U.S. Citizens Once Again Need A Visa To Visit Brazil, Hold US$2000 Funds & Return Ticket

Brazil just re-implemented a rule that (e)visas, proof of funds and return tickets are now once again required for certain nationalities since April 10, 2025. Under the new rule ordinary passport holders from Australia, Canada and the United States now have to apply for an […]

Apr 22, 2025 - 12:18

Brazil just re-implemented a rule that (e)visas, proof of funds and return tickets are now once again required for certain nationalities since April 10, 2025.

Under the new rule ordinary passport holders from Australia, Canada and the United States now have to apply for an e-visa ahead of travel if they don’t have a physical visa label in their passport from a previous trip.

If you don’t have a visa for Brazil yet and require one (more about that below) make sure you get it from the OFFICIAL VFS WEBSITE and don’t fall victim to the many scam sites or agencies.

The requirement for Australians, Americans and Canadians to have a visa for Brazil has been going back and forth many times over the years and honestly it’s very confusing and hard to keep up.

Whatever visa policy is currently in place depends on the government and politics of the day and can change ad hoc without much notice, rhyme, or reason.

Here is how VFS (in the name of the Government of Brazil) describes the requirement:

Welcome to the VFS eVisa (Electronic Visa) website. VFS is the exclusive company authorized by the Brazilian government to provide a platform and call center service for tourist and business visa applicants – VIVIS – for ordinary passport holders from Australia, Canada and the United States.Click here to discover other activities eVisa applies to.
Starting from April 10th, 2025, passport holders from Australia, Canada, and the United States will require a visa for entry into Brazil. If you already possess a valid physical visa in your passport for your visit’s purpose, you do not need to apply for a new visa.
For those arriving in Brazil by air, sea, or land, the online visa application form is accessible here.
If your arrival is scheduled on or after April 9th, we strongly recommend applying for your eVisa in advance to prevent travel disruptions caused by delays or missed connections. Secure your eVisa for a seamless journey!
Please note that most commonly used browsers such as Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge are fully supported for the visa application process.

eVisa fee payment Australia, Canada and the United States. $80.90.

Brazil has always been iffy (reciprocal) with visa requirements for foreign passport holders of countries that require Brazilian nationals to apply for expensive visas and the country.

In the past, this meant getting a physical visa at the embassy or consulate, but like many other countries globally, Brazil has now shifted towards an eVisa system for most applications.

Honestly, I was under the impression that this went live quite some time ago as we last reported about these implementations two years ago:

Brazil Reintroduces Visa Requirement For U.S., Australia, Canada & Japan On October 1, 2023

I’m not exactly sure what changed since then or if the policy was temporarily shelved but it shows that this matter has been going on for a long time and isn’t tied to any one particular administration, be it in the U.S. or in Brazil.

Many South American countries follow the same path as Brazil and make U.S. citizens (and Canadians among others) pay dearly for entering the country as a reciprocal measure. Europeans are usually exempt from these tough rules, often as part of a Visa Waiver agreement.

Here is what the Department of State (U.S. Embassy in Brazil) advises about travel to the country:

Message to U.S. Citizens: New Visitor Visa Requirements for U.S. Citizens Traveling to Brazil
On April 10, 2025, the Government of Brazil (GOB) will reinstate a visa requirement for all U.S. nationals visiting Brazil, with an option for an e-visa for qualified applicants.
For questions about the e-visa and application procedures, visit the Brazilian government-authorized website, https://brazil.vfsevisa.com/
Please share this information with family, friends, and colleagues who are planning to visit.  As of April 10, 2025, all U.S. nationals will need a visa to enter Brazil.

In addition to the visa there is also the requirement to hold US$2000 in funds and a return/onward ticket.

I think it’s important that travelers realize that similar rules are in place all over the world, even though it’s not widely publicized, talked about, or regularly enforced.

Such rules are typically applied to the letter when immigration officers feel there is something suspicious about the traveler, and they want to probe further. For example travelers showing up at the port of entry very poorly dressed, without a plausible story of what their travel plans are and without pre-booked accommodation.

Such rules are in place for entries into many countries, including Thailand, and you can be asked by the airline, immigration, or both to show satisfactory proof of these requirements.

Failure to present might result in the airline denying check-in or entry into the country by the authorities. Airlines are typically required to ensure that travelers satisfy the requirements, or they are subject to a fine and removal costs of the inadmissible alien.

Conclusion

Effective April 10, 2025, Brazil officially reinstated the visa requirements for entering the country for citizens of Australia, Canada, and the United States. Holders of most passport types can apply for an eVisa through the website quoted above.

Visa-waiver arrangements are usually negotiated by the governments and are reciprocal. Brazil merely asks for reciprocity from these countries to allow their citizens to enter without visas.

I personally have never needed a visa to enter Brazil, but if my memory is correct, my American friends were issued multiple entry visas lasting several years, and I would assume that this will be the case later this year. Brazil’s multiple entry visitor visas can be for 1, 3, 5, or 10 years. The fee for the eVisa required for citizens of Australia, Canada and the United States is set at $80.90.

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