Visiting Brazil
- Admission of animals and plants
- Admission of baggage
- Bringing money into Brazil
- Donations
- Entry of goods in Brazil
- Tips for British citizens travelling to Brazil
- Vaccinations
- FAQs
Admission of animals and plants into Brazil
Click here to find information from the Ministry of Agriculture on how to travel with pets to Brazil.
Click here to find information from the Ministry of Agriculture on restrictions on animal and vegetables products.
For further information, please refer to https://www.gov.br/anvisa/pt-br/english.
Baggage allowance into Brazil
Brazilian nationals returning to Brazil after having lived abroad for at least 12 months, as well as foreign nationals holders of a Brazilian Permanent Residence visa are advised to check with "Receita Federal" (Brazilian Revenue and Customs) what are the requirements to be met in order to be exempt from taxation at the airport/port.
One of the requirements issued by the Brazilian Consulate is the 'Certificate of Residence Abroad' (please see Atestado de Residência).
The control of baggage/belongings at the airport/port or point of entry in Brazil falls under the competence of the Internal Revenue Secretariat of Brazil (Secretaria da Receita Federal – SRF).
The Receita Federal website will provide updated information on Brazilian customs regulations including:
- duty exemption for goods acquired at "Duty Free Shops"
- goods to be declared upon arrival in Brazil
- payment of duties
- duty-free goods
- accompanied baggage
- unaccompanied baggage
*For further information, please click here.
Bringing money into Brazil
There is no limit on the amount of money a Brazilian or a foreign traveller may bring into Brazil.
When arriving in Brazil, if travelers have in cash a total amount that exceed US$ 10,000.00 (ten thousand American dolars), or the equivalent in another currency, it is required to submit the Electronic Declaration of Travelers Goods (e-DBV).
Submission of such declarations will not have any tax implications in Brazil.
Should be declared the total cash in paper money, not included the titles of credit, checks or traveler's checks.
The e-DBV can filled in through the Internet at http://www.edbv.receita.fazenda.gov.br/.
Find out more by visiting the "Cash when arriving in Brazil" page.
Donations
In accordance with Brazilian laws and regulations, donations can only be made to Brazilian institutions, not to individuals
The recipient in Brazil must be an educational, scientific institution, or an organisation dedicated to public welfare, duly registered at the Federal Tax Registry (“Receita Federal”).
Donations are exempt of the payment of customs duties. In the case of scientific research equipment, goods can only be considered tax-exempt if the activities of the Brazilian institution have been previously approved by the National Council for the Development of Science and Technology (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico).
In order to qualify for exemption, a donation must be an outright gift.
Procedure
1) Write a donation letter in Portuguese, on your institution's letterhead (when applicable), containing:
- the beneficiary Brazilian Institution's full registered name and address
- its Federal Tax Registration number (CGC/CNPJ)
- the full name and title of the institution or individual donor
- an itemized list of the goods to be donated, including their estimated values in US dollars
- the donor's signature, full name and title
If the goods to be donated EQUAL or EXCEED the amount of US$1,000.00 (one thousand dollars), the signature of the donor on the letter must be duly certified, with the Notary's rubber stamp and his embossed seal showing.
As an alternative procedure, the signature can be certified by the Brazilian Chamber of Commerce in Great Britain
32, Green Street, W1K 7AT, London
Tel 020 7499 0186
Fax 020 7493 5105)
After certification of the signature, the document must be apostilled by the FCO.
2) Originals of the letter of donation and of the list of goods must be sent to the Brazilian beneficiary institution, which will be responsible for clearing procedures in Brazil.
For your guidance, a template letter in Portuguese, and its English translation, are available at the Consulate General.
Entry of goods in Brazil - Customs
Providing a wide range of customs regulations and requirements for those planning travel to Brazil, the Brazilian Federal Revenue has developed a Traveler’s Electronic Declaration of Goods Guide with information regarding customs control.
Please visit the following links to learn more about traveling to Brazil and declaration of goods:
Tips for British citizens travelling to Brazil for tourism, business or filming purposes
- UK passport holders travelling to Brazil for tourism and business purposes or as filming crews, jornalists or photographers are exempt from visitors visas (VIVIS) for stays of up to 90 days (multiple entries) per period of 12 months.
- The maximum stay is 90 days (multiple entries), granted at first entry in the country, with the possibility of extension for (up to) a further 90 days, adding up to no more than 180 days in a 12-month period.
- Extensions are not automatic and are granted at the discretion of the Federal Police in Brazil. They must be requested at the nearest Federal Police office well in advance, before expiry of the first 90 days granted upon arrival.
