Brazil is Waiving Visa Requirements During the Olympics!

For anyone wanting to go to Brazil but not having luck getting a visa, good news! Brazil is waiving the visa requirements for United States, Canada, Australia, and Japan during the Olympics and Paralympics starting in June!

The visa waiver will officially start on June 1st, and will end on September 18th, 2016. Below is the official fact sheet of information I received from Visit Brasil:

from VisitBrasil.com

Purpose of the measure: 

To facilitate the entry into Brazil of tourists from these four countries, who will be exempted from tourist visa to travel to Brazil

Term of the measure: 

The measure will be valid only for trips that take place exclusively in the period between June 1st and September 18th, 2016

Do all foreign tourists entering Brazil today need visas?

First, lets clarify that we are only discussing tourist visas. In this regard, we must point out that currently, based on bilateral agreements, Brazil already exempts citizens from over 80 countries from needing a tourist visa. In exchange, Brazilians can also travel freely to these countries without a visa, since the agreement is based on reciprocity.

To illustrate the scope of these agreements, citizens of the European Union, South America, South Africa, Mexico and Russia, all major emitters of tourists to Brazil, are exempt from the visa with the purpose of tourism in Brazil, among others.

Information on whether or not a tourist requires a visa to come to Brazil can be found at: https://www.gov.br/mre/pt-br/assuntos/portal-consular/

How long will visa waiver be valid for? 

The exemption from the visa requirement is valid for 90 days, and this period will count from the first visitor entry into the country. Tourists from Australia, Canada, the US or Japan who want to benefit from the measure should thus enter Brazil from June 1st to until September 18th, 2016, deadline set at all gateways, and these tourists can stay without visa for a maximum period of 90 days.

Starting on September 19th, 2016, the usual visa requirement for the countries mentioned above, currently in force, will again be required.

Will tourists who benefit from the visa exemption have to prove that they have tickets to attend any of the Olympics or Paraolympics games to enter Brazil? 

No. To travel to Brazil at that time, visitors simply need to have a valid passport and roundtrip tickets. Furthermore, they should be able, if necessary, to prove financial means to remain in the country if called upon by the immigration authorities, as may occur with all visitors who come to Brazil.

How will the process of entry work for these tourists exempted from visa? 

The procedure will be the same for all other foreigners coming to Brazil. After disembarking the plane, they will have to go through customs and immigration control at seaports and airports. What changes is not the entry procedure, but the facilitation of travel, since tourists will no longer need to go to the Brazilian consulates and embassies to obtain a visa.

How will Americans, Canadians and others have access to information on the visa exemption? 

The communication shall be made by various means, both by the official agencies of the Brazilian Government in the four countries mentioned, as well as by travel agencies and tour operators.

Embratur will forward the information to the international tourist trade through the Brazilian Tourism Offices present in the United States, Canada and Japan. In Australia, the distribution of news will be done in partnership with the Embassy of Brazil in Canberra and the Consulate General of Brazil in Sydney. Digital channels and public relations will also be activated to disseminate the information to consumers.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will use its extensive network of diplomatic and consular representations to convey the information about the extent of the visa waiver in the four countries.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will use its extensive network of diplomatic and consular representations to convey the information about the extent of the visa waiver in the four countries.

Will journalists who go to Brazil to cover the Olympic and Paralympic Games have visa waivers? 

Journalists who are nationals of one of the 80 countries with whichBrazil has business visa waiver agreement (VITEM II) –(https://www.gov.br/mre/pt-br/assuntos/portal-consular/ ) – will be exempt from visas to cover the games. Journalists from other countries will need a visa. Journalists of any nationality who have Olympic accreditation (in accordance with Art. 2 of Law 12.035 / 2009 (Olympics Act)), and who are coming to Brazil between July 5 and October 28, 2016, will also be exempted from visa.

Any other professional with compensation work related to the Olympics will have visa exemption? 

Professionals who have Olympic accreditation (in accordance with Art. 2 of Law 12.035 / 2009 (Act Olympics)), and who are coming to Brazil between July 5 and October 28, 2016 will be exempt from visa.

Professionals who come to Brazil at any other time need visa.

Will security measures be strengthened due to this initiative? The exemption of entry visas for nationalities mentioned above don’t interfere with the security measures being taken by the Brazilian government for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The issues related to the security of the Olympics will be processed under Special Security Office for Major Events of the Ministry of Justice, which has a National Strategic Plan and a National Tactical Plan to ensure the safety of the Games. That means, the measures envisioned to ensure safety during the Olympics will be rigorous and will have a sizeable force of military and security forces, as happened during the World Cup in 2014.

Anyone from these four countries can enter Brazil without a visa during this period? 

No, the visa waiver covers only 4 countries Visitors who come to Brazil for tourism purposes. In the case of travelers who come to engage in any other activity, they must request the corresponding visa at the consulates or consular sections of the embassies of Brazil abroad.

If a tourist who entered without a visa in Brazil decides to travel to another Mercosur country, will they be able to reenter Brazil without a visa? 

Yes, tourists can get in and out of Brazil at any time, provided that the total of days of stay in the country does not exceed 90 days from the date of first entry, provided that the re-entry into Brazil happens prior to September 18th, 2016.

Can a tourist take advantage of the Mercosur rule and travel freely around all countries in the Mercosur block? 

The Mercosur rule only applies to nationals of the block itself, not the tourists from other countries. These are subject to the rules for issuing visas for each country they wish to visit.

What documents do tourists from these countries need to enter Brazil? 

To enter Brazil, foreign tourists must present valid passport and duly completed entry card.

Will the airlines be sufficiently informed about the visa waiver?

Yes, the Brazilian government will create a task force to keep all agencies involved with the tourism and aviation industry informed, including airlines and companies that manage airports in Brazil. In due course, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will update its regulations and inform all authorities.

What about American freelance journalists who are not accredited by the Olympics Committee? If they have confirmed assignment, are they able to take advantage of the visa waiver? 

No. The exemption only covers travelers who come to Brazil exclusively for tourism, or for recreation or visit, which is not the case. Freelance journalists should therefore apply for the appropriate visa at Brazilian consulates in the United States.