Brazil Waives Short-Stay Visas for Citizens of Eight Countries, Targeting a 2026 Tourism Surge
Effective 24 February 2026—and confirmed publicly on 27 February—Brazil scrapped short-stay visa requirements for citizens of China, France, Denmark, Hungary, Ireland, Jamaica, Saint Lucia and the Bahamas. The waiver allows stays of up to 30 days per entry, extendable locally to 90 days a year, and is expected to add 200,000 high-spending visitors and roughly R$4 billion to the economy in 2026. Business-travel budgets will benefit from lower compliance costs, but companies must still brief travellers on proof-of-funds, onward-ticket and overstay penalties. The initiative signals a more liberal posture by Brasília and could foreshadow additional visa-policy relaxations.
Feb 28, 2026
