Brazil

Visa requirements for Brazil depend on which passport you hold. Check the Traveller visa tool to see whether your passport needs a visa and, if so, how long you can stay.

Rio Carnival: February/March (week before Ash Wednesday). Beach season in Rio/São Paulo: December–March (hot and sometimes rainy)

• Very casual — beach culture is central; swimwear is normal near the beach
• Smart casual for São Paulo's restaurants
• Brasília and business settings: more formal

• Very warm and tactile culture — greet women with a cheek kiss (one in São Paulo, two in Rio); men handshake
• Personal space is closer than in much of Europe
• Never refuse food or drink offered — it's deeply impolite
• Futebol (football) is a religion — if you're not a fan, it's safest to show respect for whoever is playing
• Brazilian Portuguese is noticeably different from European Portuguese — don't assume they're interchangeable

• Drug possession: personal use is an administrative rather than criminal offence in practice — but you can still be detained
• Some favelas and areas in major cities have elevated risks — research your specific destination
• Yellow fever vaccination certificate required if arriving from certain countries
• Photography of people in favelas without permission can be dangerous and disrespectful