New data released on 26 May 2026 show that Chinese nationals have become the largest group of foreign workers entering Brazil, averaging 1,050 authorised arrivals per month since mid-2025. The figures, compiled from Ministry of Justice work-permit issuances, mean Chinese citizens now account for 38 percent of all labour visas granted in 2026. Most placements are tied to surging Chinese investment in heavy industry and infrastructure. BYD’s electric-vehicle complex in Bahia alone has imported more than 600 engineers and line-technicians during plant installation. Similar inflows are evident in port construction in Espírito Santo and transmission-line projects in Pará. Labour lawyers note that companies are relying on the ‘VITEM-V’ temporary visa for technical assistance, which can be processed entirely online in 15 days—a procedural change introduced in January 2025. Once in Brazil, workers convert the visa into a two-year residence permit without leaving the country, further lowering downtime for project roll-outs. The trend has policy implications: unions fear wage compression, while state governments welcome technology transfer. From a global-mobility standpoint, HR departments should monitor project-quota ceilings and ensure mandatory training plans for local staff are filed with the Ministry of Labour to avoid penalties.
