Brazil travel guide for Canadians

Canadian citizens do not need a visa to enter Brazil for tourism, business, or transit stays of up to 90 days. Your passport must be valid for at least six months from the date of entry, and you should carry proof of onward travel (a return ticket) and sufficient funds. The 90-day period can be extended once for another 90 days by visiting the Federal Police (Polícia Federal) before it expires.

This visa-free arrangement is reciprocal: Brazilians also travel to Canada without a visa for short stays. If your plans change to work, study, or a stay longer than 90 days, you need a proper visa from the Brazilian consulate before you travel.

For tourism, Canadians enter Brazil visa-free. The key documents are a passport valid for at least six months beyond your planned departure, a return or onward ticket, and proof of accommodation. Immigration officers may ask to see these, so keep them handy. You also need to show you can support yourself financially, though in practice this is rarely checked for short stays.

If you arrive without a return ticket or with a passport close to expiry, you may be refused entry. Overstaying the 90-day limit results in fines and can complicate future visits. For stays beyond 90 days, apply for a visa at the Brazilian consulate in Canada before departure.

The Embassy of Canada in Brazil is in Brasília, with consulates in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. If you need help with a lost passport, an emergency, or legal issues, contact the embassy or the nearest consulate. For routine questions, the embassy website has the most current contact details and service hours.

Register with the Government of Canada's Registration of Canadians Abroad service before you travel. It lets the embassy contact you in an emergency, such as a natural disaster or civil unrest.

Brazil is moderately priced for Canadians. A comfortable mid-range trip costs roughly CAD 150–250 per day per person, covering a private room, meals, and local transport. Budget travellers can get by on CAD 80–120 per day with hostels and street food. Luxury stays and internal flights push the daily cost above CAD 300.

The Brazilian real (BRL) trades around 3.7 to the Canadian dollar (2026 estimate). Cash is useful for small vendors and markets, but cards and Pix (the instant payment system) are accepted almost everywhere. Notify your bank before travelling to avoid card blocks.

Air Canada flies non-stop from Toronto to São Paulo (GRU), about 10 hours. From Vancouver or Montreal, expect one stop, adding 3–6 hours. Rio de Janeiro (GIG) is served by some airlines with connections; São Paulo is the main gateway for onward flights to the rest of Brazil.

Book internal flights separately; Brazil is larger than the contiguous US, and buses between regions take days. Fly between Rio, Salvador, Manaus, and the Pantanal. The flight-time planner tool can help you compare routes from your home city.

Brazil uses type N sockets (three round pins in a triangle) and, in older buildings, type C (two round pins). Voltage varies by city: 127 V in Rio, São Paulo, and most of the coast; 220 V in Brasília, Fortaleza, and parts of the northeast. Check your devices before plugging in; many chargers handle both voltages, but hair dryers and other high-power items may not.

Bring a universal adapter. Power cuts are rare in big cities but possible in remote areas; a power bank for your phone is useful.

Most restaurants add a 10% service charge (serviço) to the bill, which covers the tip. You can leave extra for exceptional service, but it is not expected. Taxi drivers, barbers, and tour guides appreciate a small tip, but it is optional. In cafés and street stalls, rounding up is fine.

The national emergency numbers are 190 for police, 192 for ambulance, and 193 for fire. For tourist police in Rio, call 2332-2924. Save these in your phone. In an emergency, dial 190 and ask for an English speaker; in tourist areas, help is often available. The embassy can assist with serious incidents.