This morning, entry rules changed in the country with the largest contiguous territory in all of the Americas (contiguous means touching; in one piece). A new electronic visa requirement has been added (or rather **reinstated**) by this popular and beautiful country, one that both of us Flytrippers co-founders have loved.
No, it’s not the United States — the 9th edition of our Flytrippers April Fools’ joke, which many fell for, is still a joke (for now, at least).
The United States is the largest country on the continent by land area — excluding water. And Canada is obviously the largest by total area — including water. But the largest contiguous territory in the Americas is in the South (the real “South,” not the “South” that people talk about even if it’s not in the Southern Hemisphere)!
Here are the details of Brazil’s new electronic visa requirement.
Basics of travel rules
I’ll remind you that many countries obviously have various entry requirements, and checking them is literally the only mandatory step in preparing for any trip!
Traveling is super simple; absolutely everything else is optional… but not this. And you always need to check, because rules change (like today). For all trips and all destinations, it’s not more complicated than that.
Too often, less experienced travelers get unpleasant surprises because they don’t know that countries require visas, passports valid for at least 6 months, or proof of exit from the country (to name just a few requirements)… so we made an ultimate guide on country entry requirements.
Overview of Brazil’s new electronic visa requirement 🇧🇷
Brazil is awesome, and relatively affordable too. There’s no shortage of reasons to visit this magnificent and enormous South American country. The new, very simple electronic visa requirement should certainly not stop you from going!
I loved my trip to Brazil at the end of 2023, and Flytrippers’ other co-founder, Kevin, just spent Carnaval there and also loved it. We also have 2 Flytrippers team members there (Indira who is Brazilian, and Èvelyne who is Canadian but is spending a few months there). You can read all our content about Brazil, and we’ll have even more soon!
Here are the basics of the new Brazilian electronic visa:
- Requirement now in effect
- Since April 10, 2025
- For citizens of only 3 countries
- Canada, United States, Australia
- Reciprocity measure
- Reinstated after 6 years
- Bolsonaro had abolished the visa
- da Silva had promised to restore it
- It almost got canceled in early 2025
- But finally they kept the initial plan
- Because of Trump’s tariff threats
- No change to rules for other types of travel
- Travel by citizens of exempt countries
- Travel by citizens of other countries
- Longer stays
- No change to other entry requirements
- For example, for the passport validity period
- 6 months still required (like many countries)
It’s fascinating how many people think an electronic visa is complicated… it objectively really is not, at least for adults. Whether it’s Brazil’s, the one now required by the 4 constituent countries of the United Kingdom (or the upcoming one for 30+ European countries that will be similar), or any country.
Brazil’s seems a bit more demanding for minors, though.
Here are the logistics of the new Brazilian e-visa:
- Must be obtained on the official website (as always)
- Don’t get caught like many do
- Avoid visa facilitation scams
- Costs $81
- Quite expensive indeed
- For entry to Brazil
- Tourism trips
- Business trips
- Valid for 5 or 10 years (even if your passport expires)
- 5 years for Canadians and Australians
- 10 years for Americans
- Valid for multiple trips
- Unlimited entries
- Allows you to spend 90 days in the country per year
- Can be extended to 180 days once you’re there
- By contacting the federal police
- Passport-style photo required (unlike many visas)
- But you can take it yourself
- And use their photography service afterward
- Minors need a notarized form
- Unfortunately
- Application processing takes an average of 5 business days
- But it can vary (like all visas)
- Must be obtained before checking in for your flight
- As with all visas and electronic visas
- This is not a visa on arrival
Before sharing how to apply for a Brazilian visa and other details, it must be said that it’s obviously always very unfortunate to see any country add obstacles to travel.
But considering how much travelers always love going to expensive countries (don’t miss our updated guide to the cheapest countries for 2025 this Saturday), I’ll reassure you: even with the visa fee, you’ll save a lot by going to Brazil instead of the Caribbean, the U.S., or Canada.
(If you missed it when I talked about it, I’ll remind you that my ticket to Taylor Swift’s famous concert cost me $22 in Rio instead of $1433 in Toronto!😅)
And Flytrippers often spots flight deals to Brazil in the $500s roundtrip (from a few Canadian cities)!!!
Just one welcome bonus, like the $1025 free from the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card, pays for your roundtrip AND a lot of accommodation (plus gives you 4 free airport lounge passes during your trip).
