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Brasilia Entry Requirements

Brasilia Entry Requirements

Visa, immigration, and customs information

Important Notice Entry requirements can change at any time. Always verify current requirements with official government sources before traveling.
Government Travel Advisories
Verified 2026-09-26
Before you travel: official formalities

  • Brazil e-Visa for citizens of Australia, Canada and the United States

    Who
    Citizens of Australia, Canada and the United States visiting for tourism or business
    When
    Before travel, entirely online
    Cost
    USD 80.90

    Since 10 April 2025 citizens of these three countries need a visitor visa, applied for online.

    Official site
    Checked against the official source 2026-09-26
Brazil runs a nationality-based visa system. What you need to enter Brasilia depends on your passport. Many nationalities can visit for tourism without arranging a visa in advance. Specific terms and permitted length of stay vary by bilateral agreement. There is no universal rule. Since April 2025, citizens of Australia, Canada, and the United States need an electronic visa before traveling. This is a shift from the previous arrangement. For current entry rules, check the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Federal Police immigration portal. These are the authoritative sources. Brasilia's main international gateway is Presidente Juscelino Kubitschek International Airport. It handles domestic connections and international flights. Immigration processing there tends to be orderly. Lines can build during peak arrival windows. Officers will want to see a passport valid for your stay. Bring evidence of onward or return travel. Show you can support yourself financially. Brazil's entry requirements can shift with little notice. Bilateral agreements get renegotiated. New systems take effect. Before finalizing travel, confirm your visa obligations. Check any health documentation you may need. Verify current customs limits through official Brazilian government channels. Requirements from a year ago may no longer apply.

Visa Requirements

Entry permissions vary by nationality. Find your category below.

Brazil's visa policy rests on bilateral agreements. The rules depend heavily on your citizenship. Some travelers enter without a visa. Others need an electronic visa applied for online. Some must use a traditional consular application. The categories below give a general sense of the landscape. Agreements change. Verify your situation through official Brazilian sources before booking.

Visa-Free Entry
This varies by nationality and bilateral agreement terms. Check with the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Contact the nearest Brazilian consulate. They will confirm the stay permitted on your passport.

Brazil maintains visa-free tourism arrangements with several countries. Permitted length of stay and conditions vary by agreement. There is no single standard. What applies to one passport may not apply to another.

Eligibility for visa-free entry depends on your citizenship. It also depends on the current bilateral agreement between Brazil and your country. These arrangements get renegotiated periodically. You may have entered Brazil without a visa before. Confirm the arrangement still holds before your next trip.

Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA/eVisa)
This varies as specified in your approved e-visa. Check your approval documentation. It will state the permitted length of stay.

Since 10 April 2025, citizens of Australia, Canada, and the United States need an electronic visa before traveling to Brazil. This applies to tourism and business. The application is completed entirely online. Secure it before departure.

Includes
Australia Canada United States
How to Apply: The e-visa is applied for online through the Brazilian government's official portal. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs administers it. The process is entirely digital. No consulate visit is required. Processing times vary. Apply well ahead of your departure. The official application page is hosted by the Consulate General of Brazil. Access it through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.
Cost: USD 80.90

This requirement took effect on 10 April 2025. It applies to citizens of these three countries. Apply only through the official Brazilian government e-visa portal. This avoids unnecessary third-party fees and processing risks. Unofficial websites may charge extra handling fees. They offer no guarantee of faster processing.

Visa Required
This varies by visa type and nationality. The consulate handling your application will specify the permitted stay.

Some nationalities must apply for a traditional visa through a Brazilian embassy or consulate. Do this before traveling. This generally involves submitting an application with supporting documents. Submit either in person or by post. Procedures vary by consulate.

How to Apply: Applications are typically submitted through the Brazilian embassy or consulate serving your region. Required documents usually include a completed application form, passport photographs, proof of accommodation, evidence of financial means, and a return or onward ticket. Processing times vary by consulate and season.

Whether you need a consular visa depends on your citizenship and travel purpose. If your country lacks a visa-free agreement or e-visa program, a consular application is likely necessary. The Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs maintains current visa requirement information on its website.

Arrival Process

Arriving in Brasilia by air usually means passing through Presidente Juscelino Kubitschek International Airport. The process follows a standard sequence: immigration, baggage collection, then customs. For most travelers the experience is straightforward. Keep your documents organized and accessible. This helps things move along.

