The governments of Brazil and Japan have confirmed a three-year extension of their reciprocal short-stay visa-waiver arrangement, allowing Brazilians and Japanese citizens to continue entering each other’s territory for tourism or business trips of up to 90 days without a visa until 29 September 2029. The measure was formalised through an exchange of diplomatic notes published on 1 October 2026 and comes just one day after the original 2023-2026 waiver period expired. According to the Brazilian note, the decision is intended to “facilitate travel and deepen cultural and commercial ties” between the two G20 economies. In practical terms, eligible travellers may keep using regular passports and are only required to hold proof of onward travel and sufficient funds; no electronic travel authorisation or consular appointment is needed. Business travellers benefit from faster deployment to project sites or client meetings in the partner country, while multinationals with operations in Brazil and Japan avoid several hundred dollars per assignee in visa fees and courier costs. Global mobility teams should, however, note key caveats. The waiver does not cover remunerated activities such as local employment, entertainment or professional sports. Individuals intending to work in either country must still obtain the appropriate work permit before entering. Japanese authorities have also indicated that an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) system is under development for visa-exempt nationals; implementation details are expected in 2027 and could introduce a modest pre-departure step. The extension preserves one of Brazil’s most liberal bilateral arrangements at a time when Brasília is re-imposing visitor-visa requirements on citizens of the United States, Canada and Australia. Mobility managers should update traveller-eligibility matrices and continue to monitor for the forthcoming ETA as well as any sudden suspension clauses—both governments reserve the right to reinstate visa controls for reasons of public order, health or security.
Source: Portal Mie
