Beginning this week, Brazilians and Chinese will be able to obtain tourist and business visas with a 10-year duration to visit each other's countries.

The agreement to extend the visa duration for Brazilian and Chinese citizens was signed during Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's trip to Brazil in January. Now, tourist and business visas will be issued for 10 years, doubling the previous duration. However, travelers will still need to appear in person at the respective consulates to apply.
"This measure was greatly championed by Brazilian entrepreneurs and is an agenda item that Brazilian entrepreneurs had been requesting for some time. The reason is that going to China and coming back, facing this bureaucratic hurdle, often discourages Brazilians' interest in being there. So, this measure will, without a doubt, increase the presence of Brazilians at major fairs," said Gustavo Guedes Barbosa, legal coordinator of Brazil-China Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
China is Brazil's main trading partner, and Chinese investment in Brazil is increasing. As business ties between Brazil and China deepen, the need to facilitate travel between these countries grows.
Among the Chinese companies welcoming the change is Great Wall Motors, which already sells electric vehicles imported from China and is slated to open a manufacturing plant in the country this spring.
"It's great news because it reduces bureaucracy. Extending the validity of the visa from 5 to 10 years will help a lot to save time and bring more people to help the Brazilian staff prepare the new plant and this new operation that GWM is installing in Brazil. The idea is to combine the expertise of the engineers in China with the Brazilian engineers," said Thiago Sugahara, director of ABVE and ESG manager at Chinese carmaker Great Wall Motors’ Brazilian subsidiary.
The hope is that more flexible visas will also encourage tourism between Brazil and China, offering additional avenues for cultural exchange.
"In China, we have so many, many businesses growing. This is very good. And the opportunities are not only for businessmen but also for families, for business and friends, because when you have a relation, it opens more opportunities," said Sokan Kato Young, president of Chinatur.
Despite being on opposite sides of the world, measures like expanded visas can only help bring these two nations closer together.