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at least 6 monthsRULES OF ENTRY AND STAY
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Do French people need a visa to visit Brazil?
No, French citizens can travel to Brazil without a visa for up to 90 days. The stay must not exceed 90 days in total, but multiple entries are permitted.
Unmissable places in Brazil for French people
- The Amazon – journey into the heart of the rainforest, spot exotic wildlife, and experience untouched nature.
- São Paulo – a buzzing metropolis where modern art, architecture, and culinary excellence come together.
- Iguazu Falls – witness the grandeur of one of the world’s most spectacular waterfall systems.
- Lençóis Maranhenses – discover an enchanting desert landscape dotted with striking blue lagoons.
- Rio de Janeiro – explore Brazil’s most iconic city, from its golden beaches to the towering Christ the Redeemer statue.
Travel requirements for French citizens entering Brazil
To enter Brazil for tourism, French travelers must have:
- A letter from their tour operator
- Proof of hotel booking
- A planned travel itinerary
- A return flight ticket
- A passport valid for at least 6 months
Travel insurance that:
- Covers the full duration of stay
- Has a minimum value of 5,000 euros
- Is written in English or Portuguese
If these documents are missing, entry may be refused. Additionally, you may be asked to provide proof of financial stability, such as a bank statement and a work certificate.
Best time to visit Brazil for French citizens
The ideal time to visit Brazil depends on the region and the activities you’re planning:
- December – March – perfect for beach vacations in Rio de Janeiro, Bahia, and along the coast, with warm weather and a lively atmosphere.
- February – March – carnival season, when streets come alive with music, dance, and vibrant costumes.
- June – September – best time for exploring the Amazon and Iguazu Falls, as the weather is drier and nature is at its most breathtaking.
- May – October – ideal for visiting Lençóis Maranhenses, when the rain-filled lagoons create stunning landscapes.
Transit in the national area: VIVIS isn’t required in case of a stop or flight in Brazil, as long as the visitor leaves the international transit zone and has one ticket (under a single booking link, indicating both the place of origin and the final destination, regardless of multiple stops or multiple carriers).
If the Traveler doesn’t use visa-free travel and has separate tickets, you must pass border/passport control upon disembarkation, and he/she must receive a VIVIS.
Import of international currency is unlimited, but amounts above 10,000 BRL, in the equivalent to foreign currency, must be declared. Export of the national currency is restricted. Permission to export foreign currency within the limits of the amount declared at entry, National — only under the license of the Central Bank of Brazil.
From what you can take to Brazil by plane without tax:
- Tobacco products: 400 cigarettes or 25 cigars;
- Items intended for your own use: clothing, books;
- Other products and products worth a maximum of 500 USD;
- Items: tape recorder, player, radio, photo, movie or video camera and PDA.
- All non-Brazilian video, film, and audio equipment is taxed.
From the fact that it is forbidden to import and export from Brazil, we can mention drugs, firearms, ammunition, medicines and radioactive materials. Export of any wild animals, their skins and products made of skins, shells, feathers and claws is prohibited. You can’t export meat, meat products, dairy products, eggs, fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as plants and their parts.
190 - police
192 - Ambulance
193 - fire department
Phones of other operational services:
112 - redirect to 190 from mobile phones
911 - redirect to 190 from mobile phones
191 - Highway Police
197 - civilian police
153 - City Police
100 - Human Rights Office
Documents required for renting a car in the country - a valid international driver's license.
The driver must be over 21 years old.
Traffic is right-hand.
It is absolutely necessary to buckle up in the car, and for everyone who is there.
The speed of movement is limited:
– in a locality-40-60 km / h;
– outside the locality-90-100 km / h;
– on the Highway-110 km/h.
The presence of alcohol in the blood is not allowed at all. The fine is 600 dollar and revocation of the driver's license for 1 year.
Since there are a lot of cars in the country, the situation with congestion of highways in Brazil is solved in a very original way. During the period from 7:00 to 10:00 and from 17:00 to 20:00, only cars can travel on the roads whose sign ends with the allowed number can use the roads.
1. If you want to withdraw a large amount of money from a Brazilian ATM, you should always do so before 10 pm. Not only is it safer to withdraw money during daylight hours, but after 10 pm the withdrawal limit drops to 500 reais.
2. The Brazilian bus system is surprisingly good if you know what you're doing. While it can be difficult to find bus schedules and price information online (especially in English), it's best to go to the bus station in person and ask at the ticket office. The metro lines in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo are small, but ideal for getting around the main attractions without spending too much money. Taxis are also quite cheap in the northeast of Brazil. In national parks or on coastal routes, you can even rent a cheap car so that you don't have to depend on expensive travel companies.
3. In Brazil, the hand symbol "OK" is the equivalent of giving someone the middle finger. This is considered very rude and even offensive to some people.
4. Favelas are crowded, very poor neighborhoods usually built on the hillsides of Rio de Janeiro. All favelas are controlled by gangs or the mafia, where people sell drugs and openly carry machine guns.
Although a favela tour is absolutely safe, and favelas in general can be relatively safe during daylight hours, it is still best to avoid them if you are not with a group.
5. In general, don't walk the streets after dark (which is around 6pm all year round). As an international tourist, if you need to go somewhere after dark, use Uber or a taxi, or take the subway if you need to walk less than a block to/from the station to your destination.
Beware of pickpockets (or thieves snatching your phone out of your hand), especially in places like Copacabana, markets, and other touristy places. If you're riding in a taxi or uber with the window down, be aware that passersby, bikers, or people selling on the street when the cars are stopped sometimes snatch phones right out of your hands in the car.
6. There are two types of plugs used in Brazil: type C and type N. The type C plug has two round pins, and it is also widely used in many European countries. The N type plug has two round pins and a grounding pin.
7. The main working hours of most shops and businesses are Monday through Friday from 9:00 to 18:00 and on Saturday from 9:00 to noon, with an extended lunch break from about noon to 2:00. Shops in shopping centers are open until late at night on Saturday. Banks open at 10 am and are open all day, but usually stop changing money at 2 pm or 3 pm; with the exception of banks at major airports, they are closed on weekends and holidays. Museums and monuments more or less follow the opening hours, but many are closed on Mondays.
8. In the subway in the main cities, the cars are reserved for women only, but this rule applies only during peak hours from 6 to 9 am and from 5 to 8 pm from Monday to Friday.
If a man enters one of these cars, he faces a fine of up to 1,000 reais, which is equivalent to $320. Outside of rush hours, both women and men are allowed to use these cars.
Safety in this subway does not tolerate any excuses, especially since there are warnings in the cars that are written in Portuguese and English and are intended only for women.
9. When you arrive at the airport in Brazil, book a taxi through one of the agencies or call uber, rather than using unofficial taxi services. Although it costs more, you will not be charged extra when you arrive at your destination.
Sources:
https://www.travelinglifestyle.net/thing-know-before-travel-brazil/
https://www.roughguides.com/brazil/travel-advice/
https://theunknownenthusiast.com/rio-de-janeiro-travel-tips/
A list of diplomatic missions can be found here.
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