Brazil Visa for US Citizens 2026 With E-Visa Cost and Steps

BRAZIL · TRAVEL AND VISAS

Brazil now asks American visitors for a visa, just as Washington asks Brazilians. A trip to Rio or São Paulo starts with an online application.

The Brazil visa for US citizens is an electronic visa that American tourists and business visitors must hold before flying. The rule took effect on Thursday, 10 April 2025, and it still applies in October 2026.

Applications run through one official website, brazil.vfsevisa.com, where the fee is US$80.90 and processing takes up to 10 business days. This guide explains who needs the visa, how to apply, what it costs, what to carry and how long you may stay.

Brazil Visa for US Citizens Explained

From 2019 until April 2025, Americans could visit Brazil without any visa at all. Decree No. 9,731 of 16 March 2019, signed by conservative President Jair Bolsonaro, waived visas for US, Canadian, Australian and Japanese visitors.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, of the center-left Workers’ Party, revoked that waiver with Decree No. 11,515 of 2 May 2023. The start date moved three times, and Decree No. 11,982 of 9 April 2024 finally fixed it at 10 April 2025.

Brazilian migration rules build reciprocity into visitor visas, and Decree No. 9,199 of 2017 even ties stay extensions to it. The United States still requires visas from Brazilian visitors, and Brazil now asks the same of Americans.

The US State Department’s page for Brazil confirms that US citizens need a visa, regardless of the purpose of travel. It lists a valid Brazilian visa or e-visa as an entry requirement for all travel, however short the trip.

The e-visa is a visitor visa, which the Migration Law of 2017 grants for tourism, business, transit, and artistic or sports activities. The same law bars visitor visa holders from paid work in Brazil, so jobs and residence need other visa types.

How to Apply on the Official E-Visa Portal

The only official channel is brazil.vfsevisa.com, which VFS Global operates for the Brazilian government. VFS Global is a private contractor that handles visa paperwork for many governments, while Brazilian consulates make every decision.

The portal calls itself the only official portal where eligible travelers can apply for the electronic visa. Be wary of look-alike sites that file the same form for an extra fee, since a Brazilian consulate still decides.

The process runs entirely online, from the first form to the approved visa. The portal sets out three steps, and a login link and password arrive by email.

• Apply online: select United States in the nationality menu, complete the form and upload the required documents.
• Pay the fee: pay the US$80.90 fee through the secure payment page and wait for the consulate to decide.
• Download and print: watch your email, download the approved e-visa as a PDF and print it for boarding and arrival.

Dual nationals must apply with the passport they will actually travel on, the portal says. Canada’s travel advice adds that people who also hold Brazilian citizenship must enter and leave Brazil on their Brazilian passport.

The portal warns travelers not to buy non-refundable tickets before the visa is approved. Carnival’s main Tuesday falls on 9 February 2027, so Carnival visitors who follow the two-month advice should apply by early December 2026.

Cost, Processing Time and Validity

As of October 2026, the official portal lists the e-visa fee at US$80.90 per applicant. Children pay the same fee as adults, and holders of diplomatic or official passports pay the same as everyone else.

The fee is not refunded if a visa is denied, and it is not refunded if someone pays twice by mistake. A family of four therefore pays US$323.60 in total, so a careful check of every form before payment saves money.

Consular posts may take up to 10 business days to process an application once it has been submitted and verified. The portal strongly advises applying two months before the planned trip, which leaves time for any request for extra documents.

If a consulate asks for more paperwork, the applicant has 15 days to provide it. After that deadline the application is not processed, and in a family group only the affected person’s file is paused.

The e-visa allows multiple entries and has the same validity as a physical Brazilian visa. The portal lists multiple-entry terms of five and 10 years, and the dates printed on each visa decide which term applies.

A visa issued in an old passport stays valid until its own expiry date, even after the passport is renewed. Travelers should then carry both passports, and a lost old passport calls for a bio page copy and a police certificate.

Documents You Need

The core application asks for only two uploads: a recent photograph and a color copy of the passport bio page. Read the portal’s photo instructions before uploading, since a poor picture can prompt a request for more documents.

Your passport must remain valid for at least one more month after your arrival in Brazil, the portal says. The State Department adds that the passport needs one blank page for the entry stamp.

Consular officers may ask for additional documents at their discretion. The portal publishes no fixed list for such requests, so bank statements and bookings should be ready to upload.

Keep those papers ready before you start, even if the first screen does not ask for them. A quick answer to a consular request is the easiest way to stay inside the 10-day processing window.

Arriving at the Airport

At the airport, the Federal Police, Brazil’s national law-enforcement and border agency, checks passports and visas at immigration. The portal tells travelers to print two copies of the e-visa and keep them with their passport throughout the trip.

Canada’s official travel advice notes that customs officials may ask for a return or onward ticket. They may also ask for proof of sufficient funds, so keep a bank card and booking confirmations at hand.