- Additional information regarding extensions can be found on the website of the Federal Police.
- Brazilian immigration authorities do not require a minimum passport validity of 6 months for foreign nationals. However, passports have to be valid for the entire period the foreign citizen intends to remain in Brazil.
- Please note that some airline companies have their own policies. It is advisable to check airline requirements before purchasing tickets.
- Although purchasing an outbound ticket is not mandatory for British citizens travelling for tourism purposes, immigration control in Brazil may or may not ask the individual about his/her travel plans and arrangements. It is advisable to hold evidence of accommodation bookings and at least an outbound ticket reservation.
- Travellers must be prepared to explain their itinerary and provide proof of means to support themselves financially during their entire stay in the country (e.g. latest bank statements, payslips etc.).
- Business travellers are advised to hold an invitation letter from the company they will be visiting.
- Filming crews, journalists and photographers can have an exemption label placed on a page of the passport, in order to facilitate the entry of any equipment in the country.
Vaccinations
Brazil does not require an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis for entry into the country.
Travelers are encouraged, however, to ensure their routine immunizations are up to date (as recommended by their country of origin), since it is an effective and safe measure for the prevention of various diseases. It is also important that travellers take yellow fever vaccination 10 days before visiting forested areas or participating in ecotourism or rural tourism activities. Click here for more information on yellow fever.
If you have any doubts regarding health control in Brazilian ports, airports and borders, contact the Brazillian Health Regulatory Agency (Anvisa).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can travelers enter Brazil carrying medications?
Medications brought by travellers to Brazil may be subject to health inspection. Therefore, travellers are advised to bring their relevant prescription(s) to have sufficient supplies of medications to last the duration of their trip, and to travel with medications in their hand luggage. It is also recommended that medications are kept in their original packaging for better identification purposes. (Source: Internal Revenue Service of Brazil)
Entry of products subject to health inspection in Brazil is regulated by the Resolution RDC 28, issued on 28th June 2011, as follows:
1. The import of products classified as medication, health or sanitising products, food, cosmetics, hygiene products and perfumes, for personal use only, is exempt from authorisation by the Health inspection in the port of entry or at the customs clearance.
1.1 The provision above also applies to personal items and goods carried as accompanied or unaccompanied baggage coming from abroad.
1.2 Products for personal use are those carried in an amount and periodicity compatible with the duration and purposes of the treatment, i.e., the amount should not be too large as to be deemed as trade or service to third parties.
Therefore, the following items are exempt from health inspection: medication, food, sanitising products, cosmetics, hygiene products and medical materials for personal use only. The amount shall not be too large as to be deemed as trade or business.
Any queries may be submitted to ANVISA (Brazilian Health Surveillance Agency) on the telephone number 0800-642-9782 in Brazil.
(Source: ANVISA)
What types of goods are prohibited from entering and exiting Brazil?
The following goods are subject to special restrictions by the authorities: live animals, animal and vegetable products, weapons and ammunition, equipment, and other products that can affect public health, safety and the environment.
Travelers cannot bring the following items into Brazil, among others, as they are forbidden:
- cigarettes and drinks manufactured in Brazil exclusively intended for sale abroad;
- cigarettes of brands that are not sold in the country of origin;
- toys, replicas and imitations of firearms;
- animal species of wildlife without a license and technical report issued by the Ministry of Environment of Brazil;
- products containing genetically modified organisms;
- pesticides, their components and related products;
- goods that go against community standards and morals, or are detrimental to health or public order;
- narcotics or drugs;
- foreign goods with falsified or adulterated key features that prevent or hinder their identification.
Attention: the goods listed above will be seized by customs authorities if brought to Brazil. Travelers may also, as appropriate, be subject to arrest by Brazilian authorities and prosecution under civil and criminal law should the above restrictions be violated.
(Source: Internal Revenue Service of Brazil)
Do visitors need to take any vaccinations or specific healthcare measures before entering Brazil?
Brazil does not require an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis for entry into the country.
Travelers are encouraged, however, to ensure their routine immunizations are up to date (as recommended by their country of origin), since it is an effective and safe measure for the prevention of various diseases. It is also important that travellers take yellow fever vaccination 10 days before visiting forested areas or participating in ecotourism or rural tourism activities. For further information on yellow fever, please click here.
Although cases of measles or rubella do not occur in Brazil, these diseases are present in other countries. Therefore, it is recommended to be vaccinated against them.
(source: Brazilian Ministry of Health)