Brazil Suspends Visa Overstays Due to Coronavirus

You might just be in luck. If you’re in Brazil and want to stay but your visa has expired, get ready for some good news. On March 25, 2020, the Brazilian immigration authorities issued a directive suspending visa expiration dates for foreigners in Brazil.

The global health pandemic has disrupted international travel. For some, leaving Brazil and heading to another country isn’t an option. With coronavirus restrictions in place, it may not be as simple as hopping on the next flight out.

But what about that 90-day visa?

At least until the next update from the Brazilian government, you’re free to stay in Brazil even if it means overstaying your visa. Normally, you’d have to go through the process of leaving and returning or requesting an extension. But the government directive eliminates all of this. Instead, it automatically extends all stays.

Keep in mind that this relates only to immigration. Brazil’s tax authority (Receita Federal) has yet to announce changes to the rules about who’s deemed a resident for tax purposes. You can read more about this issue in our next article.

If you haven’t yet arrived in Brazil, you’ll want to make sure you have proof of healthcare with you when you board the plane. It needs to be valid in Brazil for the entirety of your trip and offer at least R$30,000 (approximately US$5,395) in coverage.

So now you can go enjoy that caipirinha on the beach knowing that you haven’t overstayed your visa. Just don’t forget to bring your mask.