The list is shorter than most travellers expect, and two of the documents people carry "just in case" are not required at all. Here is what is actually checked, and what is worth keeping once you are through.

What you show at the border

  • A valid travel document. A passport for most travellers. Citizens of Mercosur countries may enter with their national identity document instead.
  • A visa, if your nationality requires one. Since 10 April 2025 that includes citizens of the United States, Canada and Australia, who apply online for an e-Visa. Details in our guide to the Brazil tourist visa.
  • Evidence of your onward plans. You may be asked about your return or continuing journey, so keep the booking accessible.

The document you receive on arrival — and should keep

On entry you are given an entry record. It is easy to treat it as a formality and lose it, but it is one of the documents the Federal Police asks for if you later want to extend your stay. Photograph it and keep the original with your passport.

What Brazil does not ask for

  • A yellow fever vaccination certificate. Brazil does not require proof of vaccination to enter the country. The international certificate is for entering certain other countries, not this one.
  • A CPF. The Brazilian tax number is not needed to enter, to check into a hotel or to be seen privately by a doctor.

If you take regular medication

Bring enough for the whole trip, in its original packaging, and carry your prescription or a letter from your doctor with the generic names of what you take. That is not a border requirement — it is what makes life easier if you need care while you are here, because a prescription issued abroad cannot be dispensed by a Brazilian pharmacy.

The wider picture is in the requirements to travel to Brazil.

Frequently asked questions about entering Brazil

Can I enter Brazil with an ID card instead of a passport?

Citizens of Mercosur countries can use their national identity document. Everyone else needs a passport.

Do I need a vaccination certificate?

Not to enter Brazil. Vaccination may still be advisable depending on your destination within the country.

What is the entry record for?

It proves when you entered and is required by the Federal Police if you apply to extend your stay. Keep it with your passport.

Do I need a CPF as a tourist?

No. It is not required to enter, to stay, or to have a private medical consultation.

Entry requirements depend on your nationality and can change. General information, current as of August 2026 — confirm with the Brazilian consulate for your country. Sources: Ministério das Relações Exteriores, Polícia Federal and Ministério da Saúde.

Already in Brazil and need a doctor? See how an online consultation works — in English, and none of the documents above are needed for it.