The European Commission published its eighth report under the Visa Suspension Mechanism (VSM) on 19 December, assessing whether 60 visa-free partner countries—including Brazil—continue to meet the EU’s security, migration-management and document-integrity benchmarks.
Although the report praises Brasília for recently digitising criminal-record certificates and tightening passport-issuance controls, it flags two areas of concern: (1) a rise in unfounded asylum applications lodged by Brazilian nationals in Spain and Portugal, and (2) slow progress in concluding updated readmission arrangements.
Brussels recommends that Brazil submit an action plan by March 2026 outlining measures to curb irregular overstays and to integrate API/PNR (advance passenger-information) data into Schengen databases.
![EU Issues Annual Visa-Free Compliance Report—Brazil Under the Microscope]()
For companies and individuals seeking practical assistance in meeting changing EU entry requirements, VisaHQ can be an invaluable partner. Its Brazil-focused portal (https://www.visahq.com/brazil/) provides real-time updates on Schengen policies, digital document checklists and end-to-end visa facilitation services, helping travellers minimise border delays and maintain compliance.
Why this matters: The VSM gives the Commission the power to suspend visa-free travel if remedial steps are not taken. While an actual suspension remains unlikely, EU consulates could respond by increasing manual document checks and questioning purpose-of-travel for Brazilian visitors, including business travellers and short-term assignees. Companies with EU-bound staff should monitor refusal rates and budget extra time for border questioning.
Brazilian authorities have 12 months to implement the recommendations before the next review. The National Immigration Council (CNIG) is expected to convene in January to map out compliance measures, ranging from tighter cooperation with Europol to public-information campaigns discouraging misuse of humanitarian protection channels.
Although the report praises Brasília for recently digitising criminal-record certificates and tightening passport-issuance controls, it flags two areas of concern: (1) a rise in unfounded asylum applications lodged by Brazilian nationals in Spain and Portugal, and (2) slow progress in concluding updated readmission arrangements.
Brussels recommends that Brazil submit an action plan by March 2026 outlining measures to curb irregular overstays and to integrate API/PNR (advance passenger-information) data into Schengen databases.
For companies and individuals seeking practical assistance in meeting changing EU entry requirements, VisaHQ can be an invaluable partner. Its Brazil-focused portal (https://www.visahq.com/brazil/) provides real-time updates on Schengen policies, digital document checklists and end-to-end visa facilitation services, helping travellers minimise border delays and maintain compliance.
Why this matters: The VSM gives the Commission the power to suspend visa-free travel if remedial steps are not taken. While an actual suspension remains unlikely, EU consulates could respond by increasing manual document checks and questioning purpose-of-travel for Brazilian visitors, including business travellers and short-term assignees. Companies with EU-bound staff should monitor refusal rates and budget extra time for border questioning.
Brazilian authorities have 12 months to implement the recommendations before the next review. The National Immigration Council (CNIG) is expected to convene in January to map out compliance measures, ranging from tighter cooperation with Europol to public-information campaigns discouraging misuse of humanitarian protection channels.
