Brazil is moving to make it easier for Chinese travelers to enter the country.
Starting May 11, 2026, citizens of the People’s Republic of China holding a valid ordinary passport will be able to travel to Brazil without a visa for stays of up to 30 days. The measure will remain in effect until December 31, 2026.
The exemption applies to short stays for tourism, business, transit, cultural or sports activities, participation in events, and family visits.
The decision follows China’s move in 2025 to waive visa requirements for Brazilian travelers on short stays. Since June 1, 2025, Brazilian citizens holding ordinary passports have been able to enter China without a visa for stays of up to 30 days, including for tourism, business, family visits, exchanges, or transit.
Visa exemption announced at the 10th Tourism Fair
The announcement was made on May 7, 2026, by acting President Geraldo Alckmin, alongside Brazil’s Minister of Tourism Gustavo Feliciano, during the 10th Tourism Fair, held in Fortaleza, in the state of Ceará. It followed the formalization of the measure through an exchange of diplomatic notes between Brazil and China, confirming the reciprocal application of visa exemptions for short stays.
For Brasília, the visa exemption is not only a matter of diplomatic reciprocity with Beijing. It also reflects Brazil’s effort to strengthen its position in the Chinese market, considered one of the most promising segments of international tourism.
According to figures cited by Brazil’s Ministry of Tourism, Brazil welcomed 26,401 Chinese tourists between January and March 2026, up 30.5% from the same period a year earlier. In 2025, more than 103,000 Chinese visitors traveled to the country, an increase of 35% compared with 2024.
In this context, Gustavo Feliciano presented the visa exemption as a tool to strengthen ties between the two countries and support Brazil’s tourism sector.
“President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is working to strengthen Brazil’s relationship with China and expand our country’s presence on the international stage. Brazil is ready to welcome more and more Chinese visitors, offering them authentic experiences, unique natural attractions and a qualified tourism network. The visa exemption strengthens ties between our two countries and opens up new opportunities for tourism and business,” the tourism minister said.
Brazil is also preparing its tourism sector
Brazil’s Ministry of Tourism says it is stepping up efforts to better prepare the domestic market to welcome Chinese visitors.
Among the initiatives highlighted is the Approved Destination Status, or ADS, program, which accredits agencies qualified to receive groups of Chinese tourists in Brazil. So far, 325 agencies registered with Cadastur are authorized to provide this specialized support.
Brazilian authorities also say they are working on professional training, safety, comfort, adapting services to the expectations of Chinese travelers, and improving air connectivity between the two countries.
These measures are intended to support the growth of the Chinese market as Brazil seeks to convert rising interest in the destination into actual arrivals.
A favorable backdrop for international tourism in Brazil
At this stage, the visa exemption for Chinese citizens is not being presented as permanent. It is scheduled to take effect on May 11, 2026, and remain applicable until December 31, 2026, the current end date of China’s visa exemption policy for Brazilian nationals.
The decision comes as international tourism in Brazil continues to grow strongly. In 2025, the country recorded a new high for foreign visitor arrivals, with more than 9.2 million international tourists.
The Brazilian government hopes the visa exemption granted to Chinese travelers will help further boost arrivals, while also encouraging investment, job creation, and the development of international tourism in the country.
What travelers need to know
- Starting May 11, 2026, Chinese citizens holding a valid ordinary passport will be able to travel to Brazil without a visa for stays of up to 30 days.
- The exemption will apply in particular to tourism, business, transit, cultural or sports activities, events, and family visits. At this stage, it will remain valid until December 31, 2026.
- The measure is being adopted on a reciprocal basis, following China’s visa exemption for Brazilian travelers. It also comes amid a sharp rise in Chinese arrivals to Brazil and efforts by the country’s tourism sector to prepare for this market.
