Brazil visa requirements and travel health insurance guides

January 04, 2019

Brazil is a magnificent country full of culture and things to do. You can take a scenic walk along the world’s longest beach, explore the Amazon Rainforest or get involved in the world’s largest carnival.

There’s a lot to get excited about when organizing your visit. To fully enjoy your adventure, make sure you give yourself peace of mind and organize your travel insurance policy as soon as possible, so you can kick back, relax and enjoy your vacation knowing that you have got all your bases covered.
 
Aside from finding the right cover for you, here are some other important travel tips to be aware of before you set off on your adventure:

Visa Information for Brazil

Do I Need a Visa to Visit Brazil?    

Yes

U.S. Citizens who are planning to visit Brazil will need to get a visa on arrival. U.S. Citizens will need to pay $160 USD for the visa, it will be valid for ten years.

You will also need the following:
•    A passport valid for at least six months at the time of entry
•    One blank passport page for the entry visa

Departure Tax
When flying out of Brazil you will have to pay a departure fee. The fee is $40 USD for all travellers. The fee is normally included in the price of your plane ticket – but make sure to double check this.

Health and Medical Advice

Before jetting off on your travels, you should check for any health risks, required vaccinations and any epidemic breakouts occurring in Brazil. It’s also a good idea to find out where the nearest hospital is in case of an emergency.

Do I Need to be Vaccinated When Travelling to Brazil?

There are no obligatory vaccination shots for travelling to Brazil, but we would highly recommend that you get protected against Typhoid, Hepatitis A and B, Rabies and Yellow Fever as well as getting your routine vaccinations updated. The standard vaccines are:

-    MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella)
-    Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis
-    Influenza
-    Polio
-    Chickenpox

Book an appointment with your local practitioner or find your local Passport health clinic. You should book an appointment, at the latest, four to six weeks before your trip, giving enough time for the vaccinations to take effect.

Emergency Contact Information in Brazil

No one ever wants to have to call the emergency services while they’re on vacation, but unfortunately, accidents happen and it’s important to be prepared for when they do.

Police Emergency number is: 190

Ambulance Emergency number is: 192

Fire Service Emergency number is: 193

Brazil Local Laws and Customs

• The use of cell phones is forbidden inside banking agencies.
• Wearing helmets inside buildings is prohibited in the majority of Brazilian states. This is so that individuals are more easily recognized by security tapes.
• Drug trafficking is widespread but illegal in Brazil. The penalty for possession or use of drugs is severe. .

Safety and Security

Favelas

The word ‘favela’ is Portuguese for ‘slum’. Favela’s are in all major Brazilian cities and can surround areas that are popular with tourists.

Security in favela filled areas is not predictable and a visit to these areas can be dangerous. It is recommended to avoid these areas including on ‘favela tours’ which are set up to attract tourists.

Crime

The levels of crime are elevated in Brazil predominantly with robberies within Brazil’s cities. The murder rate can be high. Thieves operate on the beach, so don’t take valuables with you.

Tips:

• Don’t flash your expensive items e.g. by wearing expensive jewellery and watches, don’t use your cell phone in the street and keep cameras hidden when not in use
• Leave valuables in the safe in the hotel e.g. passport
• Limit the amount of cash you carry with you

U.S. Embassy in Brazil
U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Brazil
R. Henri Dunant, 500 – Chacara Santo Antonio
Sau Paulo, SP
04709-110, Brazil

Telephone: +55-11-3250-5000

Useful Tips for Brazil

Official Languages: Portuguese
The most popular languages spoken in the Brazil is Portuguese.

Currency: Brazilian real
Before your trip make sure to exchange enough Brazilian real for your spending requirements and to get the best exchange rates.

Plug Sockets: Type C and N
Brazil uses two types of plug sockets: C and N. The standard voltage and frequency is 127/220V and 60 Hz. We would recommend that you buy a plug adapter if you don’t have one already.

You can determine if you need a converter or a transformer by looking at the appliance rating plate. A dual voltage rated appliance will display for example ‘INPUT: 110-240 V’ on the appliance body. In this case, you wouldn’t need a converter or transformer.

© 2018 UnitedHealth Group Incorporated. For informational purposes, UHG does not guarantee the correctness or completeness of the information.