From March 2019 to September 2023, citizens of the United States, as well as those of Canada, Australia, and Japan, did not need a visa to visit Brazil for tourism. This rule also extended to Brazilians with dual citizenship , who could choose to enter Brazil with their American passport if their Brazilian passport was expired. However, starting October 1, 2023, the old reciprocity rule will be reinstated : citizens of countries that require entry visas for Brazilians will also need a visa to visit Brazil. In other words, American citizens will once again have their passports stamped by Brazilian immigration authorities.
Okay, and what about the situation of Brazilians with dual nationality?
I have dual citizenship. Can I enter Brazil with my American passport?
The answer is no. The law does not allow Brazilian citizens to apply for a visa for their own country. And since the American passport will no longer guarantee visa exemption from October 1, 2023, Brazilian citizens will only be able to enter the country with their valid Brazilian passport. Therefore, checking the validity of the document when planning a trip to Brazil will once again be part of travel preparations.
If your document has expired, check here how to renew your Brazilian passport in the USA.
Other advantages of keeping your Brazilian passport valid
In addition to allowing you to enter the country, a Brazilian passport also guarantees that you can enjoy all your rights as a citizen during your stay in Brazil, and that you can remain in the country for an indefinite period of time. If you enter with an American passport, a citizen with dual nationality would be classified as a foreign tourist, with limited rights during their trip and being able to stay in the country for a maximum of 6 months.
Due to the reciprocity policy adopted by Itamaraty and several other countries, the Brazilian passport also grants its holder the right to enter 168 travel destinations without a visa, according to the Henley Passport Index ranking. Although the American passport also offers free entry to several countries and territories, the Brazilian passport is still more advantageous in some destinations. Furthermore, if you have the right to have two passports, why would you keep only one of them up to date? An additional international document can help you in a variety of situations.
Last but not least: the Brazilian passport is the document that identifies you as a citizen before Brazilian Consulates in the US. It allows you to request any type of consular service and even participate in selection processes to work at the Consulate. Since we can't always predict when we'll need some consular service, such as registrations, powers of attorney and voter registration, it's best to always have your passport up to date, right?
