South American and Mercosur Passports: A Strength That Few Pay Attention To

Quick Summary: The Brazilian passport (152 points) and Argentine passport (151 points) rank 12th and 13th according to QuocTich.com data, on par with Hong Kong and above Israel. Their greatest strength is Europe: they can enter all 46 European countries without a visa, including Russia. Their weakness lies with the United States, Canada, and China — where they still require a visa like many mid-tier passports.

Ask someone from abroad which South American passport is the strongest, and the answer is often a shrug. South America conjures images of distance, economic instability, and few think about passport strength.

But the numbers tell a different story. The Brazilian passport enters Europe more comfortably than even the German passport: 46 out of 46 European countries, while the German passport can enter 44. The difference comes from Russia and Belarus, two places where Germans need a visa but Brazilians do not.

This article reads the data table according to QuocTich.com, updated 09/2026, to show where South American passports are strong, where they are weak, and what the Mercosur bloc actually offers its citizens that the score alone cannot reveal.

South American Passport Rankings 2026

"Points" are the number of destinations you can enter without requiring a visa in advance — including visa-free, visa-on-arrival, and ETA. E-visas do not count. The detailed calculation method is on the page how visa-free access is calculated.

For comparison: Vietnam 52 points, rank 74. The complete ranking of 199 passports is available on the passport index page.

Looking at the table, one thing stands out: the upper half of South America (Brazil, Argentina, Chile) sits just below the group of developed European and Asian nations. The lower half (Ecuador, Bolivia, Suriname) drops to around the middle of the global ranking. The gap within a single continent reaches 80 points.

Where South American Passports Are Strong: Europe Is Home Turf

Breaking down each passport's points by continent reveals where real strength lies.

The Europe column is the most noteworthy. Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay all score 46/46 — meaning they can enter the entire Schengen area, the UK (via ETA), Balkan countries, and Russia and Belarus. Very few passports in the world cover Europe as comprehensively.

Bolivia is a major exception: only 1 European country. Ecuador also requires a Schengen visa. These two passports drag down the regional average.

Details for each destination can be found on the Argentina visa-free destinations page.

And Where They Are Weak: The US, Canada, China

On the flip side, South American passports face challenges in exactly the places most travelers prioritize.

Chile is the only South American passport in this table that can enter the US via ETA (meaning it is part of the US Visa Waiver Program). Brazil and Argentina, despite scoring higher than Chile, still require a US visa interview. You can check this immediately with Brazil US visa verification.

Regarding China: Beijing has periodically opened temporary visa-free windows for select South American countries. Our current data records these passports as requiring a visa. This type of unilateral policy can change within months, so check before traveling and do not rely on outdated articles.

What Does Mercosur Offer Its Citizens That Passport Points Don't Show?

Passport points only measure short-term travel access. The greater value of the Mercosur bloc lies in the right to live and work between member countries.

The Mercosur Residency Agreement. Citizens of member states and most associate member countries can apply for temporary residency in other countries within the bloc based primarily on citizenship and a clean background, without needing to prove employment or investment. After the temporary residency period expires (typically two years), they can transition to permanent residency.

Border crossing with identity cards. Within the region, citizens of many South American countries can cross borders with just an ID card. The table above shows Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay offer visa-free access to each other and to nearly all other South American countries.

In other words, an Argentine passport is not just "151 points." It is also the right to settle and live in Brazil, Chile, Uruguay without any other visa requirements. For a family conducting business in the region, this has a value no ranking table can measure.

Do Vietnamese Citizens Have a Path to a South American Passport?

There is no quick route. This is something we want to say directly because the market is beginning to make overtures.

• Argentina amended its citizenship law in 2025, tightening continuous residency requirements and opening the possibility of citizenship consideration for major investors. The details and risks were analyzed in the article Argentina to open investment citizenship program. As of writing, there is no stable operational process we can recommend for Vietnamese applicants.
• Brazil offers citizenship through residency; the timeframe can be shortened if you have a Brazilian spouse or child. Brazil has an investor residency visa, but the path from a residency card to a passport is long and requires Portuguese proficiency.
• Paraguay and Uruguay have relatively open residency pathways. But residency does not equal citizenship: the naturalization requirements, proof of actual presence, and how each country records naturalization on the passport all require careful review.

Generally speaking, a South American passport is a destination for those genuinely relocating to live there, not a ready-made product to purchase. If you need a second passport quickly for travel, you should look at programs offering investment citizenship that are currently open.

Risks You Should Know About

Economics and Currency. Argentina has a history of high inflation and currency controls during various periods. Assets placed there to meet residency requirements face currency exposure risk. We do not advise on investments or taxes; if the asset amount is substantial, you need a financial expert on the ground.

Dual Citizenship with Vietnam. Whether you can retain Vietnamese citizenship when acquiring citizenship in another country is governed by Vietnamese law, and the other country's law must also permit dual citizenship. You must check both sides before spending years on residency.

Language and Integration. Spanish or Portuguese is essential for daily life and often required in naturalization procedures. A family unwilling to learn the language will find this path nearly impossible.

Policies Change Quickly. Both naturalization policies and unilateral visa-free access from third countries (such as China) can change within months. All figures in this article are tied to the 09/2026 update.

Compared Side-by-Side with Caribbean Passports: Choose Based on Where You Need to Go

People often ask: Brazil is 152 points, Grenada is 146 points — why not choose South America? The answer lies in two places. First, a Grenada passport can be obtained through an investment program in a matter of months, while Brazil requires many years of residency. Second, the Grenada passport offers visa-free access to China and an E-2 treaty with the US — two things the Brazilian passport does not have.

To compare two passports destination by destination, use passport comparison. If you hold a Vietnamese passport and want to know what additional doors a South American passport opens, use passport combination — the article adding two nationalities: how many countries can you visit explains how to read those results.

Checklist When Considering a South American Passport

• [ ] Will your family actually live in South America for many years?
• [ ] Is the region you need most Europe (a strength) or the US, Canada, and China (weaknesses)?
• [ ] Does that country permit dual citizenship, and will Vietnam allow you to retain citizenship in this situation?
• [ ] What is the physical presence requirement each year to maintain residency?
• [ ] Is anyone in your family willing to learn Spanish or Portuguese?
• [ ] What currency risk do assets placed there face?

Next Steps

List your five most important travel destinations, then check each one against the South American passport you are considering. If your list is mostly European countries, a South American passport is a surprisingly strong choice — but it is the choice of someone relocating to live there. If your list includes the US or China, compare it side-by-side with Caribbean programs before deciding.