Proinde

Update 1 July 2020: Interministerial Ordinance Nº 340 of 30 June 2020 extended the ban, with wider exceptions, until 30 July 2020. Ordinances 255/2020 and 319/2020 were revoked. Read more here.

Update 21 June 2020: Interministerial Ordinance Nº 319 of 20 June 2020, extended the ban on sea travel for 15 days. Therefore, no disembarks at Brazilian ports are allowed until at least 5 July 2020, except for medical assistance or direct repatriation on the same day, at the discretion of the immigration and port health authorities. Please refer to our Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Brazil – Practical Guidance for detailed information.

Update 25 May 2020: Interministerial Ordinance nº 255 of 22 May 2020, extended the ban for another 30 days. Interministerial Ordinance 201/2020 was revoked.

Update 24 April 2020: Interministerial Ordinance nº 201, of 24 April 2020, extended the ban for 30 days. Ordinance 47/2020 was revoked.

Published on 30 March 2020:

Since COVID-19 reached the country a month ago, cross border land transport of passengers has been temporarily suspended; nevertheless, until now, there was no ban on the movement of foreign seafarers in Brazil because of the outbreak, though some immigration stations and port authorities were gradually limiting or restricting shore leave and crew change over the past two weeks.

Following the advice of the National Agency of Health Surveillance (ANVISA), the Chief of Staff of the Presidency and Ministers of Justice and Public Security, Infrastructure and Health, issued Ordinance n° 47, of 26 March 2020, providing for an exceptional ban, with immediate effect, on the disembark of any foreign nationals arriving at Brazilian ports and points of entry for the next 30 (thirty) days, except for crewmembers who seek medical assistance or are in an air connection to their country of origin, departing the same day.

Those who eventually do not comply with the measures will be subject to administrative, civil and criminal sanctions and prompt repatriation or deportation.

The restriction does not apply to Brazilian citizens and residents; professionals in a mission for an international body; officials accredited to the Brazilian government; spouse, partner or relative of a Brazilian citizen; or holders of the National Migration Registration (RNM).

Interministerial Ordinance 47/2020 is silent about the embark of foreign crewmembers arriving by air from abroad. Still, we understand that there are no restrictions to their joining a vessel in Brazil, as long as they hold a valid travel document, have not visited any destination where the travel ban applies for the last two weeks and is asymptomatic.

Nevertheless, embark of crewmembers in Brazilian ports should be avoided as much as possible during the ongoing pandemic, especially in ports far from airports. Ship managers and crewing agents should check with the agent the rules prevailing locally before considering the transfer of crewmembers through Brazil.

Read more about the measures being taken by the Brazilian authorities to deal with the ongoing outbreak of novel coronavirus at national ports and airports.

Published: 30 March 2020. Update: 1 July 2020