This was published 5 years ago
Brazil visa: Australians will be able to enter visa-free from June 17, 2019
By Sumeyya Ilanbey
If you've ever wanted to attend Rio de Janeiro's famous Carnival, you'll now be able to do so without getting a visa.
From June 17 this year, Australians will no longer require a visa to enter Brazil.
Previously Australians faced a $US44 ($A62) charge to obtain an e-visa, while applying by for a visa by post or in person at an embassy attracted a fee of $216.
The Brazilian embassy announced the change last week.
"The expectation is that more Australians will come and visit Brazil," the embassy said in a statement.
"With the facilitation for entry of Australian visitors, the government of Brazil seeks to promote greater exchanges between the Brazilian and Australian societies and to encourage both to explore the opportunities of a closer relationship between the two biggest countries of the Southern Hemisphere."
Brazil also removed visa requirements for citizens of the US, Canada and Japan.
Australia has one of the world's most powerful passports. Currently we're able to enjoy visa-free access to 181 counties, placing us 10th on the 2019 Passport Index.
Although the number of countries we can visit visa-free has been rising in recent years, we have fallen down the rankings as other countries, such as Japan and Singapore, have rapidly climbed.
Visas are a way for countries to control who enters their borders, what they can do there and how long they can stay. It's also an opportunity for governments to raise revenue.
But open-door policies contribute billions to the global economy and can boost job opportunities around the world.
In announcing its decision to scrap visa requirements for Aussies, the embassy spruiked the two countries' bilateral trade and military relationships.
"Brazil is Australia's largest economic partner in Latin America, with a two-way trade of $A2.25 billion," the embassy said in its statement
"Brazil is also the Latin American country with the largest stock of Australian investments and the largest source of Latin American investments in Australia."
The Federal Government's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Smart Traveller website currently advises Australians to exercise "a high degree of caution" when visiting Brazil, due to "the rate of violent crime, including muggings, armed robbery, kidnappings and sexual assault". The site also advises that Rio de Janeiro is a high risk area for tourist robberies.
"Thefts are common at tourist landmarks, such as the Christ the Redeemer statue, the Corcovado trail and Santa Teresa, and on public beaches, particularly Copacabana and Ipanema."
Smart Traveller also advises that you may a Yellow Fever vaccination certificate in order to enter the country.
See also: The world's most powerful passports for 2019 named
See also: What do you pack to wear on a Brazillian beach? Not much
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