Brazil

Brazil Culture Overview^{1, 2}

• Capital: Brasília
• Population: approx. 212 million, making it the 5^th most populated country in the world and accounts for one-third of Latin America’s population.
• Official Language: Brazilian Portuguese
• Currency: Brazilian Reals
• Brazil is the home to the Amazon Rainforest, the world’s largest tropical rainforest.
• Brazil encompasses a wide range of tropical and subtropical landscapes including most of the Amazon River basin.
• Brazil is the largest producer of coffee in the world.
• Brazil has won the FIFA World Cup multiple times.
• Rio de Janeiro’s Christ the Redeemer statue is a cherished emblem for Brazil and weighs over 635 metric tons.

Tips On Moving to Brazil

What Do You Need to Enter Brazil?³

• Valid Passport
• Visa
• Customs Declaration

Customs and Declarations^4,5

All passengers entering Brazil are required to declare their belongings by completing a Customs Declaration, even if you have nothing to declare. Passengers carrying cash or other means of payment exceeding R$10,000 are required to declare to Customs.

Prohibited items:

1. Narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and the like.
2. Alcoholic beverages and tobacco products, for travelers under 18 years of age.
3. Cigarette or alcoholic beverages of Brazilian origin, bought abroad.
4. Counterfeit or pirated goods.

Restricted items:

1. You cannot take non-industrialized vegetables and / or products of animal origin to Brazil. It is highly recommended to avoid the entry of any type of food. If you carry any medication, you must also bring your prescription signed by a doctor, with your name and instructions for use.
2. Products subject to sanitary inspection or animal / plant origin will only be released after the authorization of the National Health Surveillance or the Ministry of Agriculture.

Helpful numbers in case of emergencies in Brazil⁶

There are several important emergency numbers to know in case you ever experience an emergency or need emergency help:

1. Police (190)
2. Ambulance (192)
3. Fire (193)

Portuguese phrases to use when calling Emergency Services in Brazil

Passing Away in Brazil ⁷

There are two important steps required when a death occurs in Brazil: Obtain a Death Certificate (Certidão de Óbito) and register the death with the Civil Registry office (Cartório de Registro Civil).  

For a medical-related death, the Death Certificate is issued by the hospital or attending physician.

A family member or acquaintance must register the death within 24 hours of the occurrence by taking the death certificate to the Civil Registry office of the town or city district in which the death took place. There is no fee for registering the death.

The death should also be reported to the relevant embassy or consulate.

The following information is required when registering a death:

• The deceased's ID and social security document
• The deceased’s passport, residence card, death certificate
• Evidence of property and possessions (in case it’s requested)

Repatriating Mortal Remains

The repatriation of a body to the home country requires the help of the relevant local embassy or consulate. Consular officials can assist in organizing repatriation and obtaining appropriate documentation.

When repatriation of the body is requested, funeral homes or crematoriums in Brazil will temporarily hold the remains while arrangements are made.

The cost of repatriation covers transportation and essential documentation, which may include:

• A certified Copy of the Death Certificate
• An embalming certificate (if required by the destination country)
• A certificate confirming the coffin complies with International Air Transport Association (IATA) regulations.
• Export/Import permit
• Any other essential legal documents