The Visitor Visas Exemption in Brazil for Canadians, Australians, Japanese and U.S. Citizens

Nationals from different countries need either a tourist or business visa to enter Brazil. A welcoming piece of news from an immigration perspective is that the visitor visa exemption for citizens of the United States, Canada, Australia and Japan that took effect on June 17.

The development is a part of the various initiatives that the Brazilian authorities have taken in recent times to simplify the visa and immigration processes.  In 2018, an electronic visa platform was launched to offer a more expedited and seamless process to nationals of the above-mentioned countries.  According to Forbes Magazine “Since its implementation in 2018, the e-visa program reportedly has resulted in a 35 percent increase in visa applications for visiting Brazil.”

For businesses, the exemption facilitates the mobility of businesspeople and professionals from a wide range of industries that come to Brazil for short visits (up to 180 days) to attend meetings, events, and fairs.

However, as its name states, the visitor visa is intended only for visiting the country and several other situations are not exempt from the analysis of the Brazilian authorities. There are several types of work and investment visas and each of them presupposes a few requirements. A professional who works in the technical area and come to the country to repair a machine or an executive who comes to implant a management practice need to apply for a work visa. Whoever comes to invest in the country also continues to need authorization.

For work and investor activities, authorization from the Ministry of Justice and Public Security is still required and Canadians, Australians, Japanese and Americans will still need work or an investment visa after June 17.