Brazil’s tourism authorities have confirmed that they are drafting a decree to waive visa requirements for Chinese citizens, with a formal announcement expected in early 2026. The move mirrors Beijing’s unilateral decision earlier this year to grant 30-day, visa-free access to Brazilians, and is designed to capture a larger share of China’s fast-growing outbound market.
The policy comes on the back of a record year for Brazilian tourism. The country welcomed nine million international visitors in 2025, breezing past pre-pandemic highs. Officials believe a reciprocal arrangement with China could accelerate that growth, funnelling high-spending Chinese tourists into key hubs such as Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Foz do Iguaçu, as well as into eco-destinations in the Amazon.
![Brazil prepares visa-free entry for Chinese nationals in reciprocal tourism push]()
Travellers eager to plan ahead should note that VisaHQ already streamlines Brazilian visa applications and monitors policy changes in real time. Whether the requirement is lifted or not, users can rely on the platform for the latest entry rules, document checklists and fast online processing: https://www.visahq.com/brazil/. This makes it easier for Chinese visitors—along with tourists and business travellers from other countries—to navigate formalities and focus on their trip.
Beyond leisure travel, the waiver is expected to boost business-to-business visits and investment missions ahead of the 2026 Year of Culture and Tourism between the two countries. Local hospitality associations are already urging hotels to invest in Mandarin-speaking staff and mobile-payment solutions popular in China. Airlines, meanwhile, are studying additional frequencies on the São Paulo–Guangzhou and Beijing–Rio routes to meet anticipated demand.
Practical details—such as eligible passport categories, maximum stay and implementation timelines—will be published in a joint circular by the Ministries of Tourism and Foreign Affairs once the decree clears presidential review. Until then, Chinese citizens must still apply for a Brazilian tourist or business visa.
The policy comes on the back of a record year for Brazilian tourism. The country welcomed nine million international visitors in 2025, breezing past pre-pandemic highs. Officials believe a reciprocal arrangement with China could accelerate that growth, funnelling high-spending Chinese tourists into key hubs such as Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Foz do Iguaçu, as well as into eco-destinations in the Amazon.
Travellers eager to plan ahead should note that VisaHQ already streamlines Brazilian visa applications and monitors policy changes in real time. Whether the requirement is lifted or not, users can rely on the platform for the latest entry rules, document checklists and fast online processing: https://www.visahq.com/brazil/. This makes it easier for Chinese visitors—along with tourists and business travellers from other countries—to navigate formalities and focus on their trip.
Beyond leisure travel, the waiver is expected to boost business-to-business visits and investment missions ahead of the 2026 Year of Culture and Tourism between the two countries. Local hospitality associations are already urging hotels to invest in Mandarin-speaking staff and mobile-payment solutions popular in China. Airlines, meanwhile, are studying additional frequencies on the São Paulo–Guangzhou and Beijing–Rio routes to meet anticipated demand.
Practical details—such as eligible passport categories, maximum stay and implementation timelines—will be published in a joint circular by the Ministries of Tourism and Foreign Affairs once the decree clears presidential review. Until then, Chinese citizens must still apply for a Brazilian tourist or business visa.
