Brazil

General Information
Business Hours
Business & social hints
Climate
Customs
Health
Immigration & Passport
Useful Contacts

General Information

Capital City:: Brasilia
Population:: 186 million
Area:: 3,287,597 square miles
Language:: Portuguese
Electricity:: 220V AC 60Hz (Brasilia), 110V AC the rest of the country
Direct Dial:: 55
Driving:: Driving is on the right. International Driving Permit required
Currency:: Brazilian Real (BRL 1 = 100 Centavos)

Business 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:: 2010 1 Jan New Year's Day, 20 Jan *Founding of Rio de Janeiro, 25 Jan *Founding of Sï¿½o Paulo, 12 Feb -17 Feb Carnival, 2 Apr Good Friday, 21 Apr Tiradentes, 1 May Labour Day, 3 Jun Corpus Christi, 7 Sep Independence Day, 12 Oct Our Lady Aparecida, Patron St of Brazil, 2 Nov All Souls' Day, 15 Nov Republic Day, 24 Dec Christmas Eve, 25 Dec Christmas Day, 31 Dec New Year's Eve. Note: *Regional observances only

Business and social hints

General:: 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%
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
Hotel Classification:: Brazil does not currently have an official system for grading its hotels. Some properties still use their "old" star rating from the now defunct 1-star up to 5-star system. Where still used we have given this "old" rating here although it should not necessarily be taken at face value. Many properties are unclassified. In these cases our usual arbitrary categories of ï¿½ up to ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ are given based on rack rates, facilities and perceived quality. These equate to the commonly used 1- to 5-star system and serve only to compare relative standards within any given area.

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

Rio de Janeiro

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

Import Allowances:: For persons of 18 years of age or older: a) 400 cigarettes and 250gr of tobacco and 25 cigars b) 2 lit of alcoholic beverages c) Articles bought for passenger's personal use at duty-free shop on arrival, with a total value not exceeding USD 500
Contraband:: Meat and dairy products, fruit, vegetables & plants, all other varieties of animal origin transported from Africa, Asia, Italy, Portugal and Spain

None.

Compulsary Vaccinations: None. *See note below regarding Yellow Fever warning.
Recommended Immunisations: Diphtheria, Tetanus, Hepatitis A, Influenza A (H1N1), *Yellow Fever *There is a risk of Yellow Fever transmission in the states of Acre, Amapï¿½, Amazonas, Distrito Federal, Goias, Maranhaï¿½, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Parï¿½, Rondï¿½nia, Roraima and Tocantins, and specific areas in the states of Bahia, Parana, Piaui, Rio Grande do Sul, and Sï¿½o Paulo. Travellers intending to visit these areas are recommended to get vaccinated. NOTE: Typhoid, Hepatitis B, Rabies, Tuberculosis. Are also recommended IN ADDITION to any immunisation(s) already listed for those travelling to this country frequently or intending to spend extended time here.
Risks: Malaria exists all year in forested areas below 900m in the Amazon Region. Minimal risk in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. Rabies. Dengue Fever especially after rainy seasons.

Passports must be valid 6 months from date of entry

The following DO NOT require a visa: 1) Nationals of Brazil 2) For tourist visits of up to 60 days for nationals of Venezuela 3) For tourist or business visits up to 90 days for: a) Holders of a British passport b) Nationals of Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guyana, Hong Kong (SAR China), Hungary, Iceland, Ireland Rep, Israel, Italy, Korea (South), Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao (SAR China), Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uruguay & Vatican City

All visas issued after 11/1/2010 are not required to be used within 90 days after issuance.

Embassy

Consulate General of Brazil 3 Vere Street London W1G 0DH London, SW1Y 4SQ tel: +44 20 7659 1550 fax:+44 20 7659 1554 e-mail: info@consbraslondres.com website: www.brazil.org.uk hours: 930-1230 & 1330-1630 (Mon-Fri)