Details of Brazil’s new electronic visa requirement
Here’s more information about the most important aspects.
How do I get the Brazil e-visa?
Electronic visas seem incredibly stressful for many travelers, for somewhat inexplicable reasons.
As always, it’s excessively simple: you just have to fill out an online form. There’s nothing complicated there.
You can now apply on the official Brazil e-visa website managed by VFS Global.
So many people get scammed by using the infamous “fake” visa websites; it’s almost incredible. Those services charge you extra to complete the visa application for you. They make inexperienced travelers think they’re on the official visa application website; that’s surprisingly easy to do with people who don’t know that the first results in Google are paid placements.
It’s a scam: you don’t need help. You’d simply be filling out a form on their website instead of filling it out on the right website. If you’re able to read this post today, you’re able to fill out the very basic form required for almost any visa in the world. Just always go to the official website; simple.
Like for all e-visas, you just need to fill out the form on the official website. Read the form and enter the required information. The steps are almost always clearly indicated. And it’s (usually) not that hard to check if a website is the official website… you just need to take the time to check.
How long does it take to get the Brazil e-visa?
The visa is apparently issued on average in 5 business days.
As always, however, they reserve the right to take longer. Of course. It’s their country; they are never obligated to let anyone in.
Chances are that it won’t take any longer for 99% of travelers; more specifically, all travelers with nothing special in their profile.
Do I need the Brazil e-visa?
It’s quite simple. All Canadian, American, and Australian travelers who want to enter the country need the Brazil e-visa.
That means all trips. This applies to entry by air, land, or sea.
There are no exceptions for children or babies. Every traveler needs a visa. You can, however, do a family application in the same form.
What is the validity of the Brazil e-visa?
You can use the same visa for a period of 5 years if you are Canadian or Australian, or 10 years if you’re American.
It’s good to know that your visa remains valid for its entire period of validity, even if your passport has expired (which is not always the case). In this situation, you do need to travel with both the expired passport and the new valid passport.
You can use the Brazilian e-visa for multiple trips; you do not need to obtain a new one for each trip. You are allowed unlimited entries.
Who will check my Brazil e-visa?
As with almost all country entry requirements, if you are traveling by airplane, the airline will check that you are in order before you leave your original destination.
So you must have the Brazil electronic visa before you check in for your flight (not just when get to the country). Customs officers will usually check again on arrival.
What is the cost of the Brazil e-visa?
The Brazil electronic visa costs $81. It sucks to have to pay for the privilege of spending your hard-earned money and points in a country, especially when the amount is this high.
That’s the cost of almost 3 full days of travel expenses in affordable countries… and about 2 full days in Brazil. Indeed, the country is thankfully quite affordable. That will quickly compensate for the visa fee.
As with pretty much all visa fees, it’s not refundable (not even if you were to be denied). The price is for **the visa application**, not for **the visa itself**!
What is the best credit card to use to pay for the Brazil e-visa?
The best card to use to pay for any expense is always a card on which you are unlocking a huge welcome bonus. ALWAYS!!! So simple.
That way, you’ll earn 10%+ back instead of the pathetically terrible 1%-2% most people sadly earn on their purchases.
Here are the effective return rates on your purchases with the current best offers.
| Best credit card offers (April 2025) |
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new  Valuation (BONUS)(≈ 8.8% back on $18k)
Rewards: ≈ $1590
Card fee: $0 $199
Spend required:$18k in 12 mos. (or $5k/$9k)
Best for: ≈ 8.8% back on $18,000 & simple points
 SIMPLE
80k/150k
limited time
|
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new Valuation (BONUS)(≈ 7.5% back on $10k)
Rewards: ≈ $750
Card fee: $0 $89
Spend required:$10k in 12 mos. (or $3k/$6k)
Best for: ≈ 7.5% back on $10,500 & simple points
SIMPLE
limited time
|
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|
Valuation (BONUS) (≈ 6.5% back on $10k)
Rewards: ≈ $1451
Card fee: $799
Spend required:$10k in 3 mos.
