EXCHANGE AND RATE 

COST, MONEY AND BANKS - The currency in Brazil is called the Real, in plural is Reais. However, the name of the money was only adopted in 1994.

CHANGING MONEY - All banks and "cambios exchange" recognised travellers cheques and foreign currency. There is an extensive network of ATMs around the country. The US Dollar is the most popular foreign currency.

UNIVERSAL CURRENCY CONVERTER: www.xe.com/ucc/

CREDIT E DEBIT CARDS - Most major international cards are accepted. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.

DUTY - When entering with baggage in Brazil, US and other non-Brazilian citizens can avail themselves of the following customs regimes:

- A DUTY FREE regime for:

Accompanying baggage of TOURIST and other visa bearers, the contents of which are limited to:

Personal belongings, such as apparel, toiletries and other strictly personal items;

Books, leaflets and periodicals;

Newly purchased foreign goods worth a total of US$500.00;

Further US$500.00 worth of goods acquired on arrival in airport duty free shops.

Unaccompanied baggage of PERMANENT visa bearers moving to Brazil or returning to the country after having lived abroad for at least one year, comprising of used and new, personal, professional and household effects, personal computers, film and photo equipment and bulky items intended only for personal use of immigrant and family, such as non-motorpowered crafts for land and water transportation. While motorpowered crafts for land, water and air transportation can be introduced by paying import duties under regime D, it is altogether excluded to import automobiles as personal baggage.

Customs require a list in twofold of the contents of unaccompanied baggage, specified by quantity, type of article (brand, model and year of manufacture) and price. Consularization of the list is no longer necessary.

Unaccompanied baggage seeking free entry should reach Brazil during a timeframe extending from three months prior to and six months after the permanent resident's arrival and should pass customs no later than six months after its owner's arrival.

- A short term TEMPORARY ADMISSION (and duty waving) regime for:

Instruments, implements or tools of trade, occupation or employment entered as baggage of TEMPORARY visa bearers granted stays of up to 90 days (extendible in Brazil to a yearly total of 180 days), such as computing equipment; commercial samples; tools for installing, testing and repairing machinery; scientific equipment for research; media and professional film production equipment; sports gear and assets for performing arts;

Bulky or expensive items entered as baggage by TOURIST or TEMPORARY visa bearers, such as amateur photo and film equipment and motorpowered craft for land, water and air transportation, with the exception of automobiles;

Automobiles entered as baggage solely by TOURIST visa bearers.

Customs require a statement in twofold that fully identifies the traveler and lists the items intended for provisional duty waiving, the withdrawal of which must be certified to occur on departure of the traveler. Legalization of the statement by the Consulate is not compulsory, although it can be useful. At customs' discretion, a signed commitment or a money deposit to guarantee withdrawal of temporary admitted baggage could be required at arrival in Brazil.

Articles entered under a TEMPORARY ADMISSION regime are admitted for the duration of stay granted to the visa bearer. Any extension of the latter must entail extension of the former.

To terminate a TEMPORARY ADMISSION regime at departure and recover any money deposit made, the traveler must present customs the second copies of all documents pertaining to his/her temporary admitted baggage.

- An extended TEMPORARY ADMISSION regime for:

Unaccompanied personal, professional and household effects entered as baggage by TEMPORARY visa bearers granted stays of 180 days and over.

Procedures are the same as under a short-term TEMPORARY ADMISSION regime, except that the statement identifying traveler, listing items to be admitted and certifying withdrawal requires legalization by the Consulate (consular fees run at US$ 20.00 per statement).

- A regular IMPORT DUTY regime for:

All baggage contents that do not comply with the previous importation regimes or are not considered to be part of a traveler's baggage.

Items must be declared to customs who will indicate the rate of import duties to be levied.