Brazil – COVID-19: Travel Restrictions Extended to South Africa
BR – Travel Restrictions Extended to South Africa
The Brazilian authorities published new rules on January 26, 2021, updating the travel restrictions for foreign nationals arriving in Brazil, including measures concerning individuals travelling from South Africa. Existing rules relating to the United Kingdom, quarantine periods, and negative RT-PCR test for certain travelers must still be observed.
The Brazilian authorities published a new note (or “ordinance”) in the country’s official gazette on January 26, 2021, updating the travel restrictions for foreign nationals arriving in Brazil.1 Due to a new SARS-CoV-2 variant in South Africa that has coincided with a powerful surge in infections in the country, travel restrictions have been updated to prohibit all flights from South Africa.
The same type of restriction already has been applied to the United Kingdom.2 Also, the 14-day quarantine period for travelers who recently arrived from the mentioned country must be observed.
Furthermore, the latest ordinance continues to require foreign nationals and Brazilian nationals who need to enter Brazil to presenting a negative RT-PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 and a traveler’s health declaration.
WHY THIS MATTERS
The new ordinance affects all travelers planning to fly to Brazil from South Africa, and continues to impose travel restrictions on all flights from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Individuals and companies must be aware of developments, which are unfolding rapidly, to help minimize disruptions to operations and to manage associated risks and costs, especially to business travelers that have scheduled trips for the next days or weeks.
More Details
The ordinance continues to exempt crewmembers of international airlines with flights scheduled to Brazil from
presenting RT-PCR tests to enter the Brazilian territory. However, basic health and hygiene measures must be observed, such as wearing masks and social distancing among others.
The updated ordinance continues to indicate the possibility that the Brazilian authorities could decide to not allow travelers who do not comply with the adopted measures into the country and even force them to leave 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 January 26, Portaria N° 652/2021 (in Portuguese) as published in the Diário Oficial da União, 26/01/2021, Edição: 17.
2 For prior coverage of travel restrictions, see the following issues of GMS Flash Alert: 2021-025 (January 15, 2021), 2021-007 (January 5, 2021), 2020-501 (December 22, 2020), 2020-469 (November 25, 2020), 2020-425 (October 9, 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 the KPMG International member firm in the United States does not provide immigration or labour law services. However, KPMG Law LLP in Canada can assist clients with U.S. immigration matters.
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The information contained in this newsletter was submitted by the KPMG International member firm in Brazil.
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