Yes, and this is a genuine policy change worth double-checking if you last travelled to Brazil before 2025 or are going by an older guidebook. Since April 10, 2025, Canadian passport holders need a valid Brazilian visa for any entry - tourism, business, a stopover, or otherwise. Before that date, Canadians enjoyed visa-free entry going back to 2019.
The reversal applied to Canada alongside the United States and Australia, as part of what Brazil's foreign ministry frames as a reciprocity policy: since Canada requires a visa from Brazilian citizens, Brazil now requires one from Canadians in return. The Canadian government's own travel guidance for Brazil has been updated to reflect the new requirement, so this isn't a rumor circulating on travel forums - it's confirmed government-to-government policy.
Any Canadian citizen holding a valid Canadian passport can apply. There's no separate "easy" or "hard" tier - the eVisa is the sole route for short visit-type stays, and it replaced the requirement to visit a Brazilian consulate in person for this category of travel.
Under Brazil's Visitor Visa (VIVIS) category, the eVisa covers:
Paid employment inside Brazil isn't covered under any circumstance. If a Canadian employer is sending you to work directly for a Brazilian entity, or you're being paid locally, a different, longer-term visa category applies - trying to use the tourist/business eVisa for paid work risks denial of entry or removal.
The official eVisa system's stated passport-validity minimum is one month beyond your arrival date. That said, several travel-industry sources recommend six months of remaining validity as a safer buffer, since airline check-in staff and some border posts apply the broader six-month international convention regardless of what the strict eVisa minimum says. If your passport is due for renewal in the next year, it's worth renewing before applying rather than cutting it close.
Applications get bounced back most often for cropped bio-page scans or photos that don't meet the background/lighting spec - check the sample PDF on the official portal before you upload anything.
Because processing can occasionally run close to the outer bound, applying at least two months before travel gives you room to fix any document issue without jeopardizing your trip.
Up to 10 business days once a complete, verified application has been submitted. Some travellers report faster turnaround, but 10 business days is the figure to plan around rather than the fastest possible outcome.
A 5-year eVisa doesn't mean 5 continuous years in Brazil - each visit is still capped at 90 days (extendable once), with the clock resetting based on your entry date each migratory year.
Minors under 18 require:
Canadian families with joint or shared custody arrangements should confirm which specific combination of documents applies to their situation before applying, since the required set changes depending on custody status.
Extensions are handled by the Polícia Federal directly, not through the eVisa system:
Filing after your original stay has already lapsed puts you at risk of a fine and a requirement to regularize your status or leave the country within a set window.
If your trip involves anything beyond short visit-type activity - enrolling in a full academic program, taking up local employment, or applying for residency - you'll need to go through a Brazilian consulate in Canada directly, since the eVisa doesn't extend to those categories.
Getting an approved eVisa is not the same as guaranteed entry. Brazilian Federal Police officers make the final call at the port of entry and may ask about your onward travel, accommodation, or funds. Have your printed eVisa and passport ready - airlines check for a valid eVisa before allowing boarding in the first place.
Yellow fever vaccination isn't required by Brazil for entry, though it's recommended if you're heading into parts of the Amazon or other interior regions. If your Brazil trip is part of a longer South America itinerary, check the entry rules of any neighboring country separately, since some do require proof of vaccination for travellers arriving from Brazil.
Last reviewed: July 24, 2026