1
Pre-Arrival Documentation
Before boarding your flight to Brazil, ensure all required travel documents are in order. Citizens of Australia, Canada, and the United States must have an approved e-visa. Obtain it online through the Brazilian government's official portal at a cost of USD 80.90. Other travelers should verify whether their nationality requires a visa. Check for other pre-arrival documentation. Your airline may check visa status at the departure gate. Have confirmation accessible in print or on your device.
2
Immigration and Passport Control
Brasilia's airport immigration counters await you on arrival. Have your passport, visa paperwork, and proof of onward travel ready. Officers may ask about your purpose and length of stay. Processing is usually efficient. Wait times spike when multiple international flights land close together. Your passport gets stamped with your permitted duration.
3
Baggage Collection
Head to baggage claim after immigration. Screens show your carousel. Carts are available. Bags missing? Find your airline's desk in arrivals before exiting.
4
Customs Declaration and Inspection
Brazil uses red and green channels. Nothing to declare? Use green. Above duty limits? Carrying excess currency or restricted items? Use red. Random green channel checks happen. Declare accurately.

Documents to Have Ready

Valid Passport
Your passport needs validity for your entire stay. Some travelers report requests for validity beyond departure dates. Build in margin. Play it safe.
E-Visa (Australian, Canadian, and US Citizens)
Since 10 April 2025, Australians, Canadians, and Americans need approved e-visas before arrival. Apply online through Brazil's official portal. Cost: USD 80.90. Keep your confirmation accessible, digital or printed.
Proof of Onward or Return Travel
Officers may request proof of onward travel. A flight booking confirmation, printed or digital, usually suffices.
Proof of Accommodation
Hotel reservations or host invitation letters may be requested. Not always asked. Have them ready anyway.
Proof of Financial Means
Proof of funds may be required. Credit cards, bank statements, or cash plus cards are generally accepted.
Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate
Arriving from yellow fever endemic countries? Brazil may demand your International Certificate of Vaccination. Check ANVISA's current country list before departure.

Tips for Smooth Entry

Keep documents together. One folder. One envelope. E-visa, passport, onward travel proof. Rummaging slows everyone down.
Brasilia sees arrival clusters. South American capitals. Sao Paulo domestic connections. In a rush? Sit forward. Beat the queue.
Need an e-visa? Apply early. Processing times vary. Last-minute applications risk disruption.
English may be limited at Brasilia immigration. Organize documents clearly. Minimize verbal back-and-forth. Smooths the process.
Store passport copies and visa scans separately from originals. Loss or theft happens. Copies speed embassy replacement in Brasilia.

Customs & Duty-Free

Brazil's customs limits apply uniformly. Brasilia, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro. Same rules. Know duty-free allowances and prohibited items before packing. Exceeding limits or carrying banned goods means confiscation, fines, or delays.

Alcohol
Personal alcohol is permitted duty-free in limited quantities. Brazilian customs sets the volume. Check current regulations.
Personal use only. Underage travelers cannot import alcohol. Brazilian Federal Revenue Service publishes specific allowances online.
Tobacco
Personal tobacco is permitted duty-free in limited quantities. Cigarettes, cigars, or pipe tobacco.
Personal use only. Underage travelers cannot import tobacco. Federal Revenue Service lists current limits.
Currency
Cash in any currency is allowed. Amounts above the threshold must be declared on arrival and departure.
Undeclared excess cash gets seized. Fines possible. Foreign and Brazilian currency both count. Brazilian Central Bank and Federal Revenue Service publish the threshold.
Gifts/Goods
Personal goods from abroad are permitted up to a customs value limit. Airport duty-free purchases on arrival in Brazil typically enjoy a separate, higher allowance.
Excess value incurs import tax. Commercial quantities trigger import treatment regardless of declared value. Federal Revenue Service publishes current limits.

Prohibited Items

  • Narcotics and illegal drugs are banned. Severe criminal penalties apply for possession or trafficking.
  • Counterfeit goods and pirated media in any format
  • Endangered species products are prohibited. Certain skins, ivory, coral. CITES regulations apply.
  • Banned pesticides, toxic chemicals, and hazardous materials are prohibited under Brazilian environmental and safety law.

Restricted Items

  • Firearms and ammunition need prior Federal Police and Army Command authorization. Do not attempt without advance clearance.
  • Keep prescription medications in original packaging. Bring a doctor's prescription, ideally translated into Portuguese. Some controlled substances need advance authorization from ANVISA, Brazil's health regulatory agency.
  • Plants, seeds, soil, and certain food products of animal or plant origin face inspection. They may require phytosanitary certification from the country of origin.
  • Live animals need health certificates, vaccination records, and import permits. Brazil's Ministry of Agriculture, MAPA, issues these permits.

