How to Apply for a Brazil eVisa in 2026: Requirements, Fees & Processing Time

What Is the Brazil eVisa?

Brazil requires an electronic visa (eVisa) from a defined group of nationalities - most prominently United States, Canadian and Australian passport holders - for short stays of up to 90 days per visit. The eVisa replaces the old consulate visit entirely: you apply online, upload digital documents, pay once, and receive an electronic visa linked to your passport. On arrival at São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro or any Brazilian entry point, immigration simply scans your passport - no paper printout strictly required, though keeping a copy never hurts.

The most under-appreciated feature of the Brazil eVisa is its validity. It is a multiple-entry visa: for US citizens it lasts up to 10 years, and for Canadian and Australian citizens up to 5 years. Your 90-day allowance refills on each entry, so one application in 2026 can cover every trip to Brazil for the rest of the decade.

Who Needs a Brazil eVisa - and Who Doesn't?

Brazil's eVisa requirement applies to US, Canadian and Australian citizens (among a few others). But a long list of nationalities - spanning much of Europe, South America and Asia - is completely visa-exempt for stays typically up to 90 days, no application or fee at all. Before you build your application documents, confirm your position on the Brazil visa-free countries list - if your passport is on it, you skip this entire process.

If your nationality is neither on the visa-free list nor eligible for the eVisa, a traditional consular visa route applies instead - Brazil embassy rules and much longer lead times.

Which Category Do You Need?

Five eVisa categories exist, matching your travel purpose:

• Tourism: holidays, sightseeing events, sporting trips - the standard choice.
• Business: meetings, negotiations, market visits (not paid local work, which needs a work visa).
• Business Event & Expo: attending congresses, trade fairs and professional events.
• Transit: passing through a Brazilian airport on the way somewhere else.
• Seafarer: joining or disembarking from vessels at Brazilian ports.

The fee is identical across every category - so choose by purpose, not by price (see the full fee page here).

How Much Does the Brazil eVisa Cost?

One number covers the government side: US$80.90 per person. The official breakdown is US$80 consular fee plus a US$0.90 portal service charge, paid in a single payment inside the online application. Key facts surrounding that number:

• Identical for every nationality on the eVisa list - no US/Canada/Australia surcharge.
• Identical for every category - tourism costs the same as business or seafarer.
• Per person - a family of four pays it four times, so budget accordingly.
• Non-refundable - if refused, the fee is not returned, and reapplying means paying again.

An optional service fee applies only if a facilitation platform like Vistoroute checks your documents and handles the form for you. Compare platforms on what the work includes (document checks, category advice) - not just the headline price.

How Long Does Processing Take?

Standard Brazil eVisa processing takes up to 10 business days from complete submission. In practice, most straightforward applications are approved within 2-5 business days. Three timing rules matter:

• Apply 3-4 weeks before travel. This absorbs any verification round and keeps your flight booking safe.
• Watch for "In check" status. It means active review - usually document or photo verification. If it persists, your photo is the likeliest problem; see the photo specifications.
• Respond to document requests fast. If the authorities ask for extra documents and you don't respond within the window (commonly around 15 days), the application is closed and you must reapply - paying the fee again.

Unlike Kenya or Vietnam-style systems, Brazil publishes no guaranteed expedited option. Any service promising a sure rush should be treated with skepticism - the honest lever is simply applying early with clean documents.

Brazil eVisa Requirements Checklist

Five baseline documents apply to every applicant:

• A signed passport with at least two blank visa pages, valid through your trip - official minimum is one month beyond departure, but six months of spare validity is the safer standard.
• A fresh compliant photo - 3.5 × 4.5 cm, plain white background, taken within the last six months. Photos cropped from an existing passport photo are explicitly not accepted; high resolution, no pixelation.
• A color scan of the passport bio-data page - the whole page, nothing cropped. A flatbed scanner beats a phone photo: no glare, shadows or skew.
• A confirmed return or onward ticket - proof you'll leave within the 90-day allowance.
• The completed online form - personal details exactly as passport.

Category extras on top: an employer letter for business applications, an event invitation for Business Event & Expo, and supporting documents for seafarers and transit cases. Travelling with children adds a birth certificate plus a travel authorization signed by both parents, with copies of both parents' passports - see the family travel eVisa guide.

Step-by-Step: Applying for Your Brazil eVisa

Step 1 - Confirm eligibility and category

Check your nationality is eVisa-eligible (US, Canada, Australia) and pick your category by travel purpose. Visa-exempt passports stop here.

Step 2 - Prepare your documents digitally

Take or retake the 3.5 × 4.5 cm photo against a white background, scan the bio page flat and complete, and save your return ticket confirmation.

Step 3 - Complete the online form

Fill personal details exactly matching your passport - names, number, dates. Add category-specific documents if applicable.

Step 4 - Pay US$80.90 and submit

The payment happens inside the application flow. Verify the amount shown at checkout reflects the current published fee.

Step 5 - Monitor your status

Check the portal rather than panic-emailing: "In check" is normal mid-review. If a document request appears, upload promptly - the ~15-day clock is unforgiving.

Step 6 - Receive your eVisa and fly

Approval is issued electronically and linked to your passport. Airlines verify it at check-in automatically; carry a printout backup anyway.

Common Mistakes That Delay a Brazil eVisa

• Reusing an old passport photo - the freshest, most common rejection: photos must be new, correctly sized, and white-backgrounded.
• Low-quality passport scans - glare, shadow or cropping off the page edges will land you in "In check" limbo.
• Ignoring document requests - no response within the window closes the application, fee forfeited.
• Applying too close to departure - 10 business days is the official ceiling, and Brazilian holidays can stretch perceived waits.
• Wrong category on purpose - attending a paid-congress on a tourism visa invites border questions; use Business Event & Expo.

Brazil eVisa FAQs

How much does a Brazil eVisa cost?
The official fee is US$80.90 per person - US$80 consular fee plus a US$0.90 portal service charge - identical across all categories and all eligible nationalities, paid inside the online application. Optional platform service fees are separate.

Is the fee refundable if my application is rejected?
No. The official fee is non-refundable whatever the outcome, so document-checking before submission is worth real money.

How long is the eVisa valid?
Multiple-entry, up to 10 years for US citizens and up to 5 years for Canadian and Australian citizens - with stays of up to 90 days per visit.

How long does processing actually take?
Officially up to 10 business days; most complete applications are approved in 2-5 business days. There is no guaranteed expedited lane - apply 3-4 weeks ahead.

What does "In check" status mean?
Active review, usually document or photo verification. If it persists more than a few days, revisit your photo compliance first.

Can I use an existing passport photo?
No - copies or crops of your passport photo page are not accepted. You need a fresh photo meeting the current size and background specs.

How much passport validity do I need?
Minimum one month beyond your planned departure from Brazil; six months is the safer standard most applicants use.

Do children need their own Brazil eVisa?
Yes, each child needs an individual application, plus a birth certificate and a travel authorization signed by both parents, with copies of both parents' passports.