The Brazilian government has extended tourist visa exemptions for citizens of the United States, Australia, and Canada until April 2025, which were set to expire yesterday, Wednesday.

This decision, issued by the Brazilian presidency and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, marks the third time Brazil has postponed visa requirements since President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva took office in 2023. His predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, exempted the countries from entry visas as a means to boost tourism—despite the three countries continuing to require visas from Brazilians.

This is contrary to Brazil's tradition of requiring travelers to obtain visas based on the principle of reciprocity and equal treatment, which prompted Lula da Silva's Ministry of Foreign Affairs to state that it would abolish the exemptions.

The ministry stated at that time: "Brazil does not grant a unilateral visa exemption for visiting without reciprocity to other countries," while indicating that the government is prepared to negotiate visa exemption agreements on a reciprocal basis.

The Brazilian official tourism board Embratur stated in a press release last Tuesday that the decision to maintain exemptions for the three countries is important for boosting tourism in Brazil, particularly from the United States. Official data shows that nearly 670,000 Americans visited Brazil in 2023, making the United States the second-largest country of origin after neighboring Argentina.