smartraveller.gov.au - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
It's a must see destination.
It's a must see destination.
Brazil
| Brazil overall | This Advice is current for Saturday, 22 November 2008. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Be alert to own security | Exercise caution | High degree of caution | Reconsider your need to travel | Do not travel |
This advice has been reviewed and reissued. It contains new information under Local Laws (drink driving). The overall level of the advice has not changed.
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Terrorism is a threat throughout the world. You can find more information about this threat in our General Advice to Australian Travellers.
You should avoid political and labour strikes, protests and demonstrations as they may turn violent.
We advise you to exercise a high degree of caution in Brazil because of the high levels of serious crime. Pay close attention to your personal security at all times and monitor the media for information about possible new safety or security risks.
The incidence of violent crime, including muggings, armed robbery and sexual assault is high, particularly in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Recife and other large cities. Carjacking is also common, particularly in major cities. Tourists are often targeted by criminals, especially during public festivals such as Carnaval.
Gang-related violence is common throughout the State of Sao Paulo. Most incidents have been directed at police, security officials and related facilities but gangs have recently also attacked official buildings, set alight public buses and robbed several banks.
Due to the risk of HIV/AIDS, victims of violent crime, especially rape, are strongly encouraged to seek immediate medical assistance.
Crime levels in slum areas are very high. Victims have been seriously injured or killed when resisting perpetrators.
During peak tourist seasons, large, organised criminal gangs have reportedly robbed and assaulted beachgoers. You should take a minimal number of personal belongings to the beach and leave passports, wallets and other valuables in a secure place. Sexual assaults have been reported in coastal tourist areas.
'Express kidnappings', where individuals are abducted and forced to withdraw funds from ATM machines to secure their release, are common in major cities including Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Brasilia, Salvador and Recife.
Tourists have been robbed and assaulted when using unregistered taxis. Use of a prepaid taxi ticket on arrival at the airport or taxis from registered taxi ranks may reduce the risk of robbery.
Petty crime such as pickpocketing and bag snatching is common. Thieves operate in outdoor markets, in hotels and on public transport.
Piracy occurs in the coastal areas of Brazil. See our travel advice on travelling by sea. The International Maritime Bureau issues weekly piracy reports on its website.
Delays of domestic flights are common in Brazil. You should check with your travel agent to ensure that itineraries take this into account and be prepared for the possibility of extended waits at airports.
There is a significant risk of becoming lost or injured while trekking in remote parts of Brazil, including the Amazon border regions and the Pantanal wetlands. We recommend use of an experienced guide to reduce these risks.
Driving in Brazil is hazardous due to aggressive driving habits, poorly maintained roads and large numbers of trucks and other slow vehicles on main routes.
Passengers on international flights to and from Australia are only allowed to carry a small amount of liquids (including aerosols and gels) in their carry-on baggage. You can find out more information at the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government website. Similar restrictions apply to flights in an increasing number of countries. Contact your airline for further information.
If you have concerns about the safety standards of a particular airline or aircraft, we recommend you research the airline or aircraft through organisations such as Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government has published fact sheets on security for air travellers. When staff at Australia's overseas missions are advised not to use particular airlines due to safety concerns, this will be included in the travel advisory.
The European Union (EU) has published a list of airlines that are subject to operating bans or restrictions within the EU. The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) through its foreign assessment program focuses on a country's ability, not the individual airline, to adhere to international standards and recommended practices for aircraft operations and maintenance established by ICAO.
Flash floods and landslides can occur, particularly in the rainy season. If a natural disaster occurs, follow the advice of local authorities.
Information on natural disasters can be obtained from the Humanitarian Early Warning Service. If a natural disaster occurs, follow the advice of local authorities.
Australians are advised to maintain a safe and legal distance when observing wildlife, including marine animals and birds. You should only use reputable and professional guides or tour operators and closely follow park regulations and wardens' advice.
