Brazil Is Reinstating Visas for U.S., Canadian, and Australian Travelers

Planning to samba your way to Rio this year? Heads-up: Brazil is reinstating visa requirements for citizens of the United States, Canada, and Australia starting April 10, 2025.

For the last few years, travelers from these countries could visit Brazil without a visa. That 2019 policy—originally introduced to boost tourism—is now being rolled back. The Brazilian government announced it will require visitors from these three nations to apply for an electronic visa (e-visa) for tourism, business, transit, and cultural or sporting travel.

Why This Is Happening

Brazil had dropped visa requirements unilaterally, even though its own citizens still needed visas to visit those three countries. The new change is, in part, a rebalancing move. Brazil will now bring back visas for those who still require Brazilians to apply before visiting.

To ease the burden, the country is launching an e-visa system—which means no trips to the consulate and no passport mailing. Travelers will apply online and receive a digital visa, valid for multiple purposes.

The platform to apply for the e-visa isn’t live yet, but authorities say it will be ready before April 10.

What Travelers are Saying

Reactions have been mixed. Some travelers are frustrated by the added paperwork, especially those who’ve gotten used to hopping over to Brazil on short notice. Others appreciate the convenience of an e-visa versus the old in-person process.

Frequent flyers with multiple layovers in South America are especially concerned about transit scenarios—so if you're booking complex itineraries through Brazil, plan accordingly.

What to Do Now If You're Traveling to Brazil

If you’re heading to Brazil after April 10, or even thinking about it, here’s what you need to do:

• Mark your calendar: April 10, 2025 is when the new requirement kicks in.

• Watch for updates: The e-visa portal will be announced on gov.br and travel.state.gov.

• Apply early: Don’t leave this for the week of your trip—processing times may vary.

What This Means for Airline Staff and Standby Travelers

Passriders from the U.S., Canada, and Australia, listen up: no more winging it to Brazil after April 10. If you’ve got a ZED or ID90 fare lined up to GRU, GIG, BSB or any other Brazilian port, you’ll need a valid e-visa before you even leave for the airport.

Since e-visas take time to process, make sure you apply before you start monitoring loads. Otherwise, your seat might clear, but your entry stamp won’t.

Looking Ahead

Whether this change sticks or shifts again in a few years is anyone’s guess. But for now, Brazil’s making it official: visas are back, and if you're one of millions of travelers from North America or Australia, you'll need one to enjoy that caipirinha by the beach.

Have you flown to Brazil on your travel benefits? Will this affect your future plans?