Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has published Inter-Ministerial Ordinance 18/2026, adding Ireland to an elite list of eight countries whose citizens may enter visa-free for stays of up to 90 days a year. The move—formally in force since 4 March but publicised on 11 March—abolishes the €110 e-visa previously required of Irish tourists and short-term business visitors.
![Brazil Waives Short-Stay Visa for Irish Passport Holders under ‘Open Doors 2026’ Programme]()
Irish passport holders who still want personalised assistance—whether with Brazil’s remaining long-stay permits or with onward trips elsewhere—can tap VisaHQ’s online visa and document concierge. The dedicated Ireland page (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/) provides live requirement updates, step-by-step checklists and courier options that remove the guesswork from multi-country itineraries.
Tourism officials expect Irish arrivals to surge by 25 percent over the next two years, aided by competitive one-stop connections via Lisbon and Paris. More strategically, the waiver unlocks rapid-deployment options for Irish multinationals in agri-tech, fintech and renewable energy that are eyeing Brazil’s booming internal market. Executives can now schedule site visits and client meetings without the two-week lead time the e-visa system demanded. Immigration lawyers stress that the exemption applies only to non-remunerated activities such as conferences, exploratory meetings and after-sales technical support of up to 90 days. Employers must still secure temporary-work visas for assignees installing equipment, delivering training or drawing a local salary. Overstays risk fines of R$100 per day and future entry bans. The visa-waiver announcement dovetails with a separate statement from both governments confirming that negotiations on a bilateral Air Services Agreement (ASA) have begun. Direct Dublin–São Paulo flights, if launched, would slash journey times by five hours and further stimulate two-way trade currently valued at €1.3 billion. Global-mobility teams should update travel-policy matrices and online booking tools to reflect the immediate change. HR should also brief Irish staff on core entry requirements—proof of onward travel, six-month passport validity and evidence of funds—to avoid refusal at Brazilian border-control kiosks now equipped with biometric e-gates.
Irish passport holders who still want personalised assistance—whether with Brazil’s remaining long-stay permits or with onward trips elsewhere—can tap VisaHQ’s online visa and document concierge. The dedicated Ireland page (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/) provides live requirement updates, step-by-step checklists and courier options that remove the guesswork from multi-country itineraries.
Tourism officials expect Irish arrivals to surge by 25 percent over the next two years, aided by competitive one-stop connections via Lisbon and Paris. More strategically, the waiver unlocks rapid-deployment options for Irish multinationals in agri-tech, fintech and renewable energy that are eyeing Brazil’s booming internal market. Executives can now schedule site visits and client meetings without the two-week lead time the e-visa system demanded. Immigration lawyers stress that the exemption applies only to non-remunerated activities such as conferences, exploratory meetings and after-sales technical support of up to 90 days. Employers must still secure temporary-work visas for assignees installing equipment, delivering training or drawing a local salary. Overstays risk fines of R$100 per day and future entry bans. The visa-waiver announcement dovetails with a separate statement from both governments confirming that negotiations on a bilateral Air Services Agreement (ASA) have begun. Direct Dublin–São Paulo flights, if launched, would slash journey times by five hours and further stimulate two-way trade currently valued at €1.3 billion. Global-mobility teams should update travel-policy matrices and online booking tools to reflect the immediate change. HR should also brief Irish staff on core entry requirements—proof of onward travel, six-month passport validity and evidence of funds—to avoid refusal at Brazilian border-control kiosks now equipped with biometric e-gates.
