Visas are required for foreigners to enter and stay in the Brazilian territory for any period of time. They are granted by the Brazilian Consular Offices abroad.

Citizens of Mercosur member states do not need a visa to enter and stay in Brazil, the need only a valid passport or national identity document. Visitor visas may be granted for different purposes, such as tourism, business, transit, and artistic or sports activities. Visitors on this type of visa are allowed to stay for a maximum of ninety days.

To find out if you need a visa to travel to Brazil, click here.

Brazil’s visa policy is based on the principle of reciprocity. This basically means that most countries that require visas from Brazilian citizens to enter their territories will also need a visa to travel to Brazil. Under current Brazilian immigration law (Law 13,445 of 2017), visa exemption may only be granted by the Brazilian authorities on a reciprocal basis, and through mutual understanding on the matter. Brazil currently has bilateral agreements on visa waivers with approximately 90 countries.

Itamaraty, the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Brazil, is the government agency responsible for granting visas. This occurs through its Embassies, Consulates General, Consulates, and Vice-Consulates abroad.

Foreigners who wish to apply for a visa to travel to Brazil should contact Brazilian Consular Representations abroad in order to obtain more information on the application process.

Brazil and Japan governments have agreed recently to waive visitor visas for 90-day stays starting September 30, 2023.

The Brazilian government has also announced that reinstatement of the Brazilian e-visa requirement for visitors from Australia, Canada, and the United States will take effect on January 10, 2024. In practice, this means that until the new date established by the Brazilian government, citizens of these countries will be able to travel to Brazil for tourism and business purposes without the need for short-stay visitor visas (up to 90 days). From January 10, 2024, the visas will be issued through a completely electronic process, quickly and easily. The Brazilian government is defining the procedures and all the details regarding the visa process will be provided by the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the near future.

Public health services in Brazil are free for foreign tourists. Therefore, if you are in an accident, need medical attention, or have any health issues, just call the Mobile Emergency Medical Service (SAMU) on the toll-free number 192.

In order to enter Brazil, it is not mandatory to be vaccinated against any specific type of disease. However, there are some regions in the country where there is a Recommendation for Vaccination (ACRV) before the visit.

Though the yellow fever vaccine is not required to enter Brazil, travelers wishing to be vaccinated should consider receiving it prior to travel. Please note that the yellow fever vaccine should be administered ten days prior to travel for it to be effective.

Although you can use the free healthcare system in Brazil, make sure your health insurance plan provides coverage overseas. Supplemental insurance to cover medical evacuation is recommended.

If traveling with prescription medication, check with the Government of Brazil to ensure the medication is legal in Brazil. Always carry your prescription medication in original packaging, along with your doctor’s prescription.

The currency in Brazil is the REAL (R$). It can be exchanged at banks, exchange brokers, travel agencies, and authorized hotels. The official exchange rate is published daily in newspapers and specialized websites.

Both travelers check and cash are easily exchanged at exchange counters. International credit cards are accepted in most hotels, restaurants, shops, travel agencies, car rental companies, and other companies that provide services to tourists.

You can call these toll-free numbers from any phone. Most of them are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.