Brazil lifts visa requirement for US, Canada, Japan and Australia



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(CNN) – If watching a match at Rio de Janeiro's Maracanã Stadium has been on your list since the 2014 FIFA World Cup ™, you can do it without adding a trip to the consulate on your itinerary.

As of June 17, tourists from the United States, Canada, Japan and Australia will no longer need a visa to travel to Brazil.

Travelers with a valid passport will be able to explore Brazil for up to 90 days, with the possibility of extending their stay for up to 180 days (but expect a visit to the Federal Police to get the extension approved).

Brazil is known for the bright colors of its flag, its landscapes and its cities.

Brazil is known for the bright colors of its flag, its landscapes and its cities.

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This decision was announced in March, before the official visit of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro to the White House.

In a joint statement issued on March 19 by President Donald Trump and President Bolsonaro, the duo announced that, along with the lifting of the duty, "the presidents have agreed to take the necessary steps to allow Brazil to participate in the Trusted Global Traveler's Department of Homeland Security Program Registration. "

Since the announcement, Brazil has already seen an increase in the interest of tourists for tourists from these four countries. In March, searches for flights between Australia and Brazil increased by 36% over the previous year. Americans have experienced a similar search boom, with a 31% increase in the search for flights after the news.

Last year, airlines from around the world launched additional routes to different cities in Brazil. In November 2018, the largest Brazilian airline, GOL, launched new direct flights between Brazil, Miami and Orlando. Virgin Atlantic and Norwegian Air also announced new direct flights between London and São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, respectively.

American Airlines is the main carrier with links between the United States and Brazil, with direct links to São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasilia and Manaus.

"American Airlines congratulates the Brazilian government for introducing a non-visa requirement that will allow visitors from the United States, Canada, Japan and Australia to travel to Brazil without a visa," Panther Martha Pantin, Director of Communications, said. Company at American Airlines. E-mail.

The city of Olinda houses some of the best examples of colonial architecture in the state of Pernambuco.

The city of Olinda houses some of the best examples of colonial architecture in the state of Pernambuco.

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Brazil has implemented a series of changes in recent years aimed at increasing the number of tourists visiting the country.

European visitors have long enjoyed visa-free travel in Brazil and those from neighboring Latin American countries can enter and exit Brazil freely provided that they can present an identity card – no passport is issued. necessary.

During the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil temporarily abolished its obligations to travelers from four countries, now exempted from the obligation to strengthen tourism around the event .

In 2017, the country announced that visitors from the same countries would no longer be required to visit a consulate or embassy to obtain their visa, but could request the document online for $ 40 instead of the $ 160 previously required.

According to the Brazilian Ministry of Tourism, the electronic visa change resulted in a 35% increase in the number of applications received by the department in 2018.
In addition, a survey conducted by the ministry revealed that 88% of visitors to the 2016 Olympics have expressed the wish to return to the country, especially since it maintained the visa waiver policy.

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