Quick answer: U.S. citizens need an approved visa before traveling to Brazil. For most short tourism and business trips, the simplest option is the electronic Visitor Visa, also called the e-Visa or VIVIS.
The e-Visa costs $80.90, allows multiple entries, and is valid for up to 10 years for U.S. passport holders. A visit is normally limited to 90 days.
Do not travel until the visa has been approved. Download the PDF, print it, and carry it with the same passport used for the application.
Need Help With Your Application?
iVisa guides you through the form, reviews your application and uploaded documents, and submits the application to the Brazilian authorities.
Our role: U.S. Passport Service Guide is not a government agency. We explain the requirements and show you how to apply directly or use a paid service. We may earn a commission from sponsored links.
On This Page
- Brazil visa requirements at a glance
- Brazil e-Visa or consular visa?
- Rules to double-check before applying
- How to apply for a Brazil e-Visa
- What happens when you arrive in Brazil
- When an e-Visa is not the right document
- Frequently asked questions
Brazil Visa Requirements at a Glance
| Requirement | What U.S. Travelers Need |
|---|---|
| Visitor visa | An approved Brazilian visa before departure. Eligible U.S. travelers can apply online for an e-Visa. |
| Government and processing fee | $80.90. The fee is non-refundable. |
| Visa validity | Up to 10 years for U.S. passport holders, with multiple entries. |
| Maximum stay | Normally up to 90 days per visit. Total visitor time generally cannot exceed 180 days during a 12-month period. |
| Passport validity | The official e-Visa portal requires at least 1 month of passport validity after arrival. Renew before applying if your passport will expire soon. |
| Blank passport page | At least 1 blank page is required for entry processing. |
| Processing | Up to 10 business days after the application has been checked, verified, and submitted for consular review. |
| Printed e-Visa | Download and print the approved PDF. Carry it for airline boarding and arrival. |
| Children | Every traveler needs a separate application. The e-Visa fee is the same for children and adults. |
| Allowed travel | Tourism, visits to family or friends, transit, unpaid business meetings and conferences, and certain short unpaid activities. |
Passport-validity guidance differs: The U.S. State Department says a passport must be valid on the date of entry. The official e-Visa portal requires at least 1 month of validity after arrival and advises travelers to check airline rules. Use the stricter e-Visa requirement when planning your application.
Brazil E-Visa or Consular Visa?
| Application | How It Works | When It Fits |
|---|---|---|
| E-Visa | Apply online, upload the required files, pay electronically, and receive the visa by email. You do not mail your passport. | Most U.S. travelers visiting for tourism, transit, or short unpaid business activities. |
| Consular visa | Apply through the Brazilian consular system and follow the instructions for the consulate responsible for your location. | Travelers who are not eligible for the e-Visa, have a special citizenship issue, or are directed to apply through a consulate. |
The electronic and physical visitor visas have the same general validity and permit multiple entries. The main difference is the application process: the e-Visa is completed online and delivered by email, while the consular visa is placed in the passport.
Before You Apply, Double-Check These Rules
- Use the passport you will carry to Brazil. The visa information must match that passport.
- Enter an email address you can access. If the address is wrong, the official portal says you may need to apply again.
- The passport must remain valid for at least 1 month after your arrival date under the current e-Visa application rule.
- The photograph must meet Brazil's specifications. Eyeglasses, smiling, cropped features, or the wrong dimensions can cause a correction request.
- Each child needs a separate application. A family application does not mean every family member will receive the same decision.
- Brazilian citizens cannot apply for an e-Visa. Dual citizens should check which passport Brazil requires them to use.
- The e-Visa does not authorize local employment or payment from a Brazilian source.
How to Apply for a Brazil E-Visa
Applying through the official Brazil e-Visa portal avoids an additional application-service fee. You complete the form, prepare the uploads, and respond to any document requests yourself. iVisa guides you through the form, reviews the application and files, and submits them to the Brazilian authorities.
What Adults Should Prepare
- Passport information page: A clear color copy of the bio page from the passport you will use for travel.
- Recent photograph: A color JPEG or JPG with a white background, sized 3.5 x 4.5 cm or 413 x 531 pixels, with a maximum file size of 2 MB.
- Email address: Use an address you check regularly. The login details, requests, and approved visa are sent by email.
- Travel information: Have your planned travel dates and destination details available.
- Payment method: A card or other accepted method for the non-refundable $80.90 fee.
The current VFS page lists the passport copy and photograph as the core adult uploads. A consular post may request additional documents, so keep your itinerary and recent proof of funds available.
Additional Documents for Children
The required minor documents depend on the parents' circumstances. The official portal may request:
- The child's birth certificate.
- A current authorization letter signed by both parents and notarized.
- Color copies of the parents' passport bio and signature pages.
- Custody, adoption, divorce, death, or name-change records when applicable.
- A notarized statement of non-citizenship when a parent is Brazilian and the child does not hold Brazilian citizenship.
