brazil vaccines for travel

Travel Vaccines and Advice for Brazil

Rich with beaches, rain forests, and vibrant urban centers, Brazil offers a wide variety of attractions.

For the adventurous, there are mountains to climb and islands to explore. For the more historically inclined, there are whole settlements from the colonial era that have not been renovated since their construction.

To experience the rich culture of Brazil, it is best to come during the time of Carnaval. Dancers flood the streets showing off sambo rhythms and other aspects of Brazil’s musical fabric. This is not to say Carnaval is the only time to behold such an event. Smaller versions of the festival happen throughout the year, and serve as a perfect window into the country’s heart.

Due to Brazil’s history as a trading port and colony, it is a melting pot of African, European, and Latin American cultures.

Brazil is also home to one of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet, offering an incredible range of flora and fauna. A trip to Brazil is a chance to experience a taste of everything.

Do I Need Vaccines for Brazil?

Yes, some vaccines are recommended or required for Brazil. The CDC and WHO recommend the following vaccinations for Brazil: hepatitis A , hepatitis B , typhoid , yellow fever , rabies , meningitis , polio , measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) , Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis) , chickenpox , shingles , pneumonia and influenza .

COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for travel to all regions, both foreign and domestic. Check with your local Passport Health clinic if immunization is offered in your area.

See the bullets below to learn more about some of these key immunizations:

• COVID-19 – Airborne & Direct Contact – Recommended for all unvaccinated individuals who qualify for vaccination
• Hepatitis A – Food & Water – Recommended for most travelers
• Hepatitis B – Blood & Body Fluids – Accelerated schedule available
• Typhoid – Food & Water – Shot lasts 2 years. Oral vaccine lasts 5 years, must be able to swallow pills. Oral doses must be kept in refrigerator.
• Yellow Fever – Mosquito – Recommended for all regions except Fortaleza and Recife
• Rabies – Saliva of Infected Animals – Moderate risk country. Vaccine recommended for certain travelers based on destination, activities and length of stay.
• Measles Mumps Rubella (MMR) – Various Vectors – Given to anyone unvaccinated and/or born after 1957. One time adult booster recommended.
• TDAP (Tetanus, Diphtheria & Pertussis) – Wounds & Airborne – Only one adult booster of pertussis required.
• Chickenpox – Direct Contact & Airborne – Given to those unvaccinated that did not have chickenpox.
• Shingles – Direct Contact – Vaccine can still be given if you have had shingles.
• Pneumonia – Airborne – Two vaccines given separately. All 65+ or immunocompromised should receive both.
• Influenza – Airborne – Vaccine components change annually.
• Meningitis – Airborne & Direct Contact – Given to anyone unvaccinated or at an increased risk, especially students.
• Polio – Food & Water – Considered a routine vaccination for most travel itineraries. Single adult booster recommended.

See the tables below for more information:

A yellow fever vaccination is not required to enter Brazil, but is highly recommended. See the yellow fever section below.

Malaria and dengue are present in Brazil. Be sure to take proper precautions to avoid these mosquito-borne diseases. Bring repellents netting and antimalarials, if needed.

Zika virus has been found in Brazil. Some travelers are at an increased risk including women who are pregnant or may become pregnant. Make sure you use repellents and netting where needed.

Visit our vaccinations page to learn more. Travel safely with Passport Health and schedule your appointment today by calling or book online now .

Yellow Fever in Brazil

Brazil has been the site of multiple yellow fever outbreaks in the past few years. The most recent outbreak started in December 2016 and is still ongoing.

Yellow fever vaccination is highly recommended for travelers to:

• Espirito Santo
• Rio de Janeiro

Do I Need a Visa or Passport for Brazil?

As of June 2019, a visa is no longer required for entry to Brazil for stays under 90 days. Proof of a return or onward travel may still be required at entry.

Sources: Embassy of Brazil and U.S. State Department

What Is the Climate Like in Brazil?

Brazil’s climate can vary depending on which region you are visiting.

In the northern parts of the country, the climate is tropical, while in the southern regions the climate is more temperate. Most of the population lives in cooler areas like high altitudes or the coast.

Popular tourist destinations like Rio de Janeiro suffer from an extremely hot climate. Temperatures there are usually above 100 degrees Fahrenheit during the dry season.

In the areas closer to the Amazon rain forest, temperatures higher than 90 degrees Fahrenheit are rare. If you are traveling to cities in the upper region of the Amazon belt like Belem, heavy rainfall is common between December and April.

It is best to study the micro-climate of the region you are visiting while planning a trip to Brazil.

Is It Safe to Travel to Brazil?

U.S. citizens should travel with their passports on them at all times and be prepared to present it to local law enforcement, if necessary.

As a whole, the danger level of Brazil is classified as high. The murder rate if four times that of developed nations, and the crime rate reaches similar numbers. Travelers should remain vigilant at all times. Try not to travel outside of where you are staying after dark.

Do not ever enter the favelas. They are mostly operated by gangs, and are extremely dangerous even for locals. It is best to avoid them completely. If you are planning on going somewhere that is off the beaten path, consult with locals first to find out if it is safe.

Avoid carrying large amounts of money with you. If absolutely necessary, divide it up between several pockets. The efficiency of the police force varies depending on the region. It is imperative that you do not attempt to bribe them for any reason.

Amazing Rio

Avoid mosquitoes and other bugs, insect-borne disease are a threat throughout the world., keep the bugs away with passport health’s repellent options .

Rio de Janeiro is a city in Brazil that is popular for tourists to visit. People go there to see famous landmarks like the Christ the Redeemer statue and Sugarloaf Mountain.

Travelers can also go to the beach at Copacabana, Ipanema, and Leblon to swim, surf and play. Rio de Janeiro is also famous for Carnival, a big party with music, dancing, and colorful parades. Visitors can try different kinds of food like feijoada and churrasco, and drinks like caipirinhas.

At night, there are many bars and clubs to go to, or visitors can have drinks and watch the sunset at the beach. People can also go hiking, biking, or take a jeep tour to explore the city’s parks and natural areas like Tijuca National Park and the Botanical Garden.

Rio de Janeiro has something for everyone and is a great place to experience Brazil’s unique blend of culture and natural beauty.

What Should I Take to Brazil?

Here are some essential items to consider for your trip to Brazil:

• Medical Supplies – These can be expensive in Brazil. It is important to bring one’s own. Make sure to include anti-diarrheal medication, antimalarials, and basic over the counter aides.
• Breathable Clothing – The climate of Brazil in the central areas like Rio de Janeiro can be quite hot. Wear clothing that is not too thick, and that you wouldn’t mind sweating in.
• Warm Clothing – This is advised if traveling to an area south of the Tropic of Capricorn where the climate is more temperate.
• Documents – Be sure to bring your passport, visa and other forms of identification.
• Cash – It is safest to operate on a cash-only basis while in Brazil.

U.S. Embassy in Brazil

All Americans visiting Brazil should register online with the U.S. Department of State before departure. This will inform the office of your travel plans within the country and will allow them to reach out in the case of an emergency or evacuation.

Once in Brazil, the information for the U.S. Embassy is:

U.S. Embassy Brasilia SES 801- Avenida das Nacoes, Lote 03 70403-900 – Brasilia, DF Brazil Telephone: 011-55-61-3312-7000 Emergency After-Hours Telephone: 011-55-61-3312-7400 Fax: (61) 3312-7651 Email: [email protected]

Visit the Embassy to Brazil website before departure to confirm correct contact details for the office.

If you have any questions about traveling to Brazil or are wondering what shots you may need for your trip, schedule an appointment with your local Passport Health travel medicine clinic. Call us at or book online now !

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On This Page: Do I Need Vaccines for Brazil? Yellow Fever in Brazil Do I Need a Visa or Passport for Brazil? What Is the Climate Like in Brazil? Is It Safe to Travel to Brazil? Amazing Rio What Should I Take To Brazil? U.S. Embassy in Brazil

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Proof of vaccination now required to enter Brazil

A negative test requirement has also been introduced.

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Published on 20/12/2021 - 19:43 By Jonas Valente - Brasília Updated in 21/12/2021 - 11:36

Click to listen:.

Under the new rules, proof of vaccination is valid when it includes vaccines against COVID-19 approved either in Brazil or in the country the person was immunized, or brands authorized by the World Health Organization (WHO). The last dose is to have been administered at least 14 days prior to travel.

Foreigners and Brazilians who wish to come to Brazil by plane will have to present proof of a negative test for COVID-19—either an antigen test run up to 24 hours prior to boarding or a PCR conducted up to 72 hours before the trip.

Children under the age of 12 traveling with an accompanying person will not be required a negative test. Those aged two through 12 traveling unaccompanied will be required to take the test.

Brazil’s sanitary authority Anvisa had recommended the requirement of proof of vaccination for entry into the country. The suggestion was approved in November.

The regulation includes exceptions, in the case of health conditions for which vaccination is contraindicated, people whose age has not been recommended for vaccination, and people from countries with low vaccination coverage—a list will be compiled by the Ministry Health and made available on its website.

The ordinance also exempts Brazilians and foreigners who live in Brazil and are not fully vaccinated from presenting a vaccination card. In these cases, travelers must undergo a 14-day quarantine in the destination city.

Another requirement for entry into the country is filling out a form entitled Traveler’s Health Report. The data on people in quarantine will be submitted to Strategic Health Surveillance Information Centers (CIEVS).

Aircraft crews will not be required to procure negative tests for COVID-19. For these workers, the ordinance introduces a set of specific protocols. The government may stipulate exceptions and different treatment in humanitarian aid situations.

Flight restrictions

The ordinance also lays forth restrictions on the arrival of flights originating from or passing through South Africa, Botswana, Essuatini, Lesotho, Namibia, and Zimbabwe—nations with the highest occurrence of the Omicron variant in the last 14 days.

Land transport

Proof of vaccination is also to be required at land control points, with vaccines approved either in Brazil or in the traveler’s country of immunization, or by the WHO.

The exceptions established for proof of vaccination on flights are effective on land as well, including in border towns, as long as Brazilian nations are given the same treatment by the neighboring country.

Freight workers have also been exempted from the requirement, provided they demonstrate they have taken the necessary measures to avoid infection and are wearing personal protective equipment.

This article was translated using artificial intelligence and was proofread by a human translator.

Edition: Fábio Massalli

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Brazil Travel Requirements & Vaccinations

Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world and the third largest in the Americas. Because of its vast expanse and varied topography – including hills, mountains and plains — the climate is widely varied but most of the country is categorized as either tropical or subtropical. Portuguese is the official language of Brazil.

Brazil offers tourists a wide range of attractions and geographical variety, including:

• The Amazon Rainforest and River Basin
• Diverse wildlife
• Picturesque beaches and dunes
• Cultural attractions

Recommended Vaccinations for Brazil Travel

• Hepatitis A
• Yellow Fever

*Rabies vaccination is typically only recommended for very high risk travelers given that it is completely preventable if medical attention is received within 7 – 10 days of an animal bite.

Travelers may also be advised to ensure they have received the routine vaccinations listed below. Some adults may need to receive a booster for some of these diseases:

• Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR)
• Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis)

Older adults or those with certain medical conditions may also want to ask about being vaccinated for shingles and/or pneumonia.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a travel medicine professional. Not all of the vaccines listed here will be necessary for every individual.

Talk to the experts at UH Roe Green Center for Travel Medicine & Global Health to determine how each member of your family can obtain maximum protection against illness, disease and injury while traveling, based on age, health, medical history and travel itinerary.

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Information on how to stay safe and healthy abroad. About us.

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Brazil (South America)

Advice for all destinations.

Read the information on the COVID-19: Health Considerations for Travel page for advice on travelling during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vaccinations and malaria risk

Review both the Vaccination and Malaria sections on this page to find out if you may need vaccines and/or a malaria risk assessment before you travel to this country.

