Brazil is South America’s largest and most populous country, a land of extraordinary diversity — from the Amazon rainforest and Pantanal wetlands to vibrant cities like Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, and from world-class beaches to the cultural heartland of the Northeast. It is consistently one of the most visited destinations in the Americas, attracting millions of international tourists, business travellers, students, and long-term residents each year.

Understanding Brazil’s visa requirements is essential before planning a trip. Brazil operates one of the more nuanced entry systems in the world, based largely on the principle of reciprocity — meaning it generally grants visa-free access to nationals of countries that do the same for Brazilians. However, this principle has exceptions, and recent policy changes (including the April 2025 revocation of the unilateral exemption for nationals of the USA, Australia, Canada, and Japan) have significantly altered the landscape.

This guide provides a comprehensive, country-by-country breakdown of Brazil’s current entry requirements, covering visa-free access, electronic visas, temporary visas, and special categories.

Section 1: Overview of Brazil’s Visa System

Brazil’s entry requirements fall into the following main categories:

• Visa-Free Entry (Ordinary Passports): Nationals of qualifying countries may enter Brazil for up to 90 days without any prior visa arrangement.
• Visa-Free Entry (Identity Card): Nationals of Mercosur member and associate states may enter using a national identity card instead of a passport when arriving from those countries.
• Electronic Visa (e-Visa): Available to nationals of Australia, Canada, and the United States (all visitor categories) and to nationals of China and India (business purposes only).
• Temporary Visa (VITEM): Required for any stay longer than 90 days or for the purpose of employment, study, investment, family reunification, and more. Fifteen categories exist.
• Diplomatic/Official/Service Passport Exemptions: A broader set of countries are visa-exempt for holders of these non-ordinary passports.
• Visa Required: All other nationalities must obtain a visa from a Brazilian diplomatic mission before travelling.

A key general rule: all visitors entering Brazil under visa exemption (or a visitor visa) are permitted to stay a maximum of 90 days per visit, and no more than 180 days total within any rolling 12-month period. For stays exceeding 90 days or for purposes such as paid employment, a temporary visa is required.

Airport transit is visa-free for all nationalities, provided the traveller does not leave the international transit area.

Section 2: Visa-Free Entry — Ordinary Passports

Holders of ordinary (tourist) passports from the following countries and territories may enter Brazil without a visa for up to 90 days, unless otherwise noted.

2.1 European Union Member States

All EU member states are visa-exempt for Brazil. However, the precise conditions vary:

• 90 days within any 180-day period: Croatia, Finland, Ireland, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain.
• 90 days (no 180-day rolling restriction): All other EU member states.

Note: The 180-day limitation does not apply to nationals of some EU member states due to separate bilateral agreements with Brazil.

2.2 Non-EU European Countries

The following non-EU European countries also enjoy visa-free entry to Brazil for ordinary passport holders:

• Albania — 90 days within any 180-day period
• Andorra — 90 days
• Bosnia and Herzegovina — 90 days
• Georgia — 90 days within any 180-day period
• Iceland — 90 days
• Liechtenstein — 90 days
• Moldova — 90 days
• Monaco — 90 days
• Montenegro — 90 days within any 180-day period
• North Macedonia — 90 days within any 180-day period
• Norway — 90 days
• Order of Malta — 90 days
• Russia — 90 days
• San Marino — 90 days
• Serbia — 90 days
• Switzerland — 90 days within any 180-day period
• Turkey — 90 days
• Ukraine — 90 days within any 180-day period
• United Kingdom — 90 days
• Vatican City — 90 days

2.3 Americas

Brazil has extensive visa-free agreements across the Americas, driven by Mercosur and other bilateral agreements. The following countries qualify for ordinary-passport visa-free entry:

