São Paulo – The Brazilian Federal Senate Federal passed a bill last Tuesday (8th) allowing for foreigners to apply for entry visas to Brazil online. The bill is still pending approval from president Dilma Rousseff to enter into force, but the Ministry of tourism believes the measure will facilitate visa issuance, and consequently visitor influx to the country.
According to information from the ministry, the application, the fees and the documents required may be made fully online, which should cut visa costs and waiting time. The bill modifies the Foreigner’s Statute (Estatuto do Estrangeiro).
According to the Ministry of External Relations, which is in charge of visa issuance, the process is “partially” electronic: the form is submitted online, but the documents must be presented in person at a consulate or embassy.
Should the Brazilian consular authorities deem it necessary for security purposes, however, the applicant may be required to submit their original documents and, eventually, additional papers as well.
The Ministry of External Relations has informed that since the project has not been approved yet, the start date and the functioning of the electronic process have not been defined yet, but will be in keeping with the rule of law.
The bill also sets forth that temporary visas are not required from foreigners on business trips, artists, or athletes, provided that their countries of origin will treat Brazilians likewise.
Although there is no set date for the bill to become effective, the Ministry of Tourism believes the measure will apply to FIFA World Cup tourists travelling to Brazil in June and July. The ministry believes approximately 600,000 foreigners should travel to Brazil during the period.
The ministry also noted that the World Tourism Organization (WTO) and the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) estimate that a simpler visa application process may cause foreign tourist influx to increase by 5% to 25% in G20 countries, i.e. the group of the world’s leading economies of which Brazil is a part.
“The measure has been designed to make Brazil into a more competitive travel destination, since travelling to Brazil will be as easy as travelling to some of its neighbouring countries,” said Tourism minister Vinicius Lages, according to a communiqué from the ministry.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
