Brazil - Country Information

Film Commissions

Brazil Film Commission (Los Angeles, USA office)
Tel: +1 310 651 2664
E-mail: info@brazilfilmcommission.com
Website: www.brazilfilmcommission.com.br

Permits/visas
Can be arranged by local agent.

General Information

Location: South America
Local Time: Acre & Tabatinga: GMT -5
Amazonas, Rondonia, Roraima & Western Para: GMT -4
Espirito Santo, Federal District, Goias, Minas Gerais, Parana, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina & Sao Paulo:
From 16 Feb 08 to 12 Oct 08 GMT -3
From 12 Oct 08 to 14 Feb 09 GMT -2
From 14 Feb 09 to 11 Oct 09 GMT -3
From 11 Oct 09 to 20 Feb 10 GMT -2
Fernando de Noronha: GMT -2
Mato Grosso & Mato Grosso do Sul:
From 17 Feb 08 to 19 Oct 08 GMT -4
From 19 Oct 08 to 14 Feb 09 GMT -3
From 14 Feb 09 to 11 Oct 09 GMT -4
From 11 Oct 09 to 20 Feb 10 GMT -3
Rest of Brazil: GMT -3
Capital City: Brasilia
Population: 176 million
Area: 8,514,876 square km, 3,287,597 square miles.
Language(s): Portuguese
Dialling Code: 55
Emergency:
Directory Enquiries:
TV Standard: PAL-M
Driving: Driving is on the right. International Driving Permit required
Electricity: 220V AC 60Hz (Brasilia), 110V AC the rest of the country

Business & Currency

Currency: Brazilian Real (BRL 1 = 100 Centavos)
Notes: BRL: 1, 5, 10, 50, 100
Coins: BRL: 1. Centavos: 1, 5, 10, 25, 50

Credit Cards/Travellers Cheques: Most international credit cards and travellers cheques are accepted

Opening Hours
Bank: 1000-1600 Mon-Fri
Office: 0900-1800 Mon-Fri
Shops: 0900-1900 Mon-Fri, 0900-1300 Sat, shopping centres 1000-2200 Mon-Sat, 1500-2200 Sun

Public Holidays
2008
Jan 1 New Years Day, Jan 20 Founding of Rio de Janeiro, Jan 25 Founding of Sao Paulo, Feb 4-6 Carnival, Mar 21-23 Easter, Apr 21 Tiradentes, May 1 Labour Day, May 22 Corpus Christi, Sep 7 Independence Day, Oct 12 Our Lady of Aparecida, Nov 2 All Souls Day, Nov 15 Republic Day, Dec 25 Christmas Day

Business/Social Hints: Business is conducted in Portuguese or English. On social occasions, eg invitation to restaurants or clubs, be punctual and dress as for business meetings unless otherwise indicated

Tipping: If there is no service charge, tips are around 10%

Health

Reciprocal health:

Compulsory vaccinations: 1) Proof of polio immunisation is required for children between the ages of 3 months & 6 years.
2) Yellow fever certificate if arriving, within 3 months, from or in transit through the following countries:
Angola, Benin, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Rep, Colombia, Congo Dem Rep, Ecuador, French Guiana, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, Peru, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Venezuela & Zaire.

Recommended immunisations: Diphtheria, hepatitis A, hepatitis B*, malaria*, TB*, tetanus, typhoid*, rabies, yellow fever for travellers to western and Amazonian areas.
* recommended in some circumstances, travellers making 3 or more visits per year, stays of more than 3 months in a rural area, high-risk occupational groups & backpackers staying more than 1 month.

Risks: Malaria exists all year in the Amazon regions. Minimal risk in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. Rabies.

Airports

Passport & Visa

The following details relate to holders of adult normal passports (requirements for children may be different), if any other type of passport or travel document is held, entry requirements should be checked with the relevant embassy or consulate

Passports

Required, but NOT by the following:
1) Holders of a `Carteira de Identidade' issued to nationals of Brazil when travelling to or from Argentina, Paraguay or Uruguay
2) Holders of National Identity Cards issued to nationals of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, Peru, & Uruguay when entering from their home country

Passport Validity: Passports must be valid 6 months from date of entry

Passport Notes: Persons born in Brazil are considered nationals of Brazil, whether or not they are nationals of another country. Consequently, they must hold a Brazilian passport when entering Brazil

Visas

The following DO NOT require a visa:
1) Nationals of Brazil holding either a green, red or blue passport
2) For tourist visits up to 90 days (extendable) by nationals of:
a) United Kingdom
b) Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland Rep, Israel, Italy, Korea (South), Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Monaco, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uruguay, Vatican City
3) Holders of a re-entry permit (`visto de retorno')

Notes: UK residency now is required, must be stamped in passports supplied.

Air Transit

Required by all except those as noted above and:
1) Persons continuing their journey to a third country by the same or first connecting flight without leaving the airport transit area, provided such flight is indicated on their ticket

Notes: This exemption is not applicable to persons transferring in:
1) Rio de Janeiro between Galeao International Airport & Santos Dumont Airport
2) Sao Paulo between Guarulhos International Airport, Congonhas Airport & Viracopos Airport
3) Although transit without visa facilities are available, it is still advisable to obtain a visa to avoid any inconvenience

Exit Permits

Not Required except for political refugees, who shall obtain prior consent from Brazilian government to leave Brazil

Special Notes

All visitors must hold onward/return tickets & sufficient funds

Climate

Brazil is a huge country mostly lying within the tropics which means it is generally hot & humid. The Amazon Basin in the north & centre of Brazil has no real dry season, although there is a wetter period between Dec-Apr, temperatures are tropical throughout the year making this a high humidity region. The Brazilian plateau, to the south & east of the Basin, including Brasilia, has a more distinct wet & dry season where temperatures vary accordingly. Rainfall occurs mainly between Oct-Apr & the rest of the year is almost dry. The narrow Atlantic coastal plain & southern states have a more temperate climate with a distinct cooler season (May-Sep), when frost can occur. Rainfall in the north of the coastal plain, including Recife has its wettest period between Apr-Aug, however Rio de Janeiro in the south is wet throughout the year but with a slightly wetter period between Nov-Apr. Southern states have some rain throughout

Clothing

Light clothes with rainwear suitable for region being visited. Warmer clothing for south during winter season. Appropriate clothing & footwear essential for visits to Amazon Basin

Charts for Rio de Janeiro

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Max Temp (C) 29 29 28 27 25 24 24 24 24 25 26 28 Min Temp (C) 23 23 22 21 19 18 17 18 18 19 20 22 Humidity am (%) 82 84 87 87 87 87 86 84 84 83 82 82 Humidity pm (%) 70 71 74 73 70 69 68 66 72 72 72 72 Rainfall (mm) 125 122 130 107 79 53 41 43 66 79 104 137

Temperature (C) Rainfall (mm) Humidity (%)

Representative

UK Tourist Office
Brazilian Tourist Office
32 Green Street
London, W1K 7AT
tel: +44 20 7629 6909
fax: +44 20 7399 9102
e-mail: tourism@brazil.org.uk
website: www.brazil.org.uk

Embassy
Consulate General of Brazil
Visa Section
6 St. Alban's Street
London, SW1Y 4SQ
tel: +44 20 7930 9055
fax: +44 20 7925 3990
e-mail: visa@consbraslondres.com
website: www.brazil.org.uk
hours: 1000-1600 (Mon-Fri), 1000-1300 (Mon-Fri) lodging, 1500-1600 (Mon-Fri) collection