South American Tourist Visas & Fees for U.S. Citizens

Brazil and other countries’ visa requirements and fees for US

Learn about visas and fees when traveling through South America, so you can be prepared, stay in compliance with local law, and enjoy smooth travel.

South America is made up of 12 independent countries, and the overseas department of French Guiana, and the British overseas territory of the Falkland Islands.

Tourists making the big trek to the Southern Hemisphere often desire to travel between multiple countries; therefore, it is important to be aware of the various visas and fees because each country has different regulations. There is nothing worse than finding out you can’t exit a country because you either didn’t get an entry stamp, or don’t have enough U.S. dollars to pay an exit fee!

Many countries require a departure tax that must be paid in U.S. dollars. All countries in South America require your passport to be valid at the time of entry, and many require your passport to be valid for 6 months after your arrival. Every country will also require that you have at least one blank page in your passport for an entry stamp.

If you need to renew your passport, follow this link for a step-to-step guide.

Check out our complete visa information list below for every country in South America as you plan your next tourist vacation.

Argentina Visa Requirements

U.S. Citizens can stay in Argentina as tourists for up to 90 days at a time without a special visa.
As of March 24, 2016, U.S. citizens no longer need to pay a reciprocity fee to enter Argentina.
Passport must be valid at time of entry, and not be damaged.
No exit fee.

Visit the U.S. Department of State’s website for more information on travel to Argentina.

Brazil Visa Requirements

$160 Tourist Visa valid for 10 years. You may stay up to 90 days in Brazil on each entry, but are not allowed to stay longer than 180 days total in any given year.
Must apply for a visa before entry through the consulate of Brazil that has jurisdiction over your state of residence.
If you have an unexpired visa on a canceled or expired passport, you can continue to travel to Brazil carrying both the old passport with the visa and your new, valid passport.
For the summer of 2016, there is a Temporary Tourist Visa Waiver because of the Olympic Games. Between June 1 and September 18, 2016, U.S. citizens are allowed to enter Brazil for tourism without a visa.
Passport must be valid for at least six months after arrival.
The departure fee of $40 required on international flights out of the country. The fee will vary depending on your plane ticket, and may be less for a domestic flight. Be sure to check when you purchase your ticket. The price may be included in your ticket fee.

Visit the U.S. Department of State’s website for more information on travel to Brazil.

Bolivia Visa Requirements

$135 Tourist Visa required. U.S. citizens are allowed to spend up to 90 days total in Bolivia per calendar year, but only 30 days at a time, per visit. The visa is valid for ten years.
May also be required to show proof of Yellow Fever Vaccination, or be vaccinated at the border.
In some cases, tourists are able to apply for visa at the border upon entry, but the U.S. State Department does not recommend this. Apply for a visitor’s visa to Bolivia before your arrival.
Passport must be valid for at least six months after arrival.
If you arrive by land, make sure Bolivian officials stamp your passport, or you may have problems with departure.
Exit tax if you leave by air. Fee varies.

Visit the U.S. Department of State’s website for more information on travel to Bolivia.

Peru Visa Requirements

Tourist Visa of up to 180 days given at the time of entry.
Passport must be valid upon entry and exit of Peru.
May need to provide evidence of return or onward travel.
No vaccinations required, but Yellow Fever Vaccination is recommended.
Imperative that you receive a stamp upon entry. This is especially important for land border crossings. If you do not have an entry stamp, you will be unable to exit the country and will most likely need to return to your port of entry to receive a stamp.
The Departure tax of $31 USD if you fly out of Lima International Airport.
Visit the Embassy of Peru website for the most current visa information.

Visit the U.S. Department of State’s website for more information on travel to Peru.

Chile Visa Requirements

Passport must be valid upon entry and for the duration of stay in Chile.
No tourist visa required for visits under 90 days. U.S. citizens can apply for an additional 90 days by paying an extension fee at the
Chilean Immigration Office.
U.S. citizens are no longer required to pay Chile’s Reciprocity Fee.
No exit tax.

Visit the U.S. Department of State’s website for more information on travel to Chile.

Colombia Visa Requirements

No tourist visa required for stays less than 90 days. Visitors may extend their stay up to another 90 days by visiting an office of the Colombian Immigration Authority. The cost is around $50.
Passport must be valid upon entry.
It is not recommended to enter Colombia by land because the borders of Colombia with Peru, Venezuela, Brazil, Panama and Ecuador are all off-limits to U.S. government personnel. If you must arrive by bus, make sure prior to boarding that your bus takes you to an official border crossing. Many buses do not cross at official borders, and that can result in a fine and/or a jail sentence for you.
If you leave Colombia by plane, an exit fee must be paid in cash at the airport. Check Aeronautica Civil for updated exit tax information. You can expect to pay around $120 unless you request an exemption immediately upon arrival. Find more information here.