If you think you require vaccines and/or malaria risk assessment, you should make an appointment with a travel health professional:

• How to make an appointment with a travel health professional

A travel health risk assessment is also advisable for some people, even when vaccines or malaria tablets are not required.

• Do I need a travel health risk assessment?

Risk prevention advice 

Many of the health risks experienced by travellers cannot be prevented by vaccines and other measures need to be taken.

Always make sure you understand the wider risks at your destination and take precautions, including:

• food and water safety
• accident prevention
• avoiding insect bites
• preventing and treating animal bites
• respiratory hygiene
• hand hygiene

Our advice section gives detailed information on minimising specific health risks abroad:

• Travel Health Advice A-Z

Other health considerations

Make sure you have travel insurance before travel to cover healthcare abroad.

Find out if there are any restrictions you need to consider if you are travelling with medicines .

Know how to access healthcare at your destination: see the GOV.UK English speaking doctors and medical facilities: worldwide list

If you feel unwell on your return home from travelling abroad, always seek advice from a healthcare professional and let them know your travel history.

Vaccinations

• Confirm primary courses and boosters are up to date as recommended for life in Britain - including for example, seasonal flu vaccine (if indicated), MMR , vaccines required for occupational risk of exposure, lifestyle risks and underlying medical conditions.
• Courses or boosters usually advised: Diphtheria; Tetanus.
• Other vaccines to consider: Hepatitis A; Rabies; Typhoid; Yellow Fever.
• Selectively advised vaccines - only for those individuals at highest risk: Hepatitis B.

No yellow fever vaccination certificate required for this country.

Notes on the diseases mentioned above

• Diphtheria :  spread person to person through respiratory droplets. Risk is higher if mixing with locals in poor, overcrowded living conditions.

Risk is higher where personal hygiene and sanitation is poor.

Risk is higher for long stays, frequent travel and for children (exposed through cuts and scratches), those who may require medical treatment during travel.

• Tetanus :  spread through contamination of cuts, burns and wounds with tetanus spores. Spores are found in soil worldwide. A total of 5 doses of tetanus vaccine are recommended for life in the UK. Boosters are usually recommended in a country or situation where the correct treatment of an injury may not be readily available.
• Typhoid :  spread mainly through consumption of contaminated food and drink. Risk is higher where access to adequate sanitation and safe water is limited.
• Yellow Fever :  spread by the bite of an infected, day-biting mosquito. The disease is mainly found in rural areas of affected countries but outbreaks in urban areas do occur. Vaccination is usually recommended for all those who travel into risk areas. (View yellow fever risk areas here), and areas where there is an outbreak ongoing (check the 'news' section for outbreaks). In addition, certain countries may want to see proof of vaccination on an official yellow fever vaccination certificate - check above under Immunisations .

Malaria is a serious and sometimes fatal disease transmitted by mosquitoes.You cannot be vaccinated against malaria.

Malaria precautions

• Malaria risk is present throughout the year. Risk is highest the Amazon regions (Acre, Amazonas, Roraima) and also in Amapa. Transmission is highest in jungle, mining, and agricultural areas and there is a high risk for those on cruise ships going through the Amazon regions including Manaus.
• In the Para and Rondonia risk is not high enough to warrant antimalarial tablets for most travellers, however, it may be considered for certain groups who may be at higher risk (see below under Low risk with additional advice).
• Risk is low in all other areas including the tourist resort of Iguazu Falls and eastern coastal areas south of Belem. and the populated eastern coast from Fortazela south to Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo.
• Malaria precautions are essential. Avoid mosquito bites by covering up with clothing such as long sleeves and long trousers especially after sunset, using insect repellents on exposed skin and, when necessary, sleeping under a mosquito net.
• Check with your doctor or nurse about suitable antimalarial tablets.
• See malaria map – additional information can be found by clicking on the Regional      Information icon below the map.
• High risk areas: atovaquone/proguanil OR doxycycline OR mefloquine is usually advised for those visiting risk areas.
• Low risk with additional advice: antimalarial tablets are not usually      recommended, however, they can be considered for certain travellers who may be at higher risk e.g. longer stay in rural areas, visiting friends or relatives, those with medical conditions, immunosuppression or those without a spleen. Atovaquone/proguanil OR doxycycline OR mefloquine  is advised for those at risk.
• Low to no risk areas: antimalarial tablets are not usually advised .
• If you have been travelling in a malarious area and develop a fever seek medical attention promptly. Remember malaria can develop even up to one year after exposure.
• If travelling to an area remote from medical facilities, carrying standby emergency treatment for malaria may be considered.

Other Health Risks

Altitude and travel, dengue fever, schistosomiasis.

There is a risk of exposure to coronavirus (COVID-19) in this country.

Please be aware that the risk of COVID-19 in this country may change at short notice and also consider your risk of exposure in any transit countries and from travelling itself. 

• The 'News' section on this page will advise if significant case increases or outbreaks have occurred in this country.

Prior to travel, you should:

• Check the latest government guidance on the FCDO Foreign travel advice and country specific pages for travel to this country and the rules for entering the UK on return.
• Ensure you are up to date with UK recommendations on COVID-19 vaccination.
• You can check this in the FAQ's.
• If you are at increased risk of severe COVID-19 you should carefully  consider your travel plans  and consider seeking medical advice prior to making any decisions.

For further information, see  Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)  and  COVID-19: Health Considerations for Travel  pages.

Zika Virus Infection

This country has been categorised as having a risk of Zika (ZIKV) virus transmission.

ZIKV is mainly spread through mosquito bites. The mosquito responsible most commonly bites during daylight hours and is common in towns and cities. 

The illness is usually mild but infection during pregnancy may lead to babies being born with birth defects. There is no vaccine currently available against ZIKV.

Advice for All Travellers

You should practice strict mosquito bite avoidance at all times. Do not travel without adequate travel insurance . Seek pre-travel health advice from a travel health professional 6 to 8 weeks in advance of travel.

Additional recommendations for pregnant travellers or those planning pregnancy

If you are planning pregnancy in the very near future you should consider whether you should avoid travel to this country.

• contact your GP, obstetrician or midwife for further advice, even if you have not been unwell or had any symptoms of ZIKV infection
• use barrier methods of contraception during and after travel and for the duration of your pregnancy, even in you have not been unwell or had any symptoms of ZIKV infection
• If you develop symptoms of ZIKV infection, it is recommended that you avoid becoming pregnant for a further 2 months following your recovery
• 2 months afterwards if you are female
• 3 months afterwards if you are male or if both partners travelled

These measures reduce the chance of sexual transmission of ZIKV and/or the risk of ZIKV infection in pregnancy.

For further information, see Zika virus infection page.

• 21 Feb 2024 - Dengue in the Americas and Caribbean: Update 1
• 151 additional items in the news archive for this country

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Entry requirements

This advice reflects the UK government’s understanding of current rules for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK, for the most common types of travel.

The authorities in Brazil set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Brazilian Embassy in the UK .

COVID-19 rules

There are no COVID-19 testing or vaccination requirements for travellers entering Brazil.

Passport validity requirements

To enter Brazil, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive.

Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.

You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.

Visa requirements

You can visit Brazil without a visa for up to 90 days for tourism.

If you want to extend your tourist visa, contact the Federal Police (in Portuguese) before your visa expires.

For more information about visas, contact the Brazilian Consulate in London .

If you overstay your visa, you’ll face a daily fine. You have the option to pay this fine either when you leave Brazil or during your next visit. You will not be allowed to re-enter Brazil if you do not pay the fine. Overstaying your visa will result in a 6-month ban from re-entering the country.

Make sure you get your passport stamped.

Make sure the border control officer puts a stamp in your passport. If it is not stamped, you may be fined when you leave.

Read about passport stamping if you live in Brazil  (in Portuguese).  

At Brazil border control, you must be able to show:

• information about the purpose of your visit
• evidence you have enough money for your whole stay
• details of your accommodation
• evidence of return or onward travel

British-Brazilian dual nationals

Brazilian immigration authorities often require dual British-Brazilian nationals visiting Brazil to travel on Brazilian (rather than British) passports.

Travelling with children

Children with dual british-brazilian citizenship.

British-Brazilian dual nationals under the age of 18 who are travelling without all parents or legal guardians need authorisation from all parents or legal guardians to travel in Brazil or leave the country.

If they travel with only one parent (or guardian) or without any parent, they must have 2 original written authorisations from all parents or guardians. Read more about the formal travel authorisation process for Brazilian minors and the frequently asked questions .

You must show this permission when the under-18 leaves Brazil. One copy will be kept by the Federal Police inspection agent, together with a copy of the under-18’s identification document, and the other must stay with the under-18 or the adult accompanying them on the trip.

Children who are not dual British-Brazilian nationals

The Federal Police have sometimes delayed the travel of non-Brazilian under-18s who travel without authorisation from both parents. Families of non-Brazilian under-18s travelling through Brazil without one or both parents should follow the instructions for dual British-Brazilian under-18s. Make sure the under-18 or their travelling companion also carries the original or notarised copy of the under-18’s birth certificate. Contact the Brazilian Consulate in London for more information.

Vaccination requirements

At least 8 weeks before your trip, check the vaccinations and certificates you need in TravelHealthPro’s Brazil guide . Depending on your circumstances, this may include a yellow fever vaccine.

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Brazil Travel Advisory

Travel advisory october 19, 2023, brazil - level 2: exercise increased caution.

Reissued with updates to Country Summary.

Exercise increased caution in Brazil due to  crime . Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.

Do not travel to:

• Any areas within 150 km/100 miles of Brazil’s land borders with Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, and Paraguay due to  crime . (Note: This does not apply to the Foz do Iguacu National Park or Pantanal National Park.)
• Informal housing developments (commonly referred to in Brazil as favelas, vilas, comunidades, and/or conglomerados) at any time of day due to  crime  (see additional information below).
• Brasilia’s administrative regions (commonly known as “satellite cities”) of Ceilandia, Santa Maria, Sao Sebastiao, and Paranoa during non-daylight hours due to  crime  (see additional information below).

Country Summary:   Violent crime, such as murder, armed robbery, and carjacking, is common in urban areas, day and night. Gang activity and organized crime is widespread. Assaults, including with sedatives and drugs placed in drinks, are common. U.S. government personnel are discouraged from using municipal buses in all parts of Brazil due to an elevated risk of robbery and assault at any time of day, and especially at night.

If you decide to travel to Brazil: 

• Be aware of your surroundings.
• Do not physically resist any robbery attempt.
• Do not accept food or drinks from strangers.
• Use caution when walking or driving at night.
• Avoid going to bars or nightclubs alone.
• Avoid walking on beaches after dark.
• Do not display signs of wealth, such as wearing expensive watches or jewelry.
• Be extra vigilant when visiting banks or ATMs.
• Use caution at, or going to, major transportation centers or on public transportation, especially at night. Passengers face an elevated risk of robbery or assault using public, municipal bus transportation throughout Brazil.
• Use increased caution when hiking in isolated areas.
• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter .
• Review the Country Security Report for Brazil.
• Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist .
• Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel.

International Borders – Level 4: Do Not Travel

U.S. government personnel are not permitted to travel to areas within 150 km/100 miles of the international land borders with Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, and Paraguay without advance approval from security officials due to crime. Travel to the Foz do Iguacu National Park and Pantanal National Park is permitted.

Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas .

Informal Housing Developments (commonly known as “Favelas”) – Level 4: Do Not Travel

Do not travel to informal housing developments (commonly referred to in Brazil as favelas, vilas, comunidades, and/or conglomerados), even on a guided tour.  Neither the tour companies nor the police can guarantee your safety when entering these communities.  Even in these communities that the police or local governments deem safe, the situation can change quickly and without notice.  While some informal housing developments have clear boundaries or gates, or even names such as “favela”, “vila”, “comunidade”, or “conglomerado”, other such developments may be less obvious, and may be identified by crowded quarters, poorer conditions, and/or irregular construction.  In addition, exercise caution in areas surrounding these communities, as occasionally, inter-gang fighting and confrontations with police move beyond the confines of these communities.  Except under limited circumstances and with advance approval, U.S. government personnel are not permitted to enter any informal housing developments in Brazil. Read the Safety and Security Section on the  country information page  and consult the maps on the Embassy’s website for further information regarding favelas.