Application Steps
- Start the application. Select the correct nationality and purpose of travel on the official portal.
- Enter your information. Use the passport you will carry and check every name, date, and passport number.
- Upload the files. Add the passport copy, photograph, and any additional documents requested for your application.
- Review and pay. Confirm that the information matches the passport before paying the non-refundable fee.
- Respond to document requests. If VFS asks for another file or correction, submit it before the stated deadline. Applications are not processed when requested documents are not supplied.
- Download and print the visa. After approval, save the PDF and carry a printed copy for boarding and entry.
Check These Details Before You Submit
- Your full name, birth date, nationality, and passport number match the passport exactly.
- The passport will remain valid for at least 1 month after your arrival.
- The email address is correct.
- The photograph is the right size and shows no glasses, smile, shadows, or cropped facial features.
- You used the passport you plan to carry.
- Every child has a separate application and the required parental documents.
- You saved the application login information.
When to apply: Processing can take up to 10 business days after a complete application has been verified and submitted for review. The official portal advises applying 2 months before travel so there is time to correct the application or provide another document.
Already applied? Use the official Brazil e-Visa status tracker. Check your inbox, spam, and junk folders for requests and the approval PDF.
If you are asked for another document, the official portal gives a limited time to respond. Check the file type and size before uploading. Switching to an updated version of Chrome, Firefox, or Edge can solve some upload problems.
What Happens When You Arrive in Brazil?
Carry the valid passport used in the application and a printed copy of the approved e-Visa. Airline staff may check both before boarding, and Brazilian authorities will verify them when you arrive.
A visa permits you to travel to a Brazilian entry point, but it does not guarantee admission. The Federal Police officer makes the final decision and determines the authorized stay.
Traveling With a New Passport
If the e-Visa was issued using a passport that later expired, the visa remains valid until its printed expiration date. Carry the expired passport linked to the e-Visa and the new valid passport.
If the old passport was lost, the official portal advises carrying a copy of its bio page, a police report documenting the loss, the new passport, and the current e-Visa copy.
Staying Longer Than 90 Days
Visitors who need more time may request an extension from the Brazilian Federal Police before the authorized stay expires. Approval is not automatic, and the total visitor stay generally cannot exceed 180 days during a 12-month period.
When an E-Visa Is Not the Right Document
Brazilian and Dual Citizens
Brazilian citizens cannot receive an e-Visa. A dual U.S.-Brazilian citizen should enter and leave Brazil using the Brazilian travel document required under Brazilian law. A traveler with an expired Brazilian passport should contact a Brazilian consulate rather than assuming the e-Visa is available.
Paid Work
The Visitor Visa covers tourism, transit, meetings, conferences, and other permitted short visits. It does not authorize employment or payment from a Brazilian source. Travelers taking a job, performing contracted work, or receiving Brazilian compensation need the correct temporary visa or residence authorization.
Longer Study or Internships
Short study and unpaid activities may fit within VIVIS rules. A program lasting more than 90 days, a paid internship, or activity that creates an employment relationship requires a different visa.
E-Visa Denial
The fee is not refunded when an application is denied. The official portal permits a new e-Visa application after 24 hours, but some applicants may be directed to use the consular visa process.
Traveling With Children
The e-Visa application documents are separate from Brazil's rules for minors leaving the country. Dual U.S.-Brazilian children may need written authorization from an absent parent or an authorization annotation in the Brazilian passport. Non-Brazilian minors traveling without one or both parents should also carry appropriate consent documents.
Check conditions before departure: Review the current U.S. State Department Brazil travel information. Entry procedures, border access, and security conditions can change.
Brazil Visa Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. VIVIS is Brazil's Visitor Visa classification. Eligible U.S. travelers can receive the VIVIS electronically as an e-Visa instead of obtaining a physical visa through a consulate.
The e-Visa may be valid for up to 10 years and allows multiple entries. The validity of the visa is different from the permitted stay: a visit is normally limited to 90 days.
The portal allows up to 10 business days after a verified application is submitted for review and advises applying 2 months before travel. That leaves time to correct the form or provide another document.
Yes. Each child needs a separate application and pays the same e-Visa fee as an adult. The portal also requires additional birth, parental-authorization, and parent-identification documents.
Yes, while the e-Visa itself remains valid. Carry the expired passport linked to the visa and your new valid passport. If the old passport was lost, carry a copy of its bio page and a police report along with the new passport and e-Visa.
No. The visitor visa permits unpaid meetings and other approved short activities, but it does not authorize employment or payment from a Brazilian source.
No. Continue using the valid visa until its expiration date, provided it covers the purpose of your trip. If it is in an expired passport, carry that passport with your new valid passport.
Apply With iVisa
iVisa can review your form and uploaded documents before submitting the e-Visa application to the Brazilian authorities.
How we checked this page: We compared Brazil's current e-Visa portal and Ministry of Foreign Affairs guidance with Brazilian Federal Police and U.S. State Department entry information.
Last reviewed: August 3, 2026.
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