Brazil is witnessing a significant boost in international tourism following the introduction of visa-free entry for Chinese travellers, a move that is reshaping long-haul travel demand and strengthening tourism ties between the two countries.
The policy, officially confirmed in late January, allows holders of ordinary Chinese passports to enter Brazil without a visa, removing one of the biggest barriers for travellers from the world’s largest outbound tourism market. The decision follows the earlier rollout of Brazil’s electronic visa system and marks a strategic shift aimed at expanding long-haul connectivity and global visitor flows.
The impact has been immediate. In the first half of 2025, Brazil recorded approximately 58,000 visitors from China, representing a 40% year-on-year growth. This follows 76,000 Chinese arrivals in 2024, and current trends indicate that 2025 figures could surpass all previous records.
Tourism performance overall is also on a strong upward trajectory. Between January and July 2025, Brazil welcomed nearly 6 million international visitors, already approaching the total of 6.7 million recorded in all of 2024. Tourism revenue during this period reached around USD 7.3 billion, underlining the sector’s growing economic importance.
The visa-free move is part of a broader bilateral travel strategy. Since June 2025, Brazilian passport holders have also been granted visa-free access to China for stays of up to 30 days, while both countries extended tourist and business visa validity from five to ten years, reinforcing long-term travel cooperation.
Travel platform data shows rising interest, with flight searches between Brazil and China increasing by over 80% in late 2025. While connectivity challenges remain due to limited direct routes and long transit times, the surge in demand highlights strong market potential.
With China projected to generate nearly 200 million outbound trips annually by the end of the decade, Brazil’s visa-free policy positions the country to capture a growing share of long-haul travellers, strengthening its global tourism footprint and economic prospects.