Visit our website for Travel High-Risk Areas .

Brasilia’s Administrative Regions (commonly known as “Satellite Cities”) – Level 4: Do Not Travel

Without advance approval from security officials, U.S. government personnel are not permitted to travel to Brasilia’s Administrative Regions of Ceilandia, Santa Maria, Sao Sebastiao, and Paranoa between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. (non-daylight hours) due to crime.

Travel Advisory Levels

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COVID-19: travel health notice for all travellers

Brazil travel advice

Latest updates: Natural disasters and climate - added information on heavy rains

Last updated: March 21, 2024 19:46 ET

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Safety and security, entry and exit requirements, laws and culture, natural disasters and climate, brazil - exercise a high degree of caution.

Exercise a high degree of caution in Brazil due to high crime rates and regular incidents of gang-related and other violence in urban areas.

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Crime is a serious problem throughout Brazil. Crime rates are highest in urban centres, particularly in areas adjacent to impoverished neighbourhoods of:

• Rio de Janeiro
• São Paulo

Foreign tourists are most commonly affected by theft but incidents of violent crime have also occurred, due to the high prevalence of guns coupled with the willingness of criminals and police to resort to violence. To avoid becoming a victim of crime, be aware of your surroundings at all times and follow the security directives of local authorities.

Petty crime

Street crime, including pickpocketing, purse snatching and theft from cars, is common in Brazil’s large cities. Tourists are a favourite target.

Petty theft on buses and the metro is common. It is a significant concern in Recife.

Incidents of opportunistic crime increase significantly at large-scale sporting events, international conferences and during holidays such as the Carnival and New Year’s celebrations.

Flash mob robberies ( arrastões ) have occurred sporadically on Rio’s city beaches and in other crowded tourist areas. This type of crime involves a group of thieves (often young children and youth originating from nearby favelas) that swarm an area and snatch valuable items such as cash, jewellery and cell phones.

A common ruse used by criminals is the Good Samaritan scam, where a criminal offers to help a tourist who looks lost. If you are lost, go into a nearby business or hotel to ask for help.

• Ensure that your personal belongings, including your passport and other travel documents, are secure at all times
• Remain vigilant when visiting tourist destinations such as:
• outdoor markets
• hotel grounds
• bars and nightclubs
• airports and bus stations
• Avoid showing signs of affluence such as expensive jewellery, watches, clothing and bags
• Carry only small amounts of cash
• Keep cameras and portable electronic devices concealed
• Be aware of ploys to distract your attention
• Remain cautious with new acquaintances who ask for information or offer hospitality or assistance
• Book tours with reliable agencies

Violent crime

Armed robberies occur regularly, even during the day. They are a growing concern at restaurants, particularly in larger cities. Hold-ups can occur on Brazil’s trains. Assaults are frequently perpetrated in unofficial taxis.

Incidents of sexual assault against male and female foreigners have been reported, sometimes involving the use of sedatives.

Victims have been seriously injured or killed when resisting perpetrators, who may be armed or under the influence of drugs.

• Exercise a high degree of caution at all times
• Avoid travelling alone, especially at night
• Avoid parks or central (downtown) areas of major cities
• Avoid poorly lit and isolated streets
• Avoid walking on isolated and unsupervised beaches with poor visibility from the sidewalk
• If you are threatened by robbers, don’t resist.

Express kidnappings

The number of kidnappings in the Rio de Janeiro Metropolitan area has significantly increased since 2022.

Criminals may kidnap a victim for a few hours and force them to withdraw funds at an ATM for their release. Thieves may put drugs into food and drinks, temporarily incapacitating victims, who become quickly disoriented and are vulnerable to kidnapping.

• Use only a reputable taxi company or a trusted ride-sharing app
• Avoid showing signs of affluence, such using cell phones, headphones and wearing jewelry
• Never leave food or drinks unattended or in the care of strangers
• Be wary of accepting these items from new acquaintances

Borders with Colombia and Venezuela

There is a concerning level of serious criminal activity by organized criminal groups along the border areas with countries bordering Brazil, particularly Colombia and Venezuela. Incidents of attacks on tourists and kidnapping have occurred. Be extremely cautious when crossing into bordering countries.

Vulnerable neighborhoods

Vulnerable neighborhoods (commonly referred to as “favelas”), are characterized by informal housing developments, crowded quarters, poorer conditions, and/or irregular construction.

Gang-related violence and organized crime is prevalent in these areas and police assistance is very limited.

Avoid renting accommodations in vulnerable neighborhoods, and travelling to these areas, even on a guided tour.

Police operations

Armed clashes and shootouts between police forces and alleged criminals regularly occur in vulnerable neighbourhoods. Police operations have led to retaliation by criminal gangs. Vulnerable neighbourhoods are located across major cities, as a result, there is an ongoing risk of violence spilling over to neighbouring areas, including affluent neighbourhoods and tourist destinations. There have been incidents of injuries and deaths as a result of stray bullets near, and in, vulnerable neighbourhoods.

Credit card and ATM fraud is a major problem. Be cautious when using debit or credit cards:

• pay careful attention when your cards are being handled by others
• use ATMs located in well-lit public areas or inside a bank or business
• avoid using card readers with an irregular or unusual feature
• cover the keypad with one hand when entering your PIN
• check for any unauthorized transactions on your account statements

Cybercrime is also a growing problem.  Perpetrators monitor social media sites and eavesdrop on your conversations when you are in the country.

• Do not discuss travel plans or any other personal information within earshot of strangers
• Be cautious when posting information on social media
• Be particularly vigilant in internet cafes

Overseas fraud

Pirate attacks and armed robbery against ships occur in coastal waters. Mariners should take appropriate precautions.

Live piracy report - International Maritime Bureau’s Piracy Reporting Centre

Demonstrations

Demonstrations take place regularly. Even peaceful demonstrations can turn violent at any time. They can also lead to disruptions to traffic and public transportation.

Protests can cause delays on main roads, including to airports, such as to the Guarulhos International Airport i n São Paulo . Demonstrations tend to increase in frequency and intensity during major events that attract foreign visitors.

• Avoid areas where demonstrations and large gatherings are taking place
• Follow the instructions of local authorities
• Monitor local media for information on ongoing demonstrations

Mass gatherings (large-scale events)

Women’s safety

Women travelling alone may be subject to some forms of harassment and verbal abuse.

• Avoid travelling alone at night
• Avoid carrying purses

Advice for women travellers

Spiked food and drinks

Never leave food or drinks unattended or in the care of strangers. Be wary of accepting snacks, beverages, gum or cigarettes from new acquaintances. These items may contain drugs that could put you at risk of sexual assault and robbery.

The use of sedatives to facilitate robberies of personal belongings has been reported on beaches in Rio and in crowded restaurants in São Paulo.

• Never leave your belongings unattended on city beaches
• Ask for drinks coming from sealed bottles or cans instead of in plastics glasses
• In restaurants, avoid sitting close to the entrance

Coastal waters can be dangerous.

• Swim or surf in areas where lifeguards are located
• Avoid swimming where there are strong currents
• Be wary of sharks, especially in Brazil’s north east near Recife
• Follow the instructions and warnings of local authorities.

Robberies are frequent and occur in tourist destinations, including on hiking trails. Be especially cautious on the Corcovado trail in Rio, where several robberies have happened.

If you intend on trekking: 

• never do so alone
• always hire an experienced guide from a reputable company
• buy travel insurance
• ensure that your physical condition is good enough to meet the challenges of your activity
• ensure that you’re properly equipped and well informed about weather and other conditions that may pose a hazard
• inform a family member or friend of your itinerary, including when you expect to be back
• obtain detailed information on trekking routes before setting out
• ensure the trail doesn’t pass through a favela
• do not venture off marked trail

Adventure tourism

Amazon border regions and the Pantanal wetlands are largely uninhabited and dangerous areas.

Travel in these regions only with trained guides.

Public transportation

The subway systems in Rio and in São Paulo are generally safe during the day. Be extremely cautious using public transportation at night

Bus accidents occur regularly.

Major bus stations charge fixed, pre-paid rates.

Do not use public vans.

Local law requires the use of the taxi meter to determine the legal fare. Adding surcharges to a fare is illegal.

Should taxi rates change and their taxi meters have not been adjusted, drivers may indicate these changes by showing an authorized paper with the new fares.

Many tourists hire “radio taxis”, also known as “commun taxis.” These taxis operate at a fixed price irrespective of the time of the day and the time it takes to arrive at your destination.

• Only use official taxis
• Upon arrival to Brazil, purchase your fare from licensed taxi offices in the airport arrival hall or near the taxi queues
• During your stay, use licensed taxis from taxi stands

Road safety

Brazil has one of the highest road accident rates in the world.

Road conditions are generally acceptable in large cities but badly maintained in the rest of the country. Poor signage and construction also pose a hazard.

Drivers do not respect traffic laws. Drivers are extremely aggressive and reckless and often drive at excessive speeds.  

At night, it is common for drivers to treat red lights as stop signs to protect against hold-ups at intersections. Pedestrians and motorists proceeding through green lights during these hours should be particularly cautious.

• Be careful when stopping on the side of any highway because of traffic
• Be careful of motorbikes when changing lanes
• When driving in the city, pay particular attention to your surroundings while waiting at traffic lights
• If you feel threatened at any time, do not stop
• If you are in a traffic accident, call the police immediately
• Never confront the driver of another vehicle

We do not make assessments on the compliance of foreign domestic airlines with international safety standards.

Information about foreign domestic airlines

Effective April 10, 2024, Canadian passport holders will be required to obtain a visa to enter Brazil.

For more information, contact the nearest embassy or consulate of Brazil.

Useful links

• Information on visitor visas – Ministry of foreign affairs of Brazil
• Visitor visa – General consulate of Brazil

Every country or territory decides who can enter or exit through its borders. The Government of Canada cannot intervene on your behalf if you do not meet your destination’s entry or exit requirements.

We have obtained the information on this page from the Brazilian authorities. It can, however, change at any time.

Verify this information with the  Foreign Representatives in Canada .

Entry requirements vary depending on the type of passport you use for travel.

Before you travel, check with your transportation company about passport requirements. Its rules on passport validity may be more stringent than the country’s entry rules.

Regular Canadian passport

Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date you expect to leave Brazil.

Passport for official travel

Different entry rules may apply.

Official travel

Passport with “X” gender identifier

While the Government of Canada issues passports with an “X” gender identifier, it cannot guarantee your entry or transit through other countries. You might face entry restrictions in countries that do not recognize the “X” gender identifier. Before you leave, check with the closest foreign representative for your destination.

Other travel documents

Different entry rules may apply when travelling with a temporary passport or an emergency travel document. Before you leave, check with the closest foreign representative for your destination.

• Foreign Representatives in Canada
• Canadian passports

Tourist visa: not required for stays of up to 90 days Business visa: not required for stays of up to 90 days without remuneration Student visa: not required for stays of up to 90 days

Length of stay

A tourist stay can be granted for up to 90 days. The permitted length of stay for tourists is determined by the immigration officer upon entry.

If you intend to stay more than 90 days, you must obtain an extension from the Federal Police for a maximum stay of 180 days per period of 12 months.

To request a visa extension, you will have to: 

• request such an extension prior to the expiration of the authorized stay
• provide your detailed (long-form) birth certificate

In order for your Canadian long form birth certificate to be accepted in Brazil, it must be presented to the Brazilian Embassy or one of its consulates prior to departure from Canada. Neither the Embassy of Canada nor its consulates in Brazil can authenticate a Canadian birth certificate outside of Canada.

