Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has quietly enacted its most sweeping border-opening measure since the run-up to the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Under Inter-Ministerial Ordinance 18/2026, which took effect on 24 February 2026 and was publicly confirmed on 28 February, ordinary-passport holders from China, Denmark, France, Hungary, Ireland, Jamaica, Saint Lucia and the Bahamas no longer need a visa for short stays of up to 30 days. Travellers may apply once in-country for a single 60-day extension, capping time spent in Brazil at 90 days within any 12-month period. The waiver applies to tourism, business meetings, conferences and family visits; work assignments still require an appropriate temporary visa.
The policy marks a decisive shift away from Brazil’s traditional insistence on strict reciprocity. Of the eight beneficiaries, only China currently gives Brazilians reciprocal visa-free entry (introduced in June 2025). Senior officials told ITIJ that selective unilateral waivers are now viewed as a low-cost tool to stimulate inbound demand in markets with high spending potential or strong foreign-direct-investment pipelines. Embratur data show that long-haul visitors on average spend US$115 a day—three times the spend of regional leisure travellers—while meetings-and-events (MICE) delegates spend more than US$350.
Travelers and corporate mobility teams whose nationalities fall outside the new waiver—or who require longer stays and specialized permits—can streamline the entire application process through VisaHQ. The online platform’s Brazil hub (https://www.visahq.com/brazil/) offers instant requirement checks, digital form completion, document couriering and expert support, helping applicants avoid common errors and receive their visas more quickly.
![Brazil grants visa-free entry to eight countries in biggest border liberalisation for a decade]()
Airlines and corporate travel managers are already reacting. LATAM and Air France-KLM have applied for extra northern-summer slots at São Paulo/Guarulhos and Rio de Janeiro/Galeão, and JetBlue has signalled intent to open Miami–Recife and New York–Salvador routes. Travel-management companies (TMCs) report a surge in short-notice itineraries from Nordic and Caribbean markets now that consular lead-times and fees have vanished.
For multinationals, the change removes both cost and uncertainty. A single-entry Brazilian business visa previously cost between US$80 and US$160 and could take two weeks to issue—delays that forced project managers to build visa “buffer days” into travel schedules. Firms in renewable energy, agritech and fintech—sectors prioritised by the Lula administration—stand to benefit most from easier access for investors and technical specialists.
Compliance teams should note that electronic migration cards (e-MMCs) must still be completed prior to boarding, and that the Federal Police will continue to enforce proof-of-onward travel and sufficient funds on arrival. Mobility managers are advised to update internal travel policies and briefing packs immediately so that eligible employees can take advantage of the waiver without triggering inadvertent overstays.
The policy marks a decisive shift away from Brazil’s traditional insistence on strict reciprocity. Of the eight beneficiaries, only China currently gives Brazilians reciprocal visa-free entry (introduced in June 2025). Senior officials told ITIJ that selective unilateral waivers are now viewed as a low-cost tool to stimulate inbound demand in markets with high spending potential or strong foreign-direct-investment pipelines. Embratur data show that long-haul visitors on average spend US$115 a day—three times the spend of regional leisure travellers—while meetings-and-events (MICE) delegates spend more than US$350.
Travelers and corporate mobility teams whose nationalities fall outside the new waiver—or who require longer stays and specialized permits—can streamline the entire application process through VisaHQ. The online platform’s Brazil hub (https://www.visahq.com/brazil/) offers instant requirement checks, digital form completion, document couriering and expert support, helping applicants avoid common errors and receive their visas more quickly.
Airlines and corporate travel managers are already reacting. LATAM and Air France-KLM have applied for extra northern-summer slots at São Paulo/Guarulhos and Rio de Janeiro/Galeão, and JetBlue has signalled intent to open Miami–Recife and New York–Salvador routes. Travel-management companies (TMCs) report a surge in short-notice itineraries from Nordic and Caribbean markets now that consular lead-times and fees have vanished.
For multinationals, the change removes both cost and uncertainty. A single-entry Brazilian business visa previously cost between US$80 and US$160 and could take two weeks to issue—delays that forced project managers to build visa “buffer days” into travel schedules. Firms in renewable energy, agritech and fintech—sectors prioritised by the Lula administration—stand to benefit most from easier access for investors and technical specialists.
Compliance teams should note that electronic migration cards (e-MMCs) must still be completed prior to boarding, and that the Federal Police will continue to enforce proof-of-onward travel and sufficient funds on arrival. Mobility managers are advised to update internal travel policies and briefing packs immediately so that eligible employees can take advantage of the waiver without triggering inadvertent overstays.
