Visas and Travel Papers

Visas are required for foreigners to enter and stay in the Brazilian territory for any period of time. They are granted by the Brazilian Consular Offices abroad.

Do you need a visa? To find out if you need a visa to travel to Brazil, click here.

* Citizens of the European Union do not need a visa for Brazil, but the passport must be valid for at least 6 months on the day of entry into the country.

Time Zone

Recife's time zone is UTC-3, so we suggest you arrive at least 1 day before the event to get used to the weather and time.

Power Voltage

Power voltage in Brazil varies between 110V and 220V, depending on the location you’re in. Many Brazilian hotels offer electric outlets in both voltages, and you can easily find portable voltage transformers in electrical supply stores.

Power outlets in Brazil are type N and have the standard 3-pin sockets. In Pernambuco, the default voltage is 220V.

Safety

Brazil has increasingly invested in public safety. The country has been strengthening security in tourist destinations so tourists who intend to visit the country can feel safe when traveling to Brazil.

The Ministry of Tourism is creating the Safe Tourism Program, a national program that focuses on several fields of action to increase tourist safety. This way, visitors will be able to enjoy all the wonderful attractions Brazil has to offer.

If there are any incidents, there are police stations all over the Brazilian territory. Most capital cities have specialized police stations to assist tourists. If you happen to be in a city where there is no specialized police station for tourists, you can contact any regular police station to file your incident report. This means more safety and attention for tourists who come to Brazil.

Do's and Don'ts

DO:

Always carry photo identification with you - it's the law. Avoid carrying an original passport, for safety reasons, so take a copy and/or have a photo id with name and age.

Tip your waiters. Normally in Brazil 10% is automatically added to the bill/check, so you should be able to identify this easily. If you had great service or are feeling generous, give extra in cash direct to your waiter. Tips are not expected by Taxis or Transfer drivers, though gratefully received. In hotels, you can tip moderately. Local currency preferable.

Be aware Brazilians are very tactile - be prepared for handshakes (between Men), kissing (between Women and Man/Woman - one on each cheek in Recife, though this can change in other regions), moderate physical contact (backslapping - Men, Hugging). Greetings and farewells in larger groups can seem to take ages but it is normal and expected.

Have local currency (R$ - Reais) with small notes and coins (as change can be a problem with Taxis or Street vendors). The Brazilian Real has been pretty stable against most strong currencies for years and it is no longer customary to charge or pay in Dollars/Euros etc., unlike some South American countries.

DON'T:

Wear expensive or flashy jewellery nor show off your smartphone or tablet when walking in public - others less fortunate may ask you to hand it over.

It is now prohibited to smoke indoors or outside if under an awning, so excuse yourself from the table and go outside in the open air with other smokers.