Brazil to grant visa-free entry to Chinese citizens under reciprocal travel policy

Brazil has announced plans to introduce visa-free entry for Chinese citizens travelling on short-term visits, marking a new step in strengthening bilateral relations between Brasilia and Beijing. The move comes in response to China’s decision to grant visa-free access to Brazilian nationals, a policy in force since mid-2025 and extended through the end of 2026.

The decision was confirmed by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva during a telephone conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping. According to an official statement, the measure is part of broader efforts to expand cooperation in advanced knowledge sectors and facilitate greater mobility between the two countries. This is reported by Toda Palavra, a partner of TV BRICS.

China’s unilateral visa-free regime already applies to citizens of several South American states, alongside a wide range of Asian countries. The policy allows holders of ordinary passports to enter China for business, tourism, family visits, exchanges or transit for up to 30 days without a visa.

Brazilian authorities noted that reciprocal visa liberalisation is intended to encourage closer people-to-people contact, promote academic and cultural exchanges and support growing economic and technological collaboration between Latin America and Asia.

During the call, the two leaders reviewed progress in bilateral relations following recent high-level engagements and reaffirmed their commitment to advancing a shared development agenda. Discussions highlighted cooperation in infrastructure development, ecological transition and technology, as well as alignment between national development strategies.

The leaders also exchanged views on global affairs, underscoring the importance of multilateralism, international law and open trade.

Brazil’s planned visa waiver for Chinese citizens is expected to further enhance connectivity between the two major emerging economies and reinforce broader South–South cooperation frameworks.

Photo: cacio murilo de vasconcelos / iStock