South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will pay a state visit to Brazil on 9-10 March 2026, the South African Presidency confirmed over the weekend. While the agenda spans trade, defence and energy, officials in Pretoria and Brasília say mobility and tourism cooperation will be a headline deliverable, building on the rapid rebound of Johannesburg–São Paulo air services and Brazil’s recent inclusion on South Africa’s 90-day visa-exemption list.
According to the advance programme released on 7 March, the two presidents will address a South Africa–Brazil Business Forum in Brasília. Aviation executives attending the forum told Global Mobility News that talks are under way on a new bilateral air-services agreement that would raise the weekly frequency cap from 14 to 28 flights and allow code-sharing beyond each country’s hubs. LATAM Airlines Brazil and SAA’s successor carrier Takatso are eyeing additional frequencies, while low-cost entrant FlySafair has applied for Cape Town–São Paulo rights.
Tourism ministers Patricia de Lille (SA) and Celso Sabino (BR) are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding covering joint marketing campaigns around sporting events and heritage tourism. South African Tourism data show that Brazilian arrivals climbed to 74 000 in 2025—up 42 % year-on-year—helped by Brazil’s own outbound travel boom and easier e-visa processing for South Africans entering Brazil. Industry stakeholders anticipate reciprocal fast-track lanes for accredited tour operators by December 2026.
![State-Visit Preview: South Africa and Brazil Set to Deepen Travel and Mobility Links]()
In this context, many travellers and corporate mobility teams are turning to visa-processing specialists such as VisaHQ to navigate the shifting entry requirements of both countries. The company’s Brazil portal (https://www.visahq.com/brazil/) consolidates the latest e-visa rules, documentation checklists and turnaround times, offering a streamlined, one-stop solution for South Africans planning trips to São Paulo and Brazilians heading to Johannesburg.
Corporate mobility managers are watching tax discussions closely: the two sides may announce negotiations to modernise the 1974 double-taxation treaty, a step that could reduce withholding tax on short-term technical services—an irritant for mining and engineering firms that shuttle specialists between the continents. Any reduction would directly lower assignment costs and make cross-posting more attractive.
While no immediate policy shifts take effect during the visit, analysts say the symbolism of the first South African state visit to Brazil in a decade underscores both governments’ commitment to people-to-people connectivity. Businesses should prepare for a likely uptick in bilateral travel demand and review their preferred-supplier agreements with airlines and visa-service providers accordingly.
According to the advance programme released on 7 March, the two presidents will address a South Africa–Brazil Business Forum in Brasília. Aviation executives attending the forum told Global Mobility News that talks are under way on a new bilateral air-services agreement that would raise the weekly frequency cap from 14 to 28 flights and allow code-sharing beyond each country’s hubs. LATAM Airlines Brazil and SAA’s successor carrier Takatso are eyeing additional frequencies, while low-cost entrant FlySafair has applied for Cape Town–São Paulo rights.
Tourism ministers Patricia de Lille (SA) and Celso Sabino (BR) are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding covering joint marketing campaigns around sporting events and heritage tourism. South African Tourism data show that Brazilian arrivals climbed to 74 000 in 2025—up 42 % year-on-year—helped by Brazil’s own outbound travel boom and easier e-visa processing for South Africans entering Brazil. Industry stakeholders anticipate reciprocal fast-track lanes for accredited tour operators by December 2026.
In this context, many travellers and corporate mobility teams are turning to visa-processing specialists such as VisaHQ to navigate the shifting entry requirements of both countries. The company’s Brazil portal (https://www.visahq.com/brazil/) consolidates the latest e-visa rules, documentation checklists and turnaround times, offering a streamlined, one-stop solution for South Africans planning trips to São Paulo and Brazilians heading to Johannesburg.
Corporate mobility managers are watching tax discussions closely: the two sides may announce negotiations to modernise the 1974 double-taxation treaty, a step that could reduce withholding tax on short-term technical services—an irritant for mining and engineering firms that shuttle specialists between the continents. Any reduction would directly lower assignment costs and make cross-posting more attractive.
While no immediate policy shifts take effect during the visit, analysts say the symbolism of the first South African state visit to Brazil in a decade underscores both governments’ commitment to people-to-people connectivity. Businesses should prepare for a likely uptick in bilateral travel demand and review their preferred-supplier agreements with airlines and visa-service providers accordingly.