• Antigua and Barbuda — 90 days
• Argentina — 90 days (may also use national identity card if arriving from a Mercosur/associate state)
• Bahamas — 90 days
• Barbados — 90 days
• Belize — 90 days
• Bolivia — 90 days (may also use identity card from Mercosur/associate state)
• Chile — 90 days (may also use identity card)
• Colombia — 90 days (may also use identity card)
• Costa Rica — 90 days
• Dominica — 90 days within any 180-day period
• Dominican Republic — 60 days
• Ecuador — 90 days (may also use identity card)
• El Salvador — 90 days
• Grenada — 90 days
• Guatemala — 90 days
• Guyana — 90 days
• Honduras — 90 days
• Jamaica — 90 days
• Mexico — 90 days (Brazil maintains this exemption even though Mexico now requires a visa from Brazilians; see Section 6 on reciprocity for context)
• Micronesia — 90 days
• Nicaragua — 90 days
• Panama — 90 days
• Paraguay — 90 days (may also use identity card)
• Peru — 90 days (may also use identity card)
• Saint Kitts and Nevis — 90 days
• Saint Lucia — 90 days
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines — 90 days
• Suriname — 90 days
• Trinidad and Tobago — 90 days
• Uruguay — 90 days (may also use identity card)
• Venezuela — 60 days (may also use identity card)

2.4 Asia-Pacific

• Armenia — 90 days
• Belarus — 90 days
• Fiji — 90 days
• Hong Kong (SAR) — 90 days
• Indonesia — 30 days
• Israel — 90 days
• Japan — 90 days (visa exemption currently scheduled until 29 September 2026, subject to extension)
• Kazakhstan — 30 days
• Macau (SAR) — 90 days
• Malaysia — 30 days
• Mongolia — 90 days
• New Zealand — 90 days
• Philippines — 90 days
• Qatar — 90 days within any 12-month period
• Singapore — 30 days
• South Korea — 90 days
• Thailand — 90 days
• United Arab Emirates — 90 days within any 12-month period

2.5 Africa

• Botswana — 90 days
• Morocco — 90 days
• Namibia — 90 days
• Seychelles — 90 days within any 180-day period
• South Africa — 90 days
• Tunisia — 90 days

2.6 Entry with a National Identity Card

Citizens of the following countries may enter Brazil using a national identity card instead of a passport, but only when arriving directly from a Mercosur member or associate state:

• Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela

Section 3: Electronic Visa (e-Visa)

Brazil offers an electronic visa for a limited number of nationalities that are not on the visa-free list. The e-Visa is applied for online before travel and is available through the VFS Global platform (brazil.vfsevisa.com).

3.1 e-Visa for All Visitor Categories (Tourism, Business, Transit, Sport, Arts)

Nationals of the following three countries may apply for an e-Visa covering all visitor categories:

• Australia
• Canada
• United States

Important: Brazil’s unilateral visa exemption for these three countries (and Japan) was revoked by the Lula administration on 10 April 2025. Citizens of Australia, Canada, and the United States now require either an e-Visa or a regular visa to visit Brazil. In March 2025, the Brazilian Senate approved a proposal to restore the exemption, but this still required approval by the Chamber of Deputies to take effect.

3.2 e-Visa for Business Purposes Only

Nationals of the following two countries may apply for a business-purpose e-Visa only:

• China — seafarers may apply fully electronically; other business travellers submit documents physically but may receive an electronic visa
• India

3.3 Special e-Visa: Haitian Family Reunification

Nationals and stateless residents of Haiti who have a family member in Brazil (granted residency under the humanitarian category, with residency requested before 2025) may apply for a family reunification visa electronically until 30 June 2026.

Section 4: Diplomatic, Official and Service Passports

Brazil’s visa exemption arrangements are generally more extensive for holders of diplomatic, official, or service passports than for ordinary passport holders. There are two sub-categories:

4.1 Holders of Diplomatic/Official/Service Passports of Visa-Exempt Countries

Holders of diplomatic, official, or service passports of countries that are already visa-exempt for ordinary passports may also enter Brazil without a visa. There are a few exceptions to this rule — holders of such passports from the following four countries are not covered by this broader exemption:

• Andorra
• Liechtenstein
• Monaco
• New Zealand

Additional note: For Bolivia, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, France, Guatemala, Iceland, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, South Africa, Suriname, and the UAE, and for holders of official or service passports of Venezuela, the exemption applies only if the holder is NOT accredited to Brazil.

4.2 Countries Visa-Exempt Only for Diplomatic/Official/Service Passports

Holders of diplomatic, official or service passports from the following countries — which require a visa for ordinary passport holders — may enter Brazil without a visa:

Algeria, Angola, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, China, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, India, Ivory Coast, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Malawi, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Togo, Vietnam, Zambia.

