Brazil Reopens to International Travelers

For nearly five months, Brazil's borders have been closed to foreign visitors. Aside from a handful of categories of exempted travelers, visits to Brazil have been mostly off-limits. Until now…

Despite surging numbers of coronavirus cases, Brazil has decided to allow entry to international travelers who arrive by air. There are some exceptions though. For example, not all airports are allowed to handle international flights. But the major airports, such as São Paulo’s Guarulhos airport and Rio’s Galeão airport, are open for business.

If a trip to Brazil is in your future, just make sure you comply with the most recent government decree. One of the requirements, for example, is having a health insurance certificate for a plan with coverage that’s valid in Brazil for the duration of your stay. Also, the lifting of restrictions applies to visitors planning to remain for no more than 90 days.

So far, the changes only apply to air travel. The restrictions on arrivals by sea and land are still in effect. It seems the goal is to take a measured approach to reopening. By focusing on air travel (and only certain airports at that), the government can begin to reopen while managing the influx of visitors.

Most importantly, make sure you stay up to date with the latest governmental orders as the requirements can change at any time. The website for the US Embassy and Consulates in Brazil is also a great resource and includes health updates and information about any travel restrictions.