Health Requirements

Brazil's health entry requirements vary by origin and destination. Brasilia sits in the central highlands. Health considerations differ from coastal or Amazonian regions. This guidance is general. Check ANVISA and your country's travel health advisory for current requirements before departure.

Required Vaccinations

  • Yellow fever vaccination may be required if arriving from or transiting through endemic areas. Carry your International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis as proof. Brazil maintains a list of applicable origin countries. Enforcement happens at entry points.

Recommended Vaccinations

  • Consider Hepatitis A vaccination. Risk comes from food and water exposure, outside major hotels and established restaurants.
  • Typhoid vaccination helps if you plan to eat at street stalls. Smaller establishments outside Brasilia's main commercial areas also pose risk.
  • Hepatitis B vaccination suits longer stays. Consider it if medical procedures might be needed during your trip.
  • Update routine vaccinations before travel. These include measles-mumps-rubella, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis, and polio.
  • Rabies vaccine merits consideration for extended rural travel around Brasilia. Consider it also if you expect animal contact.
  • Yellow fever vaccination is recommended for forested or rural areas within Brazil. This applies even when not strictly required by departure country. Parts of the Brazilian interior carry transmission risk.

Health Insurance

Brazil does not formally require travel health insurance. Carry complete coverage anyway. Brasilia's private hospitals offer good care. Treatment costs hit hard for uninsured visitors. Confirm emergency medical evacuation coverage. Brazil is vast. Air evacuation from remote areas may become necessary.

Current Health Requirements: You may need to show a yellow fever vaccination certificate on entry. This applies when arriving from countries with transmission risk. ANVISA maintains the current list of triggering countries. Arrivals from countries not on that list typically face no certificate check at immigration. The vaccination still protects you. Parts of Brazil accessible from Brasilia carry yellow fever risk. Check ANVISA's official guidance and your home country's travel health advisory for other entry documentation.

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Important Contacts

Essential resources for your trip.

Embassy/Consulate
Brasilia hosts most countries' embassies and consulates. Your embassy likely sits in the Setor de Embaixadas. This dedicated embassy district lies within Brasilia's Plano Piloto.
Check your government's travel advisory page before departure. Note the embassy address in Brasilia and any Brazil-specific alerts. Register with your embassy's traveler program if available. This lets consular staff reach you in emergencies.
Immigration Authority
Brazil's Federal Police, Policia Federal, handles immigration. Offices operate at Brasilia's airport and in the city. The Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Itamaraty, headquartered in Brasilia, manages visa policy and consular affairs.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs website is the primary source for visa applications and entry requirements. The Federal Police handles immigration matters once you are in Brazil. This includes visa extensions and status changes.
Emergency
Brazil runs dedicated emergency lines for police, medical emergencies, and fire. These operate around the clock throughout Brasilia.
Emergency operators may speak limited English. Have a Portuguese speaker assist when possible. Contact your embassy for guidance in non-life-threatening situations. Your hotel front desk can help place emergency calls.

Special Situations

Additional requirements for specific circumstances.

Traveling with Children

Brazil takes child travel documentation seriously. The rules aim squarely at preventing abduction and trafficking. A child with both parents and a personal passport usually sails through. One parent traveling alone faces more scrutiny. Written authorization from the absent parent becomes necessary. Get it notarized. Get it apostilled or consularized. Translate everything into Portuguese. Neither parent present? You need notarized authorization from both parents or legal guardians. Brazilian authorities enforce these rules at entry and exit. They do not bend. Contact your nearest Brazilian consulate for exact formatting requirements. Rules differ for Brazilian nationals versus foreign children. Details matter here. Start early.

Traveling with Pets

Pets need paperwork. Brazil demands advance preparation. Start with an international health certificate from a licensed veterinarian in your home country. Rabies vaccination proof is mandatory. Additional tests or treatments may apply depending on species and origin country. Your official veterinary authority must endorse the health certificate before departure. MAPA, Brazil's Ministry of Agriculture, writes the rules. Check with them directly. Requirements shift by species, origin, and current health conditions. Rules evolve. Verify before you fly.

Extended Stays

Extensions exist. Apply through the Federal Police before your authorized stay expires. Approval is not automatic. Your visa category and personal situation determine your odds. Working, studying, or settling long-term? You likely need a specific visa category applied for before arrival. Overstay and you will pay. Fines apply. Deportation threatens. Future visas become harder to obtain. Planning to linger in Brasilia or beyond? Start early. Consult the Federal Police well before your deadline. Do not wait.

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