Coronavirus

Brazil waives Covid vaccine mandates for travelers

Covid vaccine mandates travelers
São Paulo-Guarulhos Airport. Photo: Rovena Rosa/ABr

The Brazilian government on Monday waived Covid vaccine mandates for international travelers. Border authorities will now accept a negative Covid test taken up to a day before boarding if a tourist cannot provide proof of vaccination.  

Previously, very few exceptions were allowed for travelers without proof of Covid vaccination, such as residents from countries with low vaccine coverage or people unable to take the vaccine for medical reasons.

A traveler is considered vaccinated against Covid when they have completed their primary vaccination series with a vaccine approved by either Brazil’s federal health regulator Anvisa, the World Health Organization, or regulators from the country in which the traveler was vaccinated, at least 14 days before traveling.

Proof of vaccination or negative Covid tests — a requirement for all passengers aged 12 and up — must be presented in either Portuguese, Spanish, or English. Vaccine certificates can be presented in either print or digital formats, but all necessary information needs to be human-readable (as opposed to being accessible only via a QR Code).

Anvisa says it recommended the change in the rules for Brazil to align itself with similar requirements adopted abroad. However, travelers heading to the U.S. are still required to show proof of vaccination.