Brazil’s government has extended exemptions to tourist visa requirements for citizens of the U.S., Australia, and Canada until April 2025 in an effort to boost tourism. This decision, issued by the Brazilian presidency and Ministry of Foreign Relations, marks the third time the visa requirement has been delayed since President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva took office in 2023. His predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, exempted the three countries from visas in an attempt to attract more tourists, despite the fact that all three countries continued to demand visas from Brazilians. This move went against Brazil’s tradition of requiring visas based on the principle of reciprocity and equal treatment, prompting Lula’s Foreign Ministry to initially plan to scrap the exemptions.
The decision to maintain exemptions for the U.S., Australia, and Canada is seen as crucial for boosting tourism in Brazil, with nearly 670,000 Americans visiting the country in 2023. The government has cited the importance of continuing to attract tourists, especially from the U.S., the second-largest source of visitors to Brazil after neighboring Argentina. The previous delays in reinstating the visa requirement were attributed to finalizing a new visa system and avoiding implementation during peak tourism seasons such as New Year’s celebrations and Carnival festivities in February.
Brazil’s Foreign Ministry had previously stated that the country does not unilaterally grant visa exemptions without reciprocity and was open to negotiating visa waiver agreements on a reciprocal basis. While exemptions for the three countries have been maintained, Brazil did reach a deal with Japan to ease travel provisions. The official tourism board Embratur has emphasized the significance of these exemptions for boosting tourism in Brazil and attracting visitors from key markets like the U.S.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s government has extended the exemptions to tourist visa requirements for citizens of the U.S., Australia, and Canada until April 2025 in an effort to continue promoting tourism in Brazil. These exemptions were initially granted by Lula’s predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, to boost tourism, despite the fact that the three countries continued to require visas from Brazilians. This move had deviated from Brazil’s traditional policy of requiring visas based on reciprocity and equal treatment, prompting the Foreign Ministry to initially consider scrapping the exemptions.
The decision to maintain visa exemptions for citizens of the U.S., Australia, and Canada is expected to have a positive impact on tourism in Brazil, especially from the U.S., which is the second-largest source of visitors to the country. With nearly 670,000 Americans visiting Brazil in 2023, the exemptions are seen as crucial for attracting tourists from key markets. The temporary extensions of the exemptions were attributed to finalizing a new visa system and avoiding implementation during peak tourist seasons like New Year’s celebrations and Carnival festivities in February, which draw large numbers of visitors to Brazil.
