Brazil More Attractive Than Ever as Visa Prices Drop Dramatically

Destination & Tourism Jim Byers January 20, 2018

Your Guide To Brazil — Brazil is now easier and cheaper for Canadians to visit, thanks to new visa rules.

*Contributed by José Antônio Parente, Brazil’s National Secretary for Tourism Infrastructure

We have good news for travellers planning to escape the cold and dreaming with the warm and crystalline waters of Brazilian beaches, the spectacular flora and fauna of the Amazon Forest and Pantanal, the world’s largest wetland, and the breathtaking panoramic views of Iguaçu Falls. Brazil began offering electronic visas on Jan. 18, 2018 as part of a series of measures to facilitate and reduce the cost for Canadians travelling to Brazil.

The online application process will allow Canadians travellers to receive visa authorization by email ahead of their trip, skipping the long lines and saving a nice amount compared to the previous cost to get a visa. The entire process, from applying to paying the fees, analysis, concession and emission will take only 72 hours, reducing the bureaucracy and, simplifying travel to Brazil. The price for the new e-visa will only be $40 USD.

(Editor's note: Prior to this, it cost Canadians $160 USD for a visa for Brazil. This means a family of four would save $480 USD on visas.)

Brazil has a myriad of activities to explore, whether you are escaping the crowd in an isolate fisherman beach, moving to the rhythms of our music, exploring our unique gastronomy, or visiting a charming colonial town. There is no shortage of beautiful sites to see, and experiences to live in this giant and culturally diverse country, and we attract as many as 70,000 Canadians annually.

But those who have visited our beautiful country agree that Brazil has a lot of potentials to receive even more travellers from North America, and we are sure that the new electronic visa will help us to bring more business people and tourists into the country.

The simplified procedure for the entry of Canadian citizens, and other countries, using electronic visas will help to leverage the sector in Brazil, generating more employment and income. The electronic visa implementation is the result of a joint action of the Brazilian State Department, Ministry of Tourism and the Brazilian Tourism Board (Embratur), paving the way for an increase of demand for flights and new travel packages to Brazil.

Brazil will also be able to receive a much higher number of Canadian tourists, after approval by the Chamber of Deputies of the Open Skies agreement. The measure removes limitation for offers of flights between Brazil and United States, where many Canadians connect when travelling to Brazil. Studies by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) estimate that the number of international passengers to Brazil could grow by 47 per cent with the expansion in the number of flights from the United States to Brazil and vice versa.

The World Tourism Organization (WTO) estimates that the measure can increase the flow of visitors by up to 25 per cent per year and to inject over $420 million into the Brazilian economy. As an example, the visa waiver program adopted during the 2016 Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games, benefited 74 per cent of the 163,000 tourists from United States, Canada, Australia and Japan that visited Brazil. These tourists contributed more than $167 million to the national economy. Over 85 per cent of these visitors said maintaining the visa program would make it easier for them to return.

Over the last decade, tourism in Brazil received an important boost from the world’s most significant events. The cycle began in 2007 with the Pan American Games, followed by the Military World Games in 2011, the Rio+20 Summit in 2012, the 2013 Confederations Cup, the 2013 World Youth Day, the 2014 World Cup, and, finally, the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games. It was an opportunity to develop both urban and tourism infrastructure and strengthens the global perception of the country. We must continue the work, and the new electronic visa is part of a plan to modernize and create competitive advantages for the country.

In the words of many who have visited Brazil, this is a land full of joy. The country is recognized for its natural beauty, vibrant culture and gastronomy, an abundance of wildlife, and its hospitality. You can pretty much see it all in just one country; from amazing waterfalls and legendary rivers to breathtaking white sand beaches and bird-filled wetlands. Brazil is a country to be discovered, and we are waiting for you with a smile and open arms.

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