Brazil

Government advisories

• ☐ United States: level 2/4 — Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
• ☐ United Kingdom: level 2/4
• ☐ Canada: level 2/4 — Exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories)

Health notices

• ☐ Global Measles (level 1)
• ☐ Tap water: generally safe to drink

Entry requirements

☐ Visitors to Brazil must obtain a visa from one of the Brazilian diplomatic missions unless they are nationals of one of the visa-exempt countries or have the option to obtain an electronic visa. Visa exemptions to enter Brazil have generally been reciprocal, on the principle that the other country should similarly offer visa-free entry to Brazilian nationals.

Practical

• ☐ Plug type C/N, 127V — bring an adapter if yours differs
• ☐ Drives on the right
• ☐ Emergency (police): 190
• ☐ Emergency (ambulance): 192
• ☐ Emergency (fire): 193
• ☐ SIM: Brazil has international telephone code 55 and two-digit area codes, and phone numbers are eight or nine digits long. Some areas used seven digits until 2006, meaning you might still find some old phone numbers which won't work unless you add another digit. (Mostly, try adding 2 or 3 at the beginning, or if it's an eight-digit number starting with 6 to 9 try adding a 9 at the beginning).
• ☐ Money: A majority of Brazilian businesses accept major credit/debit cards. However, quite a few online stores only accept cards issued in Brazil, even though they have the international logo of such cards. When you pay using card commonly you will hear the question: "Crédito ou débito?" ("Credit or debit?").
• ☐ Tipping: While tips can sometimes be given for some services, delivery or tourism, tips are very uncommon. It is usually not expected in cabs, although rounding up the fare occasionally takes place. Many restaurants include a 10% delivery charge in the note, with no further tips being required. Such a charge often depends on the municipality. Tipping bartenders is not customary.

Laws that could get a tourist arrested

• ☐ Mandatory photo ID — By law, everyone must carry a photo ID at all times. Foreigners must carry their passport, though police often accept a plastified color photocopy.
• ☐ Drug possession and trafficking — Drug consumption is a crime in Brazil that can cause bureaucratic complications when leaving the country. Selling or transporting drugs is considered trafficking and carries severe legal consequences.

Before you go

General trip-prep, not specific to Brazil — the same short list applies anywhere.

• ☐ Register with your embassy's traveler program if one exists
• ☐ Check your passport's validity and blank-page requirements on your destination's official entry-rules page
• ☐ Photograph/screenshot your passport, visa, and travel insurance documents
• ☐ Download offline maps for your destination
• ☐ Confirm your bank/card issuer knows you're traveling
• ☐ Check whether your phone plan needs a travel add-on or a local SIM