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Travel Insurance for Brazil: Visitor Tips & Safety Info

  • You need a passport to visit Brazil. Starting in April 2024, you’ll also need a visa to visit the country.
  • The Brazilian health care system doesn’t cover tourists, so it’s a good idea to have travel medical insurance for your trip.
  • Based on our research, the top travel insurance plans come from Generali, Seven Corners and Travel Insured (skip ahead to view these plans).
  • For comprehensive protection, look for a plan that includes benefits like trip cancellation and interruption insurance, baggage insurance and travel medical and evacuation insurance.
  • You can purchase basic coverage from just $1 per day. You can also save money by asking for discounts and considering annual multi-trip plans.
  • Try using our online comparison tool to analyze multiple policies at once and find the best deal.

Our top picks for travel insurance for Brazil

Advertiser Disclosure
Best Value for Robust Coverage

Generali Global Assistance

GET A QUOTE via Squaremouth’s secure website
4.34
Preferred Plan
Preferred
Covers COVID
YES
Medical & Evacuation Limits Per Person
$150,000 / $500,000
Best Value for Medical Emergencies

Seven Corners

GET A QUOTE via Squaremouth’s secure website
4.37
Preferred Plan
Trip Protection Choice
Covers COVID
YES
Medical & Evacuation Limits Per Person
$500,000 / $1,000,000
Best Rated Travel Insurance

Travel Insured International

GET A QUOTE via Squaremouth’s secure website
4.39
Preferred Plan
Worldwide Trip Protector
Covers COVID
YES
Medical & Evacuation Limits Per Person
$100,000 / $1,000,000

Do I need travel insurance to visit Brazil?

Brazil does not require visitors to have private insurance or travel health insurance, but having a policy in place could make all the difference if you get hurt or become ill while you’re abroad.

Consider these risks that could make getting travel insurance worthwhile for your trip to Brazil.

Exploring the Amazon

The Amazonian rainforest is one of Brazil’s most stunning natural attractions, but it’s also full of creatures that can sting, bite and infect. Mosquito-borne diseases like malaria are always a concern, as are rabies, dehydration and gastrointestinal illnesses. Travel insurance can help you with everything from basic health care to hospitalization.

Falling victim to local crime

Crime is rife in Brazil. The U.S. Department of State cites increased gang activity, violent crime (murder and kidnapping) and sedative-related assaults as some of the most prevalent concerns.

Do not take food or drink from strangers, and do not take public transportation. Avoid traveling alone and stay away from beaches and other isolated areas at night. If you are the victim of a crime, travel insurance can help you receive timely and affordable medical attention, and in some cases, you might even be reimbursed for items that were lost or stolen.

Dangerous weather conditions

Brazil is prone to heavy rainfall, and with all that rain comes a higher likelihood of dangerous weather conditions and natural disasters like flash floods and landslides.

Imagine you’ve made your way to Brazil in the rainy season only to find out that your itinerary is completely scuttled due to landslides blocking the principal thoroughfares in and out of your host city. The right travel insurance policy could get you evacuated from Brazil and repatriated in the United States without plunging you into financial ruin.

Advertiser Disclosure

Best Value for Robust Coverage

Full Policy Details

Generali Global Assistance

4.34
GET A QUOTE via Squaremouth’s secure website
Preferred Plan
Preferred
Covers COVID
YES
Medical & Evacuation Limits Per Person
$150,000 / $500,000
Why We Like It

PROS

  • High emergency medical and medical evacuation coverage
  • Cancelation & interruption coverage
  • Offers hurricane and weather coverage
  • Extensive loss or delay coverage.

CONS

  • No pre-existing condition coverage

Best Value for Medical Emergencies

Full Policy Details

Seven Corners

4.37
GET A QUOTE via Squaremouth’s secure website
Preferred Plan
Trip Protection Choice
Covers COVID
YES
Medical & Evacuation Limits Per Person
$500,000 / $1,000,000
Why We Like It

PROS

  • Offers coverage for pre-existing conditions
  • Money-back guarantee
  • Cancellation & Interruption coverage standard
  • Covers action sports & equipment

CONS

  • Cancel for any reason not included standard
  • Must meet waiver for pre-existing conditions to be covered

Best Rated Travel Insurance

Travel Insured International

4.39
GET A QUOTE via Squaremouth’s secure website
Preferred Plan
Worldwide Trip Protector
Covers COVID
YES
Medical & Evacuation Limits Per Person
$100,000 / $1,000,000
Why We Like It

PROS

  • Travel delay coverage kicks in after just six hours
  • Generous $150,000 non-medical evacuation coverage
  • 24/7 emergency travel assistance included

CONS

  • CFAR and IFAR coverage not included
  • Baggage delay coverage only kicks in after 12 hours
  • No rental car coverage
Passport and Plane Ticket

How much does travel insurance for Brazil cost?

