The rules for visiting Brazil changed recently, and a lot of the advice online is out of date. If you are planning a trip, there are only two things you really need to settle: whether your passport needs a visa, and how long you are allowed to stay once you arrive.

Do you need a visa for Brazil?

It depends on your nationality, and there are three situations.

  • United States, Canada and Australia — yes, since 10 April 2025. Citizens of these three countries need a visitor visa again. The rule changed on that date, so guides written before it are wrong.
  • Countries with a visa exemption agreement with Brazil — no. Much of Europe, the United Kingdom and most of South America travel without a visa for tourism. Chinese ordinary passport holders joined this group on 7 May 2026, for stays of up to 30 days that cannot be extended.
  • Everyone else — check before booking. Brazil publishes the full list of visa arrangements by country, and your nearest Brazilian consulate is the authority on your case.

The e-Visa, if you are American, Canadian or Australian

You do not need to go to a consulate. The application is entirely online, through the official portal Brazil uses for this (VFS Global).

What you get:

  • Stays of up to 90 days
  • Valid for up to 5 years
  • Multiple entries during that period

Apply well before you fly. Processing is not instant, and airlines check your visa at boarding.

How long you can stay

This is where most travellers get caught out. Whether or not you needed a visa, the visitor rule is the same:

  • 90 days from the day you enter.
  • Extendable by up to 90 more days.
  • Maximum 180 days in any 12-month period.

The 180 days are a yearly ceiling, not a rolling allowance you can top up by leaving and coming back.

Extending your stay

If you want the extra 90 days, three things matter:

  • You apply in person at a Federal Police (Polícia Federal) office — it cannot be done online.
  • You must apply before your current period runs out. Once it expires, an extension is no longer the route.
  • Your nationality has to allow extensions under Brazil's visa framework. Not all do — the Chinese 30-day exemption, for instance, cannot be extended.

Bring your passport, the entry record you received on arrival, and the Federal Police form.

Before you fly

Beyond the visa itself, two things are worth sorting out early:

  • Travel insurance. Brazil does not require it for tourists, but private care is paid out of pocket and it is what turns a bad day into an expensive one.
  • Your medication. Bring enough for the whole trip, in its original packaging. A prescription written by your doctor at home is not valid at a Brazilian pharmacy — if you run out, you need one issued in Brazil.

If you want to know how that works before you travel, read our guide on how to get a prescription or medicine in Brazil.

Frequently asked questions about the Brazil tourist visa

Do Americans need a visa for Brazil in 2026?

Yes. Since 10 April 2025, citizens of the United States, Canada and Australia need a visitor visa, applied for online as an e-Visa.

How long does the e-Visa last?

It allows stays of up to 90 days per entry and is valid for up to five years, with multiple entries.

Can I extend my stay beyond 90 days?

Usually yes, by up to 90 further days, up to a maximum of 180 days per year. You must apply in person at a Federal Police office before your current period expires, and your nationality must allow it.

What happens if I overstay?

Overstaying is a migration offence: a fine of R$100 for each day over, up to a ceiling of R$10,000, applied by the Federal Police. If you do not leave or regularise your situation, deportation is also on the table. If you are close to your limit, sort the extension out before the date, not after.

Visa rules change and depend on your nationality. This article is general information, current as of August 2026 — confirm your own case with the Brazilian consulate for your country before booking. Sources: Ministério das Relações Exteriores (Itamaraty) and Polícia Federal.

Travelling to Brazil and want to know you can reach a doctor if something happens? See how an online consultation works — in English, with no Brazilian documents needed.