Children and travel

Learn more about travelling with children .

Yellow fever

Learn about potential entry requirements related to yellow fever (vaccines section).

Relevant Travel Health Notices

• Global Measles Notice - 13 March, 2024
• Zika virus: Advice for travellers - 31 August, 2023
• COVID-19 and International Travel - 13 March, 2024
• Dengue: Advice for travellers - 4 March, 2024

This section contains information on possible health risks and restrictions regularly found or ongoing in the destination. Follow this advice to lower your risk of becoming ill while travelling. Not all risks are listed below.

Consult a health care professional or visit a travel health clinic preferably 6 weeks before you travel to get personalized health advice and recommendations.

Routine vaccines

Be sure that your  routine vaccinations , as per your province or territory , are up-to-date before travelling, regardless of your destination.

Some of these vaccinations include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, varicella (chickenpox), influenza and others.

Pre-travel vaccines and medications

You may be at risk for preventable diseases while travelling in this destination. Talk to a travel health professional about which medications or vaccines may be right for you, based on your destination and itinerary. 

Yellow fever   is a disease caused by a flavivirus from the bite of an infected mosquito.

Travellers get vaccinated either because it is required to enter a country or because it is recommended for their protection.

• There is a risk of yellow fever in this country.

Country Entry Requirement*

• Proof of vaccination is not required to enter this country.

Recommendation

• Vaccination is recommended depending on your itinerary.
• Contact a designated Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre well in advance of your trip to arrange for vaccination.
• Discuss travel plans, activities, and destinations with a health care professional.
• Protect yourself from mosquito bites.

About Yellow Fever Yellow Fever Vaccination Centres in Canada * It is important to note that   country entry requirements   may not reflect your risk of yellow fever at your destination. It is recommended that you contact the nearest   diplomatic or consular office   of the destination(s) you will be visiting to verify any additional entry requirements.

There is a risk of hepatitis A in this destination. It is a disease of the liver. People can get hepatitis A if they ingest contaminated food or water, eat foods prepared by an infectious person, or if they have close physical contact (such as oral-anal sex) with an infectious person, although casual contact among people does not spread the virus.

Practise  safe food and water precautions and wash your hands often. Vaccination is recommended for all travellers to areas where hepatitis A is present.

  Hepatitis B is a risk in every destination. It is a viral liver disease that is easily transmitted from one person to another through exposure to blood and body fluids containing the hepatitis B virus.  Travellers who may be exposed to blood or other bodily fluids (e.g., through sexual contact, medical treatment, sharing needles, tattooing, acupuncture or occupational exposure) are at higher risk of getting hepatitis B.

Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended for all travellers. Prevent hepatitis B infection by practicing safe sex, only using new and sterile drug equipment, and only getting tattoos and piercings in settings that follow public health regulations and standards.

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease. It can spread quickly from person to person by direct contact and through droplets in the air.

Anyone who is not protected against measles is at risk of being infected with it when travelling internationally.

Regardless of where you are going, talk to a health care professional before travelling to make sure you are fully protected against measles.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious viral disease. It can spread from person to person by direct contact and through droplets in the air.

It is recommended that all eligible travellers complete a COVID-19 vaccine series along with any additional recommended doses in Canada before travelling. Evidence shows that vaccines are very effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization and death from COVID-19. While vaccination provides better protection against serious illness, you may still be at risk of infection from the virus that causes COVID-19. Anyone who has not completed a vaccine series is at increased risk of being infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 and is at greater risk for severe disease when travelling internationally.

Before travelling, verify your destination’s COVID-19 vaccination entry/exit requirements. Regardless of where you are going, talk to a health care professional before travelling to make sure you are adequately protected against COVID-19.

 The best way to protect yourself from seasonal influenza (flu) is to get vaccinated every year. Get the flu shot at least 2 weeks before travelling.  

 The flu occurs worldwide. 

•  In the Northern Hemisphere, the flu season usually runs from November to   April.
•  In the Southern Hemisphere, the flu season usually runs between April and   October.
•  In the tropics, there is flu activity year round. 

The flu vaccine available in one hemisphere may only offer partial protection against the flu in the other hemisphere.

The flu virus spreads from person to person when they cough or sneeze or by touching objects and surfaces that have been contaminated with the virus. Clean your hands often and wear a mask if you have a fever or respiratory symptoms.

Malaria  is a serious and sometimes fatal disease that is caused by parasites spread through the bites of mosquitoes.   There is a risk of malaria in certain areas and/or during a certain time of year in this destination. 

Antimalarial medication may be recommended depending on your itinerary and the time of year you are travelling. Consult a health care professional or visit a travel health clinic before travelling to discuss your options. It is recommended to do this 6 weeks before travel, however, it is still a good idea any time before leaving.    Protect yourself from mosquito bites at all times:  • Cover your skin and use an approved insect repellent on uncovered skin.  • Exclude mosquitoes from your living area with screening and/or closed, well-sealed doors and windows. • Use insecticide-treated bed nets if mosquitoes cannot be excluded from your living area.  • Wear permethrin-treated clothing.    If you develop symptoms similar to malaria when you are travelling or up to a year after you return home, see a health care professional immediately. Tell them where you have been travelling or living. 

In this destination, rabies is carried by dogs and some wildlife, including bats. Rabies is a deadly disease that spreads to humans primarily through bites or scratches from an infected animal. While travelling, take precautions , including keeping your distance from animals (including free-roaming dogs), and closely supervising children.

If you are bitten or scratched by an animal while travelling, immediately wash the wound with soap and clean water and see a health care professional. Rabies treatment is often available in this destination. 

Before travel, discuss rabies vaccination with a health care professional. It may be recommended for travellers who are at high risk of exposure (e.g., occupational risk such as veterinarians and wildlife workers, children, adventure travellers and spelunkers, and others in close contact with animals). 

Safe food and water precautions

Many illnesses can be caused by eating food or drinking beverages contaminated by bacteria, parasites, toxins, or viruses, or by swimming or bathing in contaminated water.

• Learn more about food and water precautions to take to avoid getting sick by visiting our eat and drink safely abroad page. Remember: Boil it, cook it, peel it, or leave it!
• Avoid getting water into your eyes, mouth or nose when swimming or participating in activities in freshwater (streams, canals, lakes), particularly after flooding or heavy rain. Water may look clean but could still be polluted or contaminated.
• Avoid inhaling or swallowing water while bathing, showering, or swimming in pools or hot tubs. 

Travellers' diarrhea is the most common illness affecting travellers. It is spread from eating or drinking contaminated food or water.

Risk of developing travellers' diarrhea increases when travelling in regions with poor standards of hygiene and sanitation. Practise safe food and water precautions.

The most important treatment for travellers' diarrhea is rehydration (drinking lots of fluids). Carry oral rehydration salts when travelling.

Typhoid   is a bacterial infection spread by contaminated food or water. Risk is higher among children, travellers going to rural areas, travellers visiting friends and relatives or those travelling for a long period of time.

Travellers visiting regions with a risk of typhoid, especially those exposed to places with poor sanitation, should speak to a health care professional about vaccination.  

There is a risk of schistosomiasis in this destination. Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease caused by tiny worms (blood flukes) which can be found in freshwater (lakes, rivers, ponds, and wetlands). The worms can break the skin, and their eggs can cause stomach pain, diarrhea, flu-like symptoms, or urinary problems. Schistosomiasis mostly affects underdeveloped and r ural communities, particularly agricultural and fishing communities.

Most travellers are at low risk. Travellers should avoid contact with untreated freshwater such as lakes, rivers, and ponds (e.g., swimming, bathing, wading, ingesting). There is no vaccine or medication available to prevent infection.

Insect bite prevention

Many diseases are spread by the bites of infected insects such as mosquitoes, ticks, fleas or flies. When travelling to areas where infected insects may be present:

• Use insect repellent (bug spray) on exposed skin
• Cover up with light-coloured, loose clothes made of tightly woven materials such as nylon or polyester
• Minimize exposure to insects
• Use mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors or in buildings that are not fully enclosed

To learn more about how you can reduce your risk of infection and disease caused by bites, both at home and abroad, visit our insect bite prevention page.

Find out what types of insects are present where you’re travelling, when they’re most active, and the symptoms of the diseases they spread.

There is a risk of chikungunya in this country.  The risk may vary between regions of a country.  Chikungunya is a virus spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. Chikungunya can cause a viral disease that typically causes fever and pain in the joints. In some cases, the joint pain can be severe and last for months or years.

Protect yourself from mosquito bites at all times. There is no vaccine available for chikungunya.

Cutaneous and mucosal   leishmaniasis   causes skin sores and ulcers. It is caused by a parasite spread through the bite of a female sandfly.

Risk is generally low for most travellers. Protect yourself from sandfly bites, which typically occur after sunset in rural and forested areas and in some urban centres. There is no vaccine or medication to protect against leishmaniasis.

Visceral  leishmaniasis   (or kala azar) affects the bone marrow and internal organs. It is caused by a parasite spread through the bite of a female sandfly. It can also be transmitted by blood transfusion or sharing contaminated needles. If left untreated it can cause death. Risk is generally low for most travellers. Protect yourself from sandfly bites, which typically occur after sunset in rural and forested areas and in some urban centres. There is no vaccine or medication to protect against leishmaniasis.

• In this country,   dengue  is a risk to travellers. It is a viral disease spread to humans by mosquito bites.
• Dengue can cause flu-like symptoms. In some cases, it can lead to severe dengue, which can be fatal.
• The level of risk of dengue changes seasonally, and varies from year to year. The level of risk also varies between regions in a country and can depend on the elevation in the region.
• Mosquitoes carrying dengue typically bite during the daytime, particularly around sunrise and sunset.
• Protect yourself from mosquito bites . There is no vaccine or medication that protects against dengue.

Zika virus is a risk in this country. 

Zika virus is primarily spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. It can also be sexually transmitted. Zika virus can cause serious birth defects.

During your trip:

• Prevent mosquito bites at all times.
• Use condoms correctly or avoid sexual contact, particularly if you are pregnant.

If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, you should discuss the potential risks of travelling to this destination with your health care provider. You may choose to avoid or postpone travel. 

For more information, see Zika virus: Pregnant or planning a pregnancy.

American trypanosomiasis (Chagas disease)   is a risk in this country. It is caused by a parasite spread by infected triatomine bugs. The infection can be inactive for decades, but humans can eventually develop complications causing disability and even death.

Risk is generally low for most travellers. Protect yourself from triatomine bugs, which are active at night, by using mosquito nets if staying in poorly-constructed housing. There is no vaccine available for Chagas disease.

Animal precautions

Some infections, such as rabies and influenza, can be shared between humans and animals. Certain types of activities may increase your chance of contact with animals, such as travelling in rural or forested areas, camping, hiking, and visiting wet markets (places where live animals are slaughtered and sold) or caves.

Travellers are cautioned to avoid contact with animals, including dogs, livestock (pigs, cows), monkeys, snakes, rodents, birds, and bats, and to avoid eating undercooked wild game.

Closely supervise children, as they are more likely to come in contact with animals.

Person-to-person infections

Stay home if you’re sick and practise proper cough and sneeze etiquette , which includes coughing or sneezing into a tissue or the bend of your arm, not your hand. Reduce your risk of colds, the flu and other illnesses by:

•   washing your hands often
• avoiding or limiting the amount of time spent in closed spaces, crowded places, or at large-scale events (concerts, sporting events, rallies)
• avoiding close physical contact with people who may be showing symptoms of illness 

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) , HIV , and mpox are spread through blood and bodily fluids; use condoms, practise safe sex, and limit your number of sexual partners. Check with your local public health authority pre-travel to determine your eligibility for mpox vaccine.  

Medical services and facilities

Good health care is only available in major cities. Quality of care varies greatly throughout the country.

Private hospitals and clinics located in cities are often better staffed and equipped than public or rural facilities.

