Visa policy of Brazil's theme is one that has captured the attention of millions of people around the world. From its impact on society to its ramifications on popular culture, Visa policy of Brazil has proven to be a fascinating topic worthy of study in numerous fields. Throughout history, Visa policy of Brazil has played a crucial role in shaping public opinion and shaping global trends. In this article, we will explore the various facets of Visa policy of Brazil and its influence on different aspects of everyday life.
Visitors to Brazil must obtain a visa from one of the Brazilian diplomatic missions unless they are nationals of one of the visa-exempt countries or have the option to obtain an electronic visa. For stays longer than 90 days or for employment in Brazil, all foreign nationals must have a visa or residency authorization.
Visa policy map
Visa exemption
Ordinary passports
Holders of ordinary passports of the following countries and entities may enter Brazil without a visa for up to 90 days (unless otherwise noted).
before 15 February 2001: Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Vatican City; Andorra, Bahamas, Barbados, Bolivia, Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Namibia, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela (for tourism). Agreements with some of these countries came into force on the dates below, but visa exemptions may have started earlier on previous agreements:
1 August 1931: Austria (replaced by another agreement from 21 October 1967)
11 December 1948: Liechtenstein (for tourism)
21 July 1953: Denmark
11 October 1965: Spain
1 April 1969: Finland
5 May 1969: Mexico (ended 20 November 1990)
26 August 1969: Colombia
28 August 1969: Iceland
7 April 1971: Trinidad and Tobago (for tourism)
22 August 1972: Philippines (replaced by another agreement from 25 October 1973)
12 July 1973: Ecuador
1 March 1985: France (replaced by another agreement from 27 June 1996)
15 November 1988: Suriname
20 November 1990: removed Mexico
27 November 1990: Venezuela (for tourism)
28 November 1992: Namibia (for tourism)
28 December 1995: Bolivia (for tourism)
30 August 1996: Slovenia
6 December 1996: Costa Rica
26 December 1996: South Africa
25 January 1997: Portugal (replaced by other agreements from 5 September 2001 and 5 December 2007)
2 July 1998: United Kingdom
22 July 1999: Malaysia (for tourism)
27 October 1999: Thailand
22 April 2000: Poland
29 August 2000: Israel
before 3 June 2002: Macau
before 8 December 2004: Order of Malta; Trinidad and Tobago (for business)
19 July 2001: Hungary
7 January 2002: Panama (for tourism)
20 May 2002: South Korea
1 July 2004: Turkey
7 February 2004: Mexico (suspended from 23 October 2005 to 16 May 2013)
6 August 2004: Tunisia
21 October 2004: New Zealand
6 August 2005: Slovakia
16 September 2005: Bolivia (for business)
3 October 2005: Czech Republic
7 October 2005: Bulgaria
23 October 2005: suspended Mexico
3 November 2005: Guyana (for tourism)
5 January 2006: Guatemala (for tourism)
31 March 2006: Honduras (suspended from 5 September 2009 to 20 July 2011)
17 August 2006: Croatia
11 November 2007: Romania
22 October 2008: Hong Kong
25 October 2008: Lithuania
5 September 2009: suspended Honduras
19 February 2010: El Salvador
7 June 2010: Russia
1 April 2011: Venezuela (for business)
20 July 2011: resumed Honduras
30 October 2011: Ukraine
1 October 2012: Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Malta
4 April 2013: Bosnia and Herzegovina
16 May 2013: resumed Mexico
11 July 2013: Guyana (for business)
17 August 2013: Serbia
9 January 2014: Singapore
9 July 2014: Grenada
14 November 2014: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
29 November 2014: Albania
20 December 2014: Antigua and Barbuda
7 March 2015: Saint Kitts and Nevis
10 April 2015: Georgia
17 May 2015: Dominica
27 June 2015: Jamaica
13 September 2015: Belize
21 October 2015: Mongolia
25 November 2015: Armenia
1 June 2016: Australia, Canada, Japan, United States (unilateral exemption for tourism during 2016 Summer Olympics; ended 18 September 2016)
27 July 2016: Montenegro
27 August 2016: North Macedonia
6 September 2016: Kazakhstan
18 September 2016: removed Australia, Canada, Japan, United States (end of unilateral exemption for tourism)
23 October 2016: Seychelles
25 November 2016: Belarus
29 June 2017: Fiji
21 November 2017: Andorra, Bahamas, Barbados, Guatemala, Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Namibia, Panama (for business)
