Brazil Travel Guide

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Passports and Visas

All visitors require passports that are valid for at least the period of intended stay in Brazil. Sufficient funds to cover their stay in Brazil, as well as a return or onward ticket and documentation required for further travel, are necessary for all travelers.

Americans

A valid passport and a visa are required by US nationals; both single and multiple entry visas are available. Visas must be used within 90 days of issuance.

UK Nationals

UK passport holders do not require a visa for either business or holiday travel for stays of up to 90 days from date of issue. A valid passport is required.

Canadians

A valid passport and a visa are required by Canadian nationals; both single and multiple entry visas are available. Visas must be used within 90 days of issuance.

Australians

A valid passport and a visa are required by Australian nationals; both single and multiple entry visas are available. Visas must be used within 90 days of issuance.

South Africans

A valid passport is needed, but no visa is required by South African nationals if traveling on vacation or business for up to 90 days from date of issue.

Irish Nationals

Irish nationals need a valid passport, but do not require a tourist or business visa for stays of up to 90 days from date of issue.

New Zealanders

New Zealanders need a valid passport, but no visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days from date of issue, for tourist or business purposes.

Healthcare

Hepatitis A and B vaccinations are reccommended for all travelers. Mosquito-borne diseases like dengue fever and malaria are prevalent in Brazil. Insect repellent and protective clothing is essential. Malaria exists below 2,953ft (900m) in most rural areas, and outbreaks of dengue fever occur frequently. A yellow fever vaccination is recommended for those traveling to rural areas and other parts of the country as a yellow fever outbreak occurred at the beginning of 2008. Visitors traveling from infected areas outside the country require a yellow fever certificate. Chagas disease, caused by a parasite, is widespread in rural areas of Brazil. Until recently infection was believed to be from insect bites only, but an outbreak in March 2005 caused three deaths in Santa Catarina and was traced to the ingestion of sugar cane juice contaminated with the faeces of vector insects, and further cases were linked to the ingestion of bacaba wine from roadside stalls; visitors are advised to seek medical advice urgently if any of the symptoms occur (fever, nausea, muscle aches and pains and/or swelling at the site of the insect bite). Tap water is heavily treated resulting in a strong chemical taste; bottled water is, however, freely available for drinking purposes. Typhoid vaccinations are reccommended if travelers intend to spend a lot of time outside of major cities. Milk in rural areas is not pasteurized. Travelers are advised to take along medication for travelers' diarrhoea. Hospitals in the major cities are fairly good, but most doctors will want cash payment, even for travelers with insurance.

Safety

Brazil is politically stable with no natural enemies and no terrorist activities. In metropolitan areas, however, petty crime is a fact of life. Rio in particular is regarded as one of the most crime-ridden cities in the world and, although violent crime is generally limited to the slum areas, foreigners are advised to take precautions. Visitors should not attempt to visit slum areas unless on a guided tour. However violent crime is on the increase due to the establishment of drug and criminal gangs around Rio and Sao Paulo. Muggings, often involving firearms, are frequent and visitors should dress down and conceal cameras, and avoid wearing jewelry and expensive watches. Valuables should be deposited in hotel safes. The threat of personal attack is lower outside the main urban centers, but incidents do occur, and women should be aware that sexual assaults have been reported in coastal vacation destinations. Beware of unofficial taxis and those with blacked-out windows and be particularly careful on public transport in Rio, Recife and Salvador. Armed criminals intercepted a taxi carrying foreigners at night from Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport to central Rio in May 2006; incidents like this occur at random along this road, particularly at night.