Brazil will reinstate visa requirements for U.S., Canadian, and Australian citizens starting Thursday, ending a six-year period of visa-free entry for these nationals. According to the U.S. Embassy in Brasilia, Americans can still apply for visas online for trips beginning April 10.
This policy reversal follows former President Jair Bolsonaro’s 2019 decision to remove visa requirements to promote tourism. However, this move contradicted Brazil’s traditional approach of requiring visas based on reciprocity, ensuring equal treatment for all travelers.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva suspended the visa-free policy in March 2023, shortly after taking office, citing reciprocity since Brazilians still need visas to visit these countries. Lula’s decision faced delays as negotiations aimed to secure reciprocal agreements, but no progress was made.
Earlier this year, Brazil’s Senate passed a bill to maintain visa exemptions, but the political climate shifted following former President Donald Trump’s imposition of a 10% tariff on Brazilian goods. As a result, the lower house, influenced by Speaker Hugo Motta’s allies, has delayed a final vote on the matter.
In response, Brazil’s Congress quickly passed a reciprocity bill, giving the government the authority to impose retaliatory tariffs on countries that create barriers to Brazilian exports. This bill is awaiting final approval from President Lula.