Brazil Travel Information

Brazil has imposed a temporary entry ban on foreign nationals from countries with ongoing infection, including Norway. The decision is valid for 30 days from Monday 23 March. For more on coronavirus and entry/exit, see Health. According to Abbreviationfinder, BRA stands for Brazil in geography.

Safety

Most Norwegian travelers have a hassle-free stay in Brazil. However, due to high crime rates, especially in large cities, it is important to take precautions on the journey.

Norwegian citizens are encouraged to have valid travel insurance.

Norway has an embassy in Brazil and a Consulate General in Rio de Janeiro.

Norwegian citizens in the area are encouraged to follow local situation updates and to listen to advice from local authorities.

The state of Cear¨¢ in northeastern Brazil experienced a series of violent attacks from January 2019, resulting in arson, shootings and public property damage. Fortaleza was worst hit, but dozens of places were the subject of a total of over 150 attacks. After several hundred soldiers from the Força Nacional National/Federal Security Force were ordered to Fortaleza, the situation gradually calmed down, and in March the additional security forces were withdrawn.

The acts of violence picked up again in late September, and there have been a number of attacks in the form of fires against cars, buses and buildings both in Fortaleza and elsewhere in Cear¨¢.

  • Countryaah: Brasilia is the capital of Brazil. Check to find information of population, geography, history, and economy about the capital city.

Norwegians who are on holiday in the area are asked to stay informed about the situation through a hotel/travel company and follow the advice of local authorities. Be sure to identify yourself, preferably with a copy of your passport or other photo ID. Be sure to calculate extra time for transportation, due to reduced transportation offers and the risk of unforeseen events.

The Consulate General of Rio de Janeiro has the consular responsibility for the state of Cear¨¢. Norway also has an honorary consul in Fortaleza.

The risk of terrorist incidents in Brazil is considered low. Crime in Brazil is consistently high and great caution should be exercised, especially after dark. Many cities have very high homicide rates in an international context.

Visitors from abroad are often considered a light swap, and may be exposed to pocket theft, purse seeding, robbery. Credit card copying and other credit card fraud are also widespread.

Theft often goes without violence, but it seems that tourists are subjected to serious violence. Perpetrators are often armed and at the same time affected by drugs. Should you be subjected to attempted robbery, it is recommended that you surrender your valuables in a calm manner without providing resistance. For example, it is not uncommon for perpetrators to have multiple aides ready to intervene if a situation escalates. Theft, robbery, robbery, etc. must be reported at the nearest police station. Several cities have their own tourist police, including Natal and Rio de Janeiro.

It is important to be aware of where to store valuables such as money, passports, tickets, cell phones, etc. If possible, the hotel’s safe should be used. It is recommended to bring as little money, jewelry and valuables as possible when traveling in city centers and on the beach. Authorized copy of passport can advantageously be used as a credential for domestic travel, so you do not risk loss of the original passport.

Most major cities have slums, so-called favelas, that tourists should be wary of.

One should be aware that moving into the favelas in Rio de Janeiro can be very unsafe. The security situation is unstable and worsened in September/ October 2017. For example, a Spanish tourist was killed by police in October this year in the largest favela, Rocinha. From time to time, there are direct encounters between police and drug gangs, and between different factions of the drug leagues. This has in some cases resulted in regular shot exchanges.

Kidnappings and abductions occur in Brazil. A special phenomenon is so-called “express kidnappings” which involve short-term kidnapping situations where the victim is often forced to empty his credit card at ATMs or otherwise obtain ransom.

There have been major street demonstrations in a number of Brazilian cities in recent years. These have largely been peaceful, but because of the risk of violence, visitors are advised to stay away from the demonstration area.

Brazil has been progressive in the rights of sexual minorities. However, many Brazilians are very conservative and there are incidents of harassment of sexual minorities, not least outside the major cities.

Brazil has major road safety challenges and it is recommended to exercise great caution both as a road user and pedestrian. The traffic picture is considerably more demanding than we are used to from Norway, and it is often the case that basic traffic rules are not respected. The design of roads and faulty signage can also increase the risk of accidents in some places.

If you rent a car and travel outside cities and towns, it is important to make sure that the next gas station is within reach, possibly with extra fuel. Assault and robbery of parked cars and buses occur, especially at night time.

Safety at sea – both on the rivers and at sea – is generally lower than in Norway. The necessary safety equipment may not be in place.

The extent of the country indicates that there are large local variations in weather and risk of natural disasters. In general, the country is not at all vulnerable. In the event of a natural disaster, it is important to follow directions and recommendations from local authorities.

Destructive hurricanes that can occur in the Caribbean are unknown in Brazil. The southern states may be exposed to cloud pumps, but usually on a smaller scale. There may be a risk of major flooding and landslides after heavy rainy periods, which can cause devastation and personal injury. This risk is found practically all over the country. Drought can occur in several parts of the country, increasing the risk of forest fires. Brazil is not earthquake prone, but minor shaking can occur in some places. The country has no volcanoes. The risk of tsunamis must be considered very low.

