Restriction on entry of foreigners extended

Update 30 July 2020: Interministerial Ordinance nº 340 has been revoked. Interministerial Ordinance 01/2020 reopens air border to foreigners but extended the ban on entry by land and by sea. Read more here.

Brazil has successively extended the temporary restriction on the entry of foreign nationals by air, sea and land. With immediate effect, Interministerial Ordinance nº 340 of 30 June 2020 extended the restriction on entry of foreigners for 30 days and revoked Ordinances 255/2020 and 319/2020.

Therefore, the travel ban remains in place at least until 30 July 2020, with the following exceptions:

• Foreign nationals with a permanent residence permit
• Professionals employed by a non-governmental aid organisation recognised by the Brazilian government
• Officials accredited by the Brazilian government
• Spouse, partner or immediate family member of a Brazilian citizen
• Foreign nationals whose entrance into Brazil is deemed by the government to be in the public interest
• Bearers of the National Migration Registry (RMN)
• Foreign travellers in transit (providing they do not leave the transit area and the country of destination admits their entry)
• Flight crews and airline employees in the country for operational purposes

The restriction does not prevent the entry, by air or sea, of seafarers to exercise specific functions on board of a vessel or platform operating in jurisdictional waters, provided that the migratory requirements are observed, including a visa when one is legally required. The entry is conditioned to the shipping agent placing a bond of responsibility before the immigration authority (Federal Police).

There is no bar for disembarking foreign crewmembers, as authorised by the Federal Police and port health authority (ANVISA), for medical assistance not available onboard or for direct air repatriation related to operational issues or upon the termination of an employment contract. Crew changes are subject to pre-boarding and pre-landing quarantines of 14 days.

For the first time since Brazil closed its borders last March, Ordinance 340/2020 allows the entry of foreigners to perform artistic, sporting or business activities, on short visits and with no intention of establishing residence in the country. Likewise, it permits the entry of foreign citizens seeking to fix residence for a specific time and holding a visa for the purposes of research, teaching or academic extension, study, work, investment, family reunion or artistic or sports activities with a fixed-term contract.

Those falling under any of the above categories must arrive through the international airports of São Paulo (Guarulhos – GRU), Rio de Janeiro (Galeao – GIG), Campinas (Viracopos – VCP) and Brasilia (Juscelino Kubitschek – BSB). Before boarding abroad, the passenger must present a medical report issued by a health authority or a local medical doctor attesting no infection by COVID-19.

Read more about the health restrictions imposed adopted at Brazilian ports, airports and land borders here.

Published: 21 June 2020. Update: 1 July 2020