Until recently, almost every Chinese citizen needed a visa in advance to visit Brazil for tourism or business. That changed in 2026: from March Brazil opened its electronic visitor visa to Chinese citizens, and from 11 May it began a short-term visa waiver for Chinese ordinary passport holders. The waiver only covers short visits, though. Work, study, family reunion and long-term residence still require the right visa or residence permit.
This guide follows the situations Chinese citizens meet most often: the types of Brazilian visa, how to apply, document checklists, fees and processing times, where to apply in China, common reasons for refusal, and the path from a visa to permanent residence and citizenship. Visa policy changes quickly. The information below is current as of October 2026, so always check the latest notices from Brazil’s embassy and consulates in China before you apply.
Do Chinese citizens need a visa for Brazil?
According to a notice from the Chinese Embassy in Brazil dated 10 May 2026, from 11 May to 31 December 2026 Chinese citizens holding ordinary passports can enter Brazil visa-free for tourism, business, transit, and artistic or sporting activities. Multiple entries are allowed, the total stay may not exceed 30 days, and it cannot be extended. Official, diplomatic and travel documents are not covered. The legal basis is an exchange of notes completed on 22 April and 1 May 2026 (published in the Brazilian foreign ministry’s Concórdia treaty database): Chinese citizens with valid ordinary passports travelling for these purposes are exempt from the visitor visa for stays of up to 30 days, which cannot be extended.
Points to note:
- No work: the waiver does not allow paid work, study or long-term residence;
- Passport validity: your passport should be valid for more than 6 months;
- Border checks: Brazilian officers may ask for hotel bookings, meeting or event invitations and a return ticket; admission is at their discretion;
- Temporary measure: this is a reciprocal, temporary arrangement (China has waived visas for Brazilians since 1 June 2025). Whether it continues into 2027 depends on official announcements.
For tourism or business stays longer than 30 days, apply for an electronic visitor visa (open to Chinese citizens since March 2026) or a paper visitor visa through the consulates.
Types of Brazilian visa
Brazil’s Migration Law (Lei 13.445/2017) divides visas into visitor visas and temporary visas (VITEM), among others. The types Chinese citizens use most are:
| Type | For whom | Length of stay | Fee | Where to apply |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Short-term visa waiver | Tourism, business, transit, arts/sports | 30 days in total, no extension | Free | No application, enter directly |
| Electronic visitor visa (eVisa) | Tourism, business, family visits over 30 days | Up to 90 days per entry, 180 days a year | About US$93 | Brazil’s official eVisa platform |
| Visitor visa (paper) | As above, or if you can’t apply online | As above | See consular fee table | Brazilian embassy/consulates in China (via VFS centres) |
| VITEM V Work | Employees of Brazilian companies | Usually about 2 years initially | See consular fee table | Employer obtains residence authorisation, then consulate |
| VITEM IV Study | Degrees, language courses, exchanges | One year, renewable | See consular fee table | Consulate |
| VITEM XI Family reunion | Relatives of Brazilian citizens or residents | Linked to sponsor’s residence | See consular fee table | Consulate |
| VITEM IX Investment | Company or property investors | Company: long-term; property: about 4 years initially | See consular fee table | Consulate or in Brazil |
| VITEM XIV Digital nomad | Remote workers for foreign employers | One year, renewable once | See consular fee table | Consulate |
How to apply for a short-term visa
Using the electronic visitor visa as an example (the paper visitor visa is similar, except you book an appointment and submit at a visa centre):
- Check whether you need a visaStays of up to 30 days for tourism or business are visa-free; apply only for longer stays
- Prepare documentsScans of your passport, a photo, itinerary, proof of funds and employment
- Fill in the form and payRegister on Brazil’s official eVisa platform, complete the application and pay online
- Wait for a decisionAbout 10 working days on average; apply at least one month before travel
- Print the visaThe approved eVisa arrives by email as a PDF; show a printout when boarding and on arrival
Apply only through the Brazilian government’s official platform or the visa centres authorised by Brazil’s missions in China. Many look-alike “Brazil eVisa” websites charge high service fees or harvest passport data.
