【Wen/Observer Net Wang Yi】On December 24 local time, Brazil's "Economic Value Newspaper" quoted government sources saying that Brazil is considering implementing visa-free entry for Chinese citizens traveling or doing business in Brazil, in response to China's recent measures to trial visa-free entry for Brazilian citizens.
The related measures are expected to be announced in early 2026. A government source in Brazil said, "Considering reciprocity, the government is moving towards visa-free entry for Chinese citizens." However, this decision still needs final approval from the presidential office. The Brazilian Foreign Ministry has not yet commented on the report.
Currently, Chinese citizens can apply for a visa with a maximum validity of 10 years for business or tourism purposes, allowing multiple entries with each stay not exceeding 90 days.
Hong Kong's "South China Morning Post" noted on the 25th that if implemented, Brazil would become the third country in South America to offer short-term visa-free entry to Chinese citizens, marking a significant shift in its policy and deepening its relationship with its largest trading partner.
The "Economic Value Newspaper" stated that more and more officials within the Brazilian government believe that easing entry restrictions for Chinese citizens will promote the development of tourism, trade, and investment in the country, helping Brazil become a more attractive overseas destination for Chinese tourists and capital.
China has been Brazil's largest trading partner for many consecutive years and is also one of the fastest-growing sources of foreign tourists. In 2024, Brazil received approximately 76,000 Chinese tourists.
The Brazil-China Business Council has clearly expressed support for this policy, stating that visa-free entry will directly boost Brazil's tourism and have a positive impact on related service industries such as hotels, aviation, catering, and retail.
A report by the Brazilian National Tourism Agency in 2024 showed that Chinese tourists are among the highest-spending groups globally, with an average spending of about $2,000 per person abroad. The report analyzed that once the visa-free policy is implemented, the number of Chinese tourists visiting destinations such as Rio de Janeiro, Iguazu Falls, and the Amazon Rainforest is expected to significantly increase, and the expansion of the tourism industry will directly translate into growth in service exports.
Liuzhou, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - Photo
The "Economic Value Newspaper" also specifically pointed out that visa-free policies are not common for Brazil. Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who was close to U.S. President Trump, implemented visa-free entry for American citizens during his term, but this is not in the agenda of the current Lula government. Compared with that, visa-free entry for Chinese citizens is seen as a natural step in upgrading bilateral relations.
Previously, China had adjusted the entry policy for Brazilian citizens. In May this year, China announced that from June 1, 2025, to May 31, 2026, it would implement a visa-free policy for ordinary passport holders from Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay. Citizens of these five countries can enter China for business, tourism, visiting relatives, exchanges, or transit for up to 30 days without a visa. Last month, China extended the unilateral visa-free policy for 45 countries, including Brazil, until 24:00 on December 31, 2026.
Brazil is also gradually relaxing entry requirements for Chinese citizens. In January last year, Brazil signed an agreement with China to extend the validity of tourist and business visas from 5 years to 10 years, allowing multiple entries, providing greater flexibility for business travelers.
According to the report, Brazil also uses e-visas to speed up the processing of visas by diplomatic missions in China. The Brazilian embassy in Beijing is currently the largest embassy in the world for issuing foreign tourist visas to Brazil.
Data from the Brazilian National Tourism Agency shows that in 2024, the number of Chinese tourists visiting Brazil exceeded 76,000, an increase of nearly 80% compared to the previous year, making Brazil the most popular destination for Chinese tourists in South America and Central America that year. In 2025, this record continues to be broken, with Chinese tourists visiting Brazil exceeding 80,000 by November.
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Original: toutiao.com/article/7587789879526965801/
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