Some beaches can have strong waves and strong undercurrents that can endanger the lives of bathers. There have been some cases of shark attacks in Brazil, mainly in the northeastern part of the country.

Local emergency numbers: Police (Pol¨ªcia Militar – Emerg¨¨ncia 24 horas) tel .: 190, Federal Road Police – in case of car accidents and the like (Pol¨ªcia Rodovi¨¢ria Federal) tel.: 191, ambulance (Serviço P¨²blico de Remoção de Doentes – Ambulância) tel: 192, Fire Department (Corpo de Bombeiros) tel.: 193

If you have been exposed to anything criminal during your stay in Brazil, you should contact the police first and foremost. The emergency number for Pol¨ªcia Militar (tel: 190) is operated around the clock and operates in all of Brazil’s states.

In Rio de Janeiro and Natal you should contact the tourist police, see information below.

Rio de Janeiro
Deat – Delegacia Especial De Apoio ao Tourism (24 hour service)
Rua Afrânio de Melo Franco 159
22430-600 Rio de Janeiro – Brazil
Leblon – Rio de Janeiro
Tel: (+5521) 2332-2924/2334-6802

Natal
Delegacia do Turista
Av. Engenheiro Roberto Freire
8790 Praia Shopping
Ponta Negra
Natal
Tel: +55 (84) 3232 7402/3232 7404

Major Landmarks in Brazil

Entry

Please note that entry regulations may change. The Foreign Service is not responsible if the following information on entry regulations or visa requirements is changed at short notice. It is the responsibility of the traveler to ensure that travel documents are valid for entry and to familiarize themselves with the current entry rules for each country.

Norwegians only need a passport for entry to Brazil, and tourists can stay in Brazil for up to 90 days without a visa. Those who want to stay in the country longer than this can apply for an extension with the federal police (Pol¨ªcia Federal), but this is not always granted.

Business people, students who are going to study in Brazil, journalists and artists on assignment in Brazil, as well as adoption parents who are going to pick up children in the country, in principle, need a visa.

If you have more questions about visas, work and residence permits for Norwegians in Brazil, you should first of all contact the Brazilian authorities.

Therefore, if you are in Norway, you should contact the Brazilian Embassy in Oslo.

It is the traveler’s responsibility to ensure that travel documents and any visa are valid.

It is strongly recommended that Norwegians who travel to Brazil and via Brazil to other countries in South America, have a vaccination book/ vaccination card with documentation of yellow fever vaccination, and can show it in passport control. This also applies to travelers to Brazil from other South American countries. See otherwise detailed information about yellow fever from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.

Health

Coronavirus (covid-19): Norwegian travelers should keep abreast of the development of the coronavirus. Feel free to follow local authorities’ advice, guidance and instructions on how to deal with the situation. Information from Brazilian health authorities can be found on the website of the Ministry of Health.

Brazil has imposed a temporary entry ban on foreign nationals from countries with ongoing infection, including Norway. The decision is valid for 30 days from Monday 23 March.

Heavy restrictions have been placed on public transport and the use of Uber, both between the states and between municipalities and in and out of the big cities. The situation is unstable, and the restrictions that now apply can quickly change. It is therefore important to keep track of information from local authorities

The situation is constantly changing, and information from the authorities equally so. It must therefore be expected that new measures and restrictions can be implemented. Travelers from Norway are asked to stay updated.

Travelers planning domestic trips in Brazil are also asked to stay updated on measures and restrictions in the different provinces in addition to national legislation.

You can find more information and guidance from the Norwegian health authorities on the website of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. See also UD’s answers to frequently asked questions about travel and coronavirus.

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For official health professional travel advice see the website of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.

It is recommended to take out travel and health insurance before leaving, partly because the public hospitals in Brazil often have a significantly lower standard than in Norway. However, many private hospitals maintain a standard that is approximately similar to that found in Norwegian public hospitals, sometimes higher.

OBS. In the event of serious injury or if there is a need for transport in an ambulance to an emergency room, it should be noted that all public ambulances are obliged to drive to the nearest public emergency room. Only after treatment at one of the public hospitals that have an emergency room can the injured person be transferred to a private hospital.

The public emergency services are known to be proficient in emergency treatment.

Dengue fever, which is caused by a virus transmitted by mosquito bites, occurs throughout the country with the exception of the two southernmost states. The problem is growing. One cannot vaccinate against dengue fever. It is always recommended that you check the website of the Institute of Public Health for their recommendations well in advance of the trip.

For staying in better hotels in big cities like Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, there is little health risk. If you live in other areas, be careful to protect yourself from dengue fever.

Cases of the Chikunyunga virus have also been confirmed in Brazil and the number of reported cases in the region is increasing.

