In Brussels on 14 January the Council of the European Union voted by qualified majority to approve the draft EU-Mercosur Association Agreement, moving the 20-year-old deal to the final ratification stage. While headlines focus on tariff cuts for beef, cars and pharmaceuticals, the text hides a modern mobility chapter with major benefits for Brazilian and European companies.
Mobility provisions. The agreement harmonises definitions of “business visitor”, “intra-corporate transferee” and “contract service supplier”, expanding permissible activities and allowing stays of up to 90 days per entry—extendable to 180 days per year—without triggering local work-permit rules. It obliges consulates to introduce priority lanes that cap processing at 30 days and to issue multi-entry visas valid for the life of the contract to senior personnel and investors.
Corporate implications. Energy majors planning offshore projects, automotive OEMs in São Paulo and EU tech firms eyeing Brazil’s fintech boom can now design assignment models confident of smoother onboarding once the pact takes force (potentially Q4 2026). HR departments should map which legal entities qualify for the carve-outs, audit posted-worker compliance and update assignment letters to account for longer visa validity.
![EU Council clears Mercosur accord, promising faster Brazil-Europe business travel]()
For practical support in navigating the new visa categories—and in securing current Brazilian visas while the agreement is still pending—corporate mobility managers can turn to VisaHQ. The platform’s Brazil portal (https://www.visahq.com/brazil/) offers up-to-date requirements, document checklists and expedited filing options, helping employers and travellers avoid processing bottlenecks as demand surges.
Next steps. The European Parliament begins debate in early February, with a plenary vote expected in March, while Brazil’s Congress readies an implementing bill. Only when all Mercosur and EU legislatures deposit ratification instruments will the mobility provisions apply, so travel-policy teams must track both legislative calendars.
Wider context. The deal positions Brazil as a springboard for EU companies into South America and vice-versa, potentially boosting two-way trade by €97 billion annually. Mobility streamlining is critical to achieving those numbers, making this development one of the most significant for global-mobility planners so far in 2026.
Mobility provisions. The agreement harmonises definitions of “business visitor”, “intra-corporate transferee” and “contract service supplier”, expanding permissible activities and allowing stays of up to 90 days per entry—extendable to 180 days per year—without triggering local work-permit rules. It obliges consulates to introduce priority lanes that cap processing at 30 days and to issue multi-entry visas valid for the life of the contract to senior personnel and investors.
Corporate implications. Energy majors planning offshore projects, automotive OEMs in São Paulo and EU tech firms eyeing Brazil’s fintech boom can now design assignment models confident of smoother onboarding once the pact takes force (potentially Q4 2026). HR departments should map which legal entities qualify for the carve-outs, audit posted-worker compliance and update assignment letters to account for longer visa validity.
For practical support in navigating the new visa categories—and in securing current Brazilian visas while the agreement is still pending—corporate mobility managers can turn to VisaHQ. The platform’s Brazil portal (https://www.visahq.com/brazil/) offers up-to-date requirements, document checklists and expedited filing options, helping employers and travellers avoid processing bottlenecks as demand surges.
Next steps. The European Parliament begins debate in early February, with a plenary vote expected in March, while Brazil’s Congress readies an implementing bill. Only when all Mercosur and EU legislatures deposit ratification instruments will the mobility provisions apply, so travel-policy teams must track both legislative calendars.
Wider context. The deal positions Brazil as a springboard for EU companies into South America and vice-versa, potentially boosting two-way trade by €97 billion annually. Mobility streamlining is critical to achieving those numbers, making this development one of the most significant for global-mobility planners so far in 2026.