Document checklist
Requirements differ by category; the list published by the consulate or the eVisa platform is final. A visitor visa usually needs:
- a passport valid for at least 6 months with at least two blank pages;
- a recent photo on a white background;
- a completed application form;
- return flight and hotel bookings or a detailed itinerary;
- 3–6 months of bank statements or other proof of funds;
- an employment letter, business licence or student certificate (retirees: proof of retirement);
- for business trips, an invitation from a Brazilian company; for family visits, the host’s ID and proof of relationship.
Long-stay visas usually also require a police clearance certificate and legalised birth or marriage documents. For how to get a police certificate in China, see our police clearance certificate guide. China has joined the Hague Apostille Convention, so notarised documents usually just need an apostille; see our apostille guide. Documents not in Portuguese usually need translation as well.
Fees and processing times
According to a March 2026 alert from the law firm Fragomen, the electronic visitor visa for Chinese citizens costs about US$93, the same as the consular visitor visa, and takes about 10 working days on average. Note, however, that an EY alert from the same month says the eVisa for mainland Chinese citizens currently covers only attending events or exhibitions, with a validity of five or ten years. Since the advisers disagree, check the eligible purposes on Brazil’s official eVisa platform before applying. Paper applications through VFS centres also carry a service fee plus optional extras such as courier return and SMS updates. Work, investment and other temporary visas involve, on top of the visa fee, residence authorisation and registration fees in Brazil.
Brazil’s embassy in Beijing publishes a consular fee table that may be adjusted with exchange rates. In peak seasons (Chinese New Year, summer holidays, around Brazil’s Carnival) start at least one month ahead.
Work and long-stay visas
The main route to working legally in Brazil is the VITEM V work visa. Typically your Brazilian employer first applies to the Brazilian authorities for your residence authorisation; once approved, you apply for the visa at a Brazilian mission in China, and after arrival you register with the Federal Police (Polícia Federal) and receive your foreigner ID card (CRNM).
Staff posted by Chinese companies, technicians and executives are usually handled by the company’s HR team or a law firm. Your role, education and experience must match the category, and degree certificates often need legalisation and translation. For job channels and employment contracts, see our Brazil work and jobs guide.
Student visas
To study for a degree, a language course or an exchange in Brazil, you need a VITEM IV student visa. You usually need an admission or enrolment letter from a Brazilian institution, proof of funds, a police certificate and health insurance. Student visas are generally renewed yearly and cannot be converted directly into permanent residence. Brazilian public universities charge no tuition, but admission requires Portuguese and is highly competitive.
Family reunion
Spouses, partners, children and parents of Brazilian citizens or legal residents can apply for the VITEM XI family reunion visa. The core documents prove the relationship: marriage certificate, birth certificate or notarised kinship certificate. These must be notarised and apostilled in China, then given a sworn translation in Brazil. Note that people who hold residence through family reunion generally cannot themselves sponsor other relatives.
Investment, digital nomad and retirement visas
- Investment (VITEM IX): invest at least R$500,000 in a Brazilian company (R$150,000 for innovation or research projects) with a business plan, or buy property worth at least R$1 million (R$700,000 in the North and Northeast), with an initial residence of about 4 years. For the practicalities, see buying property in Brazil.
- Digital nomad (VITEM XIV): under CNIg Resolution 45/2021, show foreign-sourced income of at least US$1,500 a month or bank funds of at least US$18,000; one year, renewable once.
- Retirement: show a stable income of at least US$2,000 a month (mainly pension, which may be topped up with rent or investment income); initial residence about 2 years.
Unlike some European countries that have tightened investor routes (Spain abolished its “golden visa” on 3 April 2025), Brazil’s investment residence remains open, but thresholds are in reais, so exchange-rate moves affect the real cost.