Some medical facilities in the state of Rio de Janeiro have closed or are providing limited services, due to lack of funding for their operations. Private hospitals remain operational.

Certain medications may not be available.

Physicians and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment.

Medical evacuation can be very expensive and you may need it in case of serious illness or injury.

Make sure you get travel insurance that includes coverage for medical evacuation and hospital stays.

Travel health and safety

Keep in Mind...

The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller. The traveller is also responsible for his or her own personal safety.

Be prepared. Do not expect medical services to be the same as in Canada. Pack a   travel health kit , especially if you will be travelling away from major city centres.

You must abide by local laws.

Learn about what you should do and how we can help if you are arrested or detained abroad .

Penalties for possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs are severe.

Avoid areas of known drug trafficking. Travellers should not, under any circumstances, carry any items for strangers, especially baggage and parcels.

Drugs, alcohol and travel

Child sex tourism

Brazil is actively seeking to prevent child sex tourism. A number of tourists have been convicted of offences relating to the corruption of minors.

The legal age of consent in Brazil is 18. Prison sentences are severe.

Child Sex Tourism: It’s a Crime

Identification

You must carry photo identification, such as a passport or driver’s license. Keep a photocopy of your passport in a safe place, in case it’s lost or confiscated.

Not carrying identification can lead to problems and delays if stopped by police or in case of a medical emergency.

Dual citizenship

Dual citizenship is legally recognized in Brazil.

If you are a Canadian citizen, but also a citizen of Brazil, our ability to offer you consular services may be limited while you're there. You may also be subject to different entry/exit requirements .

Travellers with dual citizenship

International Child Abduction

The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction is an international treaty. It can help parents with the return of children who have been removed to or retained in certain countries in violation of custody rights. The convention applies between Canada and Brazil.

If your child was wrongfully taken to, or is being held in Brazil, and if the applicable conditions are met, you may apply for the return of your child to the Brazilian court.

If you are in this situation:

• act as quickly as you can
• contact the Central Authority for your province or territory of residence for information on starting an application under The Hague Convention
• consult a lawyer in Canada and in Brazil to explore all the legal options for the return of your child
• report the situation to the nearest Canadian government office abroad or to the Vulnerable Children’s Consular Unit at Global Affairs Canada by calling the Emergency Watch and Response Centre

If your child was removed from a country other than Canada, consult a lawyer to determine if The Hague Convention applies.

Be aware that Canadian consular officials cannot interfere in private legal matters or in another country’s judicial affairs.

• List of Canadian Central Authorities for the Hague Convention
• International Child Abduction: A Guidebook for Left-Behind Parents
• Travelling with children
• The Hague Convention - Hague Conference on Private International Law
• Canadian embassies and consulates by destination
• Emergency Watch and Response Centre

The legal blood alcohol limit is 0.00% in Brazil. If the police suspect you of drinking and driving, they could confiscate your driver’s licence on the spot. If convicted, you can expect heavy fines and possible jail sentences.

You can drive in Brazil for up to 180 days with a valid Canadian driver’s licence. Obtain an official Portuguese translation of your Canadian driver’s licence to help when dealing with local authorities.

You should carry an international driving permit.

International Driving Permit

The currency is the real (BRL).

Canadian bank cards may not work in ATMs. They should have a pin with a maximum of 4 digits to work in Brazil.

Canadian dollars are not generally accepted, except by some exchange bureaus, most likely at airports. Do not exchange money on the street.

Carry small bills, as change is often unavailable for small transactions.

Heavy rains

Heavy rains and strong winds are forecasted to affect all of Brazil, but particularly in Southeastern Brazil. The heavy rains could lead to floods and cause significant damage to buildings and infrastructure in the states of Sao Paulo, Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro.

The following essential services could be disrupted:

• transportation
• power distribution
• fuel supply
• water and food supply
• telecommunications networks
• emergency services
• medical care

If you're in Southesatern Brazil:

• shelter in a safe place and stay indoors
• exercise caution
• monitor local news and weather reports
• follow the instructions of local authorities, including evacuation orders

Weather alerts – National Institute of Meteorology (in Portuguese)

El Niño

The complex weather phenomenon called El Niño happens at irregular intervals of 2 to 7 years and can last 9 months to 2 years. El Niño generally generates droughts and heavy rainfalls, which could cause flooding, landslides, and mudslides, and could severely disrupt travel. Extreme droughts and heavy rains could limit access to food, drinking water, hygiene products, and medication. Severe weather could occur, such as:

• Below-average rainfall and droughts in the north and northeast
• Excessive rains in the south and southeast of the country
• Above-average temperatures in all regions

Keep informed of regional weather forecasts before and during your travels, and plan accordingly. Ensure you have adequate insurance to cover the consequences of such events, including the disruption of travel plans. 

Learn about El Niño

Rainy seasons

The rainy seasons extend from:

• January to July in the north
• October to April in the south and southeast
• April to July in the northeast

Flash floods can occur outside of the rainy season.

They can hamper overland travel, especially in rural areas. Roads may become impassable and bridges damaged. Travel conditions on mountain roads and on highways leading to beaches can be dangerous. Seasonal flooding can also reduce the provision of essential services. Power outages are frequent during the rainy season.

Avoid the affected areas, keep informed of regional weather forecasts and follow the instructions of local authorities.

• Weather warnings – National Institute of Meteorology (in Portuguese)
• Weather forecast – Climatempo (in Portuguese)
• More about hurricanes, typhoons, cyclones and monsoons

Landslides 

Landslides are becoming more common in Brazil and are the result of heavy rainfall. During heavy rainfall, landslides are more likely to occur.

Dry season   

Brasilia and the interior of the country experiences extreme dry periods between June and September.  Humidity levels can drop below 10% and heat levels rise significantly.

Stay informed of regional weather forecasts and plan accordingly.

A severe drought is affecting the south east of Brazil.

The water supply in São Paulo, including to the city of São Paulo, has been significantly affected. Some areas of São Paulo are experiencing water shortages, and the water quality has diminished.

Use only bottled water for drinking and cooking.

Bush and forest fires are common between May to September, particularly in Brasilia.

The air quality in areas near active fires may deteriorate due to heavy smoke. In case of a major fire:

• stay away from the affected area, particularly if you suffer from respiratory ailments
• follow the instructions of local emergency services personnel
• monitor local media for up-to-date information on the situation

Local services

In case of emergency, dial:

• police (military): 190
• medical assistance: 192
• firefighters: 193

Tourist police

• Rio de Janeiro: (21) 2332 2924 or 2334 6802
• São Paulo: (11) 3120 4447 or 3151 4167
• Salvador: (71) 3116-6817
• Recife: (81) 3322-4867

Consular assistance

For emergency consular assistance, call the Embassy of Canada to Brazil, in Brasilia, or the Consulate General of Canada in São Paulo or Rio de Janeiro and follow the instructions. At any time, you may also contact the Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa.

You may call the Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa toll-free at 0 800 891-6614.

The decision to travel is your choice and you are responsible for your personal safety abroad. We take the safety and security of Canadians abroad very seriously and provide credible and timely information in our Travel Advice to enable you to make well-informed decisions regarding your travel abroad.

The content on this page is provided for information only. While we make every effort to give you correct information, it is provided on an "as is" basis without warranty of any kind, expressed or implied. The Government of Canada does not assume responsibility and will not be liable for any damages in connection to the information provided.

If you need consular assistance while abroad, we will make every effort to help you. However, there may be constraints that will limit the ability of the Government of Canada to provide services.

Learn more about consular services .

Risk Levels

  take normal security precautions.

Take similar precautions to those you would take in Canada.

  Exercise a high degree of caution

There are certain safety and security concerns or the situation could change quickly. Be very cautious at all times, monitor local media and follow the instructions of local authorities.

IMPORTANT: The two levels below are official Government of Canada Travel Advisories and are issued when the safety and security of Canadians travelling or living in the country or region may be at risk.

  Avoid non-essential travel

Your safety and security could be at risk. You should think about your need to travel to this country, territory or region based on family or business requirements, knowledge of or familiarity with the region, and other factors. If you are already there, think about whether you really need to be there. If you do not need to be there, you should think about leaving.

  Avoid all travel

You should not travel to this country, territory or region. Your personal safety and security are at great risk. If you are already there, you should think about leaving if it is safe to do so.

Travel Vaccines and Advice for Brazil

Rich with beaches, rainforests, and vibrant urban centers, Brazil offers a wide variety of attractions.

For the adventurous, there are mountains to climb and islands to explore. For the more historically inclined, there are whole settlements from the colonial era that have not been renovated since their construction.

To experience the rich culture of Brazil, it is best to come during the time of Carnaval. Dancers flood the streets showing off sambo rhythms and other aspects of Brazil’s musical fabric. This is not to say Carnaval is the only time to behold such an event. Smaller versions of the festival happen throughout the year, and serve as a perfect window into the country’s heart.

Due to Brazil’s history as a trading port and colony, it is a melting pot of African, European, and Latin American cultures.

Brazil is also home to one of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet, offering an incredible range of flora and fauna. A trip to Brazil is a chance to experience a taste of everything.

Do I Need Vaccines for Brazil?

Yes, some vaccines are recommended or required for Brazil. The PHAC and WHO recommend the following vaccinations for Brazil: hepatitis A , hepatitis B , typhoid , yellow fever , rabies , meningitis , polio , measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) , Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis) , chickenpox , shingles , pneumonia and influenza .

See the bullets below to learn more about some of these key immunizations:

• Hepatitis A – Food & Water – Recommended for most travellers
• Hepatitis B – Blood & Body Fluids – Accelerated schedule available
• Typhoid – Food & Water – Shot lasts 2 years. Oral vaccine lasts 5 years, must be able to swallow pills. Oral doses must be kept in refrigerator.
• Yellow Fever – Mosquito – Recommended for all regions except Fortaleza and Recife
• Rabies – Saliva of Infected Animals – Moderate risk country. Vaccine recommended for certain travellers based on destination, activities and length of stay.
• Measles Mumps Rubella (MMR) – Various Vectors – Given to anyone unvaccinated and/or born after 1957. One time adult booster recommended.
• TDAP (Tetanus, Diphtheria & Pertussis) – Wounds & Airborne – Only one adult booster of pertussis required.
• Chickenpox – Direct Contact & Airborne – Given to those unvaccinated that did not have chickenpox.
• Shingles – Direct Contact – Vaccine can still be given if you have had shingles.
• Pneumonia – Airborne – Two vaccines given seperately. All 65+ or immunocompromised should receive both.
• Influenza – Airborne – Vaccine components change annually.
• Meningitis – Airborne & Direct Contact – Given to anyone unvaccinated or at an increased risk, especially students.
• Polio – Food & Water – Considered a routine vaccination for most travel itineraries. Single adult booster recommended.

See the tables below for more information:

A yellow fever vaccination is not required to enter Brazil, but is highly recommended. See the yellow fever section below.

Malaria and dengue are present in Brazil. Be sure to take proper precautions to avoid these mosquito-borne diseases. Bring repellents netting and antimalarials, if needed.

Zika virus has been found in Brazil. Some travellers are at an increased risk including women who are pregnant or may become pregnant. Make sure you use repellents and netting where needed.

Visit our vaccinations page to learn more. Travel safely with Passport Health and schedule your appointment today by calling or book online now .

Yellow Fever in Brazil

Brazil has been the site of multiple yellow fever outbreaks in the past few years. The most recent outbreak started in December 2016 and is still ongoing.

Yellow fever vaccination is highly recommended for travellers to:

• Espirito Santo
• Rio de Janeiro

See our health alerts section for the most up-to-date information.

Customer Reviews

Passport health – travel vaccines for brazil, do i need a visa or passport for brazil.

As of June 2019, a visa is no longer required for entry to Brazil for stays under 90 days. Proof of a return or onward travel may still be required at entry.

