Brazilian e-visas now available to US visitors

                                                                                                                                                                                                Agustín Diaz/Unsplash

US-Brazil tourism is expected to increase this year with e-visas for visitors from the American country coming into force. The system has been in force since this Wednesday (25 January). Now the entire process - from application to the actual issuance of the vista - is made entirely online and takes no longer than 72 hours.

The measure is expected have a major impact on the Brazilian economy. The United States is the second biggest source of tourists to Brazil, behind only Argentina. Each year, more than 570,000 Americans land on Brazilian soil and inject R$ 2.27 billion into the national economy. This figure should increase by at least R$ 600 million with e-visas, according to estimates by the Ministry of Tourism. In addition to the US, tourists from Australia, Canada and Japan can also rely on e-visas to visit Brazil.

Learn more: Australia, Japan, Canada and the USA account for 60% of visa applications for Brazil

How to apply for an e-visa

The implementation of e-visas is the result of a joint initiative by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Tourism and Embratur (the Brazilian Tourism Board). To acquire the document, foreign tourists must enter the website www.vfsglobal.com/brazil-evisa, follow the instructions on the website and download their visa (in PDF).

The document costs US$ 40 (approximately R$ 130), "considerably cheaper than the traditional visa", and has a maximum term of two years. Traditional visas can still be applied for through the Brazilian consular network.