In Asunción on 17 January, the European Union and Mercosur (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay) finally signed the long-awaited Partnership and Interim Trade Agreements. Headlines focused on tariff cuts, but tucked into the 6-000-page text is a modern mobility chapter that could reshape how business people move between Brazil and Europe.
The chapter harmonises definitions of “business visitor”, “intra-corporate transferee” and “contract service supplier”, granting stays of up to 90 days per entry—extendable to 180 days per year—without triggering local work-permit rules. Consulates must create priority lanes that cap processing times at 30 days and issue multi-entry visas valid for the life of the underlying contract for senior staff and investors.
![EU–Mercosur Agreement Signed: Mobility Chapter Promises Priority Visas for Brazilian and European Executives]()
Companies and individuals eager to capitalise on these forthcoming rules can streamline their preparations with VisaHQ’s dedicated Brazil portal (https://www.visahq.com/brazil/), which already provides real-time visa updates, online applications and concierge support for corporate travellers. By tapping into VisaHQ’s direct links with consulates and its automated status alerts, mobility teams can rehearse the new workflows now and be fully compliant the moment the agreement takes effect.
For multinationals, the potential is enormous. Automotive OEMs in São Paulo, European pharma firms setting up in Minas Gerais, and Brazilian fintechs opening hubs in Berlin can now design project timelines with clearer, shorter visa paths. HR teams should map which legal entities qualify, review posted-worker compliance and budget for demand spikes once the pact is ratified.
The deal still needs approval by the European Parliament and all Mercosur legislatures, meaning the earliest go-live date is late 2026. Nevertheless, companies are already adjusting mobility policies, anticipating smoother travel, lower legal fees and quicker deployment of specialist talent across the Atlantic.
The chapter harmonises definitions of “business visitor”, “intra-corporate transferee” and “contract service supplier”, granting stays of up to 90 days per entry—extendable to 180 days per year—without triggering local work-permit rules. Consulates must create priority lanes that cap processing times at 30 days and issue multi-entry visas valid for the life of the underlying contract for senior staff and investors.
Companies and individuals eager to capitalise on these forthcoming rules can streamline their preparations with VisaHQ’s dedicated Brazil portal (https://www.visahq.com/brazil/), which already provides real-time visa updates, online applications and concierge support for corporate travellers. By tapping into VisaHQ’s direct links with consulates and its automated status alerts, mobility teams can rehearse the new workflows now and be fully compliant the moment the agreement takes effect.
For multinationals, the potential is enormous. Automotive OEMs in São Paulo, European pharma firms setting up in Minas Gerais, and Brazilian fintechs opening hubs in Berlin can now design project timelines with clearer, shorter visa paths. HR teams should map which legal entities qualify, review posted-worker compliance and budget for demand spikes once the pact is ratified.
The deal still needs approval by the European Parliament and all Mercosur legislatures, meaning the earliest go-live date is late 2026. Nevertheless, companies are already adjusting mobility policies, anticipating smoother travel, lower legal fees and quicker deployment of specialist talent across the Atlantic.
