Brazil’s Foreign Ministry confirmed on 17 January that it has exchanged final diplomatic notes with New Delhi, bringing into force a new reciprocal visa arrangement that extends the validity of tourism and business visitor visas from five to ten years for ordinary-passport holders of both countries.(embassynews.info)
The change slashes administrative churn for the 80-plus Brazilian companies operating in India’s technology and agribusiness corridors and for scores of Indian IT and engineering firms opening offices in São Paulo and Campinas. Instead of re-applying every few years, travellers will enjoy multiple entries for a full decade—aligning the Brazil–India regime with U.S. and Schengen standards.
![Brazil and India double visitor-visa validity to ten years]()
Longer validity does not alter length-of-stay rules (90 days per visit, extendable to 180 days every 12 months), but it gives mobility teams greater flexibility for project-based rotations. Visa-processing fees remain unchanged, and both governments will continue to issue e-visas in parallel with traditional stickers.
Analysts view the accord as another step in the burgeoning South-South corridor. Bilateral trade hit a record USD 16 billion in 2025, and India’s Adani Ports is shortlisted for a new container terminal in Santos. Travel-industry groups hope the visa upgrade will spur airlines to launch a long-mooted non-stop São Paulo–Mumbai service.
In the short term, companies should audit traveller profiles: frequent flyers whose current five-year visas expire in 2026–27 might find it cheaper to wait and apply under the new ten-year scheme than to extend existing documents. Consulates in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Rio and Brasília have updated appointment calendars, with first ten-year visas expected to be stamped this week.
The change slashes administrative churn for the 80-plus Brazilian companies operating in India’s technology and agribusiness corridors and for scores of Indian IT and engineering firms opening offices in São Paulo and Campinas. Instead of re-applying every few years, travellers will enjoy multiple entries for a full decade—aligning the Brazil–India regime with U.S. and Schengen standards.
Longer validity does not alter length-of-stay rules (90 days per visit, extendable to 180 days every 12 months), but it gives mobility teams greater flexibility for project-based rotations. Visa-processing fees remain unchanged, and both governments will continue to issue e-visas in parallel with traditional stickers.
Analysts view the accord as another step in the burgeoning South-South corridor. Bilateral trade hit a record USD 16 billion in 2025, and India’s Adani Ports is shortlisted for a new container terminal in Santos. Travel-industry groups hope the visa upgrade will spur airlines to launch a long-mooted non-stop São Paulo–Mumbai service.
In the short term, companies should audit traveller profiles: frequent flyers whose current five-year visas expire in 2026–27 might find it cheaper to wait and apply under the new ten-year scheme than to extend existing documents. Consulates in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Rio and Brasília have updated appointment calendars, with first ten-year visas expected to be stamped this week.
Source: Embassy News Agency
