Brazil grants Chinese citizens 30 day visa free entry through Dec. 31

Brazil opens visa-free entry for Chinese passport holders through year-end

Brazil waived visa requirements for Chinese citizens holding valid ordinary passports starting May 11, 2026, under a reciprocity arrangement that mirrors China's existing visa-free treatment for Brazilian nationals. The waiver runs through Dec. 31, 2026.

Eligible trips cover tourism, business, transit and qualifying artistic or sporting activities. Stays are capped at 30 days and can't be extended. The measure was announced May 7 and builds on Brazil's earlier 2026 expansion of its eVisa program to Chinese nationals.

Who falls inside and outside the waiver

Chinese tourists, short-term business travelers and passengers transiting Brazilian airports can enter without applying for a visa in advance. Trade visits, meetings and short artistic or sporting engagements qualify.

The waiver doesn't authorize paid work, residence or long-term study. Digital nomads and would-be expats can use the 30-day window for scouting trips or short stays, but anyone planning to work, live or study in Brazil long-term still needs separate immigration authorization. Employment and other remunerated activities remain off-limits under the waiver.

China's reciprocal visa-free policy for Brazilian passport holders is also valid through Dec. 31, 2026.

What travelers need to do

• Carry a valid ordinary Chinese passport at entry.
• Plan trips for 30 days or fewer, since extensions aren't permitted.
• Limit activities to tourism, business, transit or approved artistic and sporting purposes.
• Apply for the appropriate visa or residence permit if the stay involves work, study beyond short courses or longer-term relocation.

Travelers who need more than 30 days or who plan activities outside the waiver's scope, must go through Brazil's standard visa channels. The eVisa route remains available for Chinese nationals who prefer to lock in authorization before departure or who don't fit the waiver's parameters.

After Dec. 31, 2026, Chinese passport holders will again need a visa unless the policy is renewed.

Read our full Brazil guide for the complete picture and check our nomad news feed for more policy shifts across South America.