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12/17/23 @ Enprize.  Hi, James.  At this point, I'd be surprised if you can:  the online system seems to be currently addressed to air travel only, and I don't know when, if ever, that is going to change. 

The paper visa system is still in place, and most consulate websites say that if an online application is rejected for any reason, the applicant can still apply in person.  If you have the necessary documents with you, you should be able to apply at the Brazilian Embassy in Panama City.

@Enprize, I just applied for the e-visa online and one of the required documents is the travel document which shows the date of entry and date of exit.  Since I had airplane tickets, this information is easily verifiable by the itinerary.

If you were rejected, it appears that the company who is processing the e-visa - I believe that the e-visa entry processing is done by a subcontractor - is not comfortable to forward the application to the authorities.

@abthree is correct that the only fallback position is to go the nearest consulate to explain the situation.

Please note that there was a disclosure in the e-visa process that individuals may be denied and that the only fallback position was to go through the consulate path - and the estimated time for this fallback path is 2 weeks to 2 months.

Since you are on the road, I would recommend dropping by the nearest Brazilian consulate / embassy and they may be able to expedite things.

Good luck.

@Enprize, it did not take me more than 20 mins from start to finish for my online e-visa application.  I suspect that the 4 hours that you spent on your application could have been an indication that your case was special.

I am not sure but this is something that you may want to ask about what could have been the reason for your long application time experience.

@abthree.  Good morning and thank you for the reply.  Today I went to the Panama city embassy and consulate. The lady there was not helpful. I had to call an interpreter to confirm what I was hearing.  She said the new law doesn't take effect until 30 Jan and I had to apply on line.  After I showed her the web confirmation number for the previous attempt and told her I was traveling by motorcycle she asked me how I got to Panama!  When the translator again told her I had driven from the US and was going to Brasil she just said she can not help and told me to apply again in January   She also said to apply on Paraguay when I wanted to enter Brasil.  It's all very stressful.  I'm going to try again when I am in Chile or Paraguay.   If you know anyone who can help please let me know. Thanks again, James

@Pablo888. It would not accept my documents and wanted a round trip ticket.   Are you entering by private car or motorcycle?

12/18/23 @Enprize.  Sounds like the person at the Consulate was insisting that you make an appointment through their eConsular system.  You'll probably run into the same thing at every Brazilian Consulate on your trip.  This is the portal for the one in Panamá City, every one will be location specific:

It's disappointing that you didn't run into an English speaker there.  Panamá is the place that I thought you'd be most likely to find one.  Good luck on your trip.

    @Pablo888. It would not accept my documents and wanted a round trip ticket.   Are you entering by private car or motorcycle?
   

    -@Enprize

@Enprize, I am entering by air.  Although the e-visa allows application by land and sea too, I think that the problem is that a) you have to submit the travel document, b) you have to state what is your entry and exit dates, and c) you have to state how many days you plan to stay.

Obviously, the travel document should contain what would be your entry / exit date.  The 2 additional questions are just verification checks.  I suspect that the issue here is that if you don't have a return ticket, the authorities may think that you would stay past the expiration of the visa.

Another required document is a recent bank statement showing that you have sufficient funds for tourist activities.  If you have this funding properly documented, I think that you can argue that you have a flexible exit date as you can fund an extended vacation.  However this will probably need an in-person visit so that this can be explained.

BTW, my visit in February is to attend carnival and I also have all the hotel, sambadrome, and the usual tourist trap pre-paid documentation.  I think that this type of documentation - although not asked - is evidence enough to show that I am indeed in Brazil on vacation - not to stay.

My suggestion here is to put yourself in the shoes of the Brazil authorities.  Tourists are expected to return to their countries before the expiration of the visa.  Hence, if you could gather all the documentation that can definitely prove that you will do this, I don't think that you would be denied the visa (unless there are extenuating circumstances).

Alternate way to prove land entry and exit - when I drive to Western Canada, I sometimes book a hotel near the border - because I need rest from the travel.  The hotel reservation outside the country can act as evidence of exit from the country.  For instance, I would book a night in a hotel in Blaine WA before entering Canada and then book a night after exiting Canada.  The 2nd booking shows that I am following a schedule and intend to leave Canada.  This would be my approach if I were to enter by land.

Bottomline, entering by land and sea is harder to justify than by air. 

I suspect that you are being asked to provide a return ticket because the process would be easier to follow. 

Can you buy a return ticket and then ask for a credit / refund later?  I don't know how much the tickets from Panama to the nearest big city in Brazil is....

Good luck here.

@Enprize, another way to show that you intend to exit Brazil is to rent a car in Panama.  For example, If you have a rental agreement from Panama that has a return date, the rental contract can be used as evidence of return.

I am not sure whether the rental contract would be accepted but it's definitely more credible than having nothing.

Personally, buying a return ticket sounds a lot easier and more straightforward.

Just thinking out of the box here.

@Enprize, I am just reading the e-visa requirement shown here -> and the list of documents includes a "flight reservation".

Although the e-visa is supposed to allow entrance by land, I cannot find the equivalent of a "flight reservation".

I would not be surprised that the guidance to support your particular situation is not quite official yet.

Based on the site above, if you want to be sure to get the e-visa now, a flight reservation would be required. 

I am not sure when the guidance for entrance by land will be posted.