In a move announced on 13 June, Brazil’s Ministry of Justice confirmed that, effective 26 August, citizens of 65 countries — mainly in Asia and Africa — will again need entry visas even for airside transit through Brazilian airports. The decision follows a Federal Police report showing that organised-crime groups were exploiting Brazil’s visa-free transit policy to funnel migrants toward North America via the Darién Gap. Guarulhos Airport alone recorded 6 329 asylum requests from transit passengers in the first five months of 2026, a 40-fold increase on 2022. Investigators say more than 70 % abandoned the process and left Brazil irregularly within weeks. By re-imposing visas, Brasília hopes airlines will deny boarding at the origin and reduce overcrowding in inadmissible-passenger holding areas. The list includes China, India, Nigeria, Pakistan and Egypt. Travellers from these countries will have to apply for Brazil’s e-Visa, which costs US$80.90 and is issued online within five days.
![Brazil to reinstate visa requirement for 65 nationalities amid surge in irregular transit]()
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The government stressed that the policy does not alter Brazil’s generous asylum framework; bona-fide refugees can still apply once they hold the appropriate visa. For multinationals the biggest impact will be on crew rotations and project staff who have been using São Paulo or Rio as convenient South Atlantic hubs en route to Latin America. Travel-management companies should update visa-check filters immediately and re-issue automated pre-trip approvals. Airlines are expected to begin marketing campaigns in source markets to avoid costly fines for carrying passengers without the new documentation. The measure also underscores Brazil’s shift back to reciprocity-based visa policy, reversing the blanket waivers introduced in 2019.
For those seeking assistance, VisaHQ can simplify the application process: its platform walks users through each step, double-checks documentation and submits the request directly to the consulate—start at https://www.visahq.com/brazil/ for a friction-free experience.
The government stressed that the policy does not alter Brazil’s generous asylum framework; bona-fide refugees can still apply once they hold the appropriate visa. For multinationals the biggest impact will be on crew rotations and project staff who have been using São Paulo or Rio as convenient South Atlantic hubs en route to Latin America. Travel-management companies should update visa-check filters immediately and re-issue automated pre-trip approvals. Airlines are expected to begin marketing campaigns in source markets to avoid costly fines for carrying passengers without the new documentation. The measure also underscores Brazil’s shift back to reciprocity-based visa policy, reversing the blanket waivers introduced in 2019.
