Brazil has officially switched on its long-planned electronic visa (e-Visa) platform, bringing an abrupt end to the visa-waiver arrangement Australians have enjoyed since 2019. From 5 February 2026, Australian passport-holders must secure an e-Visa online before boarding a flight or cruise to Brazil. The application involves a five-step process—completing a digital form, uploading a passport scan, paying a fee of R$ 257 (about AUD 77) and waiting for an approval QR code that is usually issued within 48 hours.
For business-travel managers the new requirement means re-engineering trip-approval workflows. Corporates are already inserting a three-day buffer between itinerary sign-off and departure to ensure travelling staff clear Brazil’s digital screening in time. Mobility teams with frequent travellers are building template communications that walk employees through the photo-upload and payment steps to minimise rejections caused by document errors.
Tour operators and airlines expect an initial dip in last-minute bookings. The Cook Travel Group says “shoulder-season” packages sold to Australian retirees have slowed this week because older travellers are “nervous about online forms”.
![Brazil Launches Mandatory e-Visa, Ending Visa-Free Access for Australians]()
Travellers who’d rather not wrestle with the new bureaucracy themselves can instead lean on VisaHQ’s Australian portal (https://www.visahq.com/australia/), which provides clear step-by-step guidance and a concierge submission option that handles document checks, fee payments and real-time tracking—helping to cut down errors and speed up approvals.
Conversely, online visa brokers report a spike in paid “concierge” services—evidence that many leisure travellers prefer to outsource the new admin burden.
Brazilian officials argue the shift will tighten border security and bring Brazil into line with other G20 economies that already use digital pre-clearance. Tourism lobby Embratur admits there will be “short-term friction” but insists a uniform system will ultimately speed up arrivals and yield better visitor data. The agency has pledged to review fee levels after six months.
Practical take-away for mobility teams: build the e-Visa step into travel authorisation tools immediately, warn travellers that airlines will deny boarding without the QR approval, and schedule trips at least 72 hours after application submission until processing times stabilise.
For business-travel managers the new requirement means re-engineering trip-approval workflows. Corporates are already inserting a three-day buffer between itinerary sign-off and departure to ensure travelling staff clear Brazil’s digital screening in time. Mobility teams with frequent travellers are building template communications that walk employees through the photo-upload and payment steps to minimise rejections caused by document errors.
Tour operators and airlines expect an initial dip in last-minute bookings. The Cook Travel Group says “shoulder-season” packages sold to Australian retirees have slowed this week because older travellers are “nervous about online forms”.
Travellers who’d rather not wrestle with the new bureaucracy themselves can instead lean on VisaHQ’s Australian portal (https://www.visahq.com/australia/), which provides clear step-by-step guidance and a concierge submission option that handles document checks, fee payments and real-time tracking—helping to cut down errors and speed up approvals.
Conversely, online visa brokers report a spike in paid “concierge” services—evidence that many leisure travellers prefer to outsource the new admin burden.
Brazilian officials argue the shift will tighten border security and bring Brazil into line with other G20 economies that already use digital pre-clearance. Tourism lobby Embratur admits there will be “short-term friction” but insists a uniform system will ultimately speed up arrivals and yield better visitor data. The agency has pledged to review fee levels after six months.
Practical take-away for mobility teams: build the e-Visa step into travel authorisation tools immediately, warn travellers that airlines will deny boarding without the QR approval, and schedule trips at least 72 hours after application submission until processing times stabilise.
