Brazil Waives Visitor Visa Requirements for Citizens of Australia, Canada, United States, Japan

The new Immigration Law revoked the Foreigners Statute (Law No. 6,815/1980), and the Decree No. 9,199/2017 has provided several modifications for purposes of reducing the bureaucracy and expediting the visit of foreigners to Brazil.

Similarly, Decree No. 9,731 was published last week to establish the visitors' visa waivers for nationals from Australia, Canada, United States and Japan.

The waiver is only applicable to nationals of the countries noted above, provided that they hold valid passports and meet the following criteria:

I. Enter, leave, visit and remain in the Brazilian territory - with no intention of establishing residence - for purposes of tourism, business, travel, artistic performance, sports or for exceptional situations related to Brazil’s national interest; and

II. Stay for a term of up to 90 days (which can be renewed for an equal period, provided that the stay does not exceed 180 days) every 12 months, counting from the date of first entry into Brazil.

Finally, it is important to remark that the referred Decree No. 9,731 will only enter into force in June 17, 2019.