Close relations with strong trade and investment ties.

Bilateral relations

Australia and Brazil established diplomatic relations in 1945, celebrating 75 years in 2020. In 1946, Brazil opened a legation in Canberra and Australia opened an Embassy in Rio De Janeiro, its first in Latin America. Australia now has an Embassy in Brasilia, a Consulate General in Sao Paulo and an Honorary Consul in Rio de Janeiro.

Brazil has an Embassy in Canberra, a Consulate-General in Sydney, and Honorary Consuls in Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne, and Perth.

Australia and Brazil cooperate on a range of issues of mutual interest such as agricultural trade reform through the Cairns Group and the WTO. People-to-people links are growing rapidly. Brazilians now form the largest migrant group from Latin America resident in Australia

Foreign relations

Australia and Brazil are members of the WTO, IMF, ITU, World Bank, Cairns Group, G20, IMO and United Nations. 

Brazil is a member of Mercosur, Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa), IBSA (India, Brazil, South Africa), Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC), the Organization of American States (OAS), and the BASIC group in climate change negotiations (Brazil, South Africa, India, China).

Australia's foreign policy is guided by the Foreign Policy White Paper.

Fast Facts

Brazilian visitors to Australia (2020 Dept of Home Affairs) #

13,100

Australian visitors to Brazil (primary destination (2020 Dept of Home Affairs) #

8,600

Resident Australian population born in Brazil (2016 Census)

27,625

Australian residents of Brazilian descent (2016 Census)

21,353

Brazil students in Australia (2020 Dept of Education)

21,531

# This data is owned by Home Affairs. It provides quarterly updates to this data on its website

High level engagement

• 2021 October – then Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Tehan met Foreign Minister Carlos Franca in Paris (OECD MCM side-meeting)
• 2021 May – then Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Tehan spoke with Foreign Minister Carlos França (virtual meeting)
• 2020 May – then Minister for Foreign Affairs and then Minister for Women Marise Payne spoke with Foreign Minister Ernesto Araújo (virtual meeting)
• 2020 January – 41st Cairns Group Ministerial
• 2019 September – Brazilian Parliamentary delegation visited Australia.
• 2019 August – Ministry of Infrastructure delegation visit to Australia
• 2019 July – Secretary of Ministry of Mining visited Australia for LADU
• 2018 September – Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific Anne Ruston attended the 67th International Whaling Commission Meeting in Florianopolis.
• 2018 July – Agriculture and Water Resources Minister David Littleproud visited São Paulo.
• 2018 April – An Australian parliamentary delegation visited Rio de Janeiro and Brasilia.
• 2018 March – then Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Steven Ciobo visited Brazil.

Agreements with Brazil

• 2020 – MoU on research cooperation (DESE-CONFAP)
• 2019 – CSIRO-Embrapa MoU on agricultural science cooperation
• 2018 – MoU on Water Cooperation
• 2017 – Science, Technology and Innovation Agreement
• 2016 – MoU with the State of São Paulo on environment
• 2015 – MoU between the Department of Education and Brazil Federal Ministry of Education
• 2012 – Australia-Brazil Strategic Partnership
• 2010 – MoU on Cooperation on Major Sporting Events
• 2010 – Air Services Agreement

Public diplomacy

In 2020, Brazil was the largest source of international students in Australia outside of Asia and fifth largest globally. There are more than 110 active agreements between Australian education institutions and Brazilian governments and institutions. Ongoing engagement with Brazilian alumni in 2020-21 included two series of virtual workshops.

The Council on Australia-Latin America Relations (COALAR) provides grants to enhance Australia's economic, political and social relations with Latin America.

Through the Direct Aid Program (DAP), the Australian Government provides financial support to a range of projects in Brazil. In 2020-21, DAP supported projects focused on the COVID-19 pandemic response in the areas of education, empowering women and supporting refugee communities.

Economic diplomacy

Brazil is one of Australia's largest trading partners in Latin America, with two-way trade in goods and services reaching $2,633 million (2020). Its size and diversity continue to make Brazil a compelling case for trade and investment. More than half of Australia's foreign direct investment in Latin America is in Brazil and it is Australia's largest export market in the region.

The Australian Embassy in Brasilia is focused on promoting two-way investment and trade in goods and services, addressing non-tariff barriers to trade, and increasing science/technology and innovation links. 

Further economic and trade information can be found in our our Economic Factsheet for Brazil.

Business

There are over 75 Australian companies with a presence in Brazil, around one quarter of which are ASX200 listed. Brazil's world-class agribusiness sector, large food and beverage industry, and growing energy, mining, technology and research sectors offer opportunities to expand bilateral trade and investment. Further information is available in the Brazil Market Insight.

The Austrade office in Sao Paulo aims to attract foreign direct investment, identify market opportunities and promote Australian exporters and education providers.

Austrade

Austrade offices

Travel

See Smartraveller for Information on travelling to Brazil.

Australian Embassy in Brazil

SES Quadra 801
Conjunto K, Lote 7
Brasilia DF 70200-010
Brazil
Tel: +55-61 3226 3111
General: embaustr@dfat.gov.au

  Embaixada da Australia no Brasil
@EmbAusBrasil
@AustralianoBrasil