Key Points
- Effective April 10, all US, Canadian and Australian citizens entering Brazil now need a valid visa.
- The visa waiver which has been in place since 2019 is no more.
- April’s news may come as a surprise to passengers who might not be aware of the new requirement – and there is no option to obtain one on arrival.
- Operating crew are exempt (with some gotchas).
Why the change?
Back in 2019, visa requirements were dropped for the US, Canada and Australia. The previous President did so to boost tourism and trade.
However, it was a one-way move as Brazilian citizens still needed a visa to enter those countries.
Brazil has long since had a diplomatic policy of reciprocity. The new visa rules signify a return to this principle.
For operators, it’s simply a new rule we need to navigate.
New visa requirements may catch passengers off guard – especially for tourist attractions like Carnival.
How to get a visa.
Citizens of the US, Canada and Australia now need to apply for an electronic visa to enter Brazil.
It’s strongly recommended to do this at least 15 days’ prior as it can take some time to process.
Once issued, it will be valid for multiple entries for the next ten years.
Make sure your pax carry at least two printed copies for authorities.
Be careful, because they can’t get one on arrival.
You can access the e-visa system via the link above.
What about crew?
Great question. We reached out to several local agents for a clarification on the rules for crew.
While some advice was conflicting, the general consensus was that operating crew are exempt from the visa requirement and usually granted entry for up to ten days (regardless of nationality).
Universal Aviation Brazil has confirmed that to qualify, they must meet the following conditions:
- Are on active duty;
- Are listed as operating crew on the GENDEC;
- Are in uniform on arrival;
- Present a pilots’ license;
- And (obviously) have a valid passport.
Some trouble has been reported for flight engineers and flight attendants who are not explicitly covered by this exemption policy (even if they are listed on the GENDEC).
In some cases, they have been allowed entry but this is not guaranteed.
To avoid trouble, we recommend that a visa is obtained for these staff beforehand to avoid the problem entirely – cost is approx. $80USD per person.
Another chestnut to look out for is crew who are positioning to Brazil either with you, or on an airline service. They will need a visa to enter.
Engineers are one example of crew who may not be covered by the crew exemption – we advise a visa in advance.
Have you just been to Brazil?
If things were different than we’ve described, we’d love to hear from you. You can reach us around the clock on news@ops.group.
Special thanks to the team at Universal Brazil for their help clarifying the new rules!
