U.S. Citizens Will Soon Be Able to Visit Brazil Without a Visa
The Brazilian government announced this week that it will soon be allowing visa-free entry to any residents of the U.S., Canada, Australia, and Japan.
As long as they have a valid passport, visitors will no longer have to apply and pay for a visa to enter Brazil whether they are traveling for business or pleasure. Tourists can stay up to 90 days per year, with an extension to 180 days possible. That gives travelers plenty of time to go surfing with dolphins, explore wine country, and see the region's rain forests.
The government hopes the initiative will improve tourism to the country — and has previously waived visa requirements around events like the Olympics. According to the World Tourism Organization (WTO), measures like this could potentially increase tourism by 25 percent, according to the Rio Press Office.
Brazil has already implemented an electronic visa that has reportedly increased visa application for the country by 35 percent, according to a statement by Brazil Tourism. The new visa waiver policy should continue this upward trend.
The Ministry of Tourism hopes to reach its goal of 12 million foreign visitors annually by 2022. “This is one of the most important achievements of the Brazilian tourism industry in the last 15 years and we are confident that it will be extremely beneficial to the country," said Marcelo Alvaro Antônio, Minister of Tourism. “This is the first step; We still have much to celebrate.”
The new policy will take effect on June 17.
