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The Senate overturns the visa requirement for tourists from the US, Canada and Australia, going against the government. The decision, which will still be voted on in the Chamber of Deputies, could impact tourism and the Brazilian economy. Diplomats warn of diplomatic and financial risks. Will tourists continue to enter without bureaucracy or will the ban be reinstated?
Senate decision goes against government recommendation and maintains exemption for foreign tourists.
The Federal Senate approved, this Wednesday (19), a project that revokes the government's decision to reestablish the visa requirement for tourists from the United States, Canada and Australia.
The measure still needs to be analyzed by the Chamber of Deputies before it comes into effect. If approved, the exemption will remain, allowing citizens of these countries to continue entering Brazil without needing the document, as has been the case since 2019.
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The decision contradicts the position of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which defends the visa requirement as a measure of reciprocity. Currently, Brazilians need a visa to enter these three countries, which justifies the resumption of the requirement in the government's view.
what is at stake?
The decree signed by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) provided that, as of April 10, 2025, tourists from these countries would once again need a visa to enter Brazil.
However, most senators considered that the measure could negatively affect tourism and harm the economy. The parliamentarians argue that the exemption facilitates the entry of foreign visitors, increasing the flow of tourists and boosting sectors such as hotels, commerce and services.
If the Senate's decision is upheld by the Chamber and sanctioned, the visa requirement will not be reinstated, and tourists will continue to travel to Brazil without this bureaucracy.
The position of the government and diplomacy
Advisors from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a note to the Senate defending the resumption of visas. According to the document, the reciprocity policy must be maintained to ensure equal treatment for Brazilians traveling to the United States, Canada and Australia.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs claims that the suspension of visa requirements in 2019 did not result in a significant increase in tourists from these countries.
In 2019, the year in which the Bolsonaro government approved the exemption, citizens of the US, Canada, Australia and Japan represented 8,8% of foreign visitors to Brazil.
By 2024, that number has dropped to 8,4%, according to data from the Federal Police.
Another point of concern for the government is the financial impact of revoking the requirement. Since the announcement of the decree, almost 98 visa applications have been made, and more than 62 documents have been issued.
If the Senate bill is approved by the Chamber, tourists who paid for the visa could go to court to request a refund, which would generate costs for the Brazilian State.
The Senate's argument: impact on tourism and the economy
Senators in favor of exemption They argue that the resumption of visas would create barriers to international tourism, making it difficult to attract foreign visitors.
In 2024, Brazil received 6,7 million international tourists, an increase of 14,6% compared to the previous year.
The number of tourists coming from the USA, Canada and Australia grew by 8% in 2023, reaching 728 thousand visitors.
Senator Carlos Portinho (PL-RJ), author of the project, criticized the Lula government's decision and stated that the reestablishment of the visa is a setback for Brazilian tourism.
“The president exceeds his power by revoking visa exemptions. This creates more bureaucracy for tourism and harms states and municipalities that depend on this activity,” said Portinho.
Another argument raised by parliamentarians is that the fee charged for issuing visas (around US$80 or R$400) is not included in the General Budget of the Union, but rather in the budget of the Itamaraty.
This means that the amount collected from issuing the documents does not directly benefit the country's economy, which weakens the government's justification for reinstating the requirement.
Differences in the plenary
Despite majority support, senators allied with the government spoke out against the exemption.
Randolfe Rodrigues (PT-AP), the government leader in Congress, criticized the proposal, stating that giving up reciprocity harms Brazil's diplomatic position.
Jacques Wagner (PT-BA) He mentioned that Japan has already removed the visa requirement for Brazilians and argued that the US$87 fee charged by the US for a visa valid for 10 years is not an impediment for those traveling internationally.
Fabiano Contarato (PT-ES) called the exemption of a “mutt complex”, remembering that many Brazilians face difficulties and even humiliation in obtaining an American visa.
Alessandro Vieira (MDB-SE) criticized the project, claiming that the decision on visas is a prerogative of the Executive and that the Senate would be overstepping its functions.
The project now moves on to Câmara dos Deputados, where it will be voted on. If approved, the exemption will be maintained, allowing citizens of the US, Canada and Australia to continue traveling to Brazil without a visa.
If deputies reject the project, the visa requirement will come into effect again from April 10, 2025.
Furthermore, the decision may be challenged in court, since visa policy is traditionally a responsibility of the federal government.
Regardless of the outcome, the debate reveals a dispute between economic interests and diplomatic principles, which could influence the future of Brazilian migration policy.