Additionally, holders of diplomatic passports only (not official or service passports) from the following countries may enter without a visa:

• Cuba
• Iran
• Pakistan (only if not accredited to Brazil)
• Uzbekistan

Section 5: The Visitor Visa (VIVIS)

The standard visitor visa (VIVIS) allows a stay of up to 90 days in Brazil, for the following purposes:

• Tourism, including cultural and recreational activities, family visits, attending conferences, volunteer work, research, study and teaching
• Business, including meetings, events, reporting, filming, surveying, signing contracts, audits, consulting, and serving as airplane or ship crew
• Transit
• Artistic and sport activities

Holders of visitor visas — including those entering under visa exemption — are subject to the following conditions:

• They may NOT receive payment from Brazilian sources for activities during their stay (with limited exceptions such as daily allowances, entertainment performance fees, competition prizes, and travel reimbursements).
• They are required to hold a return or onward travel ticket.
• They must provide proof of accommodation or a notarised invitation letter.
• They must demonstrate sufficient funds of at least R$248 per day.

The visitor visa is generally valid for multiple entries during a one-year validity period. Each stay is initially limited to 90 days, but an extension may be requested from the Federal Police after arrival. Combined stays must not exceed 180 days per any one-year period.

Section 6: Temporary Visas (VITEM) — Stays Over 90 Days

For any stay longer than 90 days, or for purposes such as employment, study, investment, or family reunification, foreign nationals must obtain a temporary visa (VITEM). There are 15 categories, summarised in the table below.

VITEM	Category	Employment in Brazil	Residency Period
I	Research, teaching or academic	Yes (with CGIG) / No	2 years → permanent
II	Health care	Not allowed	1 year, renewable
III	Humanitarian	Allowed	2 years → permanent
IV	Student	Allowed (if compatible)	1 year, renewable
V	Paid work	Yes (with CGIG) / No	2 years → permanent
VI	Working holiday	Allowed	1 year
VII	Religious	Not allowed	2 years → permanent
VIII	Volunteer work	Not allowed	1 year, renewable
IX	Investment (business / real estate)	Not allowed	Permanent / 4 years → permanent
X	Economic/scientific/cultural	Not implemented	—
XI	Family reunification	Allowed	Same as family member / 4 years → permanent
XII	Artistic or sport	Not allowed	1 year, renewable
XIII	International agreements	Allowed	Permanent / 2 years → permanent
XIV	Retirement / Digital nomad / CPLP	Varies	2 years → permanent / 1 yr renewable
XV	Medical training (Mais Médicos)	Not allowed	4 years, renewable

All temporary visa holders intending to stay more than 90 days must register with the Federal Police within 90 days of arrival and receive a national migration registration card (CRNM).

6.1 Key Temporary Visa Categories in Detail

VITEM III — Humanitarian Visa

Available to nationals or stateless residents of countries experiencing serious instability, armed conflict, disaster, or human rights violations. Residency is granted initially for two years, after which the applicant may request permanent residency. Brazil previously designated Afghanistan, Haiti, Syria, and Ukraine under this category. These designations ended in 2026 for new visas, though existing holders may still apply for residency continuation.

VITEM VI — Working Holiday Visa

Available only by international agreement. Agreements are in effect with Australia, France, Germany, New Zealand, and South Korea. Applicants must be between 18 and 30 years old (up to 34 for South Koreans). The primary purpose must be tourism, but paid work is permitted. Stay is limited to one year.

VITEM IX — Investment Visa

Three sub-types are available: (1) Managers/executives whose companies invest at least R$600,000, or R$150,000 with at least 10 new jobs — permanent residency from the start. (2) Personal investment of at least R$500,000 in a Brazilian company or R$150,000 in research — permanent residency from the start. (3) Purchase of urban real estate (R$700,000 in the North/Northeast, or R$1 million elsewhere) — 4 years initially, then permanent residency.

VITEM XI — Family Reunification

Available for spouses, domestic partners, children, grandchildren, parents, grandparents, dependent siblings, dependent stepchildren, and legal guardians of a Brazilian national or a person holding/applying for Brazilian residency. Residency matches the family member’s duration, with a path to permanent residency after four years or when the family member acquires it.

VITEM XIII — International Agreements

Permanent residency from the start for nationals of Argentina and Uruguay (bilateral agreements). For Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Peru — initial two years under the Mercosur Residency Agreement, then permanent residency.