During 2015, there was a marked increase in cases of zika fever in Brazil, especially in northeastern areas of the country. Zika fever is caused by a virus transmitted by mosquitoes, and the symptoms are usually mild. Along with the outbreak of zika fever, a significant increase in the number of children born with birth defect microcephaly has been observed in several states in Brazil. Although it has not been definitively established that zika fever is the cause of this serious brain injury, the Norwegian Institute of Public Health recommends that pregnant women consider postponing trips to outbreaks. For more information check the website of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.

Yellow fever has been reported in Brazil in both rural and urban areas, especially in the Sao Paulo, Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro provinces. Brazil does not require that travelers from Norway to the country submit an international certificate of yellow fever vaccine. Exceptions to the rule are if you come from certain countries (stopover may be enough), among those from neighboring South American countries where presentation of the certificate of vaccine taken at least ten days in advance may be required. Regardless of this, Brazilian health authorities (and the Public Health Institute) recommend that travelers to Brazil take the vaccine, as large parts of the country are considered as danger areas for getting yellow fever.

Malaria is relatively widespread in the Amazon region, and preventative medicine cannot be bought in Brazil, as the rules are very strict.

There are about 650,000 HIV-infected people in Brazil. Although the authorities pay considerable attention to combating the disease, unprotected and random sex can pose a high risk. The country has a strict law to prevent the sexual exploitation of minors.

Math hygiene is generally at an acceptable level, but the bacterial flora is characterized by climate. Caution should be exercised in serving places, not least outside the cities. Bottled drinking water should be purchased.

When it comes to vaccines and risk of diseases, it is recommended to contact the Norwegian health authorities well in advance of departure to the country.

Practical information

Below you will find information on currency, electricity, credentials, and travel with children in Brazil. Furthermore, you will find information on the use of credit cards, store opening hours, national holidays, time differences to Norway, emergency numbers, and telephone use.

Time differences to Norway are three, four and five hours, depending on the season and time zone.

The power grid consists of both 110 volts and 220 volts with 60 periods (Hz). There are a variety of plugs and the use of an adapter may be necessary.

According to allcitycodes, national phone code is +55.

The Internet domain is.com.br

The currency unit in Brazil is real, (plural reais). One real equals approx. 2.3 kr. (as of May 2018)

Under Brazilian law, you always have to carry some form of identification. Passports are the only valid international identification papers. Norwegian bank card with photo is not accepted as valid identification. To avoid having to carry your passport with you everywhere, a solution may be to make a copy of the passport, and then have the copy stamped by a public body.

When traveling in Brazil with children under the age of 12, where not both parents/guardians travel with the child, a consent declaration approved by the Brazilian authorities is required. For children under 18 years of Brazilian citizenship, a declaration of consent is also required to leave Brazil when not both parents/guardians are on the trip. Contact the Brazilian Embassy in Oslo for a declaration form and more information.

Use of the most famous credit cards such as Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Diners is widespread and growing. In some places outside the cities, ATMs can be difficult to find. Some ATMs also do not accept international cards.

Normal opening hours – Bank: 10am to 4pm. Many ATMs are open 24 hours, but this varies. Shop: 9am to 6pm or 7pm. The grocery stores are open longer, many are open 24 hours a day throughout the week. Shopping center: 9am to 10pm. On Sundays open from 2pm to 10pm, but not all stores at the centers are open. Local variations occur.

National holidays are January 1, three days in conjunction with Carnival, Good Friday, April 21, “Tiradentes” (Liberty Heroes Day), May 1, June 4, “Corpus Cristi”, September 7 (National Day), October 12 (Nossa Senhora Aparecida), November 2 (Finados), November 15 (Republic Day), December 25 (Christmas Day). In addition, there are also local holidays.

The landline network is relatively well developed. Mobile coverage outside the major cities is generally poor. European mobile phones can be used anywhere, preferably in the big cities.

The vast majority of Brazilians have a casual manner. Nevertheless, topless swimming and sunbathing will usually not be accepted. In most places, it is also common for toddlers to wear bathing suits or similar on the beach.

The country’s language is Portuguese, and many feel that they can get some distance with Spanish. It should be noted that English is not widely used, especially outside of tourist places and large cities.

The possession and use of drugs is prohibited. Furthermore, you should be aware that many travel insurance policies do not cover injuries and accidents caused by drug and other substance abuse. The penalty for trafficking is usually from three to 15 years in prison. Brazilian prisons have a standard that is significantly below the Norwegian level, and physical violence from prisoners occurs.

Never bring luggage, packages or gifts for others. Pack yourself, and know what you bring. Many convicted of drug smuggling abroad say they “just wanted to help someone” they had met along the way, and did not know what they were carrying. Remember that anyone who is taking drugs on them or in their luggage is held accountable. Please note that gifts you receive abroad may contain banned substances. Bring a medical certificate or prescription if you need to travel with medicines containing narcotic or other prohibited substances.

The driving limit for driving is 0.0. In order for foreign nationals to drive in Brazil, they must carry an international driver’s license. Norwegian tourists who only have a Norwegian driver’s license may experience problems as a result. Driver’s license is required for all vehicles and the age limit is 18 years.