US to grant visas to Flavio Bolsonaro and family after Brazil poll loss
Synopsis
The US State Department has agreed to let Flavio Bolsonaro and his family into the United States — even as a Brazilian court had reportedly ordered him to surrender his passport and stay in Brazil. With President Lula calling the exit 'shameful' and an active money laundering probe underway, the move puts Washington on a collision course with Brazilian judicial authority.
Key Takeaways
The US State Department confirmed it will issue visas to Flavio Bolsonaro and his family, allowing them to enter the United States .
Brazil's Supreme Federal Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes had reportedly ordered Bolsonaro to surrender his passports and barred him from leaving Brazil as part of a money laundering and illegal foreign exchange investigation.
Bolsonaro and lawyer Willer Tomaz are both under investigation by the Federal Police ; Bolsonaro was also prohibited from contacting Tomaz.
President Lula won the Sunday runoff with 51.79% of valid votes; Bolsonaro received 48.21% .
Flavio Bolsonaro , 45 , is the eldest son of former President Jair Bolsonaro and has been a senator since 2019 .
Lula publicly called Bolsonaro's departure 'shameful' during remarks at Alvorada Palace on his 81st birthday .
The US State Department has confirmed it will issue visas to defeated Brazilian presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro and his family, allowing them to enter the United States, according to reports citing a senior department official. The development comes amid a fast-moving legal and political crisis in Brazil following Sunday's presidential runoff election.
Key Developments
'The State Department will issue visas to Flavio Bolsonaro and his family and allow them entry into the United States,' the senior official was quoted as saying by US media outlets.
Federal lawmaker Mauricio Marcon of the Liberal Party confirmed on Tuesday that Flavio Bolsonaro had already left Brazil and was heading to the United States. His departure came even as Brazil's Supreme Federal Court had reportedly issued a confidential ruling ordering him to surrender his passports to the Federal Police and barring him from leaving the country.
Court Order and Investigation
Supreme Federal Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes reportedly issued the confidential order as part of an ongoing investigation involving Bolsonaro and lawyer Willer Tomaz, according to Brazil's public news agency Agencia Brasil. Both men are under investigation by the Federal Police on suspicion of money laundering and illegal foreign exchange transactions. Moraes also reportedly prohibited Bolsonaro from contacting Tomaz.
Notably, the US visa decision appears to place Washington at odds with an active Brazilian judicial order — a diplomatic tension that has so far gone unaddressed publicly by either government.
Lula's Sharp Rebuke
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva sharply criticised Bolsonaro's departure on Tuesday, calling it 'shameful.' Speaking to supporters gathered outside the Alvorada Palace — the presidential residence in Brasilia — to celebrate his 81st birthday, Lula said: 'I regret that he left Brazil … And his decision to leave Brazil is shameful.'
Lula had won Sunday's runoff with 51.79% of valid votes, per results released by Brazil's Superior Electoral Court, defeating Bolsonaro who received 48.21%.
Who Is Flavio Bolsonaro
Flavio Bolsonaro, 45, is the eldest son of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and has served as a senator since 2019. His departure from Brazil — and the US decision to facilitate his entry — adds a significant international dimension to the post-election tensions in South America's largest democracy.
What Happens Next
Whether Brazilian authorities formally request extradition or seek cooperation from Washington remains to be seen. The episode echoes earlier patterns of political figures seeking refuge abroad following legal jeopardy at home. Brazil-US diplomatic channels will likely face pressure as the investigation involving Bolsonaro and Tomaz proceeds.
Point of View
Echoing past instances where American immigration decisions complicated bilateral judicial cooperation. For Lula, who is navigating a deeply polarised electorate after a razor-thin 51.79% win, the optics of his political adversary finding refuge in the US could inflame domestic tensions further. The question of whether Brazil files a formal extradition request — and how Washington responds — will define the diplomatic temperature between the two largest democracies in the Western Hemisphere in the months ahead.
NationPress
28 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the US granting visas to Flavio Bolsonaro?
The US State Department confirmed it will issue visas to Flavio Bolsonaro and his family and allow their entry into the United States, citing a decision by a senior department official. No detailed public justification has been provided by Washington for the move, which comes despite an active Brazilian court order reportedly barring Bolsonaro from leaving Brazil.
What is the Brazilian court order against Flavio Bolsonaro?
Brazil's Supreme Federal Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes reportedly issued a confidential order requiring Flavio Bolsonaro to surrender his passports to the Federal Police and barring him from leaving Brazil. The ruling is part of an investigation into alleged money laundering and illegal foreign exchange transactions involving Bolsonaro and lawyer Willer Tomaz.
What were the Brazil presidential election results?
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva won the Sunday runoff with 51.79% of valid votes, defeating Flavio Bolsonaro who received 48.21%, according to Brazil's Superior Electoral Court. The result was a narrow but decisive victory for Lula.
Who is Flavio Bolsonaro?
Flavio Bolsonaro, 45, is the eldest son of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and has served as a federal senator since 2019. He stood as the presidential candidate from the Bolsonaro political camp in the 2026 election.
How has President Lula responded to Bolsonaro's departure?
President Lula publicly called Bolsonaro's decision to leave Brazil 'shameful,' saying 'I regret that he left Brazil … And his decision to leave Brazil is shameful.' He made these remarks to supporters gathered at the Alvorada Palace in Brasilia to celebrate his 81st birthday.
