Brazil – COVID-19: Travel Restrictions Eased for All Travelers

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The Brazilian authorities published a new note (or “ordinance”) in the country’s official gazette on September 12¹, easing some of the travel restrictions for all individuals planning to travel to Brazil.²

This new ordinance is applicable for all travelers, regardless of the conditions stated in the previous ordinance (Portaria Interministerial n. 670).³

Individuals scheduling trips to the country and companies planning to resume their global-mobility programs need to be aware of the updates and current restrictions and conditions before traveling to Brazil so that they are in compliance.

The ordinance continues to indicate the possibility that the Brazilian authorities could restrict travelers not complying with the adopted measures, forcing them to leave the Brazilian territory and that SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) recovery certificates will not be accepted in place of proof of vaccination or test.

The previous note required a negative antigen test or a RP-PCR test for the following group of individuals: travelers with a health condition that contraindicates the vaccination, as long as it is attested by a medical report; travelers ineligible for vaccination according to their age, as per the criteria defined by the Ministry of Health in the National Plan for the Operationalization of Vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) and published on the Ministry of Health's website; travelers into the country due to humanitarian issues; travelers from countries with low vaccination coverage; Brazilians and foreigners residing in Brazilian territory who were not fully vaccinated.

In response to a more favorable SARS-CoV-2 pandemic scenario in Brazil, the new ordinance eases the requirements for all travelers, effective as of September 12, who present one of the following:

• A full primary course of vaccination taken 14 days before the travel date; or
• A negative antigen or RT-PCR test taken no later than 24 hours before the travel date.

The restrictions mentioned in this ordinance do not apply to:

• children under the age of 12;
• cargo transport workers; the crew of aircraft;
• the traffic of border residents in twin cities;
• people in a situation of vulnerability resulting from a migratory flow caused by a humanitarian crisis for the execution of emergency assistance measures in Brazilian territory; and
• travelers in a situation of vulnerability to carry out cross-border humanitarian actions previously authorized by the local health authorities.

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. 

1 See (in Portuguese) the Brazilian government announcement of March 16, 2022, Portaria Interministerial N° 678/2022, as published in the Diário Oficial da União, 12/09/2022.

2  For prior coverage of coronavirus-related travel rules, see GMS Flash Alert 2022-079, April 11, 2022. 

3  Ibid. 

*  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.