To Know Before You Go

Immigration & Customs

When you arrive, you will need to clear both Brazilian immigration and customs. Your airline should distribute immigration and customs forms for you to fill out before your arrival.

There will be different immigration lines for Brazilian citizens and foreigners. At immigration, make sure you get your passport stamped and keep the copy of the entry form that you are given. Don't lose it. You'll need to surrender this entry form copy to immigration officials upon your departure from Brazil. If you don't have your passport stamped or lose your copy of the entry form, you'll have to be specially cleared by the Federal Police before being allowed to leave the country and you could be fined.

All American citizens are both photographed and fingerprinted as part of their immigration clearance process. This is because Brazil practices diplomatic reciprocity and processes American citizens entering Brazil the same way the U.S. processes Brazilian citizens entering the United States. This is most assuredly NOT the place to demonstrate any displeasure with this process. More that a few Americans (including at least one airline pilot) have been arrested, fined (thousands of dollars) and ejected from the country forever for making an obscene gesture during this process.

Brazilian customs officials normally inspect the baggage of 30 to 40% of all arriving international passengers. In addition to clothing and personal effects, tourists are allowed to bring in one radio, one tape/CD player, one typewriter, one notebook computer, one film/video camera and one still camera. There is a USD$ 500 value limit on the value of gifts and other merchandise you can bring into Brazil duty free—either brought from outside or purchased at a duty free shop outside Brazil. Goods purchased at a duty free shop in Brazil have few restrictions. If you bring gifts or other merchandise exceeding USD$ 500 in value, you should declare it. You will pay a 50% duty on things over the USD$ 500 value limit. Having the original purchase receipts for such items may help you pay a little less —especially if you brought it on sale —otherwise, the customs officials will use their printed valuations which may be "full price". If you fail to declare gifts or other merchandise exceeding the USD$ 500 limit and the customs officials catch you, you will pay not only the 50% duty on the item(s) but an additional 25% penalty. Beware.

Bringing in a reasonable number of the same item (no matter what) is justifiable either as gifts or for personal use or consumption. More than a reasonable number of any single item makes you look like an importer and, thereby, possibly subject to customs duties.

There is no limit on the amount of money any individual can bring into Brazil but if you're carrying R$10,000.00 (ten thousand reais) or more, or its equivalent in cash, checks, traveler's check, currency or any combination thereof, you are required to declare this when you enter Brazil. This is not for tax reasons. They just want to know.

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