an additional 90 days, bringing the total to 180 days. The extension is processed by the Polícia Federal (Federal Police) at any office with an immigration desk. Major cities like São Paulo, Rio, Salvador, and Brasília have dedicated immigration offices.

What you need:

• Apply before your initial 90 days expire. Overstaying triggers a fine and potential entry ban.
• Schedule an appointment online at gov.br/pf.
• Bring your passport, entry stamp, proof of funds, proof of accommodation, and the GRU payment receipt (around BRL 100).
• Show up in person on the appointment date.

The extension is usually granted on the spot. Bring patience: Federal Police offices are slow, and the appointment system can be glitchy.

Common Mistakes and Pitfalls

Applying through a third-party site. Searching "Brazil visa" pulls up dozens of resellers charging USD 150 to USD 300 for what costs USD 80.90 directly. The only official portal is brazil.vfsevisa.com.

Uploading the wrong photo. VFS rejects photos with shadows, smiles, glasses, or non-white backgrounds. Use a passport photo app or get one taken at a pharmacy.

Booking flights before visa approval. If you are from the US, Canada, or Australia, secure the eVisa before paying for non-refundable tickets. Approval is routine but not instant.

Confusing tourist visa with business visa. The eVisa described here is for tourism only. If you are coming for paid work, study longer than 90 days, or formal business meetings, you need a different category.

Overstaying. Each day past 90 (or 180 with extension) costs roughly BRL 100 in fines, capped at BRL 10,000. More importantly, overstaying flags your record and can complicate future entries.

For more practical advice on arriving and getting around, see our getting there guide and Brazil travel tips.

Frequently Asked Questions