Brazil grants 30-day visa-free entry to eight new countries, widening doors for business and leisure

Brazil has taken another decisive step in its post-pandemic reopening strategy, abolishing short-stay visa requirements for citizens of China, Denmark, France, Hungary, Ireland, Jamaica, Saint Lucia and the Bahamas. A communiqué issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 28 February 2026 confirms that, as of 24 February, ordinary-passport holders from the eight markets can enter Brazil without an e-Visa or consular appointment, stay for up to 30 days, and extend their visit locally to a cumulative 90 days within any rolling 12-month period. The announcement is both reciprocal and unilateral. China already waived visas for Brazilians in mid-2025, so the Brazilian concession cements two-way travel liberalisation between the BRICS partners. For the five European and two Caribbean nations, however, the move is unilateral—Brasília is betting that easier access for long-haul visitors will turbo-charge inbound traffic even without matching rights for Brazilians. From a corporate-mobility perspective, the new regime removes roughly US $250 in fees per traveller and, more importantly, eliminates the two-to-three-week lead time inherent in the e-Visa process. Multinationals told Global Mobility News that the change has already been folded into mobility playbooks for exploratory visits, MICE events and short technical missions; assignees who will work in Brazil still need the appropriate residence visa. Tourism agency Embratur projects the waiver could inject up to US $350 million in additional visitor spending this year. Airlines are responding in kind—Air China, Air France-KLM and Aer Lingus have announced capacity increases to São Paulo and Rio, while the Jamaica Tourist Board is finalising a codeshare that would give Kingston its first non-stop link to Latin America. Travellers should note that the visa-free stay does not authorise remunerated activity in Brazil and that passport validity of six months, proof of funds and onward travel may still be requested by the Federal Police at the border. Companies sending mixed-nationality teams should double-check eligibility case-by-case, as citizens of the United States, Canada and Australia remain subject to Brazil’s e-Visa requirement.