Starting June 7, 2010, Russian citizens visiting Brazil for tourism purposes can enter, leave, transit and stay in Brazil without visas for 90 days for each period of 180 days, counting from the date of first entry. You must have a passport valid for the entire period, enough money to stay in the country, and a return ticket or ticket, and all the necessary documents for entering a third country.
One of the following items can be imported duty-free: radio, player, video camera, business notebook with computer memory (there is a special tax when importing more than one copy), as well as strong alcoholic beverages – up to 2 liters, tobacco products, household items and items – in the amount of not more than 500 US dollars.
The import of firearms, ammunition, drugs and radioactive items is prohibited.
Import and export of local currency is not limited.
The import of foreign currency is limited (more than $1000 must be declared). Foreign currency and traveler’s checks are best changed at banks or currency exchange offices. The name of the exchange offices is cambios.
The export of imported foreign currency is allowed, minus expenses in the country, national – under the license of the Central Bank of Brazil.
An attempt to export any wild animals from the country, without the appropriate permission from numerous authorities, approvals and quarantines, is considered a crime in Brazil. When departing from the country and flights on domestic routes, an airport tax is charged.
Brazil, Embassy website: http://www.brasemb.ru
Embassy in Brazil
Brazil, embassy in Moscow
121069, Moscow, st. Bolshaya Nikitskaya, 54
Tel: 7 (095) 363-03-66, fax: 7 (095) 363-03-67
Consular department phone: 363-03-69, fax: 363-03-67
Working hours: from Monday to Friday, from 10:00 to 18:00 Reception of visitors: from Monday to Friday, from 09:00 to 12:30
Brazil, Embassy website: http://www.brasemb.ru
Brazil, Russian Embassy in the country:
In Brasilia: Avenida das Nacoes, SES, lote A, Quadra 801, Brasilia – DF, Brasil CEP 70476 – 900.
Phone: (61) 223-30-94, 223-40-94;
Consular department: (61) 223-50-94;
Consulate General in Rio de Janeiro: (21) 274-00-97.
Communication in Brazil
In Brazil, depending on the purpose of the negotiations, there are payphones of various colors. Yellow payphones are intended for intracity calls. Red city phones are intended for international calls. In this case, you can use both tokens and cards. Both can be bought anywhere. You can call from a hotel, in which case a call to Moscow will cost more: about $6-8 per minute.
It is quite convenient, reliable and often more profitable to use mobile communications in Brazil. A roaming call will cost an average of $2/min.
Country code – 55. Some city codes: Belo Horizonte 31, Brasilia – 61, Manaus – 92, Ouro Preto – 31, Recife – 81, Rio de Janeiro – 21, Salvador – 71, Sao Paulo – 11.
Emergency Phones in Brazil
Police: 199, Tourist Police: 511-5112, 511-5767, Federal Police (Visa Bureau) 203-2142, Military Police 231-2020, Fire Department 193, Emergency Medical Services: 192.
HOLIDAYS AND WEEKENDS
The main Brazilian holiday – the February carnival – actually opens the festive season and usually begins on the last Saturday before Lent and lasts until late Tuesday evening. This is the time of dances, songs and festivities. Most businesses, shops and other institutions close for four days.
January 1 – National holiday
January 20 – the foundation of the city of Rio de Janeiro
In April – Holy Saturday and Easter
April 21 – Triadentis, aka Joaquin Jose da Silva Xavier. Triadentis is one of the organizers of the Conspiracy of the Inconfidents, who in 1788 tried to oppose the central Portuguese authorities. He was one of the most ardent and staunch fighters for the independence of Brazil. For his convictions and his call for a republican form of government, Triadentis was executed in Rio de Janeiro on Campo di Lampedusa. He – the only one of all the numerous participants in the conspiracy was not pardoned by the supreme power. Two hundred years later, the name of Triadentis became a household name, and the day of his death was proclaimed a national holiday of independent Brazil.
May 1 – Labor
Day September 7 – Independence Day
October 12 – The Appearance of the Virgin
November 2 – All Saints Day
USEFUL THINGS
Many taxi drivers do not know English, so communication with them is difficult. In this case, you should ask the hotel employee to write the desired address on paper, which you can show to the taxi driver.
When traveling in Brazil, you need to follow the rules of caution: large amounts of money and valuables should be kept not in your pockets, but in a hotel safe, especially since this service is in most cases free of charge.
It is not recommended to wear expensive jewelry, leave clothes, cameras and wallets unattended on the beach, accept invitations from unfamiliar people.
You should not open the door of the room to an outsider, even if he calls himself a hotel employee. You need to call the duty officer and clarify who and for what purpose came.
In Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, after dark, you should avoid the old streets of the center. In general, it is better not to walk at night, but to use a car.
When using public transport, you should keep in mind that, unlike North American cities, taxis and subways in Rio de Janeiro are much safer than buses and trams.
It is recommended not to exchange a large amount of money at once, since when leaving the country, you can lose some amount during the reverse exchange. In places visited by tourists, you can pay in dollars. The lowest exchange rate is at the hotel, the highest is at small exchange offices.
SHOPS
According to lawschoolsinusa, most shops are open from 9.00 to 18.30 (Monday – Friday), from 9.00 to 13.00 (Saturday). Large shops are open until 22.00, supermarkets can work around the clock.
The main place for shopping is the Ipanema area. Here you will find a large selection of high-quality summer knitwear, men’s suits and leather shoes. Interesting and entertaining souvenirs – Indian vessels, Negro amulets or pau-brazil mahogany.
TIPS
Restaurants charge a 10% service charge, with a 5% tip for the waiter. In bars and cafes, the same rule applies, although in summer cafes they usually do not leave “tea” if they order only light drinks and beer. In expensive hotels, they usually give a porter 50 centavos per bag, maids – 50 centavos a day. The amount of remuneration for porters and concierges depends on the specific case, it can reach up to 10 dollars.
In medium and cheap hotels, tips can be minimal. Salaries of employees are so small that any amount will be gladly accepted. If a taxi driver helps carry luggage, the usual reward is 25 centavos per bag, while it is customary to tip taxi drivers 10% of the amount paid. In hairdressing and beauty salons, it is customary to give 10-20% tips. Tipping should be left to petrol station attendants and shoe shiners.
NATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS
Brazilians are an emotional, cheerful, smiling and sympathetic people. A foreigner is immediately friendly accepted into the company as one of his own. This is probably because the Brazilian nation was formed from many nationalities and races that emigrated here from Europe and Asia.
Racists are not welcome here. There are three Russian churches in Brazil, including an Old Believer church. The responsiveness of the Brazilians is simply amazing. The driver will come to the rescue of your stalled car, even if it takes several hours to repair it. At the same time, it will not take any real from you. Although the offer to drink beer and chat together will never refuse.
ELECTRICITY
220V, 50Hz;127V, 50Hz;220V, 60Hz;
HEALTH
Vaccination against yellow fever, hepatitis A and B, and malaria is required if your stay in Brazil involves visiting the following states: Acre, Amapa, Amazonas, Goias, Maranhao, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Para, Rondonia, Roraima, as well as the Federal District.
Disease vectors are insects (sometimes one bite is enough) and untreated water.
The hotel must have mosquito nets, and tourists must have repellents – It is not recommended to drink raw water.
In the northeast, you can get sick with the local dengue flu, which is carried by mosquitoes. The disease is accompanied by high fever and neuralgic pain. It goes away on its own in 2-3 weeks.
