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In case of your first-time arrival in Brazil,
you have to arrange, although not in a pressing way, for proper clearance. The different departments are now all located in the town of Cabedelo ( easy access by the little train that stops in our village)

You have 2 working days for clearing formalities in the FOLLOWING order , whereby not just the skipper but the whole crew has to be present.

  1. Federal police (immigration) – Requirements : passports of all crew and the ships papers.

They will issue an individual tourist visa slip valid for 90 calendar days and in a second step for another 90 days if desirable or necessary. So, after all, you’re only allowed to stay in Brazil for a total of 180 calendar days/year. At the time of clearing-in, a manifest with all the names of the whole crew will be issued. This document has to remain on board

Note : if some of the crew intend to leave before the scheduled sailing of the vessel, they only have to present themselves at the airport with their individual touris visa slip and their passports. Just make sure NOT to lose that visa slip as otherwise some serious hassle might pop up.

In case some of the crew intend to leave on another vessel, they have to present themselves, with their passport and tourist slip, together with the new skipper at the time of clearing out.

  1. Customs (Alfandega)- ships’papers and the doc. delivered by the Federal Police.

  2. Health Authorities (Vigilancia Sanitaria)- with the compilation of everything plus vaccination docs if any.

  3. Port Authorities (Capitania dos Portos) with the docs delivered under (1) & (2).

DON’ t reverse this order as you may have wasted a trip. If one of the authorities in the sequence isn’t available, don’t lose your temper, just go back the following day.

Locations and details :

The 4 authorities are all located inside the port of Cabedelo premises or just in front. The train station is quite near- get out on the right hand side, follow the street parallel to the tracks until the port area, turn right and the port entry is 200m away. Just ask for “Policia Federal”, then for Alfandega””, afterwards for “Capitania dos Portos” and finally for “Vigilancia Sanitaria.”.

Be aware that most offices close between 11.30 am and 2 pm. As with ALL official places in Brazil, the wearing of slacks is mandatory and when arriving in bermudas might have access refused.

“Generally speaking, the Brazilians are very welcoming and the formalities usually don’t result into a hassle. The only thing one has to bear in mind, is that “time”hasn’t got the same value compared to the NW and NE Atlantic…..

WHEN LEAVING :

  • Brazil : the same formalities, with the exception of the Health Authorities, have to be done in REVERSE order.

  • For another sailing destination in Brazil, one has to clear-out at customs first and then with immigration.

Visa extension :

As mentioned, one upon arrival receives automatically 90 days. If you need to stay longer, close to the end of the 90 d. one has to apply for for an extension of up to another 90 days with the Federal Police in downtown JOAO PESSOA . Bring with you passport(s), ship’s papers and and entry paper and everybody concerned needs to be present. The charge is R$25/person, payable at the bank opposite the Fed’s building whereupon with proof of payment one has to return to get the necessary stamps. They’re open Monday-Friday 8am-6pm although it’s safer to go well before 4 pm as all banks close at that hour.

Be aware:

  1. Not to extend the 90 days before applying as everybody will be subject to a daily fine of 8R$/calendar day.

  2. The 180 days are the maximum one is allowed to stay in the territory of Brazil in a given year.

“Boat visa”extension :

Although your total stay in Brazil is limited to 180 days/year, your boat can be cleared to remain up to 2 years which allows you to go home or visit other Latin-American countries.

Before leaving, you have to go to the port authorities (Capitania dos Portos) in JOAO PESSOA with a certified declaration from the caretaker (marina); thereupon proceed to the Ministry of Finances

(Receita Federal) in CABEDELO. Based upon the paper issued by the Port Authorities, they will issue a free laisser passer (void of all kind of import duties). Your only engagement is to declare that within the time-frame you will take the boat out of Brazil and to undertake that you will not sell part or the whole in Brazil.