Visa policy of Brazil

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Brazilian visa

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. Visa exemptions to enter Brazil have generally been reciprocal, on the principle that the other country should similarly offer visa-free entry to Brazilian nationals.[1][2]

For stays longer than 90 days or for employment in Brazil, all foreign nationals must have a visa or residency authorization.

Visa policy of Brazil
  Brazil
  Visa not required (may enter with an identity card)
  Visa not required
  Electronic visa for all visitor categories
  Electronic visa for business only
  Visa required

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).[3][4]

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).[111] They are 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$248 per day.[112]

Visas are not required for airport transit, from any nationality, as long as the traveler does not leave the international transit area.[111]

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.[113] 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.[114]

Non-ordinary passports

Visa exemption to Brazil for holders of diplomatic, official and service passports
  Brazil
  Diplomatic, official or service passports
  Diplomatic, official or service passports (not accredited to Brazil)
  Diplomatic passports
  Diplomatic passports (not accredited to Brazil)

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).[h][3]

In addition, holders of diplomatic, official or service passports of the following countries may enter Brazil without a visa.[3]

Holders of diplomatic, official or service passports
Holders of diplomatic passports

Proposed changes

Brazil has proposed or signed visa exemption agreements with the following countries, but they are not yet in force:

Country Passports Period of stay Note
China[115] Ordinary 30 days Reciprocity for China's visa exemption policy for Brazilian nationals in 2025.
New Zealand[116] Diplomatic, official or service 90 days
Sierra Leone[117] Diplomatic, official or service 90 days In addition, the entire period of a mission if accredited to Brazil.

The Mexican government unilaterally suspended its visa exemption agreement with Brazil, requiring an electronic authorization for Brazilians to travel to Mexico from 11 December 2021,[118] and a visa from 18 August 2022.[119] However, the Brazilian government maintained the visa exemption for Mexicans to travel to Brazil at the time. In July 2023, both governments announced their intention to adopt electronic visas for each other's nationals.[120] In September 2024, the Brazilian government contracted VFS Global for this purpose.[121] In September 2025, Brazil announced that it would implement electronic visas for Mexicans after Mexico did so for Brazilians.[122] Mexico implemented electronic visas for Brazilians on 5 February 2026.[123]

In March 2025, the Brazilian Senate approved a proposal to restore the unilateral visa exemption for nationals of Australia, Canada and the United States (as well as Japan, which had a reciprocal exemption).[124] To take effect, the proposal would also need approval by the Chamber of Deputies but not by the president.[125]

Reciprocity

Brazil has generally required reciprocity for visa exemptions, meaning that it would exempt from its visa requirement only nationals of countries that did not require a visa from Brazilians.[1][2] However, sometimes Brazil adopted unilateral visa exemptions for nationals of certain countries, or continued exemptions after other countries suspended reciprocity.

From 1956 to 1978, Brazil unilaterally exempted from its visa requirement the nationals of all countries in the Americas that had diplomatic relations with it.[14][16]

Brazil unilaterally exempted nationals of Australia, Canada, Japan and the United States from its visa requirement from 1 June to 18 September 2016, to facilitate tourism during the 2016 Summer Olympics held there.[89] Under the presidency of Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil again unilaterally exempted nationals of these four countries from its visa requirement on 17 June 2019.[100] After three extensions, the subsequent Lula administration revoked the unilateral exemption on 10 April 2025.[101]

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ireland suspended its visa exemption for nationals of Brazil and other South American countries from 28 January to 16 June 2021,[126][127] but Brazil maintained its visa exemption for nationals of Ireland during this period.

Mexico suspended its visa exemption agreement with Brazil and started requiring visas from Brazilians on 18 August 2022,[118][119] but Brazil maintained its visa exemption for Mexicans. Both countries intended to restore reciprocity with electronic visas.[120]

Electronic visa (eVisa)

Nationals of the following countries may apply for visitor visas electronically:[128]

For all visitor categories
For business only

Nationals and stateless residents of Haiti who have a family member in Brazil, who was granted residency under the humanitarian category and requested residency for them before 2025, may apply for family reunification visas electronically until 30 June 2026.[129][130]

Visa types and requirements

Visitor visa

The visitor visa (VIVIS) allows stays of up to 90 days, for the following purposes:[111][131]

  • 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.[111]

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.[111]

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.[111]

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.[111]

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.[132] These documents may be obtained in digital format online, free of charge.[133][134]

Summary of temporary visas[135][136][137][138]
VITEMCategoryEmployment
in Brazil		CGIG
authorization		NationalityResidency
IResearch, teaching or academicyesrequiredany2 years, then permanent[k]
nonot required2 years, renewable
IIHealth carenot allowednot requiredany1 year, renewable
IIIHumanitarianallowednot requiredAfghanistanHaitiSyriaUkraine2 years, then permanent
IVStudentallowed[l]not requiredany1 year, renewable
VPaid workyesrequiredany2 years, then permanent[m]
noin some cases1 or 2 years[n]
VIWorking holidayallowednot requiredAustraliaFranceGermany
New ZealandSouth Korea		1 year
VIIReligiousnot allowednot requiredany2 years, then permanent
VIIIVolunteer worknot allowednot requiredany1 year, renewable
IXInvestment in businessnot allowedrequiredanypermanent from the start
Investment in real estate4 years, then permanent
XEconomic, scientific, technological or culturalnot implemented
XIFamily reunificationallowednot requiredanysame as family member,
or permanent after 4 years
XIIArtistic or sportnot allowedrequired[o]any1 year, renewable
XIIIInternational agreementsallowednot requiredArgentinaUruguaypermanent from the start[139]
BoliviaChileColombia
EcuadorParaguayPeru		2 years, then permanent
XIVRetirementnot allowednot requiredany2 years, then permanent
Digital nomad1 year, renewable
Community of Portuguese Language CountriesallowedAngolaCape VerdeEquatorial GuineaGuinea-BissauMozambiquePortugalSão Tomé and PríncipeTimor-Leste2 years, then permanent
XVMedical trainingnot allowed[p]not requiredany4 years, renewable

