As of April 10, 2025, Brazil is set to turn the page on six years of visa-free travel for citizens of the United States, Canada, and Australia. This week, the South American nation will officially reinstate visa requirements for these travelers, marking a return to a long-standing tradition of reciprocity in its foreign policy. The move, which has been in the works since President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva took office, reverses a 2019 decision by his predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, to waive visas for these countries despite their own visa mandates for Brazilians.
The policy shift, effective just two days from now as of April 8, 2025, means that Americans, Canadians, and Australians planning a trip to Brazil will need to secure an e-Visa before boarding their flights. This electronic visa, designed to streamline the process, can be applied for online through Brazil’s official portal at brazil.vfsevisa.com. The e-Visa is valid for tourism or business stays of up to 90 days, with processing times touted as quick—often within days if all documents are in order. Travelers are urged to apply well in advance, however, to avoid last-minute hiccups, especially with the cutoff looming this Thursday.
Why the change? For Brazil, it’s about leveling the playing field. Historically, the country has aligned its visa policies with the principle of reciprocity—mirroring the entry requirements imposed on its own citizens. The U.S., Canada, and Australia all require visas from Brazilians, a fact that Lula’s administration pointed to when suspending the open-entry experiment in March 2023. The decision gained further momentum recently amid shifting global trade dynamics, including U.S. President Donald Trump’s imposition of a 10% tariff on Brazilian goods last week. While Brazil’s Senate initially pushed to keep the visa exemption earlier this year, the mood in the lower house soured after the tariff announcement, paving the way for this week’s reinstatement.
For travelers, the impact is immediate. Those planning to visit Brazil’s iconic beaches, Amazon rainforests, or vibrant Carnival celebrations will now face an extra step—and a modest cost. The e-Visa fee hasn’t been widely publicized yet, but past iterations suggest it’ll be reasonable, likely in the $40-$80 range, aligning with similar systems worldwide. The process requires a valid passport (good for at least six months beyond your departure date from Brazil), a digital photo, and proof of travel plans. For families, additional documentation—like a non-citizenship declaration for kids of Brazilian descent—may apply.
This isn’t a complete shock. Brazil delayed the visa reinstatement multiple times over the past two years, giving travelers a grace period to adjust. But with the deadline now upon us, the tourism industry is bracing for a potential dip in spontaneous visits from these key markets, which collectively sent millions to Brazil in 2023 alone. On the flip side, the e-Visa system promises to keep things manageable, offering a digital workaround to the notoriously slow paper-based applications of yesteryear.
For now, 99 other countries still enjoy visa-free access to Brazil, but for Americans, Canadians, and Australians, the days of packing a bag and hopping a plane to Rio without paperwork are over. As the world watches how this plays out—especially with Trump’s tariffs stirring the pot—Brazil’s move underscores a broader trend: nations recalibrating borders and diplomacy in an ever-shifting global landscape. So, if Brazil’s on your 2025 travel list, don’t wait—get that e-Visa sorted, and prepare for samba, sunshine, and a little extra red tape.
