Brazil Visa application NIGHTMARE- UPDATE Below

Are you going with a tour group? If so, I would contact them. Some of them have a visa agency they work with that you can use. It costs more money but would be worth it. We are considering a trip to Brazil, Argentina, and Chile for next year with Gate One, and I know they recommend a visa service agency for the Brazil visa. Our primary reason for visiting Brazil is to see both sides of Iguaza Falls. Otherwise, we would probably skip Brazil. I have read on Trip Advisor that other people have had problems with the Brazil visa, too.

Gate One recommends Generations Visa Service. I've also seen VFS Global in my research. Good luck! Please let us know what happens.

UPDATE on Brazil EVisa.
After many hours dealing with the visa, uploading my photo three times and my passport twice, my Visa was finally approved on the eighth day.
Some take-aways:
Don’t use an iPad or older desk top, use a newer computer.
The public library can scan your passport and email to you to download (unless you can do it yourself). Photo of passport is not acceptable.
The following link has lots of useful info but we didn’t find it until many hours spent working on it:

https://www.theinsidecabin.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/How-to-get-a-Brazil-E-Visa-7.1-R.pdf

Hope this helps others.

1 Day: Is this a visit to Iguazu Falls? I read if this is done with a guide/tour a visa is not needed. Also I thought a visa cost Americans $160.

Toby - Absolutely NOT true. I just returned from an OAT tour with an experienced guide where we entered Brazil for about five hours to see Iguazu Falls. Those with American passports had to have a visa to enter and this was checked carefully. The visa.cost around $80 per person.

Deena, Thank you very much for your helpful information and for the link from The Inside Cabin. I have saved it to my desktop. And, I am so happy that you finally did receive your visa.

Deena, how did you take your photo? Did you take it yourself with your iPhone? Or have it done at Walgreens or Fedex or Staples?

Renee: it’s hard to suss out online but it looks like 10 months ago for US citizens Brazil went from a 2 tier system of $160 visa for multiday visits and visa-free same day visits to an $81 electronic visa for all visits.

I had same issue when helping a friend with his application. I'm familiar with Brazil and the language.
We had the same issue where they would not accept the photo, even though he used a good quality digital passport photo from Staples. Because he was pressed on time, he had to MAIL expedited the photo and copy of passport to an address provided. It was approved. They emailed the Visa which you should print and carry with passport. This was last year.
He is traveling again this year and told me he just realized the visa he got last year is actually valid for 10 years, so no need to go through the hassle again.

To kmkwoo- I took my own photo using a cell phone and cropped it down. The first time, I cropped too close up. The picture on the Visa is kind of squashed down so not sure why they are so picky. My friend’s picture was really weird because her hair was all pixilated. But it finally got approved, too.

We love South America and have visited all the major countries there except Venezuela and Brazil.
Brazil used to have a terrible visa process that was ridiculous, but now has an online option.

We have had recent experience with online visas, First with the UK, which wasn't too bad, but then India, which was a royal pain.
I had to hire a computer expert to come to my house and paid him $375 to get that visa. Couldn't have done it myself.

Still not sure that I really want to do Brazil if their online visa is a pain.