Entry/Exit Requirements

Brazil requires U.S. citizens to carry a valid U.S. passport and visa when traveling to Brazil for any purpose.  You must obtain your Brazilian visa in advance from the Brazilian Embassy or consulate nearest to your place of residence in the United States.  Visas cannot be obtained at the airport, and immigration authorities will refuse entry into Brazil to anyone not possessing a valid visa.  The U.S. government cannot assist you if you arrive in Brazil without proper documentation.

U.S. citizens and other foreign travelers must fill out an immigration form on arrival that will be stamped and handed back by immigration officials at the airport.  It is important to retain this form to hand back to immigration officials upon exit from the country.  According to the Brazilian Embassy’s website, visitors who lose this form will have to get clearance from the Brazilian Federal Police to leave the country and may have to pay a fine.

Remember that while in Brazil, you are subject to local law.  Showing contempt to a Brazilian government official at the port of entry, or elsewhere, is a serious offense.

Visit the Brazilian Embassy website for the most current visa information.

Special Entry/Exit Requirements for Dual Nationals: U.S. citizens who also have Brazilian nationality cannot be issued Brazilian visas and must obtain a Brazilian passport from the Brazilian Embassy or Consulate nearest to their place of residence to enter and depart Brazil.  In addition to being subject to all Brazilian laws affecting U.S. citizens, dual nationals may also be subject to other laws that impose special obligations on Brazilian citizens.

Special Entry/Exit Requirements for Minors: Travelers under 18 years of age and their parents should carefully review the visa application requirements. The adjudicating official at the Brazilian Embassy or consulate may require a birth certificate and notarized travel authorization from both parents to issue a visa to a minor.

Brazilian minors age 17 years and under, including minors who have both Brazilian and U.S. citizenship, are subject to strict exit requirements.  Brazilian minors departing Brazil, if not accompanied by both parents, must prove that both parents authorized the departure.  If accompanied by only one parent, the minor must either have a notarized letter from the other parent indicating permission to depart the country, a court order proving that the accompanying parent has sole custody, a Brazilian court order authorizing the child’s departure, or a Brazilian passport containing pre-printed authorization for the child to travel with either parent (which must be applied for at the same time as the Brazilian passport).  If accompanied by neither parent, the minor must have a notarized letter from both parents authorizing departure or a Brazilian court order authorizing the same. There are no exceptions, even if the child remained in Brazil only a short time.

The authorization must be notarized by a Brazilian notary to be considered valid by the Brazilian authorities.  If prepared in the United States, the authorization must be in Portuguese or accompanied by an official translation into Portuguese.  The authorization must be notarized by either the Brazilian Embassy or a Brazilian Consulate, or notarized by a U.S. notary public and then authenticated at the Brazilian Embassy or Consulate.  Prior to departing the United States, parents traveling to Brazil with children who are Brazilian nationals may wish to obtain an authorization for each parent to return with the children to the United States without the other parent, just in case.

Minors aged 17 years and under who are not Brazilian nationals are not technically subject to the same strict travel requirements as Brazilian minors.  However, there have been cases where the travel of non-Brazilian minors has been delayed or prevented when accompanied by only one parent or a third party.  To avoid potential difficulties, parents of non-Brazilian minors should follow the procedures above if their children will be traveling to Brazil accompanied by only one parent or by a third party.

Parents contemplating separation or divorce should resolve custody matters before leaving the country.  Pursuant to The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, to which both Brazil and the United States are parties, custody will ultimately be decided by a court in the country where the child is a habitual resident.

Information about dual nationality and the prevention of international child abduction can be found on our website.  For further information about general customs regulations, p

HIV/AIDS Restrictions: The U.S. Department of State is unaware of any HIV/AIDS entry restrictions for visitors to or foreign residents of Brazil.