Brazil – COVID-19: U.K. Travel Restrictions, RT-PCR Tests Detailed
BR – U.K. Travel Policies, RT-PCR Tests
On December 23, 2020, the Brazilian authorities published new rules updating the travel restrictions for foreign nationals arriving in Brazil, including specific measures concerning individuals travelling from the United Kingdom. Additionally, the latest rules also detail the requirements of presenting a negative RT-PCR test for SARS-CoV-2.
On December 23, 2020, the Brazilian authorities published a new note (or “ordinance”) in the country’s official gazette, updating the travel restrictions for foreign nationals arriving in Brazil, including specific measures concerning individuals traveling from/transiting through the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.1 Additionally, the latest ordinance also details the requirements of presenting a negative RT-PCR test for SARS-CoV-2.²
As of December 25, 2020, all flights to Brazil originating from (or stopping at) airports in the United Kingdom have been suspended. Additionally, all entry permissions for Brazil issued in the previous 14 days (i.e, as from December 9, 2020) for travelers from the United Kingdom are temporarily on hold.
Moreover, the latest ordinance provides more details on the recent requirements of presenting a negative RT-PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 and a traveler’s health declaration, applied to foreign nationals and Brazilian nationals who need to enter Brazil as of December 30, 2020.
WHY THIS MATTERS
The new ordinance affects all travelers planning to flight to Brazil from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
The travel restrictions and the new procedure will affect employers and their globally-mobile employees from the United Kingdom – especially business travelers – doing business in Brazil in terms of disruption, inconvenience, new procedures and requirements, and changes to travel plans.
Also, any individuals scheduling trips to the country – regardless of their nationality – should be aware of the updates and current restrictions and conditions concerning the requirements around RT-PCR tests and health declarations.
More Details: Quarantine, Testing
Travelers from the United Kingdom who have recently arrived in Brazil must respect a 14-day quarantine period. This measure is also applied to individuals who visited the U.K. within 14 days before arriving in Brazil.
Additionally, the ordinance n. 648/2020 details the RT-PCR tests requirements established in the previous ordinance², including:
- Tests may be presented in Portuguese, English, or Spanish;
- Test results must be issued by certified laboratories in the country where the test was administered;
- Children less than two years old are exempt from the requirement to present tests results.
Furthermore, the latest ordinance continues to require that all RT-PCR tests be issued no later than 72 hours before the flight date.
KPMG NOTE
The authorities are constantly updating the rules in response to the changing pandemic situation. Travelers seeking to enter Brazil should regularly check the latest information made available by the nearest Brazilian Embassy or Consulate about entry into and exit from the country, and the restoration of passport and visa services.
The KPMG International member firm in Brazil continues to monitor the situation around travel and border restrictions and will endeavor to keep readers of GMS Flash Alert apprised of any new developments.
FOOTNOTES
1 See the ordinance of December 23 published by the Brazilian government, Portaria N° 648/2020 (in Portuguese), in the Diário Oficial da União, 23/12/2020, Edição: 245-B.
2 For prior coverage of travel restrictions, see the following issues of GMS Flash Alert: 2020-501 (December 22 ,2020), 2020-469 (November 25,2020), 2020-425 (October 9,2020), 2020-417 (October 1, 2020), 2020-389 (September 4, 2020), 2020-348 (August 7, 2020), 2020-312 (July 10, 2020), 2020-284 (June 17, 2020) and 2020-119 (March 26, 2020).
VIEW ALL
* Please note that KPMG LLP (U.S.) does not provide any immigration services. However, KPMG Law LLP in Canada can assist clients with U.S. immigration matters.
The information contained in this newsletter was submitted by the KPMG International member firm in Brazil.
SUBSCRIBE
To subscribe to GMS Flash Alert, fill out the subscription form.
© 2024 KPMG Tax Advisors-Assessores Tributrios Ltda., a Brazilian limited liability company and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International, a Swiss cooperative. All rights reserved.
KPMG International Cooperative (“KPMG International”) is a Swiss entity. Member firms of the KPMG network of independent firms are affiliated with KPMG International. KPMG International provides no client services. No member firm has any authority to obligate or bind KPMG International or any other member firm vis-à-vis third parties, nor does KPMG International have any such authority to obligate or bind any member firm.
GMS Flash Alert is a Global Mobility Services publication of the KPMG LLP Washington National Tax practice. The KPMG name and logo are trademarks used under license by the independent member firms of the KPMG global organization. KPMG International Limited is a private English company limited by guarantee and does not provide services to clients. No member firm has any authority to obligate or bind KPMG International or any other member firm vis-à-vis third parties, nor does KPMG International have any such authority to obligate or bind any member firm. The information contained herein is of a general nature and is not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Although we endeavor to provide accurate and timely information, there can be no guarantee that such information is accurate as of the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No one should act on such information without appropriate professional advice after a thorough examination of the particular situation.