🇧🇷 Flying to Brazil
Visa · Health · Arrival · Flights — everything you need before you fly.
Content under review. Entry requirements and health rules change frequently. Information marked [VERIFY] has not yet been confirmed against authoritative sources. Do not rely on this page for travel decisions until verified content is published. Always check IATA Travel Centre and your government's travel advisory.
Last verified: July 22, 2026 · Recheck before every booking for US/Canada/Australia passport holders — Brazil's e-Visa requirement has been delayed multiple times before and could change again with little notice.
Sources: br.usembassy.gov, www.gov.uk, www.cdc.gov, wwwnc.cdc.gov, travelhealthpro.org.uk
Avi's Insider Tip
If you're American, Canadian, or Australian, get the e-Visa sorted weeks out, not days — Brazil's checked this requirement on and off so many times that it's tempting to assume it'll be waived by the time you fly. It won't be, and the airline will turn you away at check-in without it.
Travel essentials
Scannable data for the efficient traveler.
Sources: br.usembassy.gov, www.gov.uk, www.cdc.gov, wwwnc.cdc.gov, travelhealthpro.org.uk
Visa-free entry
Most nationalities — including the UK, all EU/Schengen countries, Japan, and most of Latin America — can enter Brazil visa-free for tourism for up to 90 days (extendable once for another 90 days at the Federal Police). IMPORTANT: this does NOT currently apply to the US, Canada, or Australia — see evisa below.
Brazil does not offer visa on arrival.
Health & vaccines
No vaccines are legally required for entry from most countries (see yellow fever below, which is Brazil's own domestic risk, not an "arriving from elsewhere" rule). Hepatitis A, Typhoid, and routine vaccines are commonly recommended.
Unlike many destinations, Brazil has its OWN domestic yellow fever risk zones — this is not just an "arriving from Africa" rule. The CDC recommends yellow fever vaccination for travelers to most of Brazil, including Rio de Janeiro state, the city of Rio itself, and its coastal islands, at least 10 days before travel. Vaccination is generally NOT recommended only for a handful of northeastern coastal states/cities (Fortaleza, Recife, and the states of Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Alagoas, and Sergipe). Since late 2025, confirmed cases have appeared in areas previously considered lower-risk (including São Paulo state), so risk maps are actively expanding — check the current CDC/WHO map for your specific itinerary, not just Rio city center.
Customs
400 cigarettes (or 10 packs of 20) / 25 cigars / 250g tobacco duty-free. Additional duty-free allowance of up to $500 USD in goods from the airport duty-free shop. Declare cash or monetary instruments over R$10,000 (or foreign-currency equivalent) using the e-DBV form — be ready to show proof of lawful origin for large sums.
🛂 Entry requirements
⚠️ US, Canadian, and Australian travelers: do not book flights before confirming your e-Visa is approved — this requirement has flip-flopped before and airlines enforce it strictly at check-in. Verify at br.usembassy.gov or the official VFS e-Visa portal.
💉Health & vaccine requirements
⚠️ Health requirements sourced from the CDC Yellow Book and NaTHNaC (travelhealthpro.org.uk). Given the active 2025–2026 case expansion, confirm with your doctor or a travel clinic before departure, even for a standard Rio city trip.
Essential local apps
Download these before you land — tap a card to open the real app or site.
99
Ride-shareBrazil's own ride-hailing app (now owned by DiDi) — often has better coverage and lower prices than Uber outside the main tourist zones.
Uber
Ride-shareOperates normally throughout Rio, including from Galeão airport — widely used alongside 99.
Mercado Pago
PaymentWidely used digital wallet across Brazil — useful if you set up an account in advance; otherwise foreign cards work at most established businesses.
Arriving at Rio de Janeiro–Galeão International Airport (GIG)
SIM & connectivity
Vivo, Claro, and TIM all have counters at Galeão arrivals. TIM offers a tourist-specific SIM requiring only a passport (~BRL 25 for 1.5GB/7 days); Claro and Vivo prepaid SIMs run roughly BRL 10–20. Airport prices run higher than in the city.
Brazilian Real (BRL). ATMs widely available; Pix (instant bank transfer) is the dominant local payment method, though foreign cards work at most hotels, restaurants, and established shops.
Getting into town
Official metered taxi ~20 min to Copacabana, roughly $30–40 USD — ignore anyone soliciting rides inside the terminal, as unlicensed "pirate" taxis routinely overcharge. The Frescão air-conditioned bus (line to Leblon via Copacabana) takes about an hour, ~BRL 25. Cheapest is BRT + Metrô Rio: free airport shuttle/BRT to Vicente de Carvalho, then Metro Line 1 toward Copacabana, ~49 min total, metro fare ~R$4.60.
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Frequently asked questions
Do US, Canadian, or Australian citizens need a visa for Brazil?▼
Yes — as of April 2025, US, Canadian, and Australian passport holders need an e-Visa before flying, applied for online at brazil.vfsevisa.com (~$80.90, apply 10+ business days ahead). This rule has been delayed multiple times in the past, so reconfirm close to your travel date.
Do UK and EU citizens need a visa for Brazil?▼
No — UK, EU/Schengen, and most other nationalities can visit visa-free for up to 90 days, extendable once for another 90 days at the Federal Police.
Is yellow fever vaccination required for Rio de Janeiro?▼
Not legally required for entry, but the CDC recommends it — Brazil has its own domestic risk zones covering most of the country, including Rio de Janeiro state and city, not just an "arriving from Africa" rule. Vaccinate at least 10 days before travel and check the current risk map, since cases have expanded into new areas since late 2025.
Is Rio safe for tourists?▼
Rio is generally fine in tourist areas (Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon) with normal precautions, but petty theft and occasional muggings do happen — avoid flashing valuables, use official taxis/rideshare at night, and stick to well-lit, populated streets.
What's the cheapest way from Galeão airport to Copacabana?▼
The BRT-plus-Metrô combination is cheapest (~R$4.60 metro fare) but involves a transfer. The direct Frescão bus (~BRL 25, ~1 hour) is more convenient with luggage. Official taxis cost $30–40 USD and take about 20 minutes — avoid unlicensed drivers touting rides inside the terminal.
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