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The Senate Rejects The Visa Requirement For Tourists From The USA, Canada And Australia, Contradicting The Government. The Decision, Which Will Still Be Voted On In The Chamber, Could Impact Brazilian Tourism And Economy. Diplomats Warn Of Diplomatic And Financial Risks. Will Tourists Continue To Enter Without Bureaucracy Or Will The Veto Be Reinstated?
Senate Decision Contradicts Government Recommendation And Maintains Exemption For Foreign Tourists.
The Federal Senate Approved, This Wednesday (19), A Project That Revokes The Government’s Decision To Reinstate 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 Enters Into Effect. If Approved, The Exemption Will Remain In Place, Allowing Citizens From Those Countries To Continue Entering Brazil Without The Need For 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 Advocates For 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) Stated That, Starting April 10, 2025, Tourists From These Countries Would Again Need A Visa To Enter Brazil.
However, The Majority Of Senators Considered That The Measure Could Negatively Affect Tourism And Harm The Economy. Legislators Argue That The Exemption Facilitates The Entry Of Foreign Visitors, Increasing The Flow Of Tourists And Boosting Sectors Such As Hospitality, Commerce And Services.
If The Senate’s Decision Is Upheld By The Chamber And Signed, The Visa Requirement Will Not Be Reinstated, And Tourists Will Continue Traveling 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 The Visa Requirement. According To The Document, The Reciprocity Policy Should Be Maintained To Ensure Equal Treatment For Brazilians Traveling To The United States, Canada And Australia.
In Addition, The Ministry Of Foreign Affairs Claims That The Suspension Of The Visa Requirement In 2019 Did Not Bring A Significant Increase In Tourists From Those Countries.
In 2019, The Year In Which The Bolsonaro Government Approved The Exemption, Citizens From The USA, Canada, Australia And Japan Represented 8.8% Of The Foreign Visitors In Brazil.
In 2024, This Number Fell 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, Nearly 98,000 Visa Applications Have Already Been Made, And More Than 62,000 Documents Issued.
If The Senate’s Project Is Approved By The Chamber, Tourists Who Paid For The Visa May Turn To The Courts To Request Reimbursement, Which Would Generate Costs For The Brazilian State.
The Senate Argument: Impact On Tourism And Economy
Senators In Favor Of The Exemption Argue That The Resumption Of The Visa 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 8% In 2023, Reaching 728,000 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 The Visa Exemption. This Creates More Bureaucracy For Tourism And Harms States And Municipalities That Depend On This Activity”, Declared Portinho.
Another Argument Raised By Legislators Is That The Fee Charged For Visa Issuance (About US$ 80 Or R$ 400) Does Not Go Into The General Budget Of The Union, But Rather Into The Budget Of The Ministry Of Foreign Affairs.
This Means That The Revenue Generated From The Issuance Of Documents Does Not Directly Benefit The Country’s Economy, Which Weakens The Government’s Justification For Reinstating The Requirement.
Divergences In The Plenary
Despite The Support Of The Majority, Senators Allied To The Government Expressed Opposition To The Exemption.
Randolfe Rodrigues (PT-AP), Leader Of The Government In Congress, Criticized The Proposal, Arguing That Waiving Reciprocity Harms Brazil’s Diplomatic Position.
Jaques Wagner (PT-BA) Cited That Japan Has Already Removed The Visa Requirement For Brazilians And Argued That The US$ 87 Fee Charged By The USA For A Visa Valid For 10 Years Is Not An Impediment For Those Traveling Internationally.
Fabiano Contarato (PT-ES) Called The Exemption A “Complex Of A Dog”, Reminding That Many Brazilians Face Difficulties And Even Humiliations To Obtain The US Visa.
Alessandro Vieira (MDB-SE) Criticized The Project, Arguing That The Decision On Visas Is An Executive Prerogative And That The Senate Would Be Exceeding Its Functions.
The Project Now Goes To The Chamber Of Deputies, Where It Will Be Voted. If Approved, The Exemption Will Be Maintained, Allowing Citizens From The USA, Canada And Australia To Continue Traveling To Brazil Without A Visa.
If The Deputies Reject The Project, The Visa Requirement Will Be Reinstated Starting April 10, 2025.
In Addition, The Decision May Be Challenged In The Courts, As Visa Policy Is Traditionally A Federal Government Attribute.
Regardless Of The Outcome, The Debate Reveals A Conflict Between Economic Interests And Diplomatic Principles, Which Could Influence The Future Of Brazilian Immigration Policy.
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