After ten years of negotiations and one year of domestic ratification, the free-trade agreement between Mercosul and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) took legal effect for Brazil and Iceland on 1 October. The pact covers tariff reduction, services and, crucially for mobility managers, a dedicated chapter on the temporary entry of business persons. Who benefits – Under the agreement, executives, intra-corporate transferees, service sellers and short-term professionals from Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein may obtain streamlined visas valid for stays of up to 180 days in any 12-month period. Brazil has committed to issue these visas within 10 working days, waive labour-market tests for assignments under 90 days, and allow multiple entries. Reciprocal facilitation applies to Brazilians travelling to EFTA states. Context and numbers – Trade between Brazil and EFTA exceeded US$ 7 billion in 2025, but Swiss and Norwegian chambers of commerce have long complained that work-permit processing times in Brazil could exceed three months. The new mobility annex sets service standards, introduces an electronic document upload system, and mandates joint committee oversight—giving multinationals a mechanism to escalate systemic delays. Corporate relocation impact – Manufacturers of medical devices in São Paulo, mining firms in Minas Gerais and IT outsourcing centres in Recife already rely heavily on Swiss and Norwegian expertise. HR departments can now rotate engineers and auditors with fewer administrative hurdles, while Brazilian agritech start-ups eyeing Zurich and Reykjavík investment hubs will enjoy faster access for pitching and incubation programmes. What’s next – The Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Labour will publish implementing ordinances within 30 days detailing the on-line application workflow and acceptable supporting documents. Companies planning Q4 or Q1 deployments should start compiling assignment letters and proof of remuneration in anticipation of the simplified process. Observers note that the mobility provisions could serve as a template for the long-stalled Mercosul-EU accord, which contains similar chapters still under negotiation.
Source: iG Último Segundo