21 November 2017: electronic visa for nationals of Australia (ended 13 June 2019)
20 December 2017: Nicaragua
11 January 2018: electronic visa for nationals of Japan (ended 13 June 2019)
18 January 2018: electronic visa for nationals of Canada (ended 13 June 2019)
25 January 2018: electronic visa for nationals of the United States (ended 13 June 2019)
2 June 2018: United Arab Emirates
10 June 2018: Indonesia
13 June 2019: discontinued applications for electronic visas
17 June 2019: Australia, Japan, Canada, United States (unilateral exemption; replaced with reciprocal exemption for nationals of Japan on 30 September 2023, electronic visa for nationals of Australia, Canada, United States scheduled for 10 April 2025)
27 December 2019: Qatar
21 October 2021: Dominican Republic
13 March 2022: Moldova
26 July 2022: Botswana
30 September 2023: Japan (reciprocal exemption)
14 January 2024: Saint Lucia
10 April 2025: scheduled end of unilateral exemption, resumption of electronic visa for nationals of Australia, Canada, United States
Visitors entering Brazil under a visa exemption are subject to the same restrictions as those entering Brazil with a visitor visa (for tourism, business, transit, artistic and sport activities, without payment from Brazilian sources).
Nationals of Spain are specifically required to hold a ticket for entering and leaving Brazil, proof of accommodation or a notarized invitation letter, and proof of funds of at least R$170 per day.
Visas are not required for airport transit, from any nationality, as long as the traveler does not leave the international transit area.
Nationals of Brazil who also have another nationality are allowed to enter and leave Brazil with the passport of the other country in combination with a Brazilian identity card. If they do not provide this Brazilian document, they may still enter Brazil as foreigners, subject to the regular requirements and limitations as such. However, usually this case is only possible if Brazil does not require a visa from the other nationality. Brazil only issues visas to dual nationals in exceptional circumstances, such as for those who work in foreign government jobs that prohibit the use of a Brazilian passport.
Non-ordinary passports
Holders of diplomatic, official or service passports of countries that are visa-exempt (listed above) may enter Brazil without a visa (except Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco and New Zealand).
Brazil has signed visa exemption agreements with the following countries, but they are not yet in force:
European Union - amendment of existing agreement for holders of ordinary passports, redefining the maximum visa-free stay as 90 days within any 180-day period
Sierra Leone - for holders of diplomatic, official or service passports: 90 days, or the entire period of a mission if accredited to Brazil
The Mexican government unilaterally suspended its visa exemption agreement with Brazil, requiring a visa or electronic authorization for nationals of Brazil to travel to Mexico from 11 December 2021, and a regular visa from 18 August 2022. However, the Brazilian government maintained the visa exemption for nationals of Mexico to travel to Brazil at the time. In July 2023, both governments announced their intention to adopt electronic visas for each other's nationals, and to eventually resume their visa exemption agreement. In March 2024, Brazilian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mauro Vieira announced that an invitation to tender was in progress to implement the system to issue electronic visas for nationals of Mexico.
In March 2023, the Brazilian government announced its decision to resume the visa requirement for nationals of Australia, Canada, Japan and the United States, to restore reciprocity. The government planned to offer the option of electronic visas for nationals of these countries, as it was the case before the unilateral exemption was established in 2019. In August 2023, Brazil and Japan concluded a reciprocal visa exemption agreement. The resumption of the visa requirement for nationals of the remaining countries (Australia, Canada and the United States) was initially scheduled for 1 October 2023, but was later postponed to 10 January 2024, then to 10 April 2024, then to 10 April 2025. The website to apply for electronic visas became available on 1 December 2023.
