In mid-March, the Brazilian government announced that it will officially drop the Brazil visa requirement for both tourists and business people. This category also includes people visiting Brazil for artistic or sports activities. This change specifically affects citizens of the US, Canada, Australia, and Japan with a start date on June 17, 2019. Here’s what you need to know about whether or not you need a visa to go to Brazil.
Brazil’s first step in switching from a complicated visa process (and expensive fee) actually came in January 2018. Brazil’s visa requirement is now an e-visa system. Also, the new visa fee is $40 instead of the $160 fee it was previously for tourists.
First, E-Visas To Increase Brazilian Tourism
The four countries (US, Canada, Australia, Japan) now benefiting from the e-visa system were part of a pilot project that started in 2017. According to the World Tourism Organization (WTO), visa facilitation measures can potentially increase tourism by 25% in countries that adopt e-visas.
In Brazil, the results were even better. In just one year of the electronic visa program, there was a 35.23% increase in visa requests (electronic and traditional). If people use these visas to make a trip to Brazil, the expected long-term total impact to the Brazilian economy is USD $1 billion.
Soon No More Brazilian Visas At All
Starting June 17, 2019, American, Canadian, Australian, and Japanese visitors to Brazil will be able to stay for up to 90 days each year without a visa. There is also the option to extend the visa by another 90 days. The visa time starts from the date of the first entry to Brazil. If traveling to Brazil between now and mid-June, you’ll still need to apply and pay for an e-visa.
My Own Travels to South America
I visit South America quite often because I have family in Chile. When I visit them, I like to stop first in another country in South America. It’s fun to explore different places and cultures. Thus far, my preferred stop is in Argentina, where I enjoy the cities, coffee, and the hotels. I’ve shied away from visiting Brazil for a few reasons, one of which was the hassle of getting a visa.
Hotel facade and garden of the Park Hyatt Buenos Aires
The Upshot
If Brazil is a destination on your radar and you either go often or have never visited, waiving the Brazil visa requirement works in your favor. Does having a visa requirement fee removed, or even simply reduced, influence whether or not you’ll visit a country?
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