Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Itamaraty) sent an urgent memo to the presidential palace on 2 February 2026 requesting an additional R$ 350 million to keep embassies and consulates functioning through year-end. In the document, Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira cites an ‘imminent risk’ of wage arrears for locally hired staff, missed rental payments and the suspension of basic consular services—including passport issuance and visa processing.
Although the request focuses on operating costs, corporate mobility managers are attuned to the knock-on effects: any interruption to visa issuance abroad or passport services for Brazilian executives could derail project timelines, especially in markets where Brazil has a single consular post.
Vieira notes that most embassy leases fall due in the first five days of each month; failure to pay would expose the government to penalties and even eviction. The memo also warns that logistical support for presidential travel and preparations for Brazil’s COP-30 hosting duties could be compromised.
![Itamaraty warns of consular shutdowns abroad unless emergency funds are released]()
In this environment, having a contingency plan is critical. VisaHQ, an online visa facilitation platform, can help companies and travelers reroute or expedite Brazilian visa applications if specific consular posts scale back operations. Its real-time tracking tools and dedicated support teams (https://www.visahq.com/brazil/) give mobility managers visibility over shifting requirements and processing times, helping to avoid costly project delays.
Budget experts say the crunch stems from a broader federal spending cap and the weaker real, which inflates hard-currency costs overseas. Congress could approve a supplementary credit as early as mid-February, but delays would force the foreign ministry to triage services, prioritising emergency assistance and travel documents over routine visa work.
Companies with large expatriate populations should monitor the legislative calendar and build extra lead time into applications lodged at Brazilian posts abroad. Self-sponsoring assignees may wish to file now to avoid a potential backlog if funding lapses.
Although the request focuses on operating costs, corporate mobility managers are attuned to the knock-on effects: any interruption to visa issuance abroad or passport services for Brazilian executives could derail project timelines, especially in markets where Brazil has a single consular post.
Vieira notes that most embassy leases fall due in the first five days of each month; failure to pay would expose the government to penalties and even eviction. The memo also warns that logistical support for presidential travel and preparations for Brazil’s COP-30 hosting duties could be compromised.
In this environment, having a contingency plan is critical. VisaHQ, an online visa facilitation platform, can help companies and travelers reroute or expedite Brazilian visa applications if specific consular posts scale back operations. Its real-time tracking tools and dedicated support teams (https://www.visahq.com/brazil/) give mobility managers visibility over shifting requirements and processing times, helping to avoid costly project delays.
Budget experts say the crunch stems from a broader federal spending cap and the weaker real, which inflates hard-currency costs overseas. Congress could approve a supplementary credit as early as mid-February, but delays would force the foreign ministry to triage services, prioritising emergency assistance and travel documents over routine visa work.
Companies with large expatriate populations should monitor the legislative calendar and build extra lead time into applications lodged at Brazilian posts abroad. Self-sponsoring assignees may wish to file now to avoid a potential backlog if funding lapses.
