Brazil and Mexico will resume e-visas for travel between countries; See how it works

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Brazil and Mexico have signed an agreement to adopt the mutual system of electronic visas for tourist and commercial trips between citizens of the two countries. That is, the physical visa will not be charged and it will no longer be necessary to go to the consulate to issue the document allowing entry into foreign lands.

There is no set date for the launch of the system yet, but the official statement from the Brazilian government reports that it will be implemented “in the coming months.”

The agreement is part of a process that seeks to exempt Brazilians and Mexicans from permits to visit both countries. During a public hearing in the Chamber of Deputies, in May, the foreign minister, Mauro Vieira, reported that Mexico would be the second country, after Japan, to release Brazilian tourists from visa.

Currently, Brazilians are allowed to enter Mexico with an actual visa, unless the person already has a current and valid visa or permanent residence in countries such as Canada, the United States, countries that are part of the Schengen Area (some European countries), Japan, or the United Kingdom.

Despite this week’s announcement, the agreement has already been in the works since April, when Vieira was in Mexico for the fifth national binational meeting. The agreement was negotiated with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mexico, Alicia Barcina Ibarra.

“Without losing sight of the common objective of the gradual resumption of the Visa Waiver Agreement between Brazil and Mexico, the joint adoption of e-Visas will allow Brazilian and Mexican citizens to request a visitor visa for tourism and business purposes in both countries quickly, safely and without the need to travel to consular offices,” the State Department said in a note.

The electronic visa has already been adopted recently by both countries, but for a short period. In August last year, just nine months into the system’s operation, Mexico once again demanded paper authorization from Brazil to enter its country.

At the time, months before the e-Visa was cancelled, a technical malfunction prevented Mexican consulates from issuing licenses, causing disruption for people who had already purchased tickets. Because of the failures, tourists ended up not being able to travel.