Government insiders confirmed on 26 December that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has finalized a decree that would exempt Chinese nationals from short-stay visas for tourism and business. The measure—expected to be signed in early 2026—follows China’s June 2024 decision to grant Brazilians 30-day visa-free entry and would mark Brazil’s boldest visa liberalization in more than a decade.
Economic logic is driving the move. China is already Brazil’s biggest trading partner, yet Chinese tourists account for just 0.05 % of China’s outbound market. Officials believe scrapping the visa requirement could push arrivals well beyond the 76 000 Chinese visitors recorded in 2024 and help the country reach its target of 10 million foreign arrivals a year by 2027.
Destinations such as Foz do Iguaçu, Rio de Janeiro and the Amazon are developing Mandarin-language packages, while airlines are eyeing additional frequencies on São Paulo–Guangzhou and Rio–Beijing routes. Hotel groups expect longer average stays and higher spend; São Paulo’s tourism secretariat estimates a typical Chinese visitor spends about US$2 000 per trip—triple the South-American average.
![Brazil drafts visa-waiver decree for Chinese visitors in bid to tap tourism boom]()
For travelers who still need documentation before the waiver takes effect—or for visitors from other countries—VisaHQ offers a fast, fully online service that keeps applicants current on Brazil’s evolving entry rules. Check the latest requirements or start an application at https://www.visahq.com/brazil/
Corporate Brazil is equally enthusiastic. A visa waiver would eliminate lead times for Chinese executives inspecting factories or negotiating agribusiness contracts. Multinationals are already revising travel policies, adding Mandarin-speaking suppliers and recalibrating cost forecasts as inbound demand is expected to drive hotel rates higher.
Diplomats and security agencies remain cautious, warning that unilateral concessions could weaken Brazil’s hand in talks with the EU and that robust data-sharing agreements are needed to vet travelers. Nevertheless, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is said to back the waiver, arguing that the economic upside outweighs the risks.
Economic logic is driving the move. China is already Brazil’s biggest trading partner, yet Chinese tourists account for just 0.05 % of China’s outbound market. Officials believe scrapping the visa requirement could push arrivals well beyond the 76 000 Chinese visitors recorded in 2024 and help the country reach its target of 10 million foreign arrivals a year by 2027.
Destinations such as Foz do Iguaçu, Rio de Janeiro and the Amazon are developing Mandarin-language packages, while airlines are eyeing additional frequencies on São Paulo–Guangzhou and Rio–Beijing routes. Hotel groups expect longer average stays and higher spend; São Paulo’s tourism secretariat estimates a typical Chinese visitor spends about US$2 000 per trip—triple the South-American average.
For travelers who still need documentation before the waiver takes effect—or for visitors from other countries—VisaHQ offers a fast, fully online service that keeps applicants current on Brazil’s evolving entry rules. Check the latest requirements or start an application at https://www.visahq.com/brazil/
Corporate Brazil is equally enthusiastic. A visa waiver would eliminate lead times for Chinese executives inspecting factories or negotiating agribusiness contracts. Multinationals are already revising travel policies, adding Mandarin-speaking suppliers and recalibrating cost forecasts as inbound demand is expected to drive hotel rates higher.
Diplomats and security agencies remain cautious, warning that unilateral concessions could weaken Brazil’s hand in talks with the EU and that robust data-sharing agreements are needed to vet travelers. Nevertheless, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is said to back the waiver, arguing that the economic upside outweighs the risks.