VITEM XIV — Retirement, Digital Nomads, and CPLP

Retirement: Monthly income of at least USD 2,000 transferable to Brazil. Digital Nomads: Monthly income of at least USD 1,500 from a foreign employer or bank funds of USD 18,000+; 1-year stay, renewable. Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP): Available to qualifying nationals of Angola, Cape Verde, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Timor-Leste in qualifying professional roles.

Section 7: Reciprocity and Recent Policy Changes

Brazil’s visa policy is firmly grounded in the principle of reciprocity — it generally exempts from visa requirements only the nationals of countries that do not require a visa from Brazilians. Understanding recent policy changes is essential for travellers from key countries.

USA, Australia, Canada, and Japan — Exemption Revoked April 2025

Under President Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil unilaterally granted visa-free access to nationals of the United States, Australia, Canada, and Japan from June 2019. The subsequent Lula administration revoked this unilateral exemption on 10 April 2025. As of that date, nationals of these four countries are required to obtain a visa or e-Visa to enter Brazil. In March 2025, the Brazilian Senate approved a proposal to restore the exemption, but it still required approval by the Chamber of Deputies to take effect. In the meantime, nationals of Australia, Canada, and the United States can apply for an e-Visa, while Japanese nationals must apply for a traditional visitor visa.

Mexico — Electronic Visa Era Begins

Mexico unilaterally suspended its visa exemption for Brazilians in December 2021, and began requiring a full visa from August 2022. Brazil maintained its visa exemption for Mexicans throughout this period. In July 2023, both governments announced a move toward mutual electronic visas. Mexico implemented e-visas for Brazilians on 5 February 2026. Brazil subsequently announced it would implement e-visas for Mexicans — meaning the existing visa-free arrangement for Mexican visitors to Brazil will eventually transition to an e-Visa requirement.

China — Proposed Ordinary Passport Exemption

A visa exemption agreement for ordinary passport holders has been proposed between Brazil and China, in reciprocity for China’s visa exemption for Brazilians introduced in 2025. This agreement is not yet in force. For now, Chinese nationals require an e-Visa for business purposes and a regular visa for tourism.

New Zealand and Sierra Leone — Diplomatic Passport Agreements Pending

Agreements have been signed (but not yet ratified) for visa exemptions for diplomatic, official, or service passport holders from New Zealand (90 days) and Sierra Leone (90 days, or the duration of a mission if accredited to Brazil).

Section 8: Visitor Statistics — Where Do Brazil’s Tourists Come From?

The following table shows arrivals in Brazil by country of residence from 2020 to 2025, illustrating the extraordinary recovery in international tourism following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Country	2025	2024	2023	2022	2020
Argentina	3,386,823	1,960,182	1,882,240	1,032,762	887,805
Chile	801,921	653,895	458,576	202,470	131,174
United States	759,637	728,537	668,478	441,007	172,105
Paraguay	528,554	465,020	424,460	308,234	122,981
Uruguay	524,729	388,464	334,703	180,064	113,714
France	293,008	235,163	187,559	130,910	70,369
Portugal	273,483	218,354	182,463	149,747	51,028
Germany	209,854	182,166	158,582	120,670	61,149
Colombia	194,467	129,501	118,163	84,470	27,129
Italy	190,342	154,495	129,447	86,766	45,646
United Kingdom	187,396	153,754	130,239	87,909	48,595
Peru	175,418	131,368	99,353	61,634	33,895
Venezuela	169,346	8,637	5,777	3,750	11,636
Spain	160,484	132,484	114,096	83,745	32,665
Bolivia	128,494	129,992	123,803	90,694	45,449
Mexico	121,884	99,137	82,324	52,171	18,068
Canada	103,163	96,540	86,591	54,252	26,950
China	103,122	76,524	42,542	8,787	6,297
Japan	68,719	61,129	42,341	17,635	20,476
Others	613,672	521,699	424,137	283,483	149,712
Total	9,287,196	6,773,619	5,908,341	3,630,031	2,146,435

Source: Brazilian Ministry of Tourism — Chegada de turistas internacionais. Data covers visitors by country of residence, not nationality.

