Brazil’s United States Embassy and Consulates have officially started a simple way to pay visa application fees by adding Pix as a payment option.
This payment method was first introduced in March of this year. As the authority explains, the approval times take up to an hour. However, applicants still have the choice to pay with a credit card or cash, VisaGuide.World reports.
This innovation reflects our ongoing commitment to improving services for Brazilian visa applicants.
Data provided by the Embassy has also revealed that between January and March 2024, the US processed 20 percent more visas in Brazil than a year earlier, reaching over 340,000 visas in three months. The same authority further pointed out that last year, a total of 1.125.000 million visas were issued to Brazilians.
Moreover, Brasilia’s Visa Offsite Facilitation Center (OFC) has relocated to Brasília International Airport – President Juscelino Kubitschek. The OFC is crucial for smoothing the visa application process and handling tasks such as passport collection and biometric data gathering.
Pix Exceeds Card Transactions in Brazil
Pix, the quick payment system, has become super popular in Brazil. According to central bank data and the industry group Abecs, it grew by 74 percent last year, reaching nearly 42 billion transactions across the country. This surpasses combined credit and debit card expenditures by approximately 23 percent.
Pix’s simplicity is appealing to buyers, who can seamlessly scan QR codes using their banking apps instead of fumbling with cash or cards. On the other hand, for sellers, Pix poses a significant shift in the profitable card payments industry.
A Third of Transactions in December 2023 Utilized Pix, Surpassing Credit Cards
Especially online, Pix is taking off. In December, about a third of all purchases were made using Pix, based on a company called Neotrust. Meanwhile, credit card purchases went down by five percent.
Businesses also benefit from Pix’s cost-effectiveness, with an average transaction fee of 0.22 percent, significantly lower than debit and credit card fees. Brazil’s central bank mandated Pix’s implementation in November 2020, facilitating quick digital transfers for individuals free of charge.
Moreover, Pix’s adoption has expanded beyond individual transactions to include payments between people and businesses (P2B). The central bank reports a strong increase from five percent to 38 percent in P2B transactions since Pix’s inception, indicating its transformative influence on Brazil’s payment landscape. Notably, Pix facilitated the transfer of a staggering 17 trillion reais ($3.4 trillion) in 2023 alone.