2016 Olympics, the planet’s biggest sporting event, will be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This event that will draw thousands to Rio is expected to boost the ailing economy of the country. Here’s a happy news for Americans who have Brazil on their bucket list.
Brazil has announced that the country will waive visa requirements for U.S. citizens traveling to Brazil for Olympics. The visa waiver program will run from June 1, 2016 through September 18, 2016. Apart from the U.S., visa requirements will be waived for tourists from Japan, Australia and Canada between June 1, 2016 and September 18, 2016. Brazilian Consul General Hermano Ribeiro, believes that the temporary visa waiver to people from certain countries will increase visits to Brazil.
10,500 athletes from 200 nations are expected to come to Rio for the Olympic Games this year. Rio is also preparing to receive more than 400,000 visitors. 95 percent of those who attended the 2014 FIFA World Soccer Club have expressed their interest to come back to Rio for the 2016 Olympic Games.
Without a waiver, Americans traveling to Brazil for tourism, will have to pay $160 per person in consular fees. But now, they may not have to pay the hefty fee if they are traveling to attend the Olympic Games under Brazil’s temporary visa waiver program. This visa waiver is likely to attract more Americans to Rio.
However, this visa waiver will not be applicable to everyone traveling to Brazil, including business travelers. This waiver will be only applicable to tourists traveling to Brazil during the designated period (June 1 to September 18). Americans and nationals of other countries visiting the country for the Olympic Games under the waiver program, can stay there for up to 90 days. It must also be noted that those who have already paid for their visas, before Brazil made an announcement about the visa waiver program, will not be eligible for a refund.