Brazil Visa for US Citizens: 2026 Complete Guide

If you’re a US citizen planning a trip to Brazil, here’s the short version: you need an electronic visa, it’s not stamped in your passport, and you don’t set foot in a consulate to get it. Here’s what actually matters, based on how the Los Angeles office of Sameday Passport & Visa handles it.

Do US Citizens Need a Visa for Brazil?

Yes. Brazil requires an electronic visa, called an e-Visa, for US travelers. It’s fully digital, tied to your passport number, and emailed to you once approved. Nothing to mail, nothing to pick up in person.

Tourist or Business, Which One Do You Need?

Tourist e-Visa. For leisure travel, family visits, sightseeing. Multiple entry, valid up to 10 years, each stay capped at 90 days, with a total of 180 days across any 12-month period. Government fee: $81.50.

Business e-Visa. Covers meetings, conferences, and commercial activity, not employment. Same multiple-entry structure and 10-year validity. Government fee: $50, and a business invitation letter might be requested depending on your specific application.

Both are handled the same way behind the scenes, just different categories on the same application.

What You Actually Need to Apply

• A valid passport: undamaged, signed, at least two blank pages, valid for at least 6 months past your departure date.
• The online e-Visa application, filled out and submitted on your behalf.
• A recent passport photo.
• Proof you can support yourself during the trip: onward travel plans or sufficient funds.
• A visa photo, if your application calls for one. Can be taken right at the office.

That’s the whole list. No stack of paperwork for a standard tourist trip.

How Much Does It Cost, All In

Your total comes from two pieces, plus an optional third.

The government fee is fixed: $81.50 for tourist, $50 for business.

The service fee depends on speed:

• Rush – $145
• Express – $99
• Regular – $69

Since the e-Visa is emailed, there’s no shipping tied to it. FedEx return shipping only applies if you’re also getting a physical passport document back: $48 for priority overnight, $87 for first overnight, $68 for Saturday delivery. A prepaid label is free, or $5 if the office generates the air bill for you.

How Long Does Processing Take

Standard processing runs about 5 to 10 business days from submission. If your trip is coming up faster, that’s what Rush and Express are for. Worth calling ahead with your actual travel date so the office can tell you upfront whether a given speed tier fits, before you pay for it.

Can You Apply Without Going In Person

Yes. If getting to the Los Angeles office isn’t practical, there’s a mail-in option too: fill out the service order form, send it in along with your documents, and the consulate submission gets handled from there. Walk-ins are also accepted seven days a week if you’d rather just show up and talk it through in person, though calling first with your travel date is still the fastest way to know exactly what to bring.

What If Your Passport Isn’t Ready Yet

This trips people up more than anything else. The e-Visa is tied to whatever passport you currently hold. If yours is going to expire within 6 months of your departure date, or it doesn’t have two blank pages left, it needs to be renewed first, and the visa filed against the new book afterward. That’s something that can be done in the same visit rather than as two separate trips.

Real Questions People Ask

Do I have to mail my passport anywhere to get this visa? No. It’s fully electronic. You just need your current passport to be valid and have blank pages, but it never leaves your hands.

What’s the actual difference between tourist and business? Tourist is for personal travel and costs $81.50. Business covers meetings and commercial activity, costs $50, and sometimes asks for an invitation letter.

How many days can I actually stay? Up to 90 days per visit, and up to 180 total across any 12 months, for either visa type.

Can I just walk in without calling first? Yes, walk-ins are welcome any day of the week, though calling ahead means you’re not guessing what paperwork to bring.

My passport expires in a few months, is that a problem? It might be, since most rules require 6 months of validity left. Worth getting it renewed first if you’re close to that line.

Before You Apply

Whichever route you take for your Brazil visa application, the same principle applies: call with your actual travel date first. That one detail decides which service speed makes sense and what you’ll need to bring, so your first trip to the office (or your first document you mail in) is the only one you need. Start your Brazil visa application here.

This article reflects Brazil e-Visa requirements and pricing as handled by Sameday Passport & Visa’s Los Angeles office as of 2026. Requirements can change. Call to confirm current details before you apply.