Flávio Bolsonaro’s Passports Cancelled After Failing Deadline

Senator Flávio Bolsonaro fled Brazil after failing to meet a court-ordered deadline to surrender his passports, prompting authorities to cancel his travel documents during an investigation into money laundering and corruption after he failed to comply.

Updated October 29, 2026

Lula secured a historic fourth term with 51.79 per cent of the vote, while Senator Flávio Bolsonaro finished with 48.21 per cent, according to the Tribunal Superior Electoral. Senator Flávio Bolsonaro disappeared from the country as the deadline for his passport surrender expired on Tuesday.

Federal police confirmed the documents were canceled, noting that the senator did not use any regular migration point to depart.

Bolsonaro Secures Entry to the United States

A senior State Department official confirmed that the U.S. government would issue visas to Flavio Bolsonaro and his family and allow them entry into the United States. A Trump adviser confirmed that administration officials knew of the 24-hour surrender deadline and assured the senator he would be granted entry.

President Donald Trump told reporters on Monday that the Brazilian vote looked like another rigged election. Meanwhile, Eduardo Bolsonaro dismissed reports of a secret flight as a “lie” on Tuesday, despite previously telling podcaster Steven Crowder that he supported his brother leaving the country if he lost.

Investigations Into Corruption and Money Laundering

Brazil’s Supreme Court is investigating the senator for alleged corruption, money laundering, and tax evasion. One probe involves accusations that he used a sports betting company to launder fraudulent deductions from government pensions paid to senior citizens.

The Intercept Brasil reported chat logs and audio recordings of the senator negotiating $24 million—and receiving $10 million—from disgraced banker Daniel Vorcaro. Investigators suspect these funds financed Eduardo Bolsonaro’s expenses and promoted Flávio’s political agenda with the Trump administration.

The senator denies all wrongdoing. On Monday, he posted a video to his 16 million Instagram followers claiming he was handed a court order to surrender his passports. I never thought about leaving the country, he told his followers, promising to stay to organize the opposition. By Tuesday, he had abandoned that pledge.

Allies and Rivals React to Departure

The senator’s former campaign manager, Rogerio Marinho, expressed surprise at the sudden exit. Yesterday we talked about the need for Flávio, with the 60 million votes he received, to take on this role as leader of the opposition, Marinho said, noting he was not informed of any plan to flee.

A fellow that secretly leaves his country, that's because he is liable for something, Lula said. Guilherme Castro Boulos criticized the senator for avoiding the judicial process, stating: Leaders face things head-on! Rats run away!

Barry University political science professor Sean Foreman suggested the senator’s presence creates diplomatic complications for the Trump administration, as his failure to surrender his passport could lead to arrest warrants. Some Brazilian passengers at Miami International Airport expressed fears that Brazil could follow the path of Venezuela.

Update (October 29, 2026)

According to the BBC, in his first statement since arriving in Florida, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro denied fleeing Brazil, stating, "I did not flee Brazil; I left for the sake of Brazil." Distributed by right-wing Brazilian influencer Paulo Figueiredo, the statement included thanks to the presidents of Argentina and the U.S., as well as the American public. Bolsonaro claimed he left a "regime of exception" to protect his family and become the leader his people deserve, while repeating unsubstantiated allegations of electoral fraud. U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters on Wednesday, "We gave him a pass to come into the country," and added that he believed Bolsonaro and his family were treated very unfairly. Meanwhile, newly reelected President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva criticized the departure, stating that "those who have nothing to hide have nothing to fear."