This country will require Americans to show their bank statements to visit. Here’s why
(NEXSTAR) – If you want to travel to Brazil next year, you’ll need to share your bank statements with the South American nation first.
Travelers from the U.S., Canada, and Australia will need to obtain a visa before entering the country, beginning April 10, 2025, according to a Brazilian government-authorized website.
To complete the visa application, visitors must provide proof of income by showing their last three checking or savings account statements or their six previous pay stubs. If you don't have at least $2,000 in your bank account you'll need a sponsor -- typically a friend or family member -- to sign a document called an affidavit of support, accepting financial responsibility for you.
Other requirements include a passport, a letter of intent, proof of residence, plane or bus tickets, lodging reservations, and a payment of $80.90.
Brazilian citizens who want to travel to the U.S. for tourism must also obtain a visa, and the visa requirements are similar in both countries. For a U.S. visa, Brazilians must have a valid passport and pay a $185 application fee. They may also need to schedule a visa interview appointment at their nearest embassy, as well as provide documentation outlining the purpose of their visit and their ability to pay for the entire trip, as noted on the U.S. State Department's website.
Americans who want to visit Brazil, however, can skip a visit to the consulate and fill out the application for an electronic visa online. Visas to Brazil are valid for 10 years across multiple entries, according to the country's U.S. Embassy. Stays are restricted to 90 days per year.
The U.S. State Department said Brazil's visa requirement was supposed to be reinstated this April but was once again postponed. It was initially postponed in October, then again in January, according to the Associated Press.
Up until 2019, American, Australian and Canadian tourists needed a visa to visit Brazil. Former president Jair Bolsonaro removed the requirement to boost the tourism industry, according to the Associated Press. However, the three countries still demanded visas from Brazilians.
Bolsonaro's predecessor, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, decided to reintroduce the requirement to maintain reciprocity between the countries.
The U.S. reissued a travel advisory to Brazil in October 2023, asking tourists to exercise increased caution when visiting the country due to crime. The State Department also warned against traveling to areas within 100 miles of Brazil’s borders with Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, and Paraguay.