Brazil and Japan Extend Visa-Free Travel Agreement

Brazil and Japan have agreed to extend their mutual visa exemption for a further 3 years. This announcement was made following Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s visit to Japan in May.

The 2 nations have maintained a policy of visa-free travel in recent years. This has meant that Brazilian passport holders do not need a visa to enter Japan, and Japanese nationals likewise can visit Brazil without a visa.

This arrangement was set to end October 1, 2023. Brazil had previously announced it would be revoking visa exemptions for Australians, Canadians, and US citizens, as well as Japanese visitors from this date.

This decision has now been reversed for Japanese citizens. Visa-free travel will continue to be possible for a further 3 years from September 30, 2023.

Japan’s visa policy also remains unchanged, allowing Brazilians to keep their visa exemption under the same conditions.

How the Visa Exemption Agreement Works for Brazilian and Japanese Travelers

The terms of the agreement mean the following for passengers traveling between the 2 nations:

• Brazilian passport holders may visit Japan without a visa
• Japanese passport holders can enter Brazil visa-free
• In both cases, visitors may stay for up to 90 days without a visa

This means that Japanese citizens can go to Brazil for the following, using only their passport to enter the country:

• Vacations/tourism
• Business
• Sports activities
• Artistic performances
• Transiting through Brazilian airports

Likewise, Brazilians will continue to enjoy visa exemption when visiting Japan for the following reasons:

• Tourism
• Business

This saves citizens of Brazil the trouble of applying for a Temporary Visitor Visa (TVV) at a Japanese diplomatic mission.

Why Has Visa Exemption Been Extended for Japan and Brazil?

Visa exemption makes travel much simpler for international passengers. It removes the need to fill in and submit an application at an embassy or consulate and provide supporting documents. It also means you do not have to wait for your application to be approved to authorize your trip.

By making travel simpler by removing visa requirements, countries can encourage more tourism and boost their economies.

However, many countries prefer to have visa regulations for security reasons.

Brazil had previously decided to return visa requirements for Japanese nationals, as well as citizens of several other countries.

However, following the Brazilian President’s visit to Japan, this decision was reversed for travelers from Japan.

The 2 countries agreed to continue working together under the principles of reciprocity and equal treatment between the nations.

Japan likewise has decided not to reimpose visa requirements for Brazilians.

The decision to keep visa exemptions for Japanese citizens has been cited as a celebration of the 115th anniversary of Japanese immigration to Brazil.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced the decision during President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s visit.

Will Brazil Keep Visa Exemptions for Other Nationalities?

So far, Brazil has only announced that it will maintain visa exemption for Japanese travelers.

Americans, Australians, and Canadians will be required to apply for a Brazilian visa if they want to visit the country. This will come into effect from October 1, 2023.

All 3 nationalities will be eligible to apply for the Brazil eVisa, which is scheduled to be launched the same day.

This convenient online system will mean that it will still be a little hassle to authorize a trip to Brazil. Passengers from Australia, Canada, and the US will be able to get this visa by completing a short online form.