Visa, Entry and Arrival to Brazil

Pursuant to regulations implemented in June 2019, no visa is required for citizens of the United States, Canada or Australia to enter the country. Travelers must present a valid passport (valid for six months) at the port of entry and will automatically be issued a tourist visa. A tourist visa allows travelers to stay in the country for 90 days from the date of their first entry, with an additional 90-day extension available upon request. In this event, travelers may remain in country for up to 180 days within a 12-month period. Entry without a return ticket may be denied.

Effective from October 1st, 2023, the Government of Brazil has reinstated the requirement for citizens from the United States, Japan, Canada, and Australia to obtain a tourist visa before entering Brazil. Travelers from countries that are still eligible for a visa waiver simply need to present a valid passport (with a minimum validity of six months) upon arrival at the port of entry. They will automatically be issued a tourist visa. In both cases, the tourist visa permits a stay of up to 90 days from the date of initial entry, with an option to request a 90-day extension. Consequently, travelers can remain in the country for a maximum of 180 days within a 12-month period. Please note that entry without a return ticket may be denied.

If you are traveling from the US, Canada, or Australia, please refer to the websites provided below to determine the consulate that has jurisdiction over your region, and kindly review that consulate’s official application instructions:

Travelers from the United States
Travelers from Canada
Travelers from Australia

To enter Brazil, an entry or exit card is required. This paper card must be filled out before entry. Usually airlines, shipping companies and bus companies hand out entry cards to passengers before arrival in Brazil. At customs, monitored by the Brazilian Federal Police, you will receive a stamp and must carry the card in your passport during your stay in Brazil. When you leave the country, the card will be retained by the Federal Police. Recently, airlines have started to waive the issue of entry cards, and customs has no longer required the presentation of an entry card. However, the official requirement of the Federal Police remains the same: an entry card must be filled out and prepared for presentation upon entry.

Please note that upon arrival from an international flight, you must retrieve your baggage from baggage claim and then pass through customs with your luggage. This also applies if you have a connecting flight! Your baggage will not be checked through to your destination airport. After you have passed through customs, you can check your baggage back in at a connection check-in counter. These counters are located in Sao Paulo at the opposite end of the arrivals hall. You do not have to go up the escalators with your luggage. Unfortunately, in Rio you must check your luggage at the normal check-in counters.

If you have booked airport transfers, your guide or driver will already be waiting for you in the arrival area. After you have taken your luggage from baggage claim and passed the door of the security area, just look for a sign with your name on it. Your guide or driver will hold this sign up.

In Brazil there are 4 different time zones. On arrival in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo or Brasilia, travelers will be on Brasilia Time (BRT, UTC-3), which is two hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time (EST).

In Brazil, toilet paper is not thrown into the toilet. Please use the small trash can next to the toilet.

For short-term border crossings, especially to the Argentinean side of the Iguacu Waterfalls, please take both your passport and the entry card that you presented to the Federal Police (Policia Federal) when entering Brazil.

As in almost all other countries, all motorists (including passengers) must wear their seat belt in Brazil. Please follow this regulation, even for short distances in your car, otherwise you may be fined.

On most domestic flights there are only very simple snacks (e.g., chips) and water. If you have longer flights, it might be worthwhile to take some additional food with you.

In our calculation and planning of the vehicles to be used, we assume that each passenger travels with a maximum of one suitcase up to 50 pounds (23 kilograms) and one piece of hand luggage. Should you wish to take more luggage with you, please let us know as early as possible so that we can take the planned excess luggage into account when preparing our offer.

If your child is younger than 18 years old and wants to enter Brazil from abroad, alone or accompanied by only one parent, you will need a declaration of authorization according to Brazilian law (Law 8069/90 Article 83 and Law 13.812/19).
Both airlines and bus companies require the submission of such a declaration for children under 18 years of age traveling alone or accompanied by a parent or guardian. Hotels and pousadas in Brazil can also present an authorization declaration, otherwise they are threatened with temporary closure or withdrawal of their licence (Law 8069/90 Article 250 and Law 13.812/19).
For this reason, and to avoid possible difficulties during your trip, we recommend that you draft an authorization declaration in advance. It should be signed by both parents or the one who is absent during the trip. Please make sure that your signatures are certified and that your authorization declaration is translated into Portuguese by a notarized translator.
The following link will direct you to a manual and authorization form from the Brazilian Embassy (in Portuguese), which can be downloaded as a PDF.

Before entering Brazil, please print and complete the authorization form, and sign it at a Brazilian Embassy or Consulate.
Any further questions should be directed to the Brazilian Embassy in Washington, D.C.

We wish you a pleasant journey!