Before you go, organise a variety of ways to access your money overseas, such as credit cards, travellers' cheques, cash, debit cards or cash cards. Check with your bank whether your ATM card will work overseas. Credit card fraud is widespread in Brazil.
Make two photocopies of valuables such as your passport, tickets, visas and travellers' cheques. Keep one copy with you in a separate place to the original and leave another copy with someone at home.
While travelling, don't carry too much cash and remember that expensive watches, jewellery and cameras may be tempting targets for thieves.
As a sensible precaution against luggage tampering, including theft, lock your luggage. Information on luggage safety is available from Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
Your passport is a valuable document that is attractive to criminals who may try to use your identity to commit crimes. It should always be kept in a safe place. You are required by Australian law to report a lost or stolen passport. If your passport is lost or stolen overseas, report it online or contact the nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate as soon as possible.
Australians are required to pay an additional fee to have their passport replaced. In some cases, the Government may also restrict the length of validity or type of replacement passports.
If you are planning on placing your children in schools or childcare facilities overseas we encourage you to research the standards of security, care and staff training within those establishments. You should exercise the same precautions you would take before placing children into schools or childcare facilities in Australia.
Ideas on how to select childcare providers are available from the smartraveller Children's Issues page, Child Wise and the National Childcare Accreditation Council.
When you are in Brazil, be aware that local laws and penalties, including ones that appear harsh by Australian standards, do apply to you. If you are arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you but we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.
Information on what Australian consular officers can and cannot do to help Australians in trouble overseas is available from the Consular Services Charter.
Penalties for possession or trafficking of illegal drugs in Brazil are severe and include lengthy imprisonment in local jails.
It is a legal requirement to carry your passport or a form of identification issued by the Brazilian Government at all times.
Penalties for driving with a blood alcohol level greater than zero are severe.
Homosexual activity is not illegal in Brazil however gay and lesbian travellers should be aware of local sensitivities, particularly in rural communities.
Some Australian criminal laws, such as those relating to money laundering, bribery of foreign public officials, terrorism and child sex tourism, apply to Australians overseas. Australians who commit these offences while overseas may be prosecuted in Australia.
Australian authorities are committed to combating sexual exploitation of children by Australians overseas. Australians may be prosecuted at home under Australian child sex tourism laws. These laws provide severe penalties of up to 17 years imprisonment for Australians who engage in sexual activity with children under 16 while outside of Australia.
Australian/Brazilian dual national males aged 18 years or older who reside long-term in Brazil are required to register for military service. Dual nationals are advised to contact the nearest Brazilian Embassy or Consulate for further advice regarding military service obligations.
Our Travel Information for Dual Nationals brochure provides further information for dual nationals.
Visa and other entry and exit conditions (such as currency, customs and quarantine regulations) change regularly. Contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Brazil for the most up to date information.
Brazil is listed by the World Health Organization (WHO) as endemic for yellow fever (see Health section). Some airlines may require passengers to present a valid Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate before being allowed to board flights out of the country. If in doubt, check with your airline.
If you have visited Brazil in the last six days prior to your date of return to Australia, Australian Customs officials will ask you to present a valid Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate on entry into Australia.
If you intend to leave Brazil and return during your trip, you should obtain a multiple entry visa before leaving Australia. You should also ensure that an exit stamp is placed in your passport by Brazilian immigration authorities when you depart Brazil. On arrival you must complete an arrival card, which has a carbon copy. The carbon copy must be presented to immigration authorities on departure. Failure to do so may result in delays and possibly a fine when departing Brazil.
If you are travelling to Brazil through the United States of America (USA), including transiting in Honolulu or other USA points of entry, you must meet USA entry/transit requirements. You should check your visa needs well in advance of travel with the nearest US Embassy or Consulate. See also our travel advice for the USA.
Brazilian law requires that for all travel, Brazilian children (including dual nationals) must carry a letter of consent from the non-travelling parent(s) authorising travel. The letter must be in Portuguese and certified by the Brazilian embassy or consulate in Australia or by the Juvenile Court in Brazil. There is an office of the Juvenile Court at all airports in Brazil.
We strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive travel insurance that will cover any overseas medical costs, before you depart. Confirm that your insurance covers you for the whole time you'll be away and check what circumstances and activities are not included in your policy. Remember, regardless of how healthy and fit you are, if you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel.
Your doctor or travel clinic is the best source of information about preventive measures, immunisations (including booster doses of childhood vaccinations) and disease outbreaks overseas. The World Health Organization (WHO) provides information for travellers and our 'Travelling Well' brochure also provides useful tips for travelling with medicines and staying healthy while overseas.
The standard of private medical facilities in large cities such as Sao Paulo, Campinas, Rio and Curitiba is comparable to Australia. Other larger cities in Brazil also have small private hospitals providing adequate services. Outside of major cities, however, facilities can be very limited. Treatment at private clinics and hospitals is very expensive. Doctors and hospitals may expect cash payment prior to providing medical services, including for emergency care. In the event of a serious illness or accident, medical evacuation to one of Brazil's large cities would be necessary. Costs would be considerable (in the tens of thousands of dollars).
Malaria is a high risk in Brazil throughout the year. Other insect-borne diseases (including dengue fever, yellow fever, filariasis and leishmaniasis) are also a risk to travellers, with a higher incidence during the wet seasons (May to August and November to January). The incidence of dengue fever in 2008 has increased across much of Brazil, including the states of Amazonas, Rondonia, Sergipe, Rio Grande do Norte and Para. You should consult your doctor or travel clinic about prophylaxis against malaria and take measures to avoid insect bites, including using insect repellent at all times.
Water-borne, food-borne and other infectious diseases (including cholera, typhoid, hepatitis, leptospirosis and rabies) are prevalent with more serious outbreaks occurring from time to time. We encourage you to consider having vaccinations before travelling. We recommend you boil all drinking water or drink bottled water, avoid ice cubes and raw and undercooked food. Do not swim in fresh water to avoid exposure to certain water-borne diseases such as schistosomiasis. Seek medical advice if you have a fever or are suffering from diarrhoea.
HIV/AIDS is also a significant risk in Brazil. You should exercise appropriate precautions if engaging in activities that expose you to risk of infection. You can find out more information at the World Health Organization website.
The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) has confirmed cases of avian influenza in birds in a number of countries throughout the world. For a list of these countries, visit the OIE website. For information on our advice to Australians on how to reduce the risk of infection and on Australian Government precautions see our travel bulletin on avian influenza.
In Brazil, you can obtain consular assistance from the:
Australian Embassy
SES QD 801
Conjunto K, Lote 07
BSB, DF 70200-010,
Brasilia, Brazil
Telephone 55 61 3226 3111
Facsimile 55 61 3226 1112
E-mail: embaustr@dfat.gov.au
or
Australian Consulate-General
Edificio Trianon Corporate – Cerqueira Cesar
Alamenda Santos 700
9th Floor, Unit 92
Sao Paulo 01418 100, Brazil
Telephone 55 11 3171 2851
Facsimile 55 11 3171 2889
Limited consular assistance, which does not include passport issue, may be obtained at the:
Australian Consulate
Veirano e Advogados Associados
Av. Presidente Wilson, 231, 23rd Floor
Rio de Janeiro RJ 20030-021, Brazil
Telephone 55 21 3824 4624
Facsimile 55 21 2262 4247
If you are travelling to Brazil, whatever the reason and however long you'll be there, we encourage you to register with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. You can register online or in person at any Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate. The information you provide will help us to contact you in an emergency – whether it is a natural disaster, civil disturbance or a family issue.
In a consular emergency if you are unable to contact the Embassy you can contact the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 or 1300 555 135 within Australia.
In Australia, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra may be contacted on (02) 6261 3305.
While every care has been taken in preparing this travel information for travellers, neither the Australian Government nor its agents or employees including any member of Australia's consular staff abroad, can accept liability for injury, loss or damage arising in respect of any statement contained therein.
