Riviera Maya, Q.R. — As of February 2026, Mexico will again issue electronic visas to visiting Brazilians. The announcement was made following repeated requests from the hotel industry who cited millions in losses due to the government red tape.
The Mexican government finally authorized (again) the issuance of e-visas for Brazilian citizens starting February 5, 2026. Until then, Brazilians wishing to travel to Mexico will still be required to apply for a visa in person at the Mexican consulates or the Mexican embassy in Brazil.
Mexican Caribbean hotels say the current process, which is inconvenient, has generated losses in excess of $400 million due to the collapse of that market and the cancellation of direct flights between Brazil and Cancun.
Rodrigo de la Peña, President of the Cancun, Puerto Morelos, Isla Mujeres Hotel Association, says the e-visa is something that not only the Association had consistently requested, but also the Quintana Roo Tourism Secretariat and hotels across Riviera Maya.
According to de la Peña, Quintana Roo is a highly relevant tourist destination to that South American market, a destination that was experiencing significant growth before the visa was implemented in December of 2021. Before then, Brazil travelers enjoyed a visa exemption to visit Mexico.
The State Secretary of Tourism, Bernardo Cueto Riestra, announced that after confirming the issuance of the electronic visa for Brazil travelers next year, the state will work to recover lost flights to aid in market recovery.
Cueto Riestra agrees that the Brazilian market is very important for Quintana Roo and is one that declined with the imposition of in-person visa applications.
“Brazil once ranked among the top five in tourist arrivals to Quintana Roo, exceeding 500,000 visitors a year. We are going to try to recover that number and even increase it,” he said.
Brazilian travelers who do arrive in Quintana Roo land at Cancun International via a Copa Airlines flight through Panama. Cueto Riestra says they will work to provide better connectivity and growth for the South American market.
Mexico began requesting a travel visa from Brazil nationals in December of 2021, requiring an electronic authorization. However, on August 18, 2022, Mexico suspended the electronic issuance of visas and began requiring consular-issued visas on the grounds of combating human trafficking.
