South Africa: Brazil has recently imposed restrictions over numerous African and other countries, but South Africa is not included in the list. The restrictions have been imposed majorly over African and Asian nations.
However, South Africa, with all its passport troubles, has not been included in Brazil’s visa restrictions.
Reportedly, South Africa and Botswana were recently removed from Ireland’s visa-free list of nations. The main reason was to increase the numbers of travellers that were allegedly entering Ireland with South African passports.
Another reason was that, Ireland could align its entry requirements with those of the United Kingdom and Europe.
The new visa restrictions imposed by Brazil, also include countries which speak Portuguese language. As per the new visa restrictions citizens of Angola, Mozambique and Guinea-Bissau now need visas to enter Brazil. The restrictions came into effective from August 26, 2024.
Angola, Mozambique and Guinea-Bissau are the countries which speak Portuguese, alike Brazil. These nations indeed belong to the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLC), which is an international organisation and political association of Lusophone nations across five continents, where Portuguese is an official language.
Infact, Brazil allows unrestricted entry to few SADC nations, which include Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Seychelles.
Notably, passport holders from Angola, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe must obtain visas to enter into Brazil.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) is a regional economic community comprising of 16 Member States, which include Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
As per the sources, the visa requirements were implemented to prevent migrants from various countries using Brazil to reach countries such as the United States and Canada, where they seek asylum. Whereas, according to a report by the Federal Police found that the majority of immigrants who request asylum do not have justification for refugee status.
The document presented, showed that more than 70% of the requests for asylum, that were made at airports, came from people of Indian, Nepalese or Vietnamese nationality. While, Somalia, Cameroon, Ghana and Ethiopia are among the remaining 30% of asylum applicants.
According to a report by the Federal Police, many foreigners have traveled to Brazil-en-route to other countries. They cross the border in Peru, continuing their way through Latin America until they reach the United States or Canada.
Brazil has implemented these visa restrictions as a result of allegations that has been used as a human trafficking route by criminal organisations.