Global Affairs Canada updated its Travel Advice and Advisories on 11 April 2026, elevating Brazil — along with Mexico, El Salvador, Jamaica, Italy and several others — to ‘Exercise a High Degree of Caution’ status. Although no specific security incident in Brazil triggered the change, Ottawa cited worldwide passport-fraud rings, rising document-theft statistics and mounting pressure on Canada’s own processing network. Effective immediately, Brazilian applicants for visitor visas (TRVs) must pay an additional CAD 35 biometrics compliance surcharge, raising the total government fee to CAD 135. The government also shortened the validity of previously issued electronic Travel Authorisations (eTAs) from five years to three when the bearer’s nationality is on the new watch-list. For corporates, the bigger headache is the enhanced ‘dual intent’ scrutiny. Case notes released by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) instruct officers to review the global mobility track-record of Brazilian applicants, including any U.S.-visa overstays or Schengen-area infractions. Mobility managers should therefore prepare to submit detailed assignment letters, evidence of ties to Brazil (property deeds, school enrolment, tax returns) and a post-mission repatriation plan. Travel managers are already reporting lengthier appointment lead-times at VFS Global’s São Paulo and Rio centres — up from 7-10 days to 18-20 days for standard submission slots. Companies with time-sensitive projects in Canada (mining, aerospace, agri-tech) are advised to explore the CUAET ‘priority worker’ stream or to shift meetings to the U.S. where Brazilians can still enter visa-free for up to 90 days under certain business categories. IRCC will review the surcharge and risk classification after six months. In the meantime, Brazilian passport-holders should add at least four weeks to normal lead-times and be prepared for secondary questioning on arrival in Canada.
Source: Travel and Tour World