Argentina overwhelmingly dominates arrivals, accounting for over 3.38 million of the 9.29 million total visitors in 2025 — approximately 36% of all international arrivals. This reflects both geographical proximity and the deep cultural and family ties between the two countries. Chile and the United States follow at second and third. The strong presence of European visitors — particularly from France, Portugal, Germany, Italy, and the UK — reflects Brazil’s appeal as a long-haul destination for culturally curious travellers. The rapid growth of Chinese visitors (from 6,297 in 2020 to 103,122 in 2025) is one of the most striking trends in the recent data.

Section 9: Key Tips Before Travelling to Brazil

• USA, Australia, Canada: You now need an e-Visa following the revocation of the unilateral exemption in April 2025. Apply online at brazil.vfsevisa.com before travel. The e-Visa covers all visitor categories including tourism, business, and transit.
• Japan: Unlike the other three previously exempt countries, Japan does not yet have an e-Visa route. Japanese citizens must apply for a traditional visitor visa from a Brazilian diplomatic mission.
• Mercosur citizens: If you are from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, or Venezuela, and arriving from a Mercosur/associate state, you may be able to enter with just your national identity card — no passport required.
• Watch the 180-day rule: Even if you are visa-exempt for 90 days, you cannot exceed 180 total days in Brazil within any rolling 12-month period. This applies to almost all visa-exempt nationalities.
• Dominican Republic and Venezuela: Note that your visa-free allowance is 60 days, not 90 days like most other countries.
• Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Singapore: Your visa-free allowance is only 30 days — plan accordingly.
• Japan’s exemption has an expiry: The Japan-Brazil visa exemption is currently scheduled only until 29 September 2026. Japanese travellers should monitor whether this is extended or lapses.
• Business travellers from India and China: You may apply for a business e-Visa online. For tourism, a standard visa from a Brazilian consulate is required.
• Stays over 90 days: Always apply for the appropriate temporary visa (VITEM) before travelling if you plan to stay longer than 90 days. Attempting to extend a visitor visa repeatedly may not be permitted.
• Working holiday: If you are aged 18–30 (or up to 34 for South Koreans) and from Australia, France, Germany, New Zealand, or South Korea, you may be eligible for a working holiday visa allowing one year in Brazil with the right to paid work.
• Digital nomads: Brazil’s Digital Nomad visa (VITEM XIV) is one of the more accessible remote worker visa routes in South America, requiring a monthly foreign income of USD 1,500 or savings of USD 18,000.
• Airport transit: All nationalities may transit through Brazilian airports without a visa, provided they do not leave the international transit area.

Quick Reference Summary

Entry Type	Eligible Nationalities	Max Stay
Visa-Free (ordinary passport)	All EU states, UK, most of Latin America, Japan, South Korea, UAE, Qatar, Israel, Russia, South Africa, NZ, Australia*, Canada*, USA*, + many more	90 days (60 for Dominican Rep. & Venezuela; 30 for Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Kazakhstan)
Visa + Identity Card option	Mercosur countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela) arriving from those states	90 days
e-Visa (all visitor categories)	Australia, Canada, United States	90 days
e-Visa (business only)	China, India	90 days
Visa on Arrival	Not applicable — no visa on arrival system in Brazil	N/A
Temporary Visa (VITEM)	All nationalities, 15 categories including work, study, family, investment, digital nomad, retirement	1–4 years, renewable or permanent
Visa Required	All other nationalities not listed above	Varies
Airport Transit (no visa)	All nationalities (must stay in international transit zone)	Duration of transit

* As of 10 April 2025, nationals of Australia, Canada, and the United States require an e-Visa. Japan does not yet have an e-Visa option and requires a traditional visitor visa.

Conclusion

Brazil’s visa framework is one of the most extensive in the Americas, reflecting its position as a major global economy and a destination of tremendous appeal for tourists, business travellers, students, retirees, digital nomads, and those with family ties. Its reciprocity-based policy means that whether you need a visa largely depends on your country’s own treatment of Brazilian nationals.

Recent years have seen significant shifts — most notably the April 2025 revocation of the visa-free arrangement for nationals of the USA, Australia, Canada, and Japan, and the ongoing transition with Mexico toward mutual e-Visa arrangements. Travellers from these countries should pay particular attention to the current requirements before booking travel.

Whether you are planning a short holiday to the beaches of the Northeast, a business trip to São Paulo, or a long-term relocation under the Digital Nomad visa, understanding Brazil’s entry requirements is the essential first step to a successful and legally compliant journey.