Beginning on October 23, all Brazilians travelling to Mexico will have to have a visa. The decision was made by the Mexican government.
The visa requirement suspends a bilateral agreement which has been in effect since February 2004. Under that agreement, the only people needing visas were tourists who were going to stay in Mexico more than 180 days, or businessmen staying over 30 days for the signing of contracts or documents.
Itamaraty did not comment on the decision, calling it a sovereign right of the Mexican government. However, under the rules of reciprocity, Mexicans will now need visas to visit Brazil. Many believe Mexico was pressured by the United States to impose the new measures.
Meanwhile, the Mexican embassy in Brazil denied that Brazilians will be subjected to special rules, such as having to obtain what is known as a “high security” visa which is used to reduce the flow of emigrants to the United States.
A note from the embassy called the measure a step dealing with tourism and commerce, while taking into consideration “the human and economic costs” of the use of the Mexican border for illegal entry into the United States.
ABr