Best for: ≈ 6.5% back on $10,000 & unlimited lounges
 LUCRATIVE
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| Terms and conditions apply. Flytrippers editorial opinion only. Financial institutions are not responsible for maintaining the content on this site. Please click "See More" to see most up-to-date information. |
| Best credit card offers (April 2025) |
WELCOME BONUS ( VALUATION) |
Effective return rate |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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new 
|
Min. income (card):
Min. spend (bonus): $18k in 12 mos. (or $5k/$9k for lower bonus)
|
Rewards: ≈ $1590
Card fee: $0 $199
|
≈ 8.8% back
on $18,000
& simple points
|
limited time
|
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new 
|
Min. income (card):
Min. spend (bonus): $10k in 12 mos. (or $3k/$6k for lower bonus)
|
Rewards: ≈ $750
Card fee: $0 $89
|
≈ 7.5% back
on $10,500
& simple points
|
limited time
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Min. income (card):
Min. spend (bonus): $10k in 3 mos.
|
Rewards: ≈ $1451
Card fee: $799
|
≈ 6.5% back
on $10,000
& unlimited lounges
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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extended 
|
Min. income (card):
Min. spend (bonus): $5k in 6 months
|
Rewards: $1025
Annual fee: $0 $139
|
20.5% back
on $5,000
& simple points
|
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Min. income (card):
Min. spend (bonus): $7.5k in 12 mos. (or $2k for lower bonus)
|
Rewards: $775
Card fee: $120
|
≈ 8.7% back
on $7,500
& simple points
|
ends July 1st
|
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Min. income (card):
Min. spend (bonus): $12k in 12 mos. (incl. $7.5k in 180 days)†
|
Rewards: ≈ $641
Annual fee: $0 $139
|
≈ 5.3% back
on $12,000
& lucrative pts
|
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|
Min. income (card):
Min. spend (bonus): $1k/mo for 12 mos.
|
Rewards: ≈ $1180
Card fee: $250
|
≈ 7.8% back
on $12,000
& 8 lounge passes
|
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NEW 
|
Min. income (card):
Min. spend (bonus): $10k in 14 mos. (or $3k for lower bonus)
|
Rewards: $1000
Card fee: $399
|
6.0% back
on $10.000
& 10 lounge passes
|
ends October 31st
|
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Min. income (card):
Min. spend (bonus): $3k in 3 mos. + $1k
|
Rewards: ≈ $540
Card fee: $120
|
≈ 10.5% back
on $4,000
& lucrative pts
|
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|
NEW 
|
Min. income (card):
Min. spend (bonus): $5k in 6 mos.
|
Rewards: ≈ $900
Card fee: $120
|
≈ 15.6% back
on $5,000
& lucrative pts
|
ends June 11th
apply now |
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Card: no business required
Min. spend (bonus): $7.5k in 3 mos.
|
Rewards: ≈ $713
Card fee: $199
|
≈ 6.9% back
on $7,500
& lucrative pts
|
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| Terms and conditions apply. Flytrippers editorial opinion only. Financial institutions are not responsible for maintaining the content on this site. Please click "See More" to see most up-to-date information. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(The rate varies a bit depending on the merchant category code for each specific purchase, but it’s just to show you the overall return rate at our Flytrippers Valuation — and how it’s not even in the same universe as what you are probably earning!)
And if you pay the Brazilian e-visa fee with almost any card in Canada, you’re not even earning 1%-2%!
Because you’re paying a 2.5% foreign transaction fee as the visa is billed in US dollars!!!
That’s why you should always use your spending to unlock huge welcome bonuses — with the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card, you’re earning 20.5%, so that’s still an amazing 18% net earn rate even if you were to pay 2.5% in foreign transaction fees on 100% of the $5,000 minimum spending requirement (highly unlikely).
If you are not currently unlocking a huge welcome bonus, that’s a very bad idea, and you should really get started to earn free travel so much faster! But at the very least, get a free card with no foreign transaction fee — the EQ Bank Card (Prepaid Mastercard) is completely free and isn’t even a credit card (so no credit check), so every single Canadian traveler should have it with absolutely zero exceptions.
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Summary
The new Brazil electronic visa requirement is unfortunate and quite pricey, but at least the country is an amazing destination where your dollar goes quite far. For every trip and every destination, you need to look at the entry requirements anyway.
What would you like to know about the Brazil electronic visa? Tell us in the comments below.
See the flight deals we spot: Cheap flights
Discover free travel with rewards: Travel rewards
Explore awesome destinations: Travel inspiration
Learn pro tricks: Travel tips
Featured image: Parque Nacional dos Lençóis Maranhenses, Brasil (photo credit: Léo Castro)
