Mexico Brings Back E-Visas for Brazil, Colombia for World Cup

Quintana Roo, Mexico — In anticipation of hosting over five million tourists during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Mexico’s federal Secretary of Tourism, Josefina Rodríguez Zamora, has announced plans to reinstate electronic visas, specifically targeting travelers from Brazil and Colombia. Both nations are considered key markets due to their high tourism potential and strong football fanbases.

Brazil and Colombia: Critical to Tourism Recovery

David Ortiz Mena, president of the Mexican Caribbean Hotel Council, praised the decision as a necessary step to revive South American visitor numbers. He emphasized the importance of diversifying tourism markets amid challenges with U.S. travelers and unlocking the potential of emerging economies like Brazil and Colombia. Ortiz Mena also acknowledged the efforts of Governor Mara Lezama in addressing migration, tourism, and connectivity issues.

The Impact of Eliminating Electronic Visas

Bernardo Cueto Riestra, Quintana Roo’s Secretary of Tourism, noted that Brazil was the fifth-largest source of tourists for the Mexican Caribbean before the electronic visa was discontinued in 2022. Following the change, Brazilian arrivals dropped from 166,000 in 2019 to 81,000 in 2022. Despite promotional efforts, including a direct flight between Brasilia and Cancún operated by Gol Airlines, Cueto Riestra stressed that reinstating the electronic visa would improve flight frequencies and connectivity.

Millions Lost Due to Decline in Brazilian Tourists

Jesús Almaguer Salazar, former president of the Cancún, Puerto Morelos, and Isla Mujeres Hotel Association, reiterated that the removal of the electronic visa led to a 44% decline in Brazilian tourists, resulting in an estimated annual loss of $400 million.

Colombia Also Faces Setbacks

Recent data from the state tourism office shows Colombia ranks seventh in air arrivals to the Mexican Caribbean between January and April 2025, but with a 45% decrease. Brazil, meanwhile, no longer appears among the top ten source countries for tourists in the region.

Francisco Madrid Flores, director of the Center for Advanced Research in Sustainable Tourism (STARC), explained that Colombia’s decline is not solely due to migration rejections but also stems from media-driven distrust and perceived treatment of travelers.

Urgent Need for Effective Implementation

Cueto Riestra emphasized that the visa strategy must be implemented swiftly and expanded to other strategic countries to capitalize on the global visibility of the 2026 World Cup and revitalize the Mexican Caribbean’s tourism economy.