Travel to Brazil just got much easier for Canadians

The Brazilian government has launched an electronic visa for Canadian visitors.

This means Canadian travellers can now obtain travel authorization to enter Brazil by completing a simple online application form.

The Brazil Online Visa is valid for two consecutive years and allows Canadian travellers to enter Brazil for periods of up to 90 days for a range of reasons, including tourism, business, education, sports activities, and medical treatment.

Citizens of Australia and Japan are also eligible for the scheme and it will soon be available to U.S. nationals.

Brazilian authorities chose the four countries for the new initiative as their citizens make up 60 percent of Brazil visa applications.

The e-visa has been designed to simplify and modify the process obtaining visas for these nationalities and thereby facilitate tourism to Brazil.

Prior to the scheme, it was necessary for applicants to physically go to an embassy or consulate to fill out the application from.

Now it can be done from home in a matter of minutes, saving the applicant time and hassle.

Canadians wishing to travel to Brazil can complete the quick and simple online application which involves entering some basic personal information such as name, address, and date of birth, as well as answering some simple questions.

To complete the application, candidates must have a valid Canadian passport (with a minimum of eight months remaining from the date of arrival), a credit or debit card to pay for the visa, and an up-to-date email address to receive the evisa.

Processing Brazil e-visa applications take up to five working days. After it has been successfully approved, the Brazil e-Visa is sent to the applicant by email in PDF format.

Upon arrival in Brazil, Canadian travellers must present the Brazil e-visa, along with their passport, to Brazilian border authorities to gain entry.

The e-visa allows multiple entries into Brazil: there is no set limit on the number of times a Canadian traveller can enter the country, as long as the total number of days does not exceed the 90-day limit.

The scheme was tested with great success during the Rio Olympics in 2016.