Sources: Embassy of Brazil and Canadian Travel and Tourism

Visit the Canadian Travel and Tourism website for more information on entry and exit requirements.

What Is the Climate Like in Brazil?

Brazil’s climate can vary depending on which region you are visiting.

In the northern parts of the country, the climate is tropical, while in the southern regions the climate is more temperate. Most of the population lives in cooler areas like high altitudes or the coast.

Popular tourist destinations like Rio de Janeiro suffer from an extremely hot climate. Temperatures there are usually above 38 degrees during the dry season.

In the areas closer to the Amazon rainforest, temperatures higher than 32 are rare. If you are travelling to cities in the upper region of the Amazon belt like Belem, heavy rainfall is common between December and April.

It is best to study the microclimate of the region you are visiting while planning a trip to Brazil.

How Safe Is Brazil?

Be sure to travel with your passports on your person at all times and be prepared to present it to local law enforcement, if necessary.

As a whole, the danger level of Brazil is classified as high. The murder rate if four times that of developed nations, and the crime rate reaches similar numbers. Travellers should remain vigilant at all times. Try not to travel outside of where you are staying after dark.

Do not ever enter the favelas. They are mostly operated by gangs, and are extremely dangerous even for locals. It is best to avoid them completely. If you are planning on going somewhere that is off the beaten path, consult with locals first to find out if it is safe.

Avoid carrying large amounts of money with you. If absolutely necessary, divide it up between several pockets. The efficiency of the police force varies depending on the region. It is imperative that you do not attempt to bribe them for any reason.

Amazing Rio

Rio de Janeiro is a city in Brazil that is popular for tourists to visit. People go there to see famous landmarks like the Christ the Redeemer statue and Sugarloaf Mountain.

Travelers can also go to the beach at Copacabana, Ipanema, and Leblon to swim, surf and play. Rio de Janeiro is also famous for Carnival, a big party with music, dancing, and colorful parades. Visitors can try different kinds of food like feijoada and churrasco, and drinks like caipirinhas.

At night, there are many bars and clubs to go to, or visitors can have drinks and watch the sunset at the beach. People can also go hiking, biking, or take a jeep tour to explore the city’s parks and natural areas like Tijuca National Park and the Botanical Garden.

Rio de Janeiro has something for everyone and is a great place to experience Brazil’s unique blend of culture and natural beauty.

What Should I Take to Brazil?

Here are some essential items to consider for your trip to Brazil:

• Medical Supplies – These can be expensive in Brazil. It is important to bring one’s own. Make sure to include antidiarrheal medication, antimalarials, and basic over the counter aides.
• Breathable Clothing – The climate of Brazil in the central areas like Rio de Janeiro can be quite hot. Wear clothing that is not too thick, and that you wouldn’t mind sweating in.
• Warm Clothing – This is advised if travelling to an area south of the Tropic of Capricorn where the climate is more temperate.
• Documents – Be sure to bring your passport, visa and other forms of identification.
• Cash – It is safest to operate on a cash-only basis while in Brazil.

Canadian Embassy in Brazil

Canadian consular services can help travellers with many issues they may face including passport services. Once in Brazil, the information for the Canadian Embassy is:

Canadian Embassy in Brazil SES – Av. das Nações, Quadra 803, Lote 16 70410-900 Brasília DF – Brazil Tel.: (55 61) 3424-5400

If you have any questions about travelling to Brazil or are wondering what shots you may need for your trip, schedule an appointment with your local Passport Health travel medicine clinic. Call us at or book online now !

On This Page: Do I Need Vaccines for Brazil? Yellow Fever in Brazil Do I Need a Visa or Passport for Brazil? What is the Climate Like in Brazil? How Safe is Brazil? Beaches in Brazil What Should I Take To Brazil? Canadian Embassy in Brazil

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Brazilian Ex-President Accused by Police of Faking Vaccine Records

S ÃO PAULO—Brazil’s federal police accused former President Jair Bolsonaro and his closest aides over allegations they falsified their Covid-19 vaccination records to travel to the U.S. at the height of the pandemic, according to a person close to the investigation.

The criminal accusations, which could carry a jail sentence of up to 15 years if they lead to a conviction, come as authorities crack down on Bolsonaro and his fellow conservatives in a barrage of criminal cases, angering supporters who have threatened nationwide protests if he is arrested.

Bolsonaro and 16 other people, including his former adviser and military official Mauro Cid, were accused of tampering with Brazil’s public vaccination database and issuing forged vaccination certificates to dodge U.S. restrictions on unvaccinated travelers, according to the person.

Brazil’s public prosecutors will now decide whether to file formal charges in the case.

Bolsonaro had always publicly stated that he was never vaccinated against Covid-19 and was a vocal critic of Covid-19 vaccines while in office, frequently suggesting that they could have far-reaching side effects from killing children to causing women to grow beards.

Bolsonaro traveled to the U.S. at least five times between March 2020 and December 2022, a period when Covid-19 deaths soared in Brazil and the U.S. His trips included a meeting with former President Donald Trump, another with President Biden, two speeches at the United Nations General Assembly in New York and a family holiday to Orlando. After a September 2021 trip, Bolsonaro had to self-isolate after a member of his delegation tested positive for the virus.

A lawyer for Bolsonaro declined to comment on the police’s latest accusations, saying he was awaiting official confirmation from the authorities. Bolsonaro has previously denied wrongdoing, accusing President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s government and the political left of carrying out a witch hunt against him.

“Every time I went to the U.S., they never asked for my vaccine certificate so there is no fraud on part,” Bolsonaro said in an interview on Brazilian radio in May last year after police raided his home and seized his cellphone as part of the investigation. He said he also enjoyed exemptions on vaccine rules for travelers as a head of state.

Brazil’s comptroller general’s office already concluded in January this year that Bolsonaro’s vaccination records were false. Police said the records were altered between November 2021 and December 2022 and issued to Bolsonaro’s closest aides, as well as his wife and young daughter, who traveled with him to Florida at the end of 2022.

The police accusations come as the authorities narrow in on the former president in a series of criminal cases, including accusations by police that Bolsonaro had plotted a military takeover of the country in the run-up to the 2022 presidential elections.

As part of the same investigation, Bolsonaro also stands accused of encouraging his supporters to try to remove da Silva from power after he had taken office in January 2023.

Bolsonaro has denied the existence of a coup attempt. “Not one soldier was deployed in Brasília,” he said in a television interview last month.

Thousands of Bolsonaro’s supporters stormed Brazil’s Congress, Presidential Palace and the Supreme Court one week into da Silva’s new government in January 2023, many demanding a military intervention to bring Bolsonaro back to power.

In June last year, Brazil’s electoral court barred Bolsonaro from running for office again until 2030, leading his supporters to march by the thousands last month on São Paulo’s main Paulista Avenue.

Pro-Bolsonaro truck drivers, who have held crippling nationwide strikes in the past, have also threatened further blockades if the former president is arrested.

Write to Samantha Pearson at [email protected]

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Brazil Police Recommend Criminal Charges Against Bolsonaro

The federal police accused the former president of falsifying his Covid-19 vaccination records.

By Jack Nicas

Reporting from Rio de Janeiro

Brazil’s federal police recommended that former President Jair Bolsonaro be criminally charged in a scheme to falsify his Covid-19 vaccine card, partly to travel to the United States during the pandemic, in the latest sign of criminal investigations closing in on the former president.

Federal prosecutors will now decide whether to pursue the case. If they do, it will be the first time the former president has faced criminal charges.

Brazilian police accused Mr. Bolsonaro of ordering a top aide to obtain falsified Covid-19 vaccination records for himself and his daughter, 13, in late 2022, just before the former president traveled to Florida to stay for three months following his election loss.

Brazilian police said they were awaiting an answer from the U.S. Justice Department on whether Mr. Bolsonaro used a fake vaccination card to enter the United States, which could bring different criminal charges.

At the time, most international visitors to the United States were required to show proof of Covid-19 vaccination to enter the country, and a U.S. official said even a foreign leader would have had to comply with such rules.

Mr. Bolsonaro has said he did not receive a Covid-19 vaccine, but he has denied accusations that he was involved in any plan to falsify his vaccination records. His lawyer said in a text message that he was still reviewing the accusations.

If he is convicted of forging his vaccine card, Mr. Bolsonaro could face prison time.

The federal police’s indictment is the first time the various criminal investigations into Mr. Bolsonaro have moved toward charges.

Mr. Bolsonaro has been subject to questioning and searches as part of several inquiries, including into the selling of watches and jewels he received as presidential gifts from Saudi Arabia and other countries, as well as accusations that he worked with top government officials to hatch a plan to try to hold onto power after his 2022 election loss .

Brazil’s electoral court has already ruled Mr. Bolsonaro ineligible for public office until 2030 for spreading false information about Brazil’s voting systems on state television, forcing him to sit out the next presidential contest in 2026.

During the pandemic, Mr. Bolsonaro was critical of the Covid-19 vaccine , joking that it would turn people into crocodiles and instead promoting unproven treatments, such as hydroxychloroquine, an antimalarial drug.

His administration hesitated to secure vaccines when they were first being distributed, exacerbating the pandemic in Brazil, according to a Brazilian congressional investigation that recommended in 2021 that the former president be charged with “ crimes against humanity, ” among other charges, for his actions during the pandemic.

Prosecutors at the time did not charge him. More than 700,000 people have died in Brazil because of Covid-19, the second-highest national death count after the United States.

In May 2023, the police searched Mr. Bolsonaro’s home , confiscated his cellphone and arrested one of his closest aides and two of his security guards as part of the investigation into the fake vaccination records.

In a complaint unsealed on Tuesday, Brazil’s federal police said records showed that Mr. Bolsonaro’s personal aide, Lt. Col. Mauro Cid, and Mr. Cid’s wife used fake vaccination cards to enter the United States in 2022. Mr. Cid, who was arrested last year as part of the investigation, told the police that once Mr. Bolsonaro found out that Mr. Cid had a fake vaccine card, he ordered the aide to get him one, too, the police said.

The police said records showed that on Dec. 21, 2022, an official in a suburb of Rio de Janeiro then entered false records into the city’s health database that Mr. Bolsonaro and his daughter had received two doses of Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine earlier that year. The police said that during one of the two dates on which the records said Mr. Bolsonaro received a vaccine, the former president was not in the Rio de Janeiro suburb.

In addition to Mr. Cid, the police said, several other allies of the former president falsified vaccination records in a similar scheme, some of whom used the records to accompany Mr. Bolsonaro to the United States. The police also recommended charges against them.

Mr. Bolsonaro spent his first three months after the presidency staying in a rented home near Disney World outside Orlando.

Mr. Bolsonaro entered the United States several other times while the country required visitors to show proof of vaccination, including to attend the United Nations General Assembly and to meet President Biden in Los Angeles, though those 2022 trips preceded the plan described by investigators to falsify vaccine records.

In 2021, Mr. Bolsonaro, who was perhaps the only unvaccinated world leader at the U.N. General Assembly, opened that proceeding with a speech that said Brazil would not require anyone to get vaccinated. He added that he had recovered from Covid-19 by using “off-label” drugs.

“History and science will hold everyone accountable,” he said .

During that trip, he and his entourage struggled to enter New York restaurants that required proof of vaccination. Instead, he posted a photo of his team eating pizza on the sidewalk. Mr. Bolsonaro’s health minister, who was biting a piece of pizza in the photo, tested positive for Covid-19 hours after attending the U.N. meetings.

Flávia Milhorance contributed reporting from Rio de Janeiro, and Paulo Motoryn from Brasília.

An earlier version of this article misstated the number of Covid-19 deaths in Brazil. There have been more than 700,000 deaths, not nearly 600,000 deaths.

How we handle corrections

Jack Nicas is the Brazil bureau chief for The Times, based in Rio de Janeiro, where he leads coverage of much of South America. More about Jack Nicas

Brazil's Bolsonaro is target of several probes, but his Covid decisions catch up to him first

RIO DE JANEIRO — As Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s term wound down in the final days of December 2022, he had decided to skip the ritual of handing over the presidential sash to his successor, and instead made plans to travel abroad.

