The Mercosur Agreement is an economic and political agreement between several Latin American countries. The agreement affords nationals of Mercosur member states separate immigration processes than foreign nationals from outside the Mercosur.

The Mercosur Member States

Several countries are political and economic members of the Mercosur Agreement. However for immigration purposes, we will focus on the “Residence” section of the agreement. The Residence Agreement is applicable for Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, Chile, Peru, Colombia and Ecuador.

Assessing Travel and Visa Obligations

Each of the Mercosur member states remains sovereign, and the specific rules that allow foreign nationals to enter a specific country vary from one member state to another. Nationals of Mercosur member states are generally allowed visa-waivered entry to other Mercosur member states.

For non-Mercosur nationals, visa requirements and reciprocity fee requirements are determined by nationality and differ significantly from one member state to another. For example, if you are a US national, you do not need a visa for Chile, but you do require a visa for Brazil.

How long can I stay in the Mercosur Area?

The immigration regulations of each Mercosur country will determine the duration of time non-Mercosur nationals are allowed to remain in-country.

Working under The Mercosur Agreement

The member states of the Mercosur remain sovereign, and the specific rules regarding working in a specific country vary considerably. Mercosur nationals, from countries that are part of the residence agreement, seeking work and residence in other Mercosur member states that are part of the residence agreement, are generally eligible for a shortened work and residence permit processing procedure. In many cases, Mercosur nationals do not require sponsorship from an employer. Not all Mercosur member states offer a special Mercosur work and residence process, and currently a special Mercosur Residence process is offered by Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Uruguay.

Copyright © 2016 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. Government immigration agencies often change their policies and practices without notice; please consult an immigration professional for up-to-date information. This document does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. BAL maintains comprehensive immigration information and processing specifics for our clients.