Quick answer: If you already know you need Brazil's e-Visa, the application is completed online. The government fee for U.S. citizens is $80.90, and Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists a 10-year validity for U.S. passport holders.
Allow time for processing. VFS gives consular posts up to 10 business days after a completed application has been checked and submitted for review, and recommends applying about 2 months before travel.
Not sure the e-Visa is the right document for your trip? See our Brazil visa guide for U.S. citizens.
Want someone to check the application before you submit it?
The Brazil e-Visa form is manageable when everything goes through cleanly, but small problems can create extra work. Photo specifications are strict, uploads can fail, and VFS may ask for a corrected or additional document.
iVisa offers paid application help and reviews the form and uploaded files before submission. That can be useful if you would rather catch a problem early, especially for a family application or a trip that is already on the calendar.
U.S. Passport Service Guide is not a government agency. We may earn a commission if you use a sponsored service.
On this page
- Documents to have ready
- Photo requirements
- How the online application works
- How long processing takes
- Check an application already in progress
- Common application problems
- Applications for children
- Application FAQs
Documents to have ready
The current VFS tourist e-Visa page lists two standard uploads for an adult application:
- A recent photo that meets Brazil's e-Visa specifications.
- A color copy of the passport bio page from the passport you will use for the trip.
You will also need an email address you can access and a payment method for the $80.90 government fee. The VFS FAQ requires the passport to be valid for at least 1 month after arrival in Brazil.
Keep your itinerary and a recent bank statement handy. The VFS tourist page currently lists the photo and passport bio page as the standard adult uploads, while Brazil's San Francisco consulate still lists a flight reservation and a recent bank statement showing at least $2,000. A consular office can ask for additional documents.
Brazil e-Visa photo requirements
Use a recent color photo on a white background. Before you upload it, check that it meets the VFS specifications:
- 3.5 x 4.5 cm, or 413 x 531 pixels.
- JPEG or JPG format, no larger than 2 MB.
- Face centered, looking straight at the camera, with shoulders visible.
- No glasses or headgear.
- No smiling or visible teeth.
- Do not use a crop from the photo on your passport bio page.
How the online application works
You can apply with paid assistance from iVisa or complete the application yourself through Brazil's VFS e-Visa portal.
Apply with iVisa
iVisa reviews the form and uploaded files before submission and can help with the document side of the application. This may be useful if you want to reduce the chance of a preventable correction or avoid troubleshooting the portal yourself. Its service fee is separate from the Brazilian government fee.
Apply directly
VFS Global operates Brazil's e-Visa portal. If you apply there, you complete the form, upload the files, pay the government fee, and respond to any follow-up requests yourself.
The application itself follows the same basic process either way:
- Choose the application route you want to use.
- Enter the details from the passport you will carry to Brazil.
- Use an email address you check regularly. Application updates and document requests are sent by email.
- Upload the passport bio page, photo, and any other documents requested for your case.
- Check the application carefully before paying. The government fee is non-refundable.
- If you receive a request for another document, upload it by the deadline in the message.
- After approval, save the e-Visa PDF and carry a printed copy with the passport used for the application.
How long does the Brazil e-Visa take?
A consular post may take up to 10 business days after VFS has completed its checks and submitted the application for review. The count does not necessarily start when you first open the application or make payment.
VFS recommends applying about 2 months before travel. That leaves time to fix an application or send another document if one is requested. It also advises against buying non-refundable travel arrangements before the visa is issued.
Checking an application already in progress
If you already applied, use the Brazil e-Visa status tracker. Check the inbox, spam, and junk folders for the email address on the application as well.
If VFS asks for another document, the application will remain on hold until you respond. Its current FAQ gives applicants 15 days to provide requested documents.
Common Brazil e-Visa application problems
Most of the trouble spots are practical rather than complicated: a photo that does not meet the specifications, a file that will not upload, a missed email, or a request for another document. These are also the kinds of issues worth catching before they cost you another round of corrections.
| Problem | What to know |
|---|---|
| Wrong email address | If the email address is wrong, you will not receive the login link and password. VFS says you must submit a new application. |
| File will not upload | Check the file type and size first. If that does not work, VFS suggests trying an updated version of Chrome, Firefox, or Edge, or using another device or network. |
| More documents requested | VFS currently gives applicants 15 days to respond. If the deadline passes, the application will not be processed and you will need to apply again. |
| Application denied | The fee is not refundable. VFS permits a new e-Visa application after 24 hours. |
| Departure is close | Check the tracker and your email frequently. A pending application is not a guarantee that the visa will be issued before your trip. |
Brazil e-Visa applications for children
Each child needs a separate application and pays the same government fee as an adult. Depending on the family's circumstances, VFS may ask for a birth certificate, a notarized authorization letter, copies of the parents' passport pages, or custody and other civil documents.
The VFS application asks questions about the child's parents and family situation, then shows the documents required for that application.
After the e-Visa is approved
Save the PDF and carry a printed copy with the passport used for the application. The VFS FAQ recommends carrying two printed copies and keeping an electronic copy available.
If that passport later expires, the e-Visa can remain valid through its own expiration date. VFS instructs travelers to carry the expired passport linked to the visa along with the new valid passport. If the old passport was lost, follow its instructions for the additional records to carry.
Brazil e-Visa application FAQs
Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs directs eligible applicants to the VFS Global e-Visa portal at brazil.vfsevisa.com.
Allow up to 10 business days after a completed application has been verified and submitted for consular review. VFS recommends applying about 2 months before travel.
The VFS tourist page lists the photo and passport bio page as the standard adult uploads. Brazil's San Francisco consulate also lists a recent bank statement and flight reservation, and a consular office can ask for additional documents. Keep both available in case they are requested.
Use the VFS application tracker and check the email account used for the application, including spam and junk folders.
VFS says an incorrect email address prevents delivery of the login link and password. You will need to submit a new application.
Yes. Each child needs a separate application, pays the same e-Visa fee as an adult, and may need additional parental and civil documents.
Prefer help with the application?
iVisa provides paid form and document review before submission. If you do not want to sort out photo, upload, or family-document problems on your own, that extra review may be useful. Brazil's authorities still make the decision on the visa.
Last reviewed: September 16, 2026. Official sources: Brazil e-Visa portal; VFS e-Visa FAQs; Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Chicago; Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs - San Francisco.
