Brazilian travellers woke up on 17 February 2026 to headlines proclaiming that holders of a Brazilian passport can now enter 168 countries and territories without applying for a visa in advance. The updated tally—compiled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and confirmed by airlines’ Timatic database—adds France, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and South Korea to the list following recent bilateral waivers that took effect this week.
While the Henley Passport Index will not publish its next ranking until March, tour operators are already marketing Brazil’s new access level, equal to that of traditional European powerhouses. GOL and Azul reported a 23 % spike in fare searches to Paris and Seoul compared with the same period last year, and OTAs are bundling “visa-free Europe” packages timed around winter school holidays.
![Brazilian passport reaches 168 visa-free destinations, sparking outbound travel surge]()
For corporate mobility managers the broader waiver map simplifies short-notice deployments for sales teams and technical specialists, who can now clear border formalities with a biometric passport and proof of accommodation. Nevertheless, companies should remind employees that work authorisations may still be required and that some countries impose on-arrival fees or electronic travel authorisations despite being listed as “visa-free”.
If you are plotting a multi-stop itinerary or need help deciphering whether an electronic travel authorisation is still mandatory for your chosen destination, VisaHQ keeps an up-to-date database and offers hands-on processing support specifically for Brazilian nationals—see the dedicated portal at https://www.visahq.com/brazil/ for details and pricing.
Diplomats in Brasília credit the expansion to a strategy initiated in 2024 that links market-opening concessions—such as air-service agreements and double-tax treaties—to mobility facilitation. With São Paulo’s Guarulhos hub handling over half of Brazil’s international seat capacity, airport operator GRU Airport has accelerated e-gate installation to process the anticipated volume. The government estimates that each additional one million outbound trips injects R$3 billion into Brazil’s travel ecosystem through commissions, foreign-currency purchases and airport retail.
While the Henley Passport Index will not publish its next ranking until March, tour operators are already marketing Brazil’s new access level, equal to that of traditional European powerhouses. GOL and Azul reported a 23 % spike in fare searches to Paris and Seoul compared with the same period last year, and OTAs are bundling “visa-free Europe” packages timed around winter school holidays.
For corporate mobility managers the broader waiver map simplifies short-notice deployments for sales teams and technical specialists, who can now clear border formalities with a biometric passport and proof of accommodation. Nevertheless, companies should remind employees that work authorisations may still be required and that some countries impose on-arrival fees or electronic travel authorisations despite being listed as “visa-free”.
If you are plotting a multi-stop itinerary or need help deciphering whether an electronic travel authorisation is still mandatory for your chosen destination, VisaHQ keeps an up-to-date database and offers hands-on processing support specifically for Brazilian nationals—see the dedicated portal at https://www.visahq.com/brazil/ for details and pricing.
Diplomats in Brasília credit the expansion to a strategy initiated in 2024 that links market-opening concessions—such as air-service agreements and double-tax treaties—to mobility facilitation. With São Paulo’s Guarulhos hub handling over half of Brazil’s international seat capacity, airport operator GRU Airport has accelerated e-gate installation to process the anticipated volume. The government estimates that each additional one million outbound trips injects R$3 billion into Brazil’s travel ecosystem through commissions, foreign-currency purchases and airport retail.
