E-Visas to Brazil as of 19 January 2018

Starting on 18 January 2018, Canadian citizens will be able to apply for electronic visas (E-visa) to travel to Brazil for tourism and business purposes.

The E-visa will initially cover a new type of visa introduced by the Brazilian Federal Law n. 13.445/2017 — known as the new Migration Law —, which entered into force on 21 November 2017: the visitor visa. This new category applies to trips for purposes of tourism, business, transit, and artistic and sports activities.

Tourism purposes are considered to include visits to relatives; participation in conferences, seminars, workshops or meetings; volunteer services; and research, teaching and academic extension activities, provided that the visa holder does not carry out gainful activities in Brazil and does not stay longer than 90 days.

Business purposes, for their part, encompass the participation in business meetings and events and in trade fairs; journalistic coverage, filming and broadcasting; prospecting business opportunities; signing agreements; carrying out audits or consultancy; visits as aircraft or vessel crew member, provided that the visa holder does not carry out gainful activities and does not stay longer than 90 days.

The E-visa initiative will render applying for a Brazilian visa faster and more convenient. Canadian applicants will be able to submit their request by email and receive the visa by email.

During the initial stage of the initiative, the E-visa holder will need to present to the airline company either a printed copy or a digital image of the electronic visa. However, the systems in use by the Brazilian Federal Police are fully integrated to the E-visa, and there are plans to incorporate the latter into the e-Gates installed in Brazilian airports, which are currently operational only to Brazilian citizens.

The E-visa processing fee will be US$ 44.24   It will be valid for two years or until the expiration date of the passport, whichever comes first. Notwithstanding the onset of the E-visa, Canadian citizens traveling to Brazil for tourism and business purposes will continue to be able to apply to regular visas at Brazil’s posts abroad, should they so wish.

Click here for Brazil paper visas in use through January 2018.