But there was a problem, according to a Federal Police indictment unveiled Tuesday: Bolsonaro didn’t have the necessary vaccination certificate required by U.S. authorities.

So Bolsonaro turned to his aide-de-camp, Mauro Cid, and asked him to insert false data into the public health system to make it appear as though he and his 12-year-old daughter had received the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the indictment.

Cid told police he tasked someone with the carrying out the deed, then printed out the certificates inside the presidential palace on Dec. 22 and hand-delivered them to Bolsonaro, according to detective Fábio Alvarez Shor, who signed the indictment.

It is Bolsonaro’s first indictment since leaving office, and tampering with public records in Brazil is no trifling matter; should the prosecutor-general’s office decide to use the indictment to file charges at the Supreme Court, the 68-year-old politician could spend up to 12 years behind bars or as little as two years, according to legal analyst Zilan Costa. A separate indictment for criminal association carries a maximum jail time of four years, he said.

Bolsonaro, who didn’t comment on Tuesday, previously denied any wrongdoing during questioning in May 2023.

In addition to the allegation Bolsonaro falsified records, another ongoing investigation seeks to determine whether he tried to sneak two sets of expensive diamond jewelry into Brazil  and prevent them from being incorporated into the presidency’s public collection. Police are also probing his alleged involvement in the Jan. 8, 2023 uprising in the capital, soon after Lula took power. It resembled the U.S. Capitol riot in Washington two years prior and sought to restore Bolsonaro to power. Commanders who served under Bolsonaro have told police  the former leader presented them with a plan for him to remain in power  after he lost his 2022 reelection bid.

But it is  his actions during the COVID-19 pandemic  — which he called “a measly cold” as he brazenly flouted health restrictions and encouraged Brazilians to follow his example — that may have caught up with him first. After vaccines became available, he dismissed them as unnecessary, despite Brazil registering one of the highest death tolls in the world, and repeatedly said he would not receive a jab himself.

His administration ignored several offers from pharmaceutical company Pfizer to sell Brazil tens of millions of shots in 2020, and he openly criticized a move by Sao Paulo state’s governor to buy vaccines from Chinese company Sinovac when no other doses at hand.

Bolsonaro wasn’t the only one indicted on Tuesday: Cid and 15 others were accused of involvement in the scheme to falsify records for themselves and others.

“The former president never ordered or knew that any of his advisors had produced vaccination certificates with ideologically false content,” three of Bolsonaro’s lawyers said in a statement released late Tuesday. “When he entered the U.S. at the end of December 2022, he was not asked for a vaccination certificate since, as President of the Republic, he was exempt from this requirement.”

Shor, the police detective, wrote in his indictment he is awaiting information from the U.S. Justice Department to “clarify whether those under investigation did make use of the false vaccination certificates upon their arrival and stay in American territory.” If so, further charges could be leveled against Bolsonaro, Shor wrote without specifying in which country.

His indictment shed new light on a Senate committee inquiry that ended in October 2021 with a recommendation for nine criminal charges against Bolsonaro, alleging that he mismanaged the pandemic. Then prosecutor-general Augusto Aras, who was widely seen as a Bolsonaro ally, declined to move the case forward.

Brazilian media reported that Aras’ successor, Paulo Gonet, met lawmakers Tuesday night to discuss the possibility of filing charges.

Bolsonaro retains staunch allegiance among his political base,  as shown by an outpouring of support last month,  when an estimated 185,000 people clogged Sao Paulo’s main boulevard to decry what they — and the former president — characterize as political persecution.

The indictment will not turn off his backers and will only confirm his detractors’ suspicions, said Carlos Melo, a political science professor at Insper University in Sao Paulo.

“It is definitely worse for him in courts,” Melo said. “He could be entering a trend of convictions, and then arrest.”

Brazil’s top electoral court has already ruled Bolsonaro ineligible to run for office until 2030 , on the grounds that he abused his power during the 2022 campaign and cast unfounded doubts on the country’s electronic voting system.

After losing the October 2022 election, he never conceded defeat. And with a fresh vaccination certificate in hand, according to the police indictment, he decamped for south Florida.

The Associated Press

Several probes target Brazil's Bolsonaro, but his COVID decisions are catching up to him first

RIO DE JANEIRO — As Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s term wound down in the final days of December 2022, he had decided to skip the ritual of handing over the presidential sash to his successor, and instead made plans to travel abroad.

But there was a problem, according to a Federal Police indictment unveiled Tuesday: Bolsonaro didn’t have the necessary vaccination certificate required by U.S. authorities.

So Bolsonaro turned to his aide-de-camp, Mauro Cid, and asked him to insert false data into the public health system to make it appear as though he and his 12-year-old daughter had received the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the indictment.

Cid told police he tasked someone with the carrying out the deed, then printed out the certificates inside the presidential palace on Dec. 22 and hand-delivered them to Bolsonaro, according to detective Fábio Alvarez Shor, who signed the indictment.

It is Bolsonaro’s first indictment since leaving office, and tampering with public records in Brazil is no trifling matter; should the prosecutor-general’s office decide to use the indictment to file charges at the Supreme Court, the 68-year-old politician could spend up to 12 years behind bars or as little as two years, according to legal analyst Zilan Costa. A separate indictment for criminal association carries a maximum jail time of four years, he said.

Bolsonaro, who didn’t comment on Tuesday, previously denied any wrongdoing during questioning in May 2023.

In addition to the allegation Bolsonaro falsified records, another ongoing investigation seeks to determine whether he tried to sneak two sets of expensive diamond jewelry into Brazil and prevent them from being incorporated into the presidency’s public collection. Police are also probing his alleged involvement in the Jan. 8, 2023 uprising in the capital, soon after Lula took power. It resembled the U.S. Capitol riot in Washington two years prior and sought to restore Bolsonaro to power. Commanders who served under Bolsonaro have told police the former leader presented them with a plan for him to remain in power after he lost his 2022 reelection bid.

But it is his actions during the COVID-19 pandemic – which he called “a measly cold” as he brazenly flouted health restrictions and encouraged Brazilians to follow his example – that may have caught up with him first. After vaccines became available, he dismissed them as unnecessary, despite Brazil registering one of the highest death tolls in the world, and repeatedly said he would not receive a jab himself.

His administration ignored several offers from pharmaceutical company Pfizer to sell Brazil tens of millions of shots in 2020, and he openly criticized a move by Sao Paulo state’s governor to buy vaccines from Chinese company Sinovac when no other doses at hand.

Bolsonaro wasn’t the only one indicted on Tuesday: Cid and 15 others were accused of involvement in the scheme to falsify records for themselves and others.

“The former president never ordered or knew that any of his advisors had produced vaccination certificates with ideologically false content,” three of Bolsonaro’s lawyers said in a statement released late Tuesday. “When he entered the U.S. at the end of December 2022, he was not asked for a vaccination certificate since, as President of the Republic, he was exempt from this requirement.”

Shor, the police detective, wrote in his indictment he is awaiting information from the U.S. Justice Department to “clarify whether those under investigation did make use of the false vaccination certificates upon their arrival and stay in American territory.” If so, further charges could be leveled against Bolsonaro, Shor wrote without specifying in which country.

His indictment breathed fresh life into a Senate committee inquiry that ended in October 2021 with a recommendation for nine criminal charges against Bolsonaro, alleging that he mismanaged the pandemic. Then prosecutor-general Augusto Aras, who was widely seen as a Bolsonaro ally, declined to move the case forward.

Aras’ successor, Paulo Gonet, met committee members Tuesday night. They requested that he reopen investigations stemming from their monthslong work that were shelved, and stressed the importance of carrying forward those already underway, according to a statement from the office of Sen. Omar Aziz, who chaired the committee.

Bolsonaro retains staunch allegiance among his political base, as shown by an outpouring of support last month, when an estimated 185,000 people clogged Sao Paulo’s main boulevard to decry what they — and the former president — characterize as political persecution.

The indictment will not turn off his backers and will only confirm his detractors’ suspicions, said Carlos Melo, a political science professor at Insper University in Sao Paulo.

“It is definitely worse for him in courts,” Melo said. “He could be entering a trend of convictions, and then arrest.”

Brazil’s top electoral court has already ruled Bolsonaro ineligible to run for office until 2030 , on the grounds that he abused his power during the 2022 campaign and cast unfounded doubts on the country’s electronic voting system.

After losing the October 2022 election, he never conceded defeat. And with a fresh vaccination certificate in hand, according to the police indictment, he decamped for south Florida.

___ Savarese reported from Sao Paulo.

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Brazil’s Bolsonaro Indicted Over Fake Vaccine Docs for Florida Vacay

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Jair Bolsonaro , the bombastic, anti-vax former president of Brazil , was indicted Tuesday on allegations he fudged his COVID-19 documents to travel to Florida when foreign nationals were still required to show proof of having received a vaccine.

Brazil’s federal police want the former leader to be prosecuted on charges of fraud and criminal association—the latest legal woes for Bolsonaro, who’s become part of a number of criminal investigations since he lost the 2022 election to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Ultimately, it will be up to Brazil’s prosecutor-general’s office to determine whether to pursue charges.

Brazilian police allege the fraudulent vaccine card was made by a top deputy after Bolsonaro’s election loss in 2022. Police say they have evidence that the card was printed from an IP address inside Brazil’s presidential palace, just days before Bolsonaro jetted to Florida for three months.

Bolsonaro made headlines during his trip stateside, where he was spotted shopping inside an Orlando grocery store and was hospitalized with “abdominal pain” a day after his supporters stormed the Brazilian capital. In a separate case, he’s accused of selling off pricey jewels and watches that were gifted to him by Saudi Arabia.

The former president stands to be sent to prison if convicted on the charges recommended by police.

Arrest Made After New York Art Dealer Stabbed to Death in Brazil

Bolsonaro, 68, has already been barred from running for office for at least eight years—a punishment for spreading lies about Brazil’s voting systems on state television. Last month, he was named a target in a federal investigation into whether his government plotted a military takeover of the country.

Still, the allegations he faked his vaccination—after he spent over a year admonishing the effectiveness of vaccines, notoriously joking they’ll turn people into alligators—are likely to cause the ex-president a headache. U.S. officials have not addressed the allegations, though they suggest Bolsonaro may have broken U.S. law to enter the country.

The vaccine allegations aren’t new, but Tuesday marked the first time police sought to have Bolsonaro formally charged for his alleged role in the scheme. Previously, police searched Bolsonaro’s home in May to confiscate his phone and arrest one of his closest aides as part of the vaccine investigation.

An investigatory report obtained by The Washington Post claimed that Bolsonaro was directly tied to the alleged vaccine fraud. The ex-prez’s top lieutenant, Mauro Cid, allegedly told police that Bolsonaro had ordered him to falsify the vaccine records for him and his daughter ahead of their trip.

At the time of Bolsonaro’s flight to Florida, the U.S. had exempted “persons on diplomatic or official foreign government travel” from its vaccination requirement. But Bolsonaro, who was spotted chowing down on KFC and wandering around a Publix supermarket, didn’t appear to be visiting the U.S. on state business despite still being president.

Bolsonaro did not immediately comment on Tuesday’s allegations, but his attorney, Fabio Wajngarten, defended him in a post to X . Wajngarten called the police case “absurd” and claimed it was a case of “political prosecution,” but did not outright deny the allegations.

“While he was president, he was totally exempt from presenting any type of certification on his trips,” Wajngarten said. “This is about political persecution and trying to empty his enormous political capital, which is only growing.”

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Brazil’s record dengue surge: why a vaccine campaign is unlikely to stop it

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An explosive rise in dengue cases in Brazil has health authorities on edge. In the first two months of 2024, the country registered more than one million cases of the mosquito-borne disease . That’s a record for this period — and Brazil’s dengue cases normally peak between March and May (see ‘Dengue’s early surge in Brazil’).