Where to apply in China
Brazil has an embassy in Beijing and consulates general in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong. Since 10 November 2025, appointments and document submission for Brazilian visas have been handled by VFS Global at visa application centres in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu. The centres only handle administration; the decision rests with Brazil’s missions. According to VFS, Chinese citizens file more than 75,000 Brazilian visa applications a year.
Each mission covers its own consular district, so choose the centre that matches your hukou or place of residence, and follow the VFS Global announcement on Brazil visa services in China.
Common refusal reasons and tips
- Weak or irregular proof of funds: large last-minute deposits, or balances that don’t match the trip;
- Unclear purpose: itinerary, invitation and visa category don’t match, e.g. applying as a tourist but actually going to work;
- Incomplete or unlegalised documents: long-stay documents missing notarisation, apostille or translation;
- Passport problems: insufficient validity, damage, or a record of overstaying. For renewing or replacing a passport, see our passport guide;
- False information: hiding a previous refusal or submitting false documents can bar you from a visa for a long time.
From visa to permanent residence and citizenship
After holding temporary residence for work, investment or retirement for the required period, you can apply to switch to indefinite residence (equivalent to permanent residence). Under Article 65 of the Migration Law, ordinary naturalisation generally requires 4 years of residence in Brazil, the ability to communicate in Portuguese and no criminal record; with a Brazilian child or a Brazilian spouse or partner, among other cases, the residence requirement can drop to 1 year. For conversion rules, see our Brazil residence and permanent residency guide.
Brazil accepts multiple nationality, but China does not recognise dual nationality: a Chinese citizen settled abroad who voluntarily acquires a foreign nationality automatically loses Chinese nationality. See dual nationality and Chinese law.
FAQ
How long can I stay visa-free in Brazil? Can I extend?
Up to 30 days in total, with no extension. If you need longer, get an electronic or paper visitor visa before you travel.
Can I look for work or switch visas after entering visa-free?
You may not work during a visa-free stay. Once you find an employer, they should obtain a residence authorisation under the work visa procedure and you then apply for the visa as required. Do not start work on a visa-free entry.
Do tourist visa documents need translating?
Short-term visitor visas usually accept documents in English; Chinese documents should ideally come with an English translation. Notarised documents for long-stay visas usually need a sworn translation in Brazil.
What else should I prepare before going to Brazil?
Plan your health insurance, currency exchange and getting a CPF tax number after arrival. For the full picture of life in Brazil, read our Brazil guide; to compare with a neighbour, see the Argentina visa guide.
Sources
- 光明网 – 中国驻巴西使馆提醒：巴西对中国公民实行免签政策（2026年5月10日） (accessed October 2026)
- Fragomen – Brazil: Temporary Visa-Free Entry for Chinese Nationals (law firm alert, May 2026) (accessed October 2026)
- Fragomen – Brazil: Electronic Visitor Visa Now Available for Chinese Nationals (law firm alert, March 2026) (accessed October 2026)
- Visas News – Brazil to waive visa requirements for Chinese travelers starting May 11, 2026 (media) (accessed October 2026)
- VFS Global – VFS Global launches Brazil visa services in China (press release, Nov 2025) (accessed October 2026)
- Embaixada do Brasil em Pequim – Novas regras de visto para nacionais chineses (accessed October 2026)
- Planalto – Lei nº 13.445/2017 (Lei de Migração) (accessed October 2026)
- Oliveira Lawyers – Resolução CNIg/MJSP nº 45/2021 (digital nomad), English translation (accessed October 2026)
- IMI Daily – The 7 ways to get residency in Brazil (secondary source) (accessed October 2026)
- Itamaraty (Concórdia) – Entendimento por troca de notas sobre a isenção de vistos, por reciprocidade, a cidadãos chineses (1 May 2026) (accessed October 2026)
- EY – Brazil: electronic visitor visa for nationals of the Chinese Mainland attending events or exhibitions (tax alert, March 2026) (accessed October 2026)
