Is It Safe to Travel to Brazil in 2026?
Brazil - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Last updated: · Source: U.S. Department of State
Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is also the world's fifth-largest country by area and the seventh-largest by population, with over 214 million people.
Is It Safe to Travel to Brazil in 2026?
Brazil is currently rated Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution by the U.S. Department of State. Exercise increased caution in Brazil due to crime and kidnapping, with some areas having increased risk. Violent crime occurs in urban areas, including murder, armed robbery, and carjacking, with gang activity being widespread.
Key concerns cited in the advisory:
- crime
- kidnapping
The overall security situation has been worsening recently. Contributing factors: increased crime and kidnapping risks, violent crime occurs in urban areas, including murder, armed robbery, and carjacking, gang activity being widespread.
Traveler Impact
Solo travelers face significant risks of violent crime and robbery, particularly in urban areas like Rio de Janeiro, where criminals often target individuals in bars and public spaces.
Business travelers may encounter operational disruptions due to crime and may require enhanced security measures, especially in major cities like São Paulo.
Families with children face elevated risks due to violent crime in urban areas, limited healthcare access outside major cities, and potential health risks from diseases like Zika and dengue.
Remote workers can find reliable internet in urban centers, but should avoid informal housing developments and be cautious of crime in public spaces.
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of State, the CDC, the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, and Freedom House. All sources are updated regularly and cross-referenced to provide a composite safety picture for Brazil.
Regional Safety Breakdown
Do Not Travel Zones
The U.S. State Department advises against all travel to the following areas due to extreme risk:
- Brazil
- Brasilia’s Satellite cities
- Informal housing developments (favelas, vilas, comunidades or conglomerados)
▶Level 4 — Do Not Travel3 regions
▶Brasilia’s Satellite cities
Do Not Travel due to crime.
▶Brazil
Do Not Travel to international land borders due to crime and kidnapping.
▶Informal housing developments (favelas, vilas, comunidades or conglomerados)
Do Not Travel due to crime.
Brazil has 3 distinct regions with varying advisory levels. Risk conditions differ significantly by area.
Travel insurance for Brazil
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▶Safety and Stability Ratings
Threat Severity (0-10 scale)
Brazil has an overall threat severity of 4.5 out of 10. Crime risk is rated 6.0/10, terrorism risk 0.0/10, and kidnapping risk 3.0/10.
Governance Indicators (World Bank, percentile)
Political Stability▶
Measures the likelihood that the government will be destabilized or overthrown by unconstitutional or violent means, including politically-motivated violence and terrorism. Higher percentile means greater stability.
Rule of Law▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which agents have confidence in and abide by the rules of society, including the quality of contract enforcement, property rights, the police, and the courts, as well as the likelihood of crime and violence.
Control of Corruption▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which public power is exercised for private gain, including both petty and grand forms of corruption, as well as capture of the state by elites and private interests.
Government Effectiveness▶
Captures perceptions of the quality of public services, the quality of the civil service and the degree of its independence from political pressures, the quality of policy formulation and implementation, and the credibility of the government's commitment to such policies.
Regulatory Quality▶
Captures perceptions of the ability of the government to formulate and implement sound policies and regulations that permit and promote private sector development.
Voice & Accountability▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which a country's citizens are able to participate in selecting their government, as well as freedom of expression, freedom of association, and a free media.
Data from World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators (2023).
Freedom Status: Free — scored 72/100 by Freedom House (2024). View full freedom profile →
▶Entry Requirements and Health
Entry Information
Visa
Check embassy for details
Currency
Brazilian Real (BRL)
Language
Portuguese
Notable restrictions:
- drug possession illegal including medical marijuana
- e-cigarettes prohibited
Vaccinations
Recommended:
⚠ Malaria Risk: moderate
Recommended medications: Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, tafenoquine
Active health notices:
- watchGlobal Measles: Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to CDC's measles vaccination recommendations for international travel.
Vaccination data sourced from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Consult a travel health professional before your trip.
Common Questions About Traveling to Brazil
▶What is the current travel advisory level for Brazil?
▶Is it safe to travel to Brazil right now?
▶Do I need a visa to visit Brazil?
▶What vaccines do I need for Brazil?
▶Is Brazil safe for solo travelers?
▶How bad is crime in Brazil?
More Brazil Data
Free — 72/100 on the Freedom House index.
Governance indicators including rule of law, corruption control, and regulatory quality.
View all 195 countries color-coded by advisory level.
Read the full advisory on travel.state.gov.
Access this data programmatically. Free tier available.
On-demand country risk PDFs from 6 government sources.