Travel trade publication Travel & Tour World reports that Brazil has informally agreed to copy the visa-waiver regimes already in force in Ecuador and Suriname, placing the three countries in a ‘China-friendly travel corridor’ across northern South America. Although the final Brazilian decree has not yet been published, officials quoted by the magazine say the announcement will come during President Lula’s scheduled visit to Beijing in the first quarter of 2026.
Ecuador scrapped visas for Chinese passport holders in 2016, followed by Suriname in 2019, and both markets saw visitor numbers jump by triple digits within two years. Brazilian policymakers have studied those results and concluded that risks of over-stays are manageable when arrivals are channelled through accredited tour operators. Under the draft rules, Chinese visitors would be allowed up to 30 days per entry, renewable once.
The news is welcomed by hotel chains operating in the Amazon basin and by river-cruise companies that hope to package multi-country itineraries. Regional airlines such as Azul and Sky Airline have begun exploring code-share agreements that would make it easier for Chinese groups to land in Belém or Manaus and connect onward to Galápagos or Paramaribo.
![Report: Brazil to join Ecuador and Suriname in granting visa-free access to Chinese travellers]()
For travelers and mobility planners who need to stay on top of these shifting requirements, VisaHQ can help. The company’s platform (https://www.visahq.com/brazil/) tracks regulatory updates in real time, assists with Brazil’s current e-visa applications, and offers step-by-step guidance for multi-country itineraries—ensuring Chinese visitors and the organizations hosting them are prepared well before departure.
For multinationals the implications extend beyond leisure travel. A single-entry, visa-free regime covering three jurisdictions will simplify scheduling for engineers, auditors and supply-chain specialists who often shuttle between Brazilian, Ecuadorian and Surinamese facilities. Mobility teams should map existing projects that could benefit from streamlined border crossings and reassess per-diem budgets, as destinations competing for Chinese spending may raise prices.
Immigration advisers caution that implementation details—such as acceptable proof of onward travel or health-insurance requirements—remain unknown. Until the decree is signed and published in the Diário Oficial da União, Chinese nationals must continue to apply for Brazil’s electronic visa (e-visa).
Ecuador scrapped visas for Chinese passport holders in 2016, followed by Suriname in 2019, and both markets saw visitor numbers jump by triple digits within two years. Brazilian policymakers have studied those results and concluded that risks of over-stays are manageable when arrivals are channelled through accredited tour operators. Under the draft rules, Chinese visitors would be allowed up to 30 days per entry, renewable once.
The news is welcomed by hotel chains operating in the Amazon basin and by river-cruise companies that hope to package multi-country itineraries. Regional airlines such as Azul and Sky Airline have begun exploring code-share agreements that would make it easier for Chinese groups to land in Belém or Manaus and connect onward to Galápagos or Paramaribo.
For travelers and mobility planners who need to stay on top of these shifting requirements, VisaHQ can help. The company’s platform (https://www.visahq.com/brazil/) tracks regulatory updates in real time, assists with Brazil’s current e-visa applications, and offers step-by-step guidance for multi-country itineraries—ensuring Chinese visitors and the organizations hosting them are prepared well before departure.
For multinationals the implications extend beyond leisure travel. A single-entry, visa-free regime covering three jurisdictions will simplify scheduling for engineers, auditors and supply-chain specialists who often shuttle between Brazilian, Ecuadorian and Surinamese facilities. Mobility teams should map existing projects that could benefit from streamlined border crossings and reassess per-diem budgets, as destinations competing for Chinese spending may raise prices.
Immigration advisers caution that implementation details—such as acceptable proof of onward travel or health-insurance requirements—remain unknown. Until the decree is signed and published in the Diário Oficial da União, Chinese nationals must continue to apply for Brazil’s electronic visa (e-visa).
