Brazil – COVID-19: Travel Restrictions Extended, Flight Arrivals Exempted

Brazil–Tvl Restr. Extended, Flight Arrivals Exempted

On November 12, 2020, the Brazilian authorities published a new note (or “ordinance”) in the country’s official gazette extending the restriction on foreign nationals entering Brazil for 30 more days, until December 11, 2020. This new ordinance has maintained restrictions only for foreign nationals arriving by land or by water transport – travel by air is exempted.

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On November 12, 2020, the Brazilian authorities published a new note (or “ordinance”) in the country’s official gazette  extending the restriction on foreign nationals entering Brazil for 30 more days, until December 11, 2020.1  This new ordinance has maintained restrictions only for foreign nationals arriving by land or by water transport – travel by air is exempted.

Moreover, restrictions do not apply to, among others:

—   Brazilian nationals;

—   foreign nationals with a valid Brazilian ID;

—   foreign nationals who works for cargo transportation;

—   foreign nationals married and/or parents of Brazilian nationals.  

However, most of the exemptions above are not applied to individuals entering the country via Brazilian land borders with Venezuela.

WHY THIS MATTERS

The travel restrictions imposed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic have had a profound impact on both professional and personal travel.  Companies worldwide have had to cancel or postpone business trips and assignments.  With restrictions easing up somewhat for some groups of individuals, companies can now slowly start to resume their international travel plans and prepare for upcoming business travel and assignments to/from Brazil.2

More Details

The ordinance has removed the restrictions on land arrivals via the Brazil and Paraguay borders.  Foreign nationals with the proper granted visa have no further restrictions, as long as they have said visa.

Additionally, foreign nationals that disregard the ordinance’s provisions can be subject to criminal and other legal charges, immediate repatriation or deportation, and disqualification in respect of any refugee status request within Brazilian territory. 

KPMG NOTE

The authorities are constantly updating the rules in response to the changing pandemic situation. Travelers seeking to enter Brazil should regularly check the latest information made available by the nearest Brazilian Embassy or Consulate about entry into and exit from the country, and the restoration of passport and visa services.

The KPMG International member firm in Brazil continues to monitor the situation around travel and border restrictions and will endeavor to keep readers of GMS Flash Alert apprised of any new developments. 

FOOTNOTES

1  See the Brazilian government announcement of November 12, Portaria N° 518/2020 (in Portuguese) as published in the Diário Oficial da União, 12/11/2020, Edição: 216-A

2  For prior coverage of travel restrictions, see the following issues of GMS Flash Alert: 2020-425 (October 09,2020), 2020-417 (October 1, 2020), 2020-389 (September 4, 2020), 2020-348 (August 7, 2020), 2020-312 (July 10, 2020), 2020-284 (June 17, 2020) and 2020-119 (March 26, 2020).

*  Please note that KPMG LLP (U.S.) does not provide any immigration services.  However, KPMG Law LLP in Canada can assist clients with U.S. immigration matters.   

 

The information contained in this newsletter was submitted by the KPMG International member firm in Brazil.

 

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