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Several probes target Brazil’s Bolsonaro, but his COVID decisions are catching up to him first

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was formally accused Tuesday of falsifying his COVID-19 vaccination data, marking the first indictment for the embattled far-right leader, with more allegations potentially in store. (Mar. 19)

FILE - Brazil’s former President Jair Bolsonaro leaves after attending an event at the Trump National Doral Miami, in Doral, Fla., Feb. 3, 2023. As Bolsonaro’s term wound down in the final days of December 2022, Bolsonaro decided to skip the ritual of handing over the presidential sash to his successor, and instead traveled to Florida. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File)

• Copy Link copied

FILE - Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro poses for a photo with his newly appointed attorney general, Augusto Aras, at the Planalto Presidential Palace, in Brasilia, Brazil, Sept. 26, 2019. A Federal Police indictment unveiled Tuesday, March 19, 2024, has shed new light on a Senate committee inquiry that ended in October 2021 with a recommendation for nine criminal charges against Bolsonaro, alleging that he mismanaged the pandemic. Aras declined to move the case forward. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres, File)

FILE - Mauro Cid, an aide-de-camp to former President Jair Bolsonaro, testifies before a commission investigating the Jan. 8 capital uprising, in Brasilia, Brazil, July 11, 2023. According to a Federal Police indictment unveiled Tuesday, March 19, 2024, Bolsonaro turned to Cid, and asked him to insert false data into the public health system to make it appear as though he and his daughter had received the COVID-19 vaccine, in order to have the necessary vaccination certificate required by U.S. authorities for their 2023 trip to Florida. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres, File)

FILE - Senators huddle next to a desk that has a plaque with the number of COVID-19 deaths in Brazil and copies of a Senate commission report on the government’s handling of the pandemic, in Brasilia, Brazil, Oct. 20, 2021. A senator formally presented the report recommending President Jair Bolsonaro be indicted on criminal charges for allegedly bungling Brazil’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and pushing the country’s death toll to one of the highest in the world. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres, File)

FILE - Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro speaks to the press outside his home after Federal Police agents carried out a search and seizure warrant in Brasilia, Brazil, May 3, 2023. When asked about the search of Bolsonaro’s home in Brasilia, the Federal Police press office gave a statement saying officers were carrying out searches and arrests related to the introduction of fraudulent data related to the COVID-19 vaccine into the nation’s health system. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

FILE - Demonstrators walk past a mural depicting the face of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro during a demonstration against Bolsonaro’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic and economic policies protesters say harm the interests of the poor and working-class on Paulista Avenue in Sao Paulo, Brazil, June 19, 2021. After vaccines became available, Bolsonaro dismissed them as unnecessary, despite Brazil registering one of the highest death tolls in the world, and repeatedly said he would not receive a jab himself. (AP Photo/Marcelo Chello, File)

FILE - Brazil’s former President Jair Bolsonaro prepares to speak to the press in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, June 30, 2023, the day that judges ruled him ineligible to run for any political office again until 2030 after concluding that he abused his power and cast unfounded doubts on the country’s electronic voting system. According to a Federal Police indictment unveiled Tuesday, March 19, 2024, Bolsonaro turned to an aide-de-camp and asked him to insert false data into the public health system to make it appear as though he and his daughter had received the COVID-19 vaccine, in order to have the necessary vaccination certificate required by U.S. authorities for their 2023 trip to Florida. (AP Photo/Thomas Santos, File)

FILE - Thousands of people gather to show their support for former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro in Sao Paulo., Brazil, Feb. 25, 2024. Bolsonaro retains staunch allegiance among his political base who gathered on Sao Paulo’s main boulevard to decry what they — and the former president — characterize as political persecution. (AP Photo/Andre Penner, File)

Brazil’s former President Jair Bolsonaro is surrounded by supporters after attending a campaign event launching the pre-candidacy of a mayoral candidate, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, March 16, 2024. After losing the October 2022 election, he never conceded defeat. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — As Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s term wound down in the final days of December 2022, he had decided to skip the ritual of handing over the presidential sash to his successor, and instead made plans to travel abroad.

But there was a problem, according to a Federal Police indictment unveiled Tuesday: Bolsonaro didn’t have the necessary vaccination certificate required by U.S. authorities.

So Bolsonaro turned to his aide-de-camp, Mauro Cid, and asked him to insert false data into the public health system to make it appear as though he and his 12-year-old daughter had received the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the indictment.

Cid told police he tasked someone with the carrying out the deed, then printed out the certificates inside the presidential palace on Dec. 22 and hand-delivered them to Bolsonaro, according to detective Fábio Alvarez Shor, who signed the indictment.

It is Bolsonaro’s first indictment since leaving office, and tampering with public records in Brazil is no trifling matter; should the prosecutor-general’s office decide to use the indictment to file charges at the Supreme Court, the 68-year-old politician could spend up to 12 years behind bars or as little as two years, according to legal analyst Zilan Costa. A separate indictment for criminal association carries a maximum jail time of four years, he said.

Bolsonaro, who didn’t comment on Tuesday, previously denied any wrongdoing during questioning in May 2023.

In addition to the allegation Bolsonaro falsified records, another ongoing investigation seeks to determine whether he tried to sneak two sets of expensive diamond jewelry into Brazil and prevent them from being incorporated into the presidency’s public collection. Police are also probing his alleged involvement in the Jan. 8, 2023 uprising in the capital, soon after Lula took power. It resembled the U.S. Capitol riot in Washington two years prior and sought to restore Bolsonaro to power. Commanders who served under Bolsonaro have told police the former leader presented them with a plan for him to remain in power after he lost his 2022 reelection bid.

But it is his actions during the COVID-19 pandemic – which he called “a measly cold” as he brazenly flouted health restrictions and encouraged Brazilians to follow his example – that may have caught up with him first. After vaccines became available, he dismissed them as unnecessary, despite Brazil registering one of the highest death tolls in the world, and repeatedly said he would not receive a jab himself.

His administration ignored several offers from pharmaceutical company Pfizer to sell Brazil tens of millions of shots in 2020, and he openly criticized a move by Sao Paulo state’s governor to buy vaccines from Chinese company Sinovac when no other doses at hand.

Bolsonaro wasn’t the only one indicted on Tuesday: Cid and 15 others were accused of involvement in the scheme to falsify records for themselves and others.

“The former president never ordered or knew that any of his advisors had produced vaccination certificates with ideologically false content,” three of Bolsonaro’s lawyers said in a statement released late Tuesday. “When he entered the U.S. at the end of December 2022, he was not asked for a vaccination certificate since, as President of the Republic, he was exempt from this requirement.”

Shor, the police detective, wrote in his indictment he is awaiting information from the U.S. Justice Department to “clarify whether those under investigation did make use of the false vaccination certificates upon their arrival and stay in American territory.” If so, further charges could be leveled against Bolsonaro, Shor wrote without specifying in which country.

His indictment breathed fresh life into a Senate committee inquiry that ended in October 2021 with a recommendation for nine criminal charges against Bolsonaro, alleging that he mismanaged the pandemic. Then prosecutor-general Augusto Aras, who was widely seen as a Bolsonaro ally, declined to move the case forward.

Aras’ successor, Paulo Gonet, met committee members Tuesday night. They requested that he reopen investigations stemming from their monthslong work that were shelved, and stressed the importance of carrying forward those already underway, according to a statement from the office of Sen. Omar Aziz, who chaired the committee.

Bolsonaro retains staunch allegiance among his political base, as shown by an outpouring of support last month, when an estimated 185,000 people clogged Sao Paulo’s main boulevard to decry what they — and the former president — characterize as political persecution.

The indictment will not turn off his backers and will only confirm his detractors’ suspicions, said Carlos Melo, a political science professor at Insper University in Sao Paulo.

“It is definitely worse for him in courts,” Melo said. “He could be entering a trend of convictions, and then arrest.”

Brazil’s top electoral court has already ruled Bolsonaro ineligible to run for office until 2030 , on the grounds that he abused his power during the 2022 campaign and cast unfounded doubts on the country’s electronic voting system.

After losing the October 2022 election, he never conceded defeat. And with a fresh vaccination certificate in hand, according to the police indictment, he decamped for south Florida.

___ Savarese reported from Sao Paulo.

Brazil’s Bolsonaro Indicted Over Alleged Falsification of His Own Vaccination Data

(SAO PAULO) — Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was formally accused Tuesday of falsifying his COVID-19 vaccination data, marking the first indictment for the embattled far-right leader, with more allegations potentially in store.

The federal police indictment released by the Supreme Court alleged that Bolsonaro and 16 others inserted false information into a public health database to make it appear as though the then-president, his 12-year-old daughter and several others in his circle had received the COVID-19 vaccine.

Police detective Fábio Alvarez Shor, who signed the indictment, said in his report that Bolsonaro and his aides changed their vaccination records in order to “issue their respective (vaccination) certificates and use them to cheat current health restrictions.”

“The investigation found several false insertions between November 2021 and December 2022, and also many actions of using fraudulent documents,” Shor added.

During the pandemic, Bolsonaro was one of the few world leaders who railed against the vaccine, openly flouting health restrictions and encouraging other Brazilians to follow his example. His administration ignored several offers from pharmaceutical company Pfizer to sell Brazil tens of millions of shots in 2020, and he openly criticized a move by Sao Paulo state’s governor to buy vaccines from Chinese company Sinovac when no other doses were available.

Brazil’s prosecutor-general’s office will have the final say on whether to use the indictment to file charges against Bolsonaro at the Supreme Court. The case stems from one of several investigations targeting Bolsonaro, who governed between 2019 and 2022.

Bolsonaro lawyer Fábio Wajngarten called his client’s indictment “absurd” and said he did not have access to it.

“When he was president, he was completely exonerated from showing any kind of certificate on his trips. This is a political persecution and an attempt to void the enormous political capital that has only grown,” Wajngarten said.

The former president denied any wrongdoing during questioning in May 2023.

Police accuse Bolsonaro and his aides of tampering with the health ministry’s database shortly before he traveled to the U.S. in December 2022, two months after he lost his reelection bid to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Bolsonaro needed a certificate of vaccination to enter the U.S., where he remained for the final days of his term and the first months of Lula’s term.

If convicted for falsifying health data, the 68-year-old politician could spend up to 12 years behind bars or as little as two years, according to legal analyst Zilan Costa. The maximum jail time for a charge of criminal association is four years, he said.

“What Bolsonaro will argue in this case is whether he did insert the data or enable others to do it, or not. And that is plain simple: Either you have the evidence or you don't. It is a very serious crime with a very harsh sentence for those convicted,” Costa told The Associated Press.

Shor also said he is awaiting information from the U.S. Justice Department to “clarify whether those under investigation did make use of the false vaccination certificates upon their arrival and stay in American territory.”

If so, further charges could be leveled against Bolsonaro, Shor wrote without specifiying in which country.

Bolsonaro retains staunch allegiance among his political base, as shown by an outpouring of support last month, when an estimated 185,000 people clogged Sao Paulo's main boulevard to decry what they — and the former president — characterize as political persecution.

Brazil’s top electoral court has already ruled Bolsonaro ineligible to run for office until 2030, on the grounds that he abused his power during the 2022 campaign and cast unfounded doubts on the country’s electronic voting system.

Other investigations include one seeking to determine whether Bolsonaro tried to sneak two sets of expensive diamond jewelry into Brazil and prevent them from being incorporated into the presidency’s public collection. Another relates to his alleged involvement in the Jan. 8, 2023, uprising in the capital of Brasilia, soon after Lula took power. The uprising resembled the Capitol riot in Washington two years prior. He has denied wrongdoing in both cases.

Shor wrote that the indictment will be folded into the investigation of Jan. 8, which is being overseen by Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. That justice authorized the unsealing of the indictment.

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