The cheapest travel insurance for a trip to Brazil can cost around just $1 per day for fundamental coverage. On the other hand, we found more comprehensive travel insurance plans typically cost around $7 to $11 per day.

To help you better understand how much travel insurance costs for a trip to Brazil, we got some quotes from four insurance providers.

We used this information for our quotes:

Our price quotes for basic travel insurance are in the table below. You can see how these plans range from just under $1 per day to $6 per day.

Example Where Plan Doesn’t Reimburse the Full Trip Cost

Provider Plan Name Plan Cost Cancellation / Interruption Limits Medical / Medevac Limits
Tin Leg Standard $6 $0 / $0 $30k / $200k
Trawick International Safe Travels Explorer $22 $0 / $0 $50k / $200k
Seven Corners Trip Protection Basic $25 $0 / $1k $100k / $250k
AXA Assistance USA Silver $42 $0 / $500 $25k / $100k

A travel insurance policy that also includes trip cancellation and trip interruption coverage will cost you a bit more. We found these plans cost from around $7 to $11 per day.

Example Where Plan Does Reimburse the Full Trip Cost

Provider Plan Name Plan Cost Cancellation / Interruption Limits Medical / Medevac Limits
Tin Leg Standard $46 $2k / $3k $30k / $200k
Trawick International Safe Travels Explorer $64 $2k / $2k $50k / $200k
Seven Corners Trip Protection Basic $75 $2k / $2k $100k / $250k
AXA Assistance USA Silver $69 $2k / $2k $25k / $100k

Your premiums for travel insurance to Brazil will depend on an assortment of factors, including:

What does travel insurance for Brazil cover?

Travel insurance policies for Brazil may offer a wide range of benefits, with the exact coverage dependent on the policy you choose and the insurance company you partner with.

We recommend you consider the types of coverage below when looking for a comprehensive travel insurance plan.

Trip cancellation insurance

Trip cancellation insurance can help you cover the costs of non-refundable deposits if your long-awaited trip to Brazil is suddenly kaput before you ever get to step foot on a plane. If the reason you must cancel is considered a covered event under your policy, you won’t lose out on anything you’ve prepaid.

If you want to ensure you’re covered for any type of cancellation, consider purchasing cancel for any reason (CFAR) insurance. This type of coverage will reimburse you for around 50% to 70% of your prepaid travel expenses in the event you have to cancel for any reason at all.

Trip delay insurance

If bad weather or staffing issues cause you to miss a connection on your way to Rio, trip delay insurance may cover costs you incur while you wait (hotel, airport snacks, etc.). It also covers fees you paid for events, like your tour of Iguazu Falls, that you missed out on because of the delay.

Note that trip delay insurance usually has a waiting period before it kicks in, so you may have to wait six or 12 hours past your expected departure time before you can make a claim. 

Trip interruption insurance

Imagine you’ve successfully made it to Brazil when you get an emergency phone call and you need to get home ASAP. If this situation is covered by your insurance provider, you could be reimbursed for things like last-minute airfare and the non-refundable hotel fees.

Travel medical insurance

Brazil has a government-funded health insurance scheme called the Single Health System, or Sistema Único Saude (SUS). The SUS gives locals access to free public health services and certain private providers, but those rights do not extend to tourists.

Travel medical insurance has your back whether you trip and twist your ankle hiking to the Christ the Redeemer statue or get the flu.

Medical evacuation insurance

If your illness or injury is bad enough, you may need a medical evacuation to help you get out of South America and back home safe and sound. Coverage that includes medevac services comes in handy if you’re seriously injured and/or are facing long-term recovery times. You’ll be more comfortable in a hospital close to friends and family, and being airlifted to an advanced or specialized trauma center can be costly without adequate coverage.

Insurance for personal items

Before you choose a policy, see if your insurer offers coverage for baggage and personal items. This type of benefit would include reimbursement if you had your purse, backpack or suitcase stolen at the airport or the back of your chair while you were dining out for lunch. Some policies also cover damage in the event your laptop takes a nosedive or all your clothes are covered in tire marks because a shuttle bus annihilated your luggage.

Rental car coverage

You may be able to get rental car coverage as part of your main policy or as an add-on. This type of liability insurance covers the loss of a vehicle, theft and damage.

