Brazil
Travel restrictions
Effective December 17th 2020, Brazil extended the restrictions on entry of foreigners by land (unless for transit) and sea, for an indefinite period. The entry of foreign visitors traveling by air for a short stay of up to 90 days is currently permitted.
As of April 1st 2022, the government of Brazil announced that, starting immediately, the following entry restrictions apply:
- Fully Vaccinated Travelers aged 12 and over must present proof of COVID-19 Vaccination before boarding, (electronic or printed) to the airline responsible for their flight. The vaccine must be approved by the World Health Organization or by relevant health authorities in the country where the vaccine was administered. Proof of vaccination may be in English, Portuguese, or Spanish, and must include the manufacturer’s name, the lot number, and the date of the dose(s). (Proof of vaccination only in QR-code format or other coded language will not be accepted.) COVID-19 recovery certificates will not be accepted in lieu of proof of full vaccination. To be considered fully vaccinated, the traveler must have received the final dose of the vaccine at least 14 days prior to boarding.
- Unvaccinated Foreign Travelers (non-citizen and non-resident in Brazil) who are exempted to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination must present negative COVID-19 Tests Results as follows. The COVID-19 test must be a laboratory test (RT-PCR) or antigen test for screening for infection by SARS-CoV-2, with a negative/non-reactive result, performed within one day of boarding. The document must be presented in English, Portuguese, or Spanish. The test must be carried out in a laboratory recognized by the health authority of the country of departure. Children under the age of 12 who are traveling with a companion are exempt from presenting a COVID-19 test provided that all companions present the required negative/non-reactive COVID-19 tests.
Note: Travelers who test persistently positive for COVID-19 can enter Brazil but must present the following to the airline before boarding:
- Two COVID-19 RT-PCR tests at least 14 days apart, the most recent performed no more than one day before boarding;
- A medical certificate stating the traveler is asymptomatic and able to travel, including the specific date of travel. The certificate must be in English, Portuguese, or Spanish.
Measures taken by the government
Several state and local governments across Brazil have issued decrees that restrict the movement of people and require the use of facial coverings (masks) to combat the spread of COVID-19.
There is no federally mandated curfew; however some local jurisdictions have and may enact movement restrictions.
Testing
PCR and antigen tests are available for foreigners in Brazil.
Test results are usually available within 72 hours but there is no guarantee that tests or results will be available to meet your departure timing requirements.
In the private healthcare system, there are many private labs that perform COVID-19 testing. Prices vary but COVID-19 tests typically run between $60 and $100.
Turn-around time varies with demand, but usually is around one to three days and is accessible electronically. Express results within 2 hours are available in many locations at an increased fee, including in the Guarulhos International Airport in Sao Paulo.
Testing is available in the private sector without a doctor’s prescription.
In the public healthcare system, each Brazilian state has its own COVID-19 testing plan so it is best to contact local/state authorities for more information. Typically, a COVID-19 test is ordered by an Emergency Room physician and then sent to a public lab. Turnaround time is much slower (can take up to seven days) but is generally free. Some states do free-of-charge drive through testing but this tends to be arranged ahead of time via appointment.
Emergency number (related to COVID-19) while visiting the country
Dial 136 to reach the Ministry Of Health hotline.
Source:
US Embassy in Brazil https://br.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/
Published on August 4th 2022 (checked on August 10th 2022)
For more information please visit our COVID-19 Updates page at https://www.hiddentrails.com/article/covid19update.aspx