Visit the U.S. Department of State’s website for more information on travel to Colombia.

Ecuador Visa Requirements

Passport must be valid for 6 months after arrival.
No tourist visa required for stays less than 90 days per calendar year. To request a 90 day extension, visit one of the provincial migration offices.
Visit the Embassy of Ecuador’s website for information regarding visas longer than 90 days. You can apply for a “Commercial Act Visa” before your trip. It costs $230 for 6 months. If you obtain this visa, then you can apply for an Ecuador Residency visa.
Proof of legal status required at all times in Ecuador. It is recommended to carry a photocopy of your passport on you at all times to comply with this law, while not exposing yourself to the risk of passport theft.
No entry or exit fee.
Do not overstay your visa. If you do, you are subject to up to $2000 in fines, will be forced to leave, and unable to return for one year.

Visit the U.S. Department of State’s website for more information on travel to Ecuador.

Falkland Islands Visa Requirements

No pre-arranged visitor visa is necessary.
Must have a valid passport upon entry that is valid for the length of stay.
Must show proof of a return ticket and pre-arranged accommodation on the islands.
Must show a proof of sufficient funds to cover the cost of stay.
If you depart from the airport, a tax of $25 must be paid.

Visit the Falkland Islands Tourist Board for more information on travel.

French Guiana Visa Requirements

Tourist visa not required for stays less than 90 days.
Passport must be valid for three months beyond the time spent in French Guiana.
If you intend to stay for more than 90 days, you must receive the appropriate visa from the French Embassy.
Must show proof of Yellow Fever Vaccination.
No entry or exit fee.

Visit the U.S. Department of State’s website for more information on travel to French Guiana.

Guyana Visa Requirements

U.S. visitors are generally granted a 30 days tourist visa upon arrival in Guyana.
Passport must be valid for six months after arrival.
You may request an extension of your visa through The Ministry of Home Affairs.
Visit the Embassy of Guyana website for the most recent information on entry, exit and visa requirements.
All visitors departing from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport must pay $20 at the time of departure.

Visit the U.S. Department of State’s website for more information on travel to Guyana.

Paraguay Visa Requirements

Valid U.S. passport required upon arrival.
A tourist visa is required and there are two ways to obtain one. If you fly into Silvio Pettirossi International Airport in Asuncion, you can obtain a visa upon arrival for $160 USD currency only. Credit cards not accepted. If you enter by any other way, a visa must be obtained prior to entry in person at the Embassy of Paraguay in Washington DC, or at the nearest Paraguayan consulate.
Proof of Yellow Fever Vaccination if traveling from an infected country. Not required for direct travel from the U.S.
An airport departure tax must be paid when leaving Paraguay. Check with your airline to know if it is included in the airfare, or will need to be paid as an additional charge at the airport.

Visit the U.S. Department of State’s website for more information on travel to Paraguay.

Suriname Visa Requirements

Must purchase a “Tourist Card” for $25 upon entry to Suriname at Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport. The single entry Tourist Card is valid for 90 days from the date of entry.
Must present a passport valid for six months after arrival.
Must present proof of a return flight.
If arriving in Suriname from Guyana, French Guiana, or Brazil, you must show proof of a Yellow Fever Vaccination certificate.
The Departure fee of $66 must be paid in U.S. currency.

Visit the U.S. Department of State’s website for more information on travel to Suriname.

Uruguay Visa Requirements

No visa required for a stay less than 90 days.
Passport must be valid at the time of entry.
No entry or exit fee.

Visit the U.S. Department of State’s website for more information on travel to Uruguay.

Venezuela Visa Requirements

Tourist visa must be acquired 3 months prior to travel and cannot be obtained upon entry. U.S. citizens can apply for a tourist visa to Venezuela for $30 that allows them one year, multiple entries of up to 90 days total in the country.
You must apply in person for your tourist visa at the Venezuelan consulate that has jurisdiction over your state of residence. Residents of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina fall under the jurisdiction of the Consulate of Venezuela in Miami, which is permanently closed.
Passport must be valid for six months after arrival.
An exit and airport tax must be paid upon departure. Prices are continually subject to change. Check with your airline.
The U.S. urges travelers to always check with the Venezuelan Embassy website for current visa information and safety information.
When entering Venezuela, only use official entry points and be sure to receive an entry stamp.

Visit the U.S. Department of State’s website for more information on travel to Venezuela.