Brazil Visa Question
 

Hi all,

I hold both an American passport and an Israeli passport. I will be traveling to Brazil later this month for vacation. I live in San Francisco and I'll be flying from Houston. Since Israeli passport holders are exempted from obtaining a Brazilian visa, I was planning to enter and exit Brazil on my Israeli passport. Do you think the Brazilian authorities will give me a hard time when I present my Israeli passport on entrance or exit, in particular because I will be arriving from / departing to the United States, but my Israeli passport obviously does not contain a US visa?

Is this something I should be concerned about?

Thanks in advance!

I have two friends in NYC that have green cards but have used their German passports to enter and exit Brazil in order to avoid obtaining a visa. Neither have had any issues with Brazilian customs officials.

Nothing to be worried about, as this happens quite routinely. With regard to government officials and requirements: just use your Israeli passport with Brazilian authorities in Brazil and your American passport with US authorities when it comes to entry and exit formalities.

With regard to what to present to the airline agents: On departure from the US, you may have to present both passports to the airline reps; and for the return trip to the US, present your US passport to the airline reps.

I have been doing this routinely for a few years now for business, at least once a month. I used to have a 5 year visa on my US passport which expired and I did not bother renewing it. On one visit, the officer even mentioned that I had used my other passport, smiled and stamped my Israel passport without a second thought.
One caveat though, about 5 years ago I entered GIG on my Israel passport and the officer there detained me, told me that I need a work visa and sent me back to the US! If they ask you why you came, just say you are traveling or you have a business meeting.
When departing, show both passports to the ticket agent and then the Israel passport along with the entry slip copy to the officer and be on your way.