For some travelers, visiting Brazil was made a little easier in June, when a decree signed by President Jair Bolsonaro went into effect, eliminating visa requirements for citizens from the United States , Canada, Japan and Australia. Residents of those four countries can now enter Brazil with only a valid passport for stays up to 90 days. Trips can be extended another 90 days as long as the total visit doesn’t exceed 180 days within a year, with days counted from the first date of entry into Brazil. For travelers, the decree comes as crime in Brazil is decreasing, compared to last year, and Zika cases are dwindling. Initially the decision faced opposition there by members of Congress who argued the principle of reciprocity should prevail, meaning that Brazilians — who are still required to have visas ($160)— should be afforded the same benefits when traveling to the United States.

Source: International New York Times July 04, 2019 09:00 UTC