Way back in 2019, which seems like a lifetime ago at this point, Brazil dropped visa requirements for several countries, presumably as a means of encouraging tourism. Anyone in the industry knew that would likely change depending on the Brazilian government. And after several delays and false starts, the inevitable has come to pass as travelers from Australia, Canada, or the United States now need visas to visit Brazil, regardless of the reason for the trip, starting today.
This applies to both visas and eVisas, which the Brazilian government highly recommends you have in place before traveling to the country. Not doing so could lead to significant issues entering Brazil. In extreme case, travelers may even be turned away from the country if you're paperwork is not in order. As with all countries, visitors are responsible to make sure they have all legalities covered to be able to enter and remain for the amount of time their visa allows for.
Many people in Brazil's tourism sector are unhappy with the move as any additional hurdle to entering the country may deter potential visitors. This is especially true for Canadians who already only account for 1.4% of the 6.65 million tourists who go to Brazil each year. This is due to the weak Loonie, long travel times, and difficulty in finding flights outside of Toronto. Still, Brazilian tourism is actively courting Canadian travelers who have given up on their travel plans to the United States.
Brazil is the largest country in South America, both by land mass and by population. It attracts millions of visitors every year thanks to incredible beaches, varied landscapes, thriving arts and culture, and vibrant cities. On top of that, the Amazon Rainforest is a massive biodiversity hot spot, and a big reason why many people travel to South America in the first place.