Electronic visa
Nationals of the following countries may apply for visitor visas electronically:
The visitor visa (VIVIS) allows stays of up to 90 days, 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, airplane and ship crew;
Transit;
Artistic and sport activities.
Holders of visitor visas are not allowed to receive payment from Brazilian sources for the activities during their stay, except for daily allowances for living expenses, payments for entertainment performances, compensation for management of their own business, reimbursement of travel expenses, and competition prizes.
The visitor visa is usually valid for multiple entries during the visa validity period, which is generally one year but may be longer for some nationalities. Each stay is initially limited to 90 days, but an extension may be requested from the Federal Police after arrival. The combined stays must not exceed 180 days per any one-year period.
Temporary visa
Many types of temporary visas (VITEM) are available, for stays longer than 90 days. Certain types of visas allow employment in Brazil. For some visas based on work or investment, the applicant must obtain authorization from the General Coordination of Immigration (CGIG) before requesting the visa.
All holders of temporary visas intending to stay for more than 90 days are required to register with the Federal Police within 90 days after arrival. After registration, they receive a national migration registration card (CRNM) and are granted residency for a certain period. In some cases this period may be "indeterminate" (permanent residency). Temporary residents may later apply to renew their residency period or convert it to permanent residency in some cases. Only the time spent as a permanent resident qualifies for naturalization.
In addition to registration, a taxpayer number (CPF) is required for various transactions, and a work card (CTPS) is required for those who will be employed in Brazil. These documents may be obtained in digital format online, free of charge.
Summary of temporary visas
VITEM
Category
Employment in Brazil
CGIG authorization
Nationality
Residency
I
Research, teaching or academic
yes
required
any
2 years, then permanent
no
not required
2 years, renewable
II
Health care
not allowed
not required
any
1 year, renewable
III
Humanitarian
allowed
not required
2 years, then permanent
IV
Student
allowed
not required
any
1 year, renewable
V
Paid work
yes
required
any
2 years, then permanent
no
in some cases
1 or 2 years
VI
Working holiday
allowed
not required
1 year
VII
Religious
not allowed
not required
any
2 years, then permanent
VIII
Volunteer work
not allowed
not required
any
1 year, renewable
IX
Investment in business
not allowed
required
any
permanent from the start
Investment in real estate
4 years, then permanent
X
Economic, scientific, technological or cultural
not implemented
XI
Family reunification
allowed
not required
any
same as family member, or permanent after 4 years
XII
Artistic or sport
not allowed
required
any
1 year, renewable
XIII
International agreements
allowed
not required
permanent from the start
2 years, then permanent
XIV
Retirement
not allowed
not required
any
2 years, then permanent
Digital nomad
1 year, renewable
Community of Portuguese Language Countries
allowed
2 years, then permanent
XV
Medical training
not allowed
not required
any
4 years, renewable
Humanitarian visa
VITEM III is a humanitarian visa granted to nationals or stateless residents of countries experiencing serious instability, armed conflict, disaster or violations of human rights. Brazil has designated Afghanistan,Haiti,Syria and Ukraine for this type of visa. Residency is granted initially for two years, after which the applicant may request permanent residency.
Working holiday
VITEM VI is a working holiday visa, whose primary purpose must be tourism but paid work is also allowed. This visa is available only by international agreement with the country of nationality. Such agreements are in effect with Australia,France,Germany and New Zealand. These agreements require that the applicant be between 18 and 30 years of age, and allow a stay of up to one year.
Investment
VITEM IX is available for three types of investment. One type is for managers and executives whose companies invest at least R$600,000 in a Brazilian company, or at least R$150,000 and also generate at least 10 new jobs within two years. Another type is for applicants who personally invest at least R$500,000 in a Brazilian company, or at least R$150,000 in research activities. In both cases, the applicant is granted permanent residency from the start.
The other type of investment requires the personal purchase of urban real estate, for at least R$700,000 if located in the North or Northeast region, or at least R$1 million if located in another region. In this case, residency is granted initially for four years, after which the applicant may request permanent residency.
