May 2026 Outbound Immigration and Global Mobility Recap | Americas

Clark Hill’s Outbound Immigration & Global Mobility practice guides corporate clients and individuals through complex global immigration challenges worldwide.  We pride ourselves on creative, compliant and people-centered solutions – looking at global mobility from a wholistic perspective in an ever-changing immigration environment. Our team assists with short-term assignments, long-term relocations, consular processing, document procurement, document legalizations/apostilles, and business visas in 100+ countries worldwide.

Below is an overview of the major updates from May 2026 in the Americas region.

Brazil

Brazil Implements Temporary Visa-Free Entry for Chinese Nationals

Effective May 11, 2026 through December 31, 2026, Chinese nationals holding valid, non-diplomatic passports may enter Brazil without a visa for short-term stays of up to 30 days.

This temporary visa waiver applies to eligible travel for tourism, business, transit and certain non-remunerated artistic, sports, and short-term technical activities.

The visa-free entry is not extendable, and travelers seeking to work, study, or remain in Brazil beyond the permitted 30-day period must obtain the appropriate visa or residence authorization prior to travel. Employers should continue to assess the purpose of travel carefully to confirm whether the planned activities fall within the visa-free category.

Cayman Islands

Cayman Islands Implements Immigration Reforms Tightening Hiring, Mobility and Compliance Rules

The Cayman Islands implemented amendments to its immigration framework, introducing stricter rules for foreign worker hiring, job mobility and employer compliance.

Key changes include restrictions on first-time work permit holders changing employers during their first two years in the Cayman Islands, tighter limits on the use of Temporary Work Permits for genuine short-term assignments rather than interim “bridging” work authorization and increased financial thresholds for sponsoring dependents.

The reform also introduces strengthened administrative requirements, updated fee structures, and clear employer obligations intended to support compliance and labor market protections.

Employers should review hiring timelines, workforce planning, and internal tracking processes to ensure work permit filings, renewals, dependent sponsorships, and reporting obligations are managed in line with the new rules.

Mexico

Mexico Expands Requirements for Residence Visa Applications

Mexico has implemented expanded documentary and compliance requirements for residence visa applications, including Temporary Residence Visas based on an offer of employment.

The updated rules require more detailed employment offer letters, including information regarding the foreign national’s role, duties, work location, project scope, and business justification for the assignment. Mexican authorities may also apply closer scrutiny to the applicant’s professional background, credentials, and technical experience, as well as the sponsoring employer’s compliance standing and supporting documentation. Employers should plan for increased preparation time and ensure that visa filings are supported by detailed, consistent, and well-documented evidence before submission.

Paraguay

Paraguay Launches Investor Pass Expanding Permanent Residence Options

Paraguay has introduced a new Investor Pass program, Resolution No. 0283/2026, expanding permanent residence options for qualifying foreign investors.

The program allows eligible applicants to obtain permanent residence directly, without first completing a temporary residence stage, through several investment routes, including qualifying business, stock market, real estate, and tourism-related investments.

Investment thresholds vary by category and include options starting at $70,000 USD for certain business investments requiring job creation, $150,000 USD for tourism investments, and $200,000 USD for qualifying stock market or real estate investments.

Successful applicants are granted permanent residence, which includes authorization to work and conduct lawful business activities in Paraguay. Applicants should carefully assess eligibility, investment structure, and documentation requirements before filing, as authorities are expected to review sources of funds and investment compliance closely.

For additional information, please contact the Americas Immigration team at Americas@ClarkHill.com.

For further information on any of the updates in this bulletin, reach out to one of the members of our Outbound Immigration & Global Mobility team.

To view May’s updates for the EMEA and APAC regions, click the respective region.

This publication is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or a solicitation to provide legal services. The information in this publication is not intended to create, and receipt of it does not constitute, a lawyer-client relationship. Readers should not act upon this information without seeking professional legal counsel. The views and opinions expressed herein represent those of the individual author only and are not necessarily the views of Clark Hill PLC. Although we attempt to ensure that postings on our website are complete, accurate, and up to date, we assume no responsibility for their completeness, accuracy, or timeliness.