What you need to travel internationally changes with the passport you hold and the country you're entering. This is the honest guide, region by region, with the fees, lead times, and the dates that come into force in 2026 — no agency brochure.
What you need to travel internationally changes with the passport you hold and the country you're entering. This is the honest guide, region by region, with the fees, lead times, and the dates that come into force in 2026 — no agency brochure.
South America (Mercosur): a Brazilian traveler crosses on a physical national ID alone — valid, in good condition, issued less than 10 years ago. No photo of the ID on your phone. A passport is optional, but safer.
Europe/Schengen in 2026: passport + mandatory €30,000 travel insurance + the new ETIAS (€20, free for under-18s and over-70s), which goes live in the last quarter of 2026.
The UK left Schengen behind: it now requires a passport + the online ETA (£16 through March, £20 from April 2026), valid for 2 years.
The US still demands a B1/B2 visa with an in-person interview and a US$185 MRV fee — ESTA does NOT apply to Brazilians. It's the passport itself that opens (or doesn't) the ESTA door, and Brazil isn't in the program.
The cross-cutting documents that save a trip: travel insurance, the yellow fever certificate (free, lifelong, required by 47 countries), an International Driving Permit, a notarized minor's travel consent, and proof of onward travel, lodging, and funds.
What you need to travel internationally changes with the passport you hold and the country you're entering. This is the honest guide, region by region, with the fees, lead times, and the dates that come into force in 2026 — no agency brochure.