Family reunification
VITEM XI is available for spouses, domestic partners, children, grandchildren, parents, grandparents, dependent siblings and dependent stepchildren of a Brazilian national, or of a person holding or applying for Brazilian residency not also based on family reunification, and for legal guardians of a Brazilian national. For this visa, residency is granted initially for the same period as the family member. Applicants may request permanent residency when the family member acquires it or after four years of residency.
International agreements
VITEM XIII is available for nationals of countries with residency agreements. Agreements providing permanent residency from the start are in effect with Argentina and Uruguay. A Mercosur agreement is also in effect with Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay and Peru, providing residency initially for two years, after which the applicant may request permanent residency.
Immigration policy
VITEM XIV is available in various categories under the Brazilian immigration policy.
One category is for retirees and beneficiaries of survivor pensions who have a monthly income of at least US$2,000 and can transfer it to Brazil. Residency is granted initially for two years, after which the applicant may request permanent residency.
Another category is for digital nomads, who work remotely for a foreign employer using telecommunications technology, with a monthly income of at least US$1,500 from a foreign payer or bank funds of at least US$18,000. Residency is granted for one year and may be renewed.
Based on an agreement of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries, VITEM XIV is also available for nationals of Angola, Cape Verde, East Timor, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal and São Tomé and Príncipe who are professors, researchers, technicians, teachers, businesspeople, artists, athletes, managers of cultural and sport events, and exchange students. Nationals of these countries who are already in Brazil, regardless of occupation or immigration status, may request residency, which is granted initially for two years, after which they may request permanent residency.
Medical training
VITEM XV (VICAM) is available for medical doctors to participate in the Mais Médicos medical training program. This visa allows a stay of up to four years, renewable for four more years.
Requests for residency while already in Brazil
Requests for residency with the same purposes and conditions as temporary visas (except VITEM XII and XV) may also be made while the individual is already in Brazil, having entered with a certain visa or waiver but later qualifying for a different or more desirable category. In addition, individuals in various circumstances may also request residency while already in Brazil:
Victims of human trafficking, slavery or other criminal abuses of migrants
Individuals serving a criminal sentence or probation in Brazil
Nationals of neighboring countries that have not ratified the Mercosur residency agreement (Guyana, Suriname and Venezuela)
Nationals of Cuba who have participated in the Mais Médicos medical training program
Nationals of the Dominican Republic and Senegal who have an application for refugee status under review (requires withdrawing the application)
Diplomatic, official and courtesy visas
Brazil issues diplomatic visas (VIDIP) to representatives of foreign governments or international organizations, as well as official visas (VISOF) to their staff. It also issues courtesy visas (VICOR) to notable people for unofficial trips, to family members and domestic workers of holders of diplomatic or official visas, and to artists and athletes for free cultural events.
Accepted travel documents
For issuing visitor and temporary visas, Brazil accepts passports of all entities that have diplomatic relations with it (all member states and observer states of the United Nations, and the Order of Malta), as well as Kosovo and Taiwan. If the applicant does not hold any of these passports, the visa is issued on a laissez-passer.
For issuing diplomatic and official visas, Brazil only accepts passports of entities that have diplomatic relations with it.
Visitor statistics
Most visitors arriving in Brazil were from the following countries of residence:
^For nationals of Croatia, Finland, Ireland, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia and Spain: 90 days. For nationals of other European Union member states: 3 months within any 6-month period.
^Law no. 13.445 and its regulating decree no. 9.199 combined the tourist and business visas into one type of visitor visa. As a result, visa waivers that were limited to tourism were extended to business purposes as well.
^"Ofício Nº 20 G/AFEPA/SECCJ/SPTC/CONJUR/PARL" [Letter no. 20 G/AFEPA/SECCJ/SPTC/CONJUR/PARL] (in Portuguese). Reply from Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Chamber of Deputies of Brazil. 14 March 2024.
1British Overseas Territories.
2 These countries span the conventional boundary between Europe and Asia.
3 Partially recognized.
4Unincorporated territory of the United States.
5 Part of the Kingdom of Denmark.
6Egypt spans the boundary between Africa and Asia.