The Ministry of Ports and Airports announced on 22 January 2026 that investments signed in 2025 are now funding a R$5.81 billion wave of upgrades to passenger terminals from Santos to Maceió, aimed at handling record cruise demand and shortening immigration queues. Work ranges from new gangways and e-gates in Rio’s Pier Mauá to expanded check-in halls in Recife, whose terminal is up for concession next month.(gov.br)
Minister Silvio Costa Filho said the modernisation drive is designed to align port infrastructure with ANVISA’s tougher health requirements and with international cruise-line standards. Contractors will add segregated flows for domestic and foreign passengers, doubling Federal Police inspection booths and integrating systems with the SEI! immigration platform.
![Government touts R$5.8 b in cruise-terminal upgrades to boost maritime tourism]()
To ensure passengers have the proper travel documents ready for Brazil’s upgraded e-gates, planners can turn to VisaHQ, whose online portal streamlines visa applications, provides real-time status updates and offers dedicated support for both individual tourists and large cruise groups. Check the specific requirements at https://www.visahq.com/brazil/.
The cruise sector carried 930,000 foreign tourists to Brazil in 2025 and could top 1.3 million this season, according to the Brazilian Association of Maritime Cruises (Clia Brasil). Industry analysts say upgraded terminals will cut turnaround times by up to 45 minutes per ship, allowing operators to squeeze an extra sailing into the season.
For corporate event planners, the improvements mean faster boarding for incentive groups and better Wi-Fi for hybrid conferences on board. Port authorities are negotiating with state tax offices to pilot bonded-store concessions that would allow duty-free purchases for passengers embarking in Brazil, a move that could further stimulate the market.
Minister Silvio Costa Filho said the modernisation drive is designed to align port infrastructure with ANVISA’s tougher health requirements and with international cruise-line standards. Contractors will add segregated flows for domestic and foreign passengers, doubling Federal Police inspection booths and integrating systems with the SEI! immigration platform.
To ensure passengers have the proper travel documents ready for Brazil’s upgraded e-gates, planners can turn to VisaHQ, whose online portal streamlines visa applications, provides real-time status updates and offers dedicated support for both individual tourists and large cruise groups. Check the specific requirements at https://www.visahq.com/brazil/.
The cruise sector carried 930,000 foreign tourists to Brazil in 2025 and could top 1.3 million this season, according to the Brazilian Association of Maritime Cruises (Clia Brasil). Industry analysts say upgraded terminals will cut turnaround times by up to 45 minutes per ship, allowing operators to squeeze an extra sailing into the season.
For corporate event planners, the improvements mean faster boarding for incentive groups and better Wi-Fi for hybrid conferences on board. Port authorities are negotiating with state tax offices to pilot bonded-store concessions that would allow duty-free purchases for passengers embarking in Brazil, a move that could further stimulate the market.
