Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announced on January 23 that China’s ordinary passport holders will be granted visa-free entry to Brazil.

This development has been anticipated for some time as Brazil had been moving toward simplifying its visa processes, launching an electronic visa system earlier this year. The announcement quickly gained traction on social media.

Debate has focused on practical concerns for travelers, including cumbersome transit routes, prolonged travel durations, high airfare, and safety — which many view as significant hurdles to traveling to Brazil.

Statistics indicate that Brazil is actively promoting its tourism sector, having received around 6 million international visitors from January to July 2025, nearing the record of 6.7 million set in 2024, and generating $7.3 billion in tourism revenue.

Visitor growth from China is particularly impressive; Brazil welcomed 76,000 Chinese tourists in 2024, with the first half of 2025 seeing arrivals of 58,000 — a 40% increase compared to the same timeframe the previous year.

Since June 1, 2025, Brazilian citizens have also benefited from visa-free access to China for up to 30 days. The two countries have also extended the validity period of ordinary passport tourist and business visas from five to ten years.

Furthermore, data from Decolar highlights a significant uptick in flight search volumes from Brazil to China in the latter half of 2025, increasing by 85% from the previous year. October marked the peak in searches, coinciding with China’s National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays.

Marcelo Freixo of Embratur noted, “China is the world’s largest outbound tourism market. By 2028, outbound trips are expected to reach 200 million. There is no reason for us not to expand into this market.”
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