What isn’t covered by travel insurance for Brazil?

All travel insurance plans have exclusions, so read the fine print before you sign on with a potential insurer. 

Often, these exclusions reference foreseeable events (like you intentionally traveled to a country that was recently hit by a hurricane) or pre-existing conditions (like if you have a known heart problem and it flared up while you were dancing up a storm at Carnival).

Other possible exclusions include trip cancellations or interruptions due to:

Tips for getting the best Brazil travel insurance

To save money on your Brazil travel insurance, keep these expert tips in mind:

1

Check for discounts.

Ask your insurer about discounts for students or seniors.

See More See Less
2

Adjust your coverage limits.

Opt for a higher deductible in exchange for a lower premium.

See More See Less
3

Bundle your coverage.

If you travel often, explore multi-trip insurance to bundle coverage and save.

See More See Less
4

Shop around.

Use an online comparison tool to view multiple options at once and find the best deal.

See More See Less
Passport and Plane Ticket

Brazil travel information & requirements

Query Details
Is a tourist visa required? Yes, beginning April 10, 2024
Passport requirements Must be valid on the date of entry;
one page required for entry stamp
Local currency Brazilian real
Language Portuguese
Currency exchange rate $1 USD = 4.96 Brazilian real
Vaccine requirements None, but it’s recommended to be
up-to-date on all routine vaccines
Is a COVID test required? No
Travel advisory level Level 2: Exercise Increased
Caution
Emergency services phone number 192
Does Brazil accept US health insurance? No
Is travel insurance required? No

Are there COVID-19 restrictions for U.S. tourists?

While Brazil had some COVID-19 related travel restrictions in place at the height of the pandemic, U.S. citizens are now free to enter the country without proof of vaccination. They also do not have to take a COVID test.

Do I need a visa or passport to travel to Brazil?

All U.S. citizens need to have a passport on hand to travel to and enter Brazil. Beginning April 10, 2024, you’ll also need a visa or e-visa if you want to visit Brazil. The new visa requirements apply to all kinds of travel.

Is it safe to visit Brazil?

The U.S. Department of State has issued a travel advisory for Brazil, putting the country at a travel advisory of “Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution”. This advises tourists visiting Brazil to “exercise increased caution.” The chief concern is the uptick in violent crime, in particular robbery and assault. 

There are also several areas with a travel advisory of “Level 4: Do Not Travel”:

  • Areas within 100 miles of Brazil’s border with other countries, like Venezuela and Colombia
  • The satellite cities or administrative regions of Ceilandia, Sao Sebastiao, Paranoa and Santa Maria
  • Certain informal housing developments in Brazil (sometimes called favelas, vilas, comunidade or conglomerado) rife with gang-related activity

When is the best time to visit Brazil?

October and November are widely considered the best months to visit Brazil. Temperatures are mild, the beaches aren’t overly crowded and you’ll avoid both the rainy season (January to July) and the soaring temps associated with the earlier parts of the dry season (May to November).

FAQs: Brazil travel insurance

Is travel insurance required for Brazil?

Travel insurance is not required for entry into Brazil, but it is recommended. Benefits like travel cancellation insurance, medical insurance and evacuation benefits can help the policyholder navigate difficult situations without severe financial challenges.

Do you need medical insurance in Brazil?

While medical insurance isn’t required for those visiting Brazil, it is recommended. The United States does not pay for medical bills incurred by U.S. citizens abroad, and you can’t use your U.S. health insurance in Brazil either. Travel insurance policies that include medical coverage can help you if you get sick or hurt while traveling.

Can tourists get free healthcare in Brazil?

The Brazilian SUS gives free health care to citizens but not to tourists. It’s recommended that visitors to Brazil have their own private health insurance or travel insurance policy with medical coverage in case of illness or injury.

Alana Luna (Musselman)
Alana Luna (Musselman) Writer & Content Strategist

Alana Luna (Musselman) is a versatile storyteller with over a decade of writing experience. She is passionate about helping people build their business through unique and engaging content. Some examples of her current freelance projects include building content strategies for small businesses, completing industry research to build case studies, crafting buyer guides and more.

She has a passion and keen ability to simplify complex ideas through storytelling to make it easier for readers to understand hard-to-digest information. As such, Alana’s writing holds strong three principles – content that educates, engages and entertains.

Apart from her contributions to LA Times Compare, Alana has freelanced and ghostwritten for large publications and prestigious brands such as Orbitz, Groupon, Amazon, JCPenney, Walmart and more.

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