Entry Procedures
Visa and entry requirements depend on the country that issued your passport. The information here is general guidance. Always confirm the requirements for your own nationality with the official source.
This information is for general guidance only. Please verify with the embassy or official government sources before traveling.
Visa Requirements
Types of visas required and their conditions
Visa rules for Brazil depend on your nationality and can change, and an electronic visa (e-Visa) has applied to some nationalities in recent years. Many visitors enter for tourism without a visa for short stays, but you should confirm the current requirement for your passport with an official Brazilian source or embassy before you travel, and check any application deadlines.
- Depends on
- Nationality
- e-Visa
- Some nationalities
- Confirm
- Before travel
- Rules vary by nationality and can change
- Check official sources for your passport in advance
Passport Conditions
Required validity period and blank pages
Carry a passport that is valid for your whole stay, and ideally with several months of validity remaining beyond your planned departure, as individual requirements vary. Keep a couple of blank pages for stamps, and carry a copy of your passport and entry record separately from the original in case of loss.
- Validity
- Whole stay+
- Blank pages
- Keep some
- Copy
- Store separately
- Requirements vary; check for your nationality
- Keep a copy apart from the original
Required Documents & Pre-registration
Arrival cards, health declarations, and other preparations
On arrival you may be asked to show proof of onward or return travel, accommodation details and sufficient funds for your stay, alongside your passport and any required visa. Having these ready, plus travel insurance and an address for your first night, helps immigration and speeds up entry.
- Onward ticket
- May be asked
- Accommodation
- Have details
- Funds
- Show proof
- Keep return ticket and hotel booking handy
- Insurance and first-night address help
Pre-arrival procedure — Brazil e-Visa: since April 2025, citizens of the United States, Canada and Australia need a visa; most apply online for the e-Visa on the official portal brazil.vfsevisa.com (operated with VFS Global). The fee is reported around USD 80.90; it is multiple-entry and processing typically takes about 5-10 business days. Most other nationalities remain visa-free. Beware paid look-alike sites.
Official Brazil e-Visa (brazil.vfsevisa.com)- Surname
- SMITH
- Given name
- MICHAEL
- Nationality
- Your nationality (e.g. a representative country)
- Passport number
- A1234567
- Arrival date
- 2026-04-10
- Entry city
- Sao Paulo
Steps
- 1 On brazil.vfsevisa.com check whether your nationality needs e-Visa or is visa-free/exempt
- 2 Complete the application and upload the passport page/photo as required
- 3 Pay the official fee and save the approved e-Visa (print or keep on your phone)
- 4 Present it at check-in and immigration together with your passport
Eligibility, fees, processing time and validity can change; for accurate details we recommend checking with the official government portal before you travel.
Last updated: 2026-08-30
Cash Import Limits
Declaration-free limits and procedures for excess amounts
Brazil requires travellers to declare cash and equivalent instruments above a set threshold, commonly around the equivalent of US$10,000 (in reais or foreign currency). Thresholds and rules can change, so check the current figure with Receita Federal (customs) before you fly, and declare when required to avoid seizure or fines.
- Threshold
- ~US$10,000 eq.
- Declare
- If above
- Check
- Receita Federal
- Applies to cash and equivalent instruments
- Confirm current threshold before travel
Duty-Free Allowances & Restricted Items
Limits on tobacco, alcohol, food, and other goods
Personal effects are generally allowed duty-free, but there are limits on the value of goods and quantities of items like alcohol and tobacco brought in for personal use. Amounts above the allowance may be taxed. Use the "nothing to declare" channel only if you are within limits, and check current allowances with Receita Federal.
- Personal use
- Within limits
- Over allowance
- May be taxed
- Check
- Receita Federal
- Limits on alcohol, tobacco and goods value
- Declare if you exceed the allowance
Prohibited Items
Items that are strictly forbidden from import
Illegal drugs are strictly prohibited and penalties are severe. Fresh food, plants, seeds and animal products are heavily restricted for biosecurity reasons and may be seized. Weapons, counterfeit goods and protected wildlife products are banned. Never carry items for someone else, and declare anything you are unsure about.
- Drugs
- Banned
- Food/plants
- Restricted
- Wildlife
- Protected
- Severe penalties for illegal drugs
- Do not carry items for others
Medication Import Rules
Rules for bringing prescription and over-the-counter drugs
Bring prescription medicines in their original packaging with a doctor's letter or prescription, ideally translated, and keep quantities to a reasonable personal supply. Some controlled medicines face extra rules. If in doubt about a specific drug, check with ANVISA (the health regulator) before travelling.
- Packaging
- Original
- Letter
- Doctor's note
- Check
- ANVISA
- Carry a prescription for controlled drugs
- Keep to a reasonable personal supply
Vaccinations & Health Requirements
Required and recommended vaccines for entry
Yellow fever vaccination is recommended for travel to many areas of Brazil, including parts of the Amazon and other regions, and some countries require a certificate if you arrive from Brazil. Routine vaccines should be up to date. Talk to a travel clinic several weeks before departure about yellow fever and other recommended shots for your itinerary.
- Yellow fever
- Recommended (areas)
- Routine
- Up to date
- Advice
- Travel clinic
- Yellow fever recommended for many regions
- Certificate may be needed for onward travel
Immigration Process
Step-by-step guide from arrival to clearing immigration
At major airports, immigration is handled by the Federal Police. Have your passport, any visa and arrival details ready. Some airports offer electronic gates for eligible travellers. Be ready to answer simple questions about the purpose and length of your stay, and keep your onward ticket and accommodation details accessible.
- Handled by
- Federal Police
- e-Gates
- Some airports
- Ready
- Purpose of stay
- Have passport and arrival details ready
- Answer questions on purpose and length
Tips for Smooth Entry
Practical advice for a hassle-free arrival
Arrive with your first-night address written down and some local currency for transport. Portuguese is the language, and a few phrases go a long way. Immigration and connecting flights can take time at big hubs, so allow a generous buffer between international arrival and domestic departures.
- Language
- Portuguese
- Buffer
- Connections
- Cash
- For transport
- Write down your first-night address
- Allow time between intl and domestic flights