The Brazilian government has told tourists from Canada, Australia, and the United States that they must have a visa before they are allowed entry into the country from April 10, 2025.

This was disclosed in a statement sighted on Friday on the VFS eVisa (Electronic Visa) website, “brazil.vfsevisa.com.” This company is authorised by the Brazilian government to provide a platform and call centre service for tourist and business visa applicants.

It read, “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!”

The visas will take five business days to process, but travellers are advised to apply two months before they travel, in case of delays. Their visas will also be delivered to the email addresses entered during application.

While nationals of the three countries travelling to Brazil are advised to take a screenshot of their visas on their phones, print out two copies to bring with them, and save the email and attachment for handy reference should they need it, they are also urged to ensure their passports are valid for six months beyond the date they will be leaving Brazil.

The new travel policy, when it comes into effect, will replace the current visa-free access for travellers on short-term visits of up to 90 days for tourism and business purposes.

However, the new travel policy does not apply to business or student visas, as they are still not required for stays of up to 90 days. Those who intend to stay beyond 90 days in the country will need to apply for an extension through the Brazilian Federal Police before the authorised stay expires.

The latest development, which comes after the Brazilian government in 2024 postponed the visa requirement for nationals from the three countries, aligns with broader changes in the country’s visa policy for citizens of countries outside the European Union.