Under Law No. 14,286 of 2021, travelers must declare cash worth more than US$10,000, about 50,200 reais, to Brazilian customs. Conversions in this guide use the open.er-api.com rate of 14 October 2026, BRL 5.02 per US dollar.

Brazil does not require a yellow fever vaccination for entry, the State Department says. Its advisory page shows Brazil at Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution, on a scale that runs from one to four.

How Long You Can Stay

The e-visa lets a visitor stay up to 90 days per year, counted from the first entry into Brazil. The clock stops whenever the visitor leaves the country and starts again on the next arrival.

Decree No. 9,199 of 2017 lets the Federal Police extend a visitor’s stay by up to 90 more days. The total cannot exceed 180 days in one migratory year, which is the hard ceiling for any visitor.

The same decree allows extensions only for nationals of countries that offer reciprocal treatment to Brazilians. Canada’s travel advice stresses that the extension must be obtained before the authorized stay expires, so long trips need planning.

Remote workers who want to spend several months in Brazil should look at the separate digital nomad visa. Anyone planning to settle should read the Brazil residency visa guide before choosing a route.

What Changes for Canadians and Australians

Canadians and Australians lost their visa waiver on the same date as Americans and use the same official portal. The portal lists one fee and one document list, and its FAQ limits the e-visa to citizens of these three countries.

The Canadian government’s travel page lists tourist, business and student visas as required for Canadians. It links directly to the Brazil e-visa portal and adds that dual Canadian and Brazilian citizens must use their Brazilian passport.

Australia’s Smartraveller service says Australians cannot obtain a visa at the airport or the border. It warns that travelers who arrive without a required visa are sent back on the next available flight.

Under the Migration Law, passengers who only change planes need no visitor visa if they stay in the international transit area. Anyone who passes through immigration, even for one night in a hotel, needs the e-visa.

Where to Go Next

Visitors heading to Rio de Janeiro can start with the Rio de Janeiro city guide. Those bound for Brazil’s business capital can start with the São Paulo city guide.

Two big Rio events fall between December 2026 and February 2027, New Year’s Eve on Copacabana and Carnival. Read the Réveillon Copacabana guide and the Carnival 2027 rehearsal report before booking.

Practical arrival tasks are covered in the guide to SIM cards and internet in Brazil. For the bigger picture, see who holds power in Brazil and Brazil’s population explained.

Flight options from the United States matter too, as the report on Rio airport plans for more US flights shows. Book those flights only after the e-visa arrives, as the official portal advises.

What It Means for US Readers

Treat the e-visa like a passport renewal: start early, use only the official portal and check every detail before paying. A rejected or mistaken application costs US$80.90 each time, and no fee is ever refunded.

Business travelers and investors visiting São Paulo should build two months of lead time into their plans. Cruise passengers should confirm the rules with their line, because Brazil requires a visa for all travel by US citizens.

The requirement mirrors the US rule for Brazilians, so it may last as long as Washington keeps its own visa regime. More news on travel, politics and markets is on the Brazil page of The Rio Times.

What Is Not Known

The official portal lists both five-year and 10-year validity terms but does not state which nationality receives which term. Applicants should read the validity dates printed on their own e-visa rather than rely on secondary sources.

It is not known whether Brazil would revisit the rule if Washington changed its own visa policy for Brazilians. No official statement in October 2026 signals any plan to restore the visa waiver for Americans.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do US citizens need a visa for Brazil in 2026?

Yes, US citizens have needed a visa for every trip to Brazil since 10 April 2025. Tourists and business visitors apply online for an electronic visa before travel.

How much does the Brazil e-visa cost for Americans?

The official portal lists the fee at US$80.90 per person as of October 2026. Children pay the same, and no fee is refunded.

Where do I apply for the Brazil e-visa?

Apply only at brazil.vfsevisa.com, the official portal run by VFS Global for the Brazilian government. Other websites charge extra for the same form.

How long does the Brazil e-visa take?

Consulates may take up to 10 business days after a verified application is submitted. The portal advises applying two months before travel.

How long can I stay in Brazil on the e-visa?

You may stay up to 90 days per year, counted from your first entry. The Federal Police can extend this to a maximum of 180 days.

Do Canadians and Australians need the same visa?

Yes, Canadians and Australians use the same e-visa portal and pay the same fee. Their visa waiver ended on the same date as for Americans.

Sources: Brazil eVisa official portal; Brazil eVisa, tourist visa page; Brazil eVisa FAQ; Decree No. 11,515 of 2023 (Planalto); Decree No. 11,982 of 2024 (Planalto); Decree No. 9,199 of 2017 (Planalto); US State Department, Brazil; Government of Canada, Brazil travel advice; Smartraveller, Brazil; open.er-api.com exchange rates (all accessed 14 October 2026).