Traveling to Brazil as a family involves more than just applying for eVisas for each family member - how you're traveling with your children determines what additional documentation you'll need. The rules differ significantly depending on whether both parents are traveling together, only one parent is accompanying the child, or the child is traveling with grandparents, other relatives, or a group. This guide covers what foreign families need to know before booking a trip to Brazil.
Children are not exempt from Brazil's eVisa requirement - if your nationality is on the eVisa list, every family member needs an individual eVisa, including infants and minors. Each child needs their own application under the Tourism eVisa category (or the relevant category matching your trip purpose), with documents specific to minors:
This is the most straightforward scenario. When both parents travel together with their child, no special consent letter is typically required beyond the standard eVisa application for the minor. Bring the child's birth certificate as supporting documentation in case it's requested at the border, even though it isn't always a mandatory upload during the eVisa application itself.
When a child travels with just one parent, most destinations - including Brazil - expect written proof that the absent parent has consented to the trip. Brazilian authorities and international carriers generally recommend or expect a notarized consent letter from the non-traveling parent, including:
Carry two original notarized copies of this letter, since immigration authorities may retain one copy upon entry and request the second upon departure.
When a minor travels without either parent - with grandparents, other relatives, a school group, or an organized tour - documentation requirements are stricter:
If a custody arrangement or a parent's death is relevant to your situation, carry a certified copy of the custody order or death certificate as well, since standard consent letters won't cover those circumstances.
If your child holds Brazilian citizenship - whether through a Brazilian parent or dual nationality - the documentation rules are considerably stricter than for foreign minors on a standard eVisa. Brazilian citizen minors traveling without both parents generally require two original written authorization letters, which must be in Portuguese and notarized specifically by a Brazilian notary (or executed at a Brazilian embassy/consulate if the absent parent is abroad). Authorizations notarized outside Brazil by a non-Brazilian notary, or written only in English, are not accepted by Brazilian Federal Police.
An alternative for dual US-Brazilian citizen families is requesting a formal annotation in the child's Brazilian passport authorizing travel with only one parent, or alone - this replaces the need for repeated authorization letters until the passport expires. If this situation applies to your family, it's worth resolving well before travel, since Brazilian citizen minors without proper authorization can be denied boarding or entry entirely.
Documents issued outside Brazil - birth certificates, consent letters, custody orders - generally need to be:
Skipping either step is a common reason families get turned away at check-in or during immigration, so it's worth arranging translations and apostilles several weeks before travel rather than as a last-minute step.
Yes. Every traveler, regardless of age, needs an individual eVisa if their nationality requires one - there's no exemption for infants or young children.
It's strongly recommended and often expected by both Brazilian authorities and airlines, even where not universally enforced at every border crossing. Traveling without one risks delays or being denied boarding, so it's safest to have it ready regardless.
This typically requires legal advice specific to your custody situation and jurisdiction, since it can involve court orders or other formal documentation. It's best addressed with a family law professional well before your planned travel date.
For foreign minors traveling on a standard eVisa, English consent letters are generally accepted if properly notarized, though requirements can vary. For Brazilian-citizen minors specifically, Portuguese and notarization by a Brazilian notary is required.
At least 6-8 weeks before travel, especially if apostilles or certified translations are needed, since those processes can take longer than the eVisa application itself.
VistoRoute is an independent visa information and facilitation platform and is not affiliated with the Government of Brazil or any consular authority. Family travel documentation involving custody, guardianship, or dual citizenship can be legally complex - we recommend confirming your specific situation with your nearest Brazilian consulate or a qualified family law professional. All final decisions on visa issuance and entry rest with Brazilian immigration authorities.
