Rio de Janeiro Boosts Tourism with Expanded International Flights and New E-Visa System

Enhanced Air Connectivity to Rio

Rio de Janeiro's international gateway, Galeão International Airport (GIG), is undergoing a significant revitalization, positioning itself to handle a substantial increase in air traffic. This resurgence follows a strategic decision in January 2024 to cap annual passenger numbers at Santos Dumont Airport (SDU) at 6.5 million, redirecting more international and long-haul domestic flights to GIG. The airport now serves 52 destinations, comprising 27 domestic and 25 international routes, with a goal to reach 16 million passengers by 2025.

Several airlines are expanding their services to Rio. Delta Air Lines has notably increased its seasonal service between GIG and New York (JFK) to daily flights from December 20, 2024, to March 27, 2025. Additionally, its GIG-Atlanta (ATL) service has been upgraded from three weekly flights to daily between December 19, 2024, and March 31, 2025. Brazilian carrier GOL Linhas Aéreas announced a record expansion for the second half of 2025, planning over 39 flights and approximately 7 million seats in Rio. GIG alone will see over 29 flights and 5.3 million seats, reaching up to 170 daily operations. GOL's international network from GIG includes destinations such as Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Rosario, Mendoza (starting January 2026), and Montevideo. Furthermore, strategic partnerships with airlines like Avianca, Air France-KLM, and American Airlines will provide connections to an additional 6 international destinations in the latter half of 2025.

Looking ahead, Air Transat is set to launch new nonstop services to Rio de Janeiro from Toronto and Montreal for the winter 2025-26 season, commencing in February 2026. This will include two weekly flights from Toronto Pearson and one weekly flight from Montreal-Trudeau to GIG.

Streamlined Visa Processes for Key Markets

Brazil is implementing a new electronic visa (e-visa) requirement for citizens of the United States, Canada, and Australia, which will come into effect on April 10, 2025. This marks the reinstatement of visa requirements for these countries, following several postponements aimed at allowing sufficient time for the new system's full implementation and to sustain growth in international tourism.

The e-visa application process is entirely digital and can be completed through the official portal, https://brazil.vfsevisa.com/. The fee for the e-visa is approximately $80.90 USD. While the estimated processing time is five business days, applicants are strongly advised to apply at least 15 days, and ideally up to two months, before their intended travel date. The e-visa will be issued for tourism and business purposes, allowing stays of up to 90 days, and may have a validity of up to 10 years.

Anticipated Tourism and Economic Impact

These combined efforts are expected to significantly boost Rio de Janeiro's tourism sector. The Brazilian Agency for International Tourism Promotion (Embratur) projects an unprecedented availability of 4.5 million airline seats on international flights to Brazil between January and March 2025. Rio de Janeiro alone is forecast to welcome 991,000 international passengers during the first quarter of 2025, representing a 26% increase compared to pre-pandemic levels. This surge is supported by an additional 68 weekly flights from South America, 9 from the United States, 8 from Europe, and 1 from Asia.

The city has already seen positive trends, with 901,991 international tourists visiting between January and April 2025, a 51.9% increase over the same period in 2024. Embratur President Marcelo Freixo highlighted the importance of these initiatives, stating, 'We are set to break all records, reaching US$ 7 billion in international tourism revenue. This means more jobs and income for our city, our state, and our country.' The economic impact is tangible, with tourists generating R$14.5 billion in Rio's economy during the first half of 2025.