Humanitarian visa

VITEM III is a humanitarian visa for nationals or stateless residents of countries experiencing serious instability, armed conflict, disaster or violations of human rights. Residency is granted initially for two years, after which the applicant may request permanent residency.[140]

Brazil previously designated Afghanistan,[141] Haiti,[142] Syria[143] and Ukraine[144] for this purpose. These designations ended in 2026 for new visas, but nationals of these countries who previously entered Brazil may continue to request residency under this category.[140]

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.[111] Such agreements are in effect with Australia,[145] France,[146] Germany,[147] New Zealand,[148] and South Korea.[149] These agreements require that the applicant be between ages 18 and 30 (up to age 34 for South Koreans), 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.[150] 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.[151] 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.[152]

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.[153][154]

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[155] and Uruguay.[156] 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.[157]

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.[158][159]

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.[160]

Based on an agreement of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries, VITEM XIV is also available for nationals of Angola, Cape Verde, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal, São Tomé and Príncipe and Timor-Leste 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.[161]

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.[162]

Requests for residency while 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 exemption but later qualifying for a different or more desirable category. In addition, individuals in various circumstances may also request residency while already in Brazil:[111]

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.[111]

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.[3]

For issuing diplomatic and official visas, Brazil only accepts passports of entities that have diplomatic relations with it.[3]

Visitor statistics

Visitors arriving in Brazil, by country of residence, since 2020[171]
Country202520242023202220212020
Argentina3,386,823 Increase1,960,182 Increase1,882,240 Increase1,032,762 Increase67,280 Decrease887,805 Decrease
Chile801,921 Increase653,895 Increase458,576 Increase202,470 Increase46,673 Decrease131,174 Decrease
United States759,637 Increase728,537 Increase668,478 Increase441,007 Increase132,182 Decrease172,105 Decrease
Paraguay528,554 Increase465,020 Increase424,460 Increase308,234 Increase132,126 Increase122,981 Decrease
Uruguay524,729 Increase388,464 Increase334,703 Increase180,064 Increase11,575 Decrease113,714 Decrease
France293,008 Increase235,163 Increase187,559 Increase130,910 Increase34,848 Decrease70,369 Decrease
Portugal273,483 Increase218,354 Increase182,463 Increase149,747 Increase38,704 Decrease51,028 Decrease
Germany209,854 Increase182,166 Increase158,582 Increase120,670 Increase29,514 Decrease61,149 Decrease
Colombia194,467 Increase129,501 Increase118,163 Increase84,470 Increase27,892 Increase27,129 Decrease
Italy190,342 Increase154,495 Increase129,447 Increase86,766 Increase18,907 Decrease45,646 Decrease
United Kingdom187,396 Increase153,754 Increase130,239 Increase87,909 Increase9,809 Decrease48,595 Decrease
Peru175,418 Increase131,368 Increase99,353 Increase61,634 Increase13,077 Decrease33,895 Decrease
Venezuela169,346 Increase8,637 Increase5,777 Increase3,750 Increase2,499 Decrease11,636 Decrease
Spain160,484 Increase132,484 Increase114,096 Increase83,745 Increase22,828 Decrease32,665 Decrease
Bolivia128,494 Decrease129,992 Increase123,803 Increase90,694 Increase26,330 Decrease45,449 Decrease
Mexico121,884 Increase99,137 Increase82,324 Increase52,171 Increase12,731 Decrease18,068 Decrease
Canada103,163 Increase96,540 Increase86,591 Increase54,252 Increase8,077 Decrease26,950 Decrease
China103,122 Increase76,524 Increase42,542 Increase8,787 Increase2,360 Decrease6,297 Decrease
Japan68,719 Increase61,129 Increase42,341 Increase17,635 Increase1,904 Decrease20,476 Decrease
Netherlands64,773 Increase54,273 Increase45,917 Increase35,488 Increase9,080 Decrease16,532 Decrease
 Switzerland63,604 Increase58,092 Increase50,359 Increase38,371 Increase13,568 Decrease17,063 Decrease
Ecuador59,060 Increase38,493 Increase33,273 Increase18,971 Increase6,593 Decrease7,646 Decrease
Australia56,308 Increase52,888 Increase46,935 Increase25,825 Increase1,650 Decrease17,932 Decrease
Ireland48,935 Increase42,832 Increase35,983 Increase30,216 Increase4,478 Decrease10,419 Decrease
Others613,672 Increase521,699 Increase424,137 Increase283,483 Increase71,186 Decrease149,712 Decrease
Total9,287,196 Increase6,773,619 Increase5,908,341 Increase3,630,031 Increase745,871 Decrease2,146,435 Decrease

See also

Notes

References

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