Brazil’s Ministry of Tourism quietly signed the final ordinance on 20 December that will fundamentally reshape how millions of business and leisure travellers enter—and spend money in—the country from 1 January 2026.
The headline change is the permanent reinstatement of mandatory electronic visas (e-Visas) for citizens of the United States, Canada, Australia, Mexico, France, Argentina and more than 20 other previously visa-exempt markets. The government says the move restores the principle of reciprocity because Brazilians still need visas for those countries. Travellers will apply through an upgraded VFSeVisa portal, pay US $80.90 and receive a multiple-entry visa valid for up to ten years (five for Canadians and Australians). Airlines have already been warned they face heavy fines if passengers turn up at check-in without the e-Visa barcode.
To streamline what could otherwise become a bureaucratic headache, corporate travel departments are turning to specialised facilitators like VisaHQ, whose updated Brazil page (https://www.visahq.com/brazil/) walks applicants through the new VFSeVisa process, verifies documents, and tracks approvals in real time—giving mobility teams a one-stop dashboard for compliance and cost control.
![Brazil locks in 2026 e-Visa, VAT and tourist-tax overhaul for 30+ nationalities]()
Just as significant for mobility budgets is Brazil’s sweeping tax reform, also scheduled for 1 January 2026. A dual federal VAT system (CBS and IBS) will replace a patchwork of cumulative levies on services. Consulting firm KPMG estimates that hotel, car-rental and tour prices will rise three to five percentage points once the new rates are passed on, lifting the average mid-range hotel night in São Paulo from R$550 to about R$585.
Municipalities are adding their own layers. Popular coastal hubs such as Angra dos Reis and Ilha Grande have approved “sustainable tourism” fees of up to R$95 per visit, while Rio de Janeiro is considering re-activating a per-bed tax ahead of Carnival 2026. Combined with higher VAT, daily on-the-ground costs for corporate travellers could climb 8-10 percent, according to the Brazilian Hotel Industry Association (ABIH).
Global mobility managers are already recalibrating budgets, visa-lead times and cost-of-living allowances. Multinationals are renegotiating airline and long-stay accommodation contracts, and payroll teams are updating per-diem tables to reflect the new tax landscape. Failure to adapt could leave travellers non-compliant with internal reimbursement policies and expose companies to unexpected tax liabilities.
The headline change is the permanent reinstatement of mandatory electronic visas (e-Visas) for citizens of the United States, Canada, Australia, Mexico, France, Argentina and more than 20 other previously visa-exempt markets. The government says the move restores the principle of reciprocity because Brazilians still need visas for those countries. Travellers will apply through an upgraded VFSeVisa portal, pay US $80.90 and receive a multiple-entry visa valid for up to ten years (five for Canadians and Australians). Airlines have already been warned they face heavy fines if passengers turn up at check-in without the e-Visa barcode.
To streamline what could otherwise become a bureaucratic headache, corporate travel departments are turning to specialised facilitators like VisaHQ, whose updated Brazil page (https://www.visahq.com/brazil/) walks applicants through the new VFSeVisa process, verifies documents, and tracks approvals in real time—giving mobility teams a one-stop dashboard for compliance and cost control.
Just as significant for mobility budgets is Brazil’s sweeping tax reform, also scheduled for 1 January 2026. A dual federal VAT system (CBS and IBS) will replace a patchwork of cumulative levies on services. Consulting firm KPMG estimates that hotel, car-rental and tour prices will rise three to five percentage points once the new rates are passed on, lifting the average mid-range hotel night in São Paulo from R$550 to about R$585.
Municipalities are adding their own layers. Popular coastal hubs such as Angra dos Reis and Ilha Grande have approved “sustainable tourism” fees of up to R$95 per visit, while Rio de Janeiro is considering re-activating a per-bed tax ahead of Carnival 2026. Combined with higher VAT, daily on-the-ground costs for corporate travellers could climb 8-10 percent, according to the Brazilian Hotel Industry Association (ABIH).
Global mobility managers are already recalibrating budgets, visa-lead times and cost-of-living allowances. Multinationals are renegotiating airline and long-stay accommodation contracts, and payroll teams are updating per-diem tables to reflect the new tax landscape. Failure to adapt could leave travellers non-compliant with internal reimbursement policies and expose